Are Afghan Hounds easy to train?

No, Afghan Hounds are not easy to train in the conventional sense because of their highly independent nature and strong instinct for making their own decisions. Because of centuries of breeding that selected for self-reliance and autonomous decision-making, these dogs prefer to think and act on their own. This independent nature can make them less responsive to training methods that rely on repetitive cues or tasks.

However, they tend to thrive in learning sessions that encourage them to make choices between two or more positive outcomes. Does your pup want to lie and stay on a mat for a certain amount of time for tasty treats, use toys and high-energy racing around to practice recall, or use their scratchboard to wear down their nails in exchange for treats? 

Offering a variety of sessions and seeing what your dog is enthusiastic about can help your Afghan Hound lead their own learning and flex their independent-minded nature. It’s also important to allow them to leave training sessions if they don’t want to engage and then consider how to make future learning more appealing or choice-driven.

It’s also worth noting that t raining any dog takes substantial time and effort, regardless of breed.