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Trotting Afghans
 By Robert Cole
From the Afghan Hound Review 1985 by kind permission of the Editor.
The action of the square-in-profile Afghan in the show-ring is much different from that of most sighthounds. A square, long-legged endurance galloper, the Afghan owes its reputation to the ability to excel over rough mountainous terrain. Well angulated front and rear, the Afghan's original purpose, its unique sighthound conformation and man's assistance in the show ring, combine to produce action at the trot quite different from that of most sighthounds.
A visual phenomenon, the Afghan's distinctive action at the trot is best described using a graphic form. From my library of motion picture film footage I have selected four competitive Afghans, each moving, in profile at a speed deemed by its respective handler to be most complimentary to the dog. Using, a technique many film animators employ to transfer live action on film to realistic drawings, and an illustrated sequence format I designed, the individual action of each of these four Afghans can be discussed and compared phase-by-phase.
Afghan action at the diagonal trot is complex. It seldom conforms to the description in The Complete Dog Book (AKC) which defines the trot as: "A rhythmic two-beat diagonal gait in which the feet at diagonally opposite ends of the body strike the ground together; i.e., right hind with left front and left hind with right front. " Afghans, due to factors we will discuss, seldom conform to this description, the beat being four-time rather than two time. Also, regardless of speed, there is always a brief period of suspension where all four feet are free of contact with the ground, adding to its complexity.
The Afghan Standard, to its credit, attempts to reduce this complexity by describing- the trot -...with mixed results. It reads: "When on a loose lead, the Afghan can trot at a fast pace; stepping alone, he has the appearance of placing the hind feet directly in the footprints of the front feet, both thrown straight ahead. Moving- with head and tail high, the whole appearance of the Afghan Hound is one of great style and beauty."
Moved at the speed most Afghans are trotted in the show ring, only one of the four real-life examples I have chosen conforms to this description, and of the four it has the poorest forequarters. This does not mean the Standard is wrong. The intent of the Standard is right, but for a judge to find the most typical Afghan posed and moving, without having- to continually slow each class down to a speed at which many Afghan exhibitors feel they are at a competitive disadvantage, he or she should be aware of the influence certain factors, including speed, have on Afghan gait. These factors and their effect on locomotion relate to square profile, foreleg length and angulation.
Before describing each example and discussing movement, you may wish to study and compare this Open Do- class of four, decide how you would place them and why. Your decision should only be based on physical structure, conformation and movement the bone, veins, character and beauty of the head being worthy of a detailed illustrated comparison in itself. Notice that none of these real-life Afghans are square. All four are slightly longer than high even though they may 'appear' square.
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AFGHAN A
 | This Afghan is sound as a dog but not as a sighthound. On occasion it has been said to be too long in body. In actual fact its forelegs are too short; they are only of moderate or average length. The Standard does not define foreleg length, only - for good reason advises; "Forelegs ... with great length between elbow and pastern ... If I were to define ideal Afghan foreleg length it would be as greater length from elbow to ground (the elbow level with the deepest part of the chest) then the body is deep, measured from the withers to the brisket. This is the ratio that would be required for an Afghan to excel as an endurance sighthound at the fast double suspension gallop.
Even with a shorter than ideal length of foreleg producing a rectangular rather then square type of conformation, this well-angulated specimen still over-reaches at the show-ring speed. This isn't unusual. Most reach when moved at a speed where left to their own devices they would break into a trot. |
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AFGHAN B
 | Not the best mover of these four competitive Afghans but certainly the most controversial. Controversial because its action is man-made. I selected this particular specimen because it exhibits a synthetic show ring form of the trot found in certain Afghan lines.
Without fanciers fully knowing why, this very dramatic synthetic style is quite popular in some quarters. Very little has been written within the breed describing the form this synthetic action takes.
The reason for this form of synthetic action is to promote maximum angulation front and rear in order to achieve great length of stride within a framework of square proportions - without the necessity of over-reaching to avoid leg interference.
Afghan B., is adopting this form of synthetic action, exhibits dramatic reach in front and extension in rear in phase 7 without the necessity of over-reaching to avoid leg interference under the body at this fast speed. This synthetically moving Afghan is seen as a good mover when the judge only bases his or her assessment on how much the lateral legs on the near or far side of the dog reach and extend.
The ability to adopt this form of synthetic action is dependent on the possession of one of two specific structural features or, as in this case, a combination of the two. The tow structural features are: an extra long second thigh, and/or a flat pelvis. Afghan B represents a combination of a slightly overly long second thigh and a slightly flat pelvis, a situation more difficult to recognise than a single obvious departure.
To further appreciate how an overly second thigh or a flat pelvis contributes to synthetic action, compere the delayed position of this dog's right hind leg in phase one to the first phase of examples A, C, and D. The greater the disharmony is between diagonals best seen in the first phase, the more synthetic the action.
The trot is diagonal gait and consideration must be given to diagonal pairs of legs as well as the two legs moving in opposite directions on the near and far side of the dog. This dog is moving well, because its right hind leg in phase 7 (where a brief period of suspension occurs during change over of diagonals) is not reaching forward an equal distance and in harmony with the diagonal front leg. |
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AFGHAN C.
 | This example is better constructed in rear than in front. In front the shoulders are steep and are lifted wastefully high in phases two and three. This wasteful lift serves to extend the timing of the front leg enabling it to better harmonise with its superior diagonal hind leg.
The over-flex of this Afghan's right front pastern in phases 6,7 and 8 often goes unnoticed, as it does in other breeds. The full significance of this over-flex relates to other parts and ratios, how is not yet fully known, but this departure is not always due to steep shoulders. Interestingly this Afghan with its structural problems is the only one of the four examples that does not over- reach at a fast show-ring speed (the hind leg reaching fully forward). Part of the reason is the wasteful front leg lift, part is the overflex of the front pastern when it relinquishes support.
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AFGHAN D
 | I saved a consistent winner until last. This is a square-appearing Afghan, due in part to high withers and profuse coat. This example possesses the best balanced angulation. Its forelegs are long, its brisket is level with the elbow. Its neck is also of correct length. This type of Afghan (heads are not part of this discussion) appeals to both the specialist and the multi-breed judge.
At the fast trot this Afghan's head and tail are carried high, all four legs reaching and extending equal distances. Moved at a slower, natural trot this dog might not over-reach as it is doing here, but reach and extension would be far less dramatic. This fact presents no problem for those familiar with correct Afghan conformation, structure and the effect on total action at the trot of these factors and speed. |
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