Silken Windhound
18-20 yrs
24-44 lbs
18-24"
United States

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Silken Windhound

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Dog Breeds
Silken Windhound

24-44 lbs

18-24"

United States

Silky

The Silken Windhound is very similar to the Borzoi. He is basically a smaller version of the Borzoi and was developed in the United States as a sighthound. The Silken Windhound weighs between 22 and 55 pounds, which is significantly less than the Borzoi. He loves to run and chase things such as cats and squirrels. He is very trainable and wants to please his owner. He is generally a clean and mild mannered dog. He loves being indoors, preferably on the couch with you. The Silken Windhound loves children and other dogs. His silken coat does require weekly grooming, he does shed but not excessively.

                
                Purpose
              
Sighthound

                Date of Origin
              
1970s

                Ancestry
              
Hound

Silken Windhound Health

Average Size

Height: 18-24 inches Weight: 33-55 lbs

Height: 18-24 inches Weight: 24-44 lbs

Major Concerns

Lotus Syndrome

Minor Concerns

Usually A Very Healthy Breed

Occasional Tests

Full Physical Examination

Silken Windhound Breed History

The typical sighthound is a large or giant breed except for the Whippet who is a medium-sized breed. Borzoi breeder Francie Stull of Kristull Kennel envisioned a medium-sized sighthound similar to the Whippet in size but with coat like the Borzoi. She started crossing the Borzoi with Whippets and Whippet-based lurchers that came from strong lure coursing and show bloodlines. The first official litter of Silken Windhounds was born in 1985. The Silken Windhound was officially named in 1998. In 1999, the International Silken Windhound Society was chartered. This club keeps a pedigree database and DNA verified registrations. The official breed standard was adopted in 2001. The United Kennel Club recognized the Silken Windhound as a breed in 2011. Now, the Silken Windhound is found not just in the United States, but also in the Bahamas, Canada, Finland, Austria, Italy, Germany, Mexico, Slovenia, Japan, Sweden, Switzerland, New Zealand, Norway, United Kingdom, Union of South Africa, United Arab Emirates and the Netherlands. Most European dog registries do not yet recognize the Silken Windhound as a breed. Breed clubs throughout Europe are beginning to develop and begin pushing for the Silken Windhound to be recognized as a pure bred. The American Kennel Club does not recognize the Silken Windhound as a breed. The International Silken Windhound Society is in the process of having the Silken Windhound accepted into the AKC’s Foundation Stock Service, which is the first step towards being officially recognized by the AKC and allowed to be registered and compete in events.

Silken Windhound Breed Appearance

The Silken Windhound is a medium-sized sighthound. He has long silky coat and is an elegant looking dog. He has an athletic build and looks graceful and well balanced. He is exceptional at running, as are most sight hounds. His coat is silky and soft to touch; never should his coat be profuse or woolly. It cannot be so dense that it obscures the graceful outline of his body. The coat can be straight, curly or wavy, although excessive curling is not desirable. His long coat should only be moderately long so it does not interfere with his lure coursing abilities. The Silken Windhound comes in all colors and coat patterns. He has naturally short hair on his face, head, feet, front of the forelegs and hocks. He has feathering or longer hair on the back of his forelegs and on the ears. His coat should never be trimmed excessively.

Eye Color Possibilities

Brown

Nose Color Possibilities

Black

Coat Color Possibilities

Brindle

White

Fawn

Cream

Red

Brown

Gray

Black

Coat Length

Short Medium Long

Coat Density

Sparse Normal Dense

Coat Texture

Straight Wiry Wavy Curly Corded

Silken Windhound Breed Maintenance

The Silken Windhound has an elegance that does require grooming several times a week. The soft, silky texture of his coat can easily tangle, creating knots and matting if not taken care of quickly. He can be groomed using a slicker brush or a pin brush along with a steel comb. He will also need to be bathed every eight to twelve weeks with a mild shampoo or a baby shampoo. If there is excessive tangling in the hair behind his ears, sprinkle baking soda behind his ears. It keeps excessively tangles from forming. His ears should be cleaned weekly to prevent infection. The Silken Windhound does not generally like his nails trimmed. It is important to maintain a set schedule for nail trimming so he becomes used to them being trimmed. If trimming stresses him too much, a nail grinder can be used. Routine dental care should also be adhered to in order to keep his gums and teeth healthy.

Brushes for Silken Windhound

Slicker Brush

Comb

Nail Clipper

Brushing Frequency

Daily Weekly Monthly

Silken Windhound Temperament

The Silken Windhound is a very friendly and affectionate companion. He likes meeting new people and should never exhibit shyness or aggression. He is happiest when he is with his family and participating in activities with people. He is a gentle dog who is not overly barky. He requires daily exercise, especially running. The Silken Windhound is a very fast dog. The Silken Windhound is independent and intelligent. He has a strong prey drive and being a sight hound, will chase cats and other small animals. If he is raised with small pets such as cats, ferrets, hamsters and guinea pigs, he will usually do well with them, although the Silken Windhound should not be left alone with smaller pets even if he is familiar with them. Even though the Silken Windhound is not naturally a shy dog, it is still important to socialize him with people and other dogs. Begin at an early age to ensure that he is a well-rounded adult.