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Afador Breed Card
Afador Breed Overview
Group
Mixed Breed Dogs
Height
24-29 inches tall
Breed Recognition
No
Weight
50-70 pounds
Country of Origin
United States
Personality
Excitable, Energetic, Intelligent
Lifespan
10-12 years
Shedding
High
Afador History
The Afador was first bred in Alaska in the year 2002 as a crossbreed between the Labrador Retriever and the Afghan Hound dog. Today, this hybrid dog is known as the Afghan Lab.
Afghan Hounds are one of the oldest purebred dogs, being registered with the AKC in 1927. They are famous for their elegant appearance having a thick, silky, flowing coat that serves as protection from the harsh climate in the mountains of Afghanistan.
The lovable Labradors have been a popular breed since the late 1800s and were originally bred to catch fish, thus considered “the fisherman’s mate.” The combination of these two breeds has made the Afador a breed with intelligence and beauty.
The Afador is a strong retrieving dog with a protective nature that will have its natural instinct to retrieve random small animals. As they are a mixed breed, they are not true purebred dogs and are not registered with the American Kennel Club (AKC).
Cost ✅
COST LEVEL
Low End: $400
High End: $1000
Afador Physical Traits
General Appearance💡
Afadors are a lovely mix of beauty and intelligence, as they are a combination of two intelligent and sturdy dogs. They are slender, medium-sized dogs with an athletic appearance, bred for their hunting and fishing skills.
The Afador is a breed that is medium in size, having long legs and a slender body. They have a large head, tapered muzzle, almond-shaped eyes, and dropped-folded ears. The males are generally a bit larger than the females. Their noses can be black or brown in color.
The Afador has a larger and more robust figure than their Afghan Hound parents but is also leaner than the purebred Labrador Retriever. This mixture of appearance and personality has made them a popular breed.
The Afador’s coat is moderate in length, straight, and moderately dense. Common coat colors include black, brown, gray, red, and fawn.
Size & Weight ❤️
Height: 27-29 inches
Weight: 55-70 pounds
Height: 24-27 inches
Weight: 50-65 pounds
Coat & Color
Eye Color
Brown
Coat Color
Black, Brown, Fawn, Red, Grey
Coat Length
Medium
Coat Texture
Straight
Afador Temperament and Personality
Afadors are known to be friendly, active, and outgoing dogs because of the same nature found in their parental breeds.
The Afghan Hound, however, has been known to show some stubbornness during the training process as some of their instincts to hunt and break off into a high-speed chase cannot be overcome, so expect some degree of difficulty managing an Afador.
Kid Friendly?
GOOD WITH KIDS
Bad Idea
Excellent Nanny
Yes, Afadors are good with children.
Afadors can be good family pets for families with older children as they can keep up with their need for physical activity and playfulness.
Young children, however, may find that the Afadors can be too hyperactive and might knock them down or step on them accidentally during playtime. Always make sure to supervise your Afadors when they are with children.
Good with Other Pets?
GOOD WITH PETS
Bad Idea
Friendly Socialite
Yes, with early socialization, Afadors can be good with other pets.
Provided that they are socialized at an early age, they are generally okay with having other pets around. Just make sure to introduce them well and establish that they are not to be chased like prey, especially if you plan on housing a smaller dog/cat with them.
Barks a Lot?
BARKING LEVEL
When Neccessary
Noise Maker
Yes, Afadors bark a lot. They have big personalities and are not afraid to show them. Afadors are very excitable dogs, and they can get vocal, so expect that they will like to bark at you to express their playfulness.
Can Be Left Alone?
LEFT ALONE
Likes Being Alone
Sepration Anxiety
Yes, Afadors can be left alone.
Provided that they are not left alone for too long. Afadors need social interaction, so they enjoy being around people or other animals, but they don’t mind being left alone for a few hours.
Afador Training
For inexperienced owners, you may want to consider hiring a professional trainer, as Afadors have been known to be difficult to train. They are intelligent and headstrong dogs, they may not be too keen on following whatever it is you have to say.
This trait may be because of their Afghan Hound parental breed, as they have been reported to be hard-headed dogs, especially when it comes to their instinct to hunt and chase smaller prey-looking creatures.
This does not necessarily mean that they are impossible to train, but they may be a handful for owners that have little training experience and have multiple pets. Their Labrador genes, however, have made them sweet and patient dogs with great skills in the cold and in water.
Expect your Afador to be a sweet and loyal dog with high intelligence that you need to train carefully at a young age.
Afador Needs
When it comes to needs and maintenance, the Afador is a moderately needy breed. In general, it requires a good-quality & healthy diet, moderate exercise, and extensive grooming. All things considered, the needs of this mixed-breed dog are average.
In terms of special needs, we should accent the importance of high fences. Afadors are athletic dogs and can easily jump fences up to 6 feet tall. With proper outdoor playtime, they can also get used to apartment living.
Nutritional Requirements
FOOD MOTIVATED
Picky Eater
Voracious Eater
Medium-sized Afadors should be fed high-quality kibble between 1.5-2.5 daily cups. The food needs to be of premium dog food quality with lots of animal-based protein and health-boosting ingredients.
Afadors are food and praise-motivated breeds, so you can use this to your advantage when training time comes. Just keep a few tasty treats in your pocket to bribe the stubborn Hound and treat the always-hungry Labrador.
Exercise & Activity Levels
ENERGY LEVEL
Couch Potato
Go-All-Day Stamina
Afadors have a medium activity level, but they require at least 45 minutes of exercise every day, like running off-leash or playing with a ball. If practicing off-leash activities, make sure the area is well-fenced (by well-fenced, we mean more than 6 feet tall).
Walking with your Afador for a few minutes on a leash would also be good for them. Do not leave them alone to play by themselves, as you can expect that they will become destructive.
Grooming Needs
SHEDDING LEVEL
No Shedding
Shedding Machine
The Afador’s coat should be regularly groomed and bathed with their coat brushed twice weekly with a metal comb and bristle brush in order to avoid matting, dirt, and tangle accumulation.
During bathing sessions, use high-quality shampoo and conditioner that will keep the silky coat in optimal condition. In general, brushing and bathing are essential to keep the otherwise extensive shedding under control.
Their ears should be cleaned weekly to prevent wax and debris build-up. This can lead to ear infections, which is why ear hygiene is important with this breed.
Afador Average Lifespan
On average, the life expectancy of Afadors is 10 to 12 years. Afadors are descendants of two breeds that are known to have hip problems and are predisposed to flipping stomachs (GDV) or bloat, so there are a few symptoms that you need to watch out for.
Commom Health Problems
- Hip Dysplasia & Elbow Dysplasia: As your Afador gets older, they may experience loosening or dislocation within the joints that connect their hips and/or shoulders. This can be brought about by the genetic predisposition of their parental breeds, poor diet, and old age. Clinical signs of these may be a change in gait or limping.
- Retinal Dysplasia: This is a degenerative disease of the cells in the retina that cause them to atrophy. This is a genetic predisposition in Labradors. Clinical signs of this disease may be visibly cloudy eyes with difficulty seeing.
- Subaortic Stenosis: This is a birth defect common in large breeds that causes the narrowing of the outlet right underneath the aortic valve within the heart. This means that your dog’s heart will have to pump harder to move oxygenated blood back into the body. Clinical signs of this disease are heart murmurs paired with obvious fatigue.
- Gastric Dilation Volvulus (GDV) or Bloat: This is the twisting of the stomach, common in deep-chested dogs. Clinical signs of this disease are a swollen abdomen, nausea, and difficulty breathing.
Recommended Health Tests
- Eye examination
- Cardiac test
- Hip & elbow evaluation
Tips for New Afador Owners
Here are some useful tips for first-time Afador dog owners:
Tip 1
Find a Reputable Breeder: It is important to find breeders that are reputable and make sure that there is proof that the dog came from a suitable environment.
Tip 2
Get Puppy/Dog Products in Advance: Always be prepared and get everything you will need before your Afador puppy comes home. For starters, this includes food, treats, toys, a crate, a bed, and puppy pads.
Tip 3
Supervised Playtime: Older children will be a good pairing with Afadors due to their high spirits and impulsive nature, however, small children (under five years old) must be supervised as they can be knocked over or stepped on. Other pets in the vicinity should be introduced as soon as possible since Afadors are social breeds. However, for smaller pets, it should be made known to your Afador that they are not prey.
Tip 4
Structured Training: The headstrong personality of Afadors requires them to have structured and consistent training to gain discipline from the owner. For owners new to training, a professional trainer may be a good investment. Also, the training needs to start early in puppyhood.
Tip 5
Careful Feeding Time: Since Afadors are prone to bloat, it is important to give them several small-sized meals. Also, do not exercise the dog immediately before and after meals.
Tip 6
Use Joint Supplements: Afadors are prone to hip and elbow issues, which is why you should start supplementing them with joint-friendly products at an earlier age.
Afador Similar Breeds
– Barbets
– Bohemian Shepherd
– Hungarian Greyhound
– Pointer
Afador Supplies You Need
The Afador breed requires a high-quality diet of dog food that is rich in protein and calories for the necessary energy for their level of activity. For grooming an Afador, an owner will typically require a pin brush, metal comb, nail clipper, and mild shampoo recommended by your veterinarian.
You should also consider giving added supplements for their hips and joints, like glucosamine and chondroitin, as an added effort in trying to prevent joint degeneration, which leads to dysplasia.
Best Dog Beds for Afadors
Best Dog Food for Afadors
Best Dog Supplements for Afadors
Afador Fun Facts
If you are looking into the breed and want to learn more, here are some fun facts about the Afador:
Fun Fact
Afadors are great jumpers! They have an impressive ability to jump over high obstacles and may be able to jump over a typical yard fence. Afadors tend to do whatever it takes to get to something they want to chase.
Fun Fact
Afadors can be involved in tasks related to police work, such as search and rescue, tracking, and narcotics detection. Other Afadors are involved in sledding, retrieving, and herding. Afadors also make excellent guard dogs and watchdogs.
Fun Fact
Because of its parents, the Afador dog breed is known as the Afghan Lab.
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