Being a dog lover, I have a keen interest in exploring a variety of dog breeds. One such breed that caught my interest was the Afghan Chon.
This breed is a fascinating one which is a mix between the Afghan Hound and Bichon Frise.
Their curly, furry bodies are what make them a little more adorable. This breed has one of the most heart-winning breeds I’ve come across in a while.
Let us look a little deeper into the information related to this adorable breed.
About the breed
Bred by crossbreeding the Afghan Hound and the Bichon Frise, the Afghan Chon is a designer dog. A medium to large-sized breed, the Afghan chon has a pleasant personality.
The Afghan chon is believed to have been first bred in the United States. Maintaining the personalities of both its parents, the Afghan chon is a feisty yet gentle breed.
They have long and soft fur that is often very dense and curly. The size of the breed varies between tall and small because the Afghan Hound is a large dog, while the Bichon Frise is a smaller toy breed. ⚡️
It is quite remarkable that while its stature might be similar to either of its parents, its personality is much closer to that of the spunky Bichon Frise. They are cheerful and bubbly dogs and, on the whole, are very lovable dog breeds. They often serve the role of companion dogs. ✅
Afghan Chon Dog Breed History
The Afghan chon belongs to a very famous pedigree, with its parents being two very popular purebred dogs – the Afghan Hound and the Bichon Frise.
The Bichon Frise is said to have originated from a wooly water dog known as the Barbet, a name derived from the word Barbichon. The Bichon Frise is originally from the Mediterranean and belongs to the Barbican family.
Its cousins are the Maltese, the Havanese, the Bolognese, and the Coton de Tulear. The Bichon Frise is believed to have been brought by French sailors from the Canary Islands and was used for trading.
The Afghan Hound, on the other hand, is an ancient breed originally from Afghanistan; they were transported to England in the 1920s and slowly gained popularity among Westerners. The Afghanchon are people-oriented dogs and are the perfect family dogs.
They are not very aggressive dogs; they like to have some time to themselves. They have a hunting ancestry and, therefore, should be supervised when left in the company of smaller animals.
Afghan Chon Dog Breed Job Card / Overview
| Name of the breed | Afghan Chon |
| Alternative name for the breed | Afghan Frise |
| Type of Dog Breed | Mixed/Crossbreed/Hybrid |
| Origin of breed | Afghanistan; Spain; Belgium |
| Breed details | Afghan Hound and Bichon Frise |
| Height of breed | 10 – 26 inches |
| Weight of breed | 10 – 70 lbs |
| Life Expectancy of breed | 10 – 14 years |
| Persona of breed | Energetic; playful; family oriented |
| Apartment Living adaptability | Very ideal for Apartment living |
| Friendliness to other pets | Yes |
| Prone Diseases | Patellar Luxation; Hip Dysplasia; Patent Ductus Arteriosus; ; Juvenile Cataracts; Retinal Atrophy; Hypothyroidism |
| Health expectancy of the breed | Healthy |
| Ability to reason and understand the breed | Low to average |
| Coat Type of the breed | Medium to long length |
| Coat Colors of the breed | Black; white; cream |
| Level of Grooming necessary | Lots of grooming |
| Level of Shedding | Moderate shedding |
| Ease of training | Easy to train |
| Level of Vitality | Medium |
| Level of Exercise Ideally Required | Energetic |
| Puppies | 3 – 12 puppies |
What to Know
• They have beautiful curly fur that needs routine grooming.
• Their fur often gives them a unique puffball look.
• They are cute and sweet and are a good companion breed.
• They are suitable for apartment living and have a good temperament on the whole.
• The Afghan Chon breed has as one of its parents breeds the Afghan Hound.
• The Afghan Hounds (parent breed) are originally from Afghanistan and were later taken to England and then to the United States.
Characteristics
Adaptability
Afghan Chon is an adaptable breed. It’s an ideal breed for new owners who are planning to adopt a fur baby for the first time. These babies are well adaptable to apartment living.
However, this breed is an extremely sensitive one that is not at all suitable to be kept alone.
These furry babies are ideal for the cold weather, moreover, they are intolerable towards hot weather. Thus, an AC is a must if you are considering adopting one of them in a hot climate.
Adaptability
Adapts Well To Apartment Living
Good For Novice Owners
Review 4
Tolerates Being Alone
Sensitivity Level
Tolerates Hot Weather
Friendliness
They are good with children and strangers. Because of their laid-back character, they never come off as aggressive.
It will be good if the Afghan Chon is exposed to other animals from a very young age so that their hunting ancestry does not come up when in the presence of smaller animals later on.
All About Friendliness
Affectionate With Family
Kid-Friendly
Dog Friendly
Friendly Toward Strangers
Personality
Even when the Afghan Chon dog has a chance of inheriting either of its parent breed’s body stature, its personality is often mostly that of the Bichon Frise. They are goofy balls that love fun.
They are very easy to train and thrive on positive reinforcement. They are a breed that is eager to please.
They love being busy but also like some me time now and then. They might not react well to boredom.
Temperament
They are very affectionate and fun to be around. They are a whole entertainment unit in their capacity, grabbing the hearts of people left and right with their elegant and fun-loving personalities.
They adapt and integrate into the family very easily.
Friendly with kids
Afghan Chon is a very family-oriented breed thus, it has all the qualities that suit family life. Thus, one of the significant plus sides of this breed is, that it is quite friendly with kids, which makes it more of a family dog.
It has a welcoming nature and gentle nature that assures the owner of their children being safe around these dogs.
Amicable to other pets
The Afghan Chon, moreover, has an amicable and subtle nature. Thus, they aren’t vindictive towards other dogs in general.
However, like any other dog, an Afghan child’s nature depends on the environment it is brought up in.
Thus the friendlier the environment the better nature your dog has. Additionally, their instinctive welcoming nature is an advantage when considered for amicability around other pets.
Barking tendencies
Your Afghan Chon puppy loves to be kept engaged all the time. This tendency might lead to the development of idleness. Idleness might further lead to excessive barking tendencies.
Thus, the preliminary requirement that an Afghan Chon owner should keep in mind is “never keep your dog idle.” Also, providing your dog is a must to control and regulate its barking tendencies.
Possibility of staying alone
The only significant negative side of the Afghan Chon is that it cannot be left alone for a long period. All it needs is attention, care, and company. Separation anxiety is a significant issue that might arise if you leave your dog alone.
The Afghan Chon needs to be surrounded by family most of the time. However, this issue’s extensivity might be somewhat managed through proper training and adaptable environment building.
Pros and Cons
Now let us look into a summarized view of the pros and cons of the Afghan Chon dogs.⤵️
Pros
- Afghan Chon is an extraordinarily beautiful breed with white or cream flowy fur.
- They are incredibly loyal and devoted pets to their owners which makes them the ideal fit for the safety of the family.
- They are pretty adaptable to most environments.
Cons
- This breed requires regular grooming, which might turn out to be expensive and time-consuming for the owner.
- They have an instinctive sense of independence which makes it difficult to train them.
- This is an overly active breed, thus, any amount of negligence regarding their physical activities would lead to the development of physical and behavioral issues among them.
Appearance
General Appearance
The white or cream, long-furred Afghan Chon is sturdy. They have a strong build with medium-sized legs. Since the parent breeds have a stark size difference, the mixed-breed puppies are of varied sizes.
Their body is usually thicker around the chest region and then tapers down up to the tail. Although they have slim bodies, they are extremely muscular.
Coat color
Afghan Chon generally have black, brown, or white coats of medium to long length. Their coats can be very dense and curly.
They are susceptible to shedding like any other breed, but the rate of shedding is moderate. However, they might require a lot of grooming.
Shedding
The shedding rate of this breed is lower compared to other breeds; they are moderate shedders. Lots of grooming and brushing will make sure that shedding is not extreme.
Size
The Afghan chon dogs come in various sizes; their height may vary from 10 to 26 inches; since they are a hybrid breed of a large dog breed and a toy breed. Their weight is often between 10 to 70 lbs.
There one should expect their Afghan chon pup to grow up to either a medium or a large size dog.
| Male | Female | |
|---|---|---|
| Height | 10-27 inches | 10-27 inches |
| Weight | 10-75 pounds | 10-75 pounds |
Health
The Afghan chon dog breed is generally healthy. However, they are prone to some diseases that often affect their parent breeds – Afghan Hound and Bichon Frise.
It is essential to schedule regular health checkups with the nearby vet. Some of the health problems that can affect the Afghan chon dog breeds are- ⤵️
| Health Problems |
|---|
| Patellar Luxation |
| Hip Dysplasia |
| Retinal Atrophy |
| Patent Ductus Arteriosus |
| Hypothyroidism |
| Juvenile Cataracts |
| Health Test |
|---|
| Hip evaluation |
| Eye examinations |
| Endocrine tests |
Health And Grooming Requirements
Amount Of Shedding
Drooling Potential
Easy To Groom
General Health
Potential For Weight Gain
Size
Maintenance and Care
As with every other dog breed, the Afghan chon dog breed also needs regular health checkups to detect any health condition early.
Ask your veterinarian to develop a proper care routine to keep your dog healthy.
At least 60 minutes of daily activity is a must when it comes to this breed. It is also important that the dog’s ears are checked at least once to keep them clean without risking the buildup of wax.
Nails should be regularly clipped, and hair should be brushed regularly – several times a week.
Grooming
Coats are to be brushed every week. Regular shampoo sessions will be required, and the selection of the appropriate shampoo should be made per the vet’s opinion. Nail maintenance should also be given priority.
Food and Nutrition
The diet of an Afghan Chon dog breed should be similar to that of a dog breed with high energy. Pay particular attention that they are not overfed, or underfed for that matter.
Even though these breeds tend to gain much weight, it is better to use treats that have low calories so that they don’t grow obese. It is recommended that a veterinarian be consulted to determine a proper diet routine.
Food Cost
Afghan Chon is a reasonably large breed thus, its food consumption occurs accordingly.
However, it is not necessary that every dog of a particular breed would consume the same amount of food and thereby would have the same average food cost; a dog’s food consumption depends on factors like appetite and metabolism, which vary for individual fur babies.
But for the convenience of our readers, we have made a generalized summary of the food cost of their Afghan Chon babies.
An average-sized Afghan Chon dog is expected to consume three cups of dog food daily, considering that it includes all the necessary nutrients required for its well-being.
Based on this quantity, we assume the daily food cost of your Afghan chon swings between $1.20 to $1.40, which in turn rolls down to $34.00 to $45.00 monthly.
Exercise and Activity Level
At least 60 minutes of activity regularly is a must when it comes to the Afghanchon dog breed. Afghan Chon has a hunting ancestry and therefore are very energetic and intelligent dogs.
Make sure to give them a regular outlet to use their physical as well as mental prowess. Also, don’t deprive them of their regular activity because when they get bored, these breeds tend to vocalize it.
Physical Requirements
Energy Level
Intensity
Exercise Needs
Potential for Playfulness
Trainability
Training your Afghan Chon baby can be quite tricky. Although this breed is very family-oriented they are resistant towards getting trained. They are known to be hunting dogs but not working dogs.
Basic obedience training is a must for all breeds, but additionally, other kennel training and command training pursuits are also essential, particularly for this breed.
These dogs must be trained a little extra when kept in an apartment setting.
Trainability
Review 2
Intelligence
Potential For Mouthiness:
Prey Drive
Tendency To Bark Or Howl
Easy To Train
Interesting facts
• According to legends, one of these dogs was aboard Noah’s Arch.
• American actor Zeppo Marx was among the first to adopt the Afghan Chon puppy in the United States.
Key Takeaways
Pretty cool to know all about the breed before you adopt one, right can’t imagine how excited you must be!
Go on, adopt this furball, and let us know of your experiences in the comments below!
Explore More Dog Breeds…
FAQ on Afghan Chon Dog the breed⤵️
What is the average lifespan of an Afghan Chon dog?
With proper care and attention, these dog breeds tend to have a life span of 10 to 15 years.
Are the Afghan Chon dogs friendly with other pets?
The Afghan Chon is friendly with other pets, but they have an instinctual urge to hurt smaller animals.
How much exercise is required for an Afghan Chon dog breed?
At least 60 minutes of daily exercise.
I am a passionate animal lover with a lifelong commitment to pet care. With over a decade of experience as a pet owner, I’ve nurtured a variety of furry and feathered friends, from cats and dogs to birds and reptiles. I possess a deep understanding of their unique needs, behavior, and health. My mission is to share my knowledge and insights to help fellow pet enthusiasts provide the best possible care for their beloved companions.