I have heard that Afghans are not the most easiest dogs to train and are a bit 'thick', is this so?

Thick...NO!!!! They are a hound and most,if not all hounds, are not the easiest of dogs to train.Most hounds suffer from 'selective deafness' or in other word are very adept at ignoring their owners when they choose to
Archer

there is a lady does agility with her eldest afghan, and has two puppies waiting in the wings, i would not call them thick at all,
carol

My husband used to own them he said they were 'scatty' dogs,lol.

LOL

Afghans are brighter than the average owner :D :D  they just have selective deafness and an independant nature :D - definately NOT thick!!    You need to be very creative and inventive to get their attention and keep it :)  A challenge to train but definately worth it :D

Make sure that you have locks on your fridge freezer and cupboards, they can be very good at opening them :d

The first part of your statement is correct...they are not the easiest of dogs to train. Their "hound" nature means that they are more challenging, and demand astutenes from the trainer, along with consistency and perseverence. As with all dogs, the trainer needs to find what makes the dog "tick".  The challenge in training an afghan does not come from them being "thick", but more from people not understanding the hound mentality. I always liken afghans to cats in that respect. They are perfectly bright enough to do most things, but simply don't fancy it. Afghans can be a bit pompous  and find it beneath them to follow orders, or can be such flipperty gibberts that they dont concentrate for long.
My two afghans are pretty capable...Zorro has got his bronze kc obedience, and Delilah has her gold. So training an affie can be done...but its not for the faint hearted!

Oh and yes, mine can open doors, the fridge, cupboards and the microwave!

I think Afghans (and many independent breeds of dog) would say it is the eager to please dogs that are thick :D 

> think Afghans (and many independent breeds of dog) would say it is the eager to please dogs that are thick

My friend had a beautiful Afghan bitch who used to look down her nose with this wonderful "How frightfully undignified" expression when she watched bouncy eager to please dogs bouncing around!

And while she was indeed independent and could appear aloof she certainly wasn't anything as common as "thick"!  The very idea! :)