Your guide to finding and caring for an Afghan Hound in Philly
Afghan Hounds are quiet, calm housemates, which suits a Philly rowhouse with shared walls. Out on the street it's another story: a sighthound's prey drive means a squirrel along Kelly Drive in Fairmount can set off a sudden sprint, and the city's six-foot leash rule applies almost everywhere. Plan on daily leashed walks, time in a fenced dog run like Pretzel Park in Manayunk, and a regular bath-and-brush routine for that long silky coat.
Meet an Afghan Hound who needs you
While we don't have enough dogs near Philadelphia, keep in mind that many rescues may offer transport.
The Afghan Hound is one of the oldest dog breeds, a sighthound from the mountains of Afghanistan that chased game by sight and speed. Its flowing coat once protected it from harsh cold, and its large padded feet cushioned rocky ground. British officers brought these hounds to England in the late 1800s, and the breed later became a show-ring icon.
In Philly, the daily picture is a dignified, sensitive dog that is often reserved with strangers and goofy with its own people. Prey drive and selective recall mean leashes on city streets and fenced space for real running. The coat takes steady work, with frequent bathing and brushing or a professional groomer, but the dogs are usually calm and quiet indoors, which helps in close rowhouse blocks.
Having an Afghan Hound in Philly
An Afghan Hound combines a regal, independent streak with an ancient sighthound's speed. In Philly, the big questions are where it can run safely, how you'll manage the coat in humid summers and slushy winters, and whether your home has room for a large, long-legged dog.
Afghan Hounds tend to be aloof with strangers but loyal and playful with family. Many are sensitive to harsh handling and loud noise, which can make busy sidewalks and sirens stressful at first. They think for themselves, so gentle, patient, reward-based training works best. Each dog's personality varies, so spend time with the dog before deciding.
Plan on daily walks plus regular chances to sprint in a securely fenced space. Philadelphia allows off-leash dogs only in its volunteer-run dog runs, and everywhere else a six-foot leash is required, which suits a breed with unreliable recall. Long leashed walks along Kelly Drive or Forbidden Drive help burn off energy between runs.
Afghan Hounds can be prone to hip dysplasia, hypothyroidism, allergies, cataracts, some cancers and chylothorax, a buildup of fluid in the chest. Like other sighthounds, they can be sensitive to anesthesia because of low body fat, so pick a veterinarian who knows sighthounds. In Philly, check for ticks daily, since Lyme-carrying ticks turn up in city parks.
An Afghan Hound can live happily in a Philly rowhouse or apartment if it gets daily exercise. Narrow, steep stairs and slick floors can be hard on long legs, and small or missing back yards mean you'll rely on dog runs for sprinting. Leave room to bathe, brush and fully dry the coat indoors.
| Expense | Typical cost | Per year |
|---|---|---|
| Food | $55 to $110 per month | $660 to $1,320 |
| Pet insurance | $55 to $110 per month | $660 to $1,320 |
| Routine vet care | $250 to $500 per year | $250 to $500 |
| Other* | $940 to $2,390 per year | $940 to $2,390 |
| Estimated yearly total (after year one) | $2,510 to $5,530 | |
Other costs are estimates and vary with size, age and health.
* The $16 Philadelphia dog license for a spayed or neutered dog ($40 if unaltered), a dental cleaning, flea, tick and heartworm prevention, supplies, and professional grooming for the long silky coat.
Now that you know more, let’s find you a new best friend. These rescues and shelters below have dogs available in and near Philadelphia.
Philly's shelters and rescues list adoptable dogs on this page, and the mix changes often, so check back. Here are the rescues & shelters in the Philly area with dogs available for adoption, worth asking whether an Afghan Hound is coming in.
350 E. Erie Ave, Philadelphia
Philadelphia
Philadelphia
Philadelphia
Philadelphia
1242 Lombard Street, Philadelphia
Philadelphia
Almost certainly not, because SEPTA only allows pets in a standard, sturdy carrier that doesn't obstruct anyone, and a 50 to 60 pound Afghan Hound won't fit in one. Emotional-support animals count as pets on SEPTA, while service animals ride leashed and under control. Plan on walking or driving instead.
Yes, with care. Philly sees about 30 days a year at 90°F or higher, often humid, and a long coat adds to the heat. Walk at dawn or after sunset, avoid hot pavement, keep the dog in air conditioning and offer cool water. During a Code Red, any dog outside must have shade.
For off-leash sprints, use one of the city's volunteer-run dog runs, such as Pretzel Park in Manayunk or Schuylkill River Park. For leashed walks, Kelly Drive, Forbidden Drive in the Wissahickon and Pennypack Park offer long, mostly flat routes. A six-foot leash is required outside dog runs, and ticks are common, so check your dog afterward.
Yes. Pennsylvania law bars local breed-specific restrictions, so Philadelphia has no ban on Afghan Hounds. You'll need a city license within 30 days, by the time the dog is four months old, at $16 a year if spayed or neutered and $40 if not, plus a current rabies vaccination. Landlords can still set their own rules.
Yes, many do well in apartments because they're usually quiet and calm indoors once exercised. In Philly, that means daily leashed walks, regular trips to a dog run for sprinting, and a building that allows a large dog. Steep rowhouse stairs and slick floors can be tough on long legs, so check access first.
It can be, if you can commit to daily exercise, coat care and tight leash habits. Philly's six-foot leash rule suits a dog with weak recall, and dog runs give it room to run. Wet winters and humid summers make grooming and tick checks a year-round routine, so it suits people with time to spare.
Only sometimes. Some Philly restaurants and beer gardens allow dogs on their patios at their own discretion, but indoor dining is limited to service animals. Pick quiet, uncrowded patios, since many Afghans are reserved and sensitive to noise, and bring a mat and water. Expect to eat elsewhere in hot weather.
Expect regular bathing and brushing, since Philly's humidity, rain and snow slush all tangle the long coat. Brush after wet or muddy walks, dry the coat fully and check for ticks. Professional grooming is a major cost, roughly $450 to $1,200 a year within the Other line of the cost table, though home care can reduce it.
Afghan Hounds shed lightly compared with most breeds, losing hair in small amounts rather than heavy seasonal coats. Their long, fine hair tends to tangle into mats instead of falling out, which is why frequent brushing and bathing are essential. Puppies shedding their puppy coat as the adult coat grows in, often between about one and three years, can mat especially quickly.
Expect roughly $2,500 to $5,500 a year for an Afghan Hound in Philadelphia. That includes food at $55 to $110 a month, pet insurance at $55 to $110 a month, routine vet care at $250 to $500 a year, and other costs such as grooming, dental care and parasite prevention at $940 to $2,390 a year.
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