In this day and age, there are more designer-breed dogs than ever before. Breeders can now take the desirable traits from two breeds and create a pet that is lovable and perfect for your family.
The Pooghan, or Afghan Hound Poodle mix, is an outstanding dog for many reasons. To learn more about this exciting and majestic breed, keep reading.
What is a Pooghan?
A Pooghan is a mix between an Afghan Hound and a standard Poodle. They are also commonly called an Affydoodle.
This Doodle breed is stunning. It is a great dog for anyone who likes traits from the Poodle or the Afghan Hound.
History of the Parent Breeds
We have all likely seen Poodles, and you may have seen an Afghan Hound without realizing it. Both are medium to large dogs that are rather muscular and lean. They are both stunning breeds on their own, but they make something truly special when combined.
Afghan Hound
The Afghan Hound is a sighthound from Central Asia and the Middle East, hence the name. These dogs are very tall and lanky and have a signature long hair coat that is silky and regal. These dogs are long-legged and were often used as hunters by their first handlers [1]youtube.com/watch?v=u76JZkO310A.
The breed is considered an ancient breed, and there is even a story that they were one of the animals that Noah took on the Ark during the biblical flood. This breed has been around for centuries, and the first Afghan Hound to compete in a dog show was named Zardin. This particular dog was imported from Iran and was shown at the Crufts Dog show in 1909.
Standard Poodle
The Poodle has a similar regal pedigree. The standard Poodle was first and foremost used as a waterfowl hunting dog. Hunters used them to collect game from the water after it had been shot due to their waterproof coat and ability to swim [2]youtube.com/watch?v=_Pw-39u9344.
As the breed grew and changed, they were used as circus performers due to their agility and extreme intelligence. It is believed that the Poodle originated in Germany during the Middle Ages. They were used as water dogs, as we have already discussed.
Today, they are one of the most popular dog breeds available.
Appearance of the Pooghan
There is a range of colors and traits that the Pooghan can inherit from both parents, making it difficult to give an exact list of what the dog will look like.
Instead, it is better to look at the potential characteristics that the dog might inherit and the potential looks that it might end up having. They can have a ton of beautiful coat variations.
Coat Type
The Afghan Hound has long, silky, straight hair, much like human hair. This hound has a human hair coat, which means that it keeps growing and mimics human hair.
This also means that you will have to trim, cut, wash and brush the hair of a Pooghan to help prevent tangles and matting that can be very painful for your pooch [3]ukcdogs.com/afghan-hound.
The Poodle also has a human hair coat, which means that it will not grow to a specific length and then stop growing; an ungroomed Poodle will have hair that just keeps growing. It can also get very dirty and matted very quickly [4]ukcdogs.com/standard-Poodle.
A Pooghan, by contrast, has long, silky, and often wavy hair. They do not inherit the Poodle’s tight curls or the Afghan Hound’s long straight hair, but a coat that is somewhere between.
They do need frequent baths and brushing and also need their hair to be trimmed to help ensure that their hair stays silky, clean, and tangle-free for their comfort and to help you as well.
They need to be groomed often; they should be washed weekly, have their hair brushed daily, and have regular trims to keep their hair mat free and help keep their skin healthy.
Coat Colors
Poodles are not usually dappled or spotted; they come in a range of base colors:
- Black
- Blue
- Silver
- Brown
- Café au Lait
- Silver Beige
- Cream
- Apricot
- Red
Poodles generally are single-color; they do not tend to have spots or multicolor coats. However, they can have a multi-colored coat called parti. A Pooghan will likely get a single-color coat if they take more after their Poodle parent.
Afghan Hounds also come in a range of colors:
- Black
- Black and Tan
- Red
- Cream
- Blue
- Brindle
- Domino
- White
The Afghan Hound is more likely to have a coat that has several colors or that is multicolor. They tend to have a base color with accents around their feet, head, and faces. If the Pooghan takes after their Afghan parent, they are more likely to have a coat with several colors.
This means that a Pooghan can have just about any coat color possible. They can inherit a solid coat color from a dominant parent, a spotted coat color, or anything in between. That is part of what makes Pooghan puppies so much fun to breed.
One last note on Pooghan coloring, they may inherit genes for unique markings such as merle, parti, tricolor, tuxedo, or phantom.
Size of a Pooghan
The Pooghan is a medium-sized dog. Since the Afghan Hound and the Poodle are relatively large dogs, averaging over 2 feet tall, the Pooghan will likely be just as tall. They are not super bulky or muscular and will not be overly skinny or slim.
Height
The average height of a Pooghan depends on the parents; if the parents are both very tall, the puppy is likely to be very tall. Based on the average height of an Afghan Hound and a Poodle, the Pooghan is expected to be around 22 to 28 inches tall on average.
Weight
Again, the animal’s weight depends heavily on the parents, but on average, a Pooghan weighs about 45 to 65 pounds. They are the definition of a medium-sized dog. They are lankier than some other breeds, and they are going to be very average when it comes to weight.
Traits & Characteristics
Temperament and Personality
The Pooghan is a very even-keeled animal. They are very intelligent, independent, gentle, and playful, all traits that are great if you have kids and want a family dog that will be loyal and great with kids. [5]akc.org/expert-advice/lifestyle/10-facts-about-Poodles.
Afghan Hounds and Poodles are exceedingly intelligent; this means that a Pooghan will also be very smart. They are easily trainable and catch on fairly easily. While Poodles are not necessarily great with other dogs, Afghan Hounds are, which may help to even out the temperament of your Pooghan [6]akc.org/dog-breeds/afghan-hound.
Both breeds are playful and loyal to their owners; they are both high energy and have a high prey drive, which means they may chase smaller animals like cats. Neither breed is overly aggressive, and neither is overly territorial.
Overall, the Pooghan is a great family dog that does need to get out and exercise often, but that might be a good fit for your family if you have kids.
Common Health Issues
While cross-breeding two different breeds of dogs often helps the offspring avoid the ills of their parent breeds, there are some health issues you need to watch out for with your Pooghan. As with Poodles and Afghan Hounds, Pooghans are apt to have joint pain in their older years if they are overweight and not exercised properly.
They can also have vision issues, which are common with Poodles and Afghan Hounds. They are not likely to have vision issues when they are younger, but as they age, they might start to have vision problems.
A Pooghan can also get bloat if they are not exercised properly and gain weight, which can add to existing joint issues or cause joint problems that were not previously present.
Lifespan
The Pooghan has a relatively long lifespan for a larger dog; they live to be around 10 to 15 years old.
If you take care of them properly, you can get a relatively long life for your Pooghan. You should ensure that you are getting them out and giving them plenty of exercise.
They can gain weight easily, leading to more health issues over time. They are high energy, so they need to exercise and run to help burn off extra energy and to help keep them active and moving. They are a very active breed that needs to exercise often and get out and about to keep their bodies moving.
Final Thoughts
The Pooghan is the best of both worlds regarding the Poodle and the Afghan Hound. This dog may look like a Goldendoodle and may even be mistaken for one.
They are cute, intelligent, active, and loving and are fantastic pets if you are looking for a first dog or you have kids and want to get them a dog that will be fun and great with the family.
