Dougal.
Dougal was an Afghan Hound who graced our home from 1968 to 1977.
Whilst working in Cheshire we had seen the Afghan of a colleague and had admired his dog. When our family moved to Buckinghamshire and were settled we placed an advert in the Sunday Times asking if anyone had a need for a home for their dog.
A gentleman from Kent rang us who had Dougal, he worked away a lot and could not give Dougal the exercise required. He came up to view our house and to check whether we were suitable owners. Of course we were.
He brought a male, beautiful Afghan with a Tiger Brindle coat. Dougal was about two years old. Our youngest daughter Philippa was then only three and about a yard in height. Dougal was good natured and gentle and allowed her to walk him without any pulling. If he had wanted to chase he could have pulled her over very easily.
Dougal was a patient well behaved dog who was keen on long walks and was playful, good in the car and generally very fit. We found some friends nearby who also had a younger Afghan bitch and the two dogs enjoyed long walks together at the weekends for some years until we moved over to Essex.
Dougal had only one downside, a hound trait, he did not always come straight back and one had to be patient with him. We had an incident on holiday in N Wales when he took off and rounded up some sheep.
He loved being groomed and when he went to kennels during our holidays abroad he was most popular with the kennel staff.
During the mid seventies, as he aged he slowed down and developed a severe heart complaint that eventually needed us to have him put down.
A fine happy dog that gave all of us much pleasure.
For more information about these wonderful dogs contact the Afghan Hound Association
.
