The Afghan Hound is often described as one of the least intelligent pedigree dogs. In simple terms, that means it is not especially quick to understand. Training this breed is therefore difficult. While another dog may learn the same command after five repetitions, the Afghan Hound may need twenty, and even then it may not respond when you give the command. In that sense, its personality often feels more like a cat than a typical dog.
Afghan Hound Intelligence
The Afghan Hound ranks around 78th in canine intelligence, which places it at the very bottom among breed dogs. Its typical characteristics include weak willingness to accept training, a need for many repetitions before forming a habit, and an overall low response rate. In daily life, the chance that an Afghan Hound responds correctly the first time is described as only around 25 percent, and even then it may not always react promptly or accurately to its owner's instructions. That is one reason the breed looks both noble and a little nervous or eccentric.
Is the Afghan Hound Easy to Train?
Because of its relatively low intelligence, the Afghan Hound is often considered one of the hardest dogs to train. It tends to carry itself in an arrogant way and has a very strong independent streak. That independence makes it even less willing to obey. Compared with most other breeds, it is slow to understand the owner's or trainer's intentions. A simple action may need to be repeated dozens or even hundreds of times. For that reason, owners should not place overly high expectations on training results with an Afghan Hound.
The Afghan Hound perfectly expresses the phrase "still as a lady, swift as a rabbit." When calm, it looks like a cold and elegant aristocrat. Once excited, however, the hunting instinct erupts and the dog may run off like a true sighthound. Combined with low obedience, low intelligence, and a relatively large body, the Afghan Hound carries a certain degree of risk and is therefore restricted in many places.