The Silken Windhound is a relatively new breed, a sight hound that has Russian and English ancestors. A sight hound is a hunting dog that relies on its sight to chase the pray. The experienced Borzoi breeder (a Russian breed) by the name of Francie Stull had a vision: to breed a new dog with great sight hound abilities and suitable for families as well. Her journey began in 1975 when she started to weigh her options and gather puppies from different breeds with champion features. By the late 1980s, the new breed was formed,, and in the late 1990s, the official breed club was formed. In 2011 it was recognized by the United Kennel Club, the second oldest registry of pure breeds in the USA.
The Silken Windhound is an elegant mid-size coursing dog, with a medium long silky coat. Its size and coat provides it with the necessary qualities for running on all types of terrain and in any kind of weather, making it a reputable competitor in a variety of dog sports. It is the perfect running machine, with a body that is narrow if you look at it from the front, reducing frontal air friction, a chiseled head, a long arched neck and a graceful, long, low-carried tail. Its muscular body is covered by a beautiful long hair that dances in the air while the dog is in motion.
They have medium height and weight, about 18-23 in (46-60 cm) at the withers and 22-55 lbs (10-25 kg), with the males having slightly higher attributes than the females. Their coat can be found in any type of color combination and markings, from solid colors to spotted, with a rainbow of color combinations.
They are generally healthy dogs, with no known significant gene defects. The most important thing is to have them tested against the MDR1, a gene which makes them sensitive to certain drugs, which, if not carefully tested, can end their life. Their life expectancy is around 14-18 years with a record of the oldest Windhound passing away a few months after its 20th birthday.
The breed responds very well to training. For them to work eagerly and build strong relationship with the owner, it is necessary to use reward and affection based training.
The Windhound is a great combination of an outdoor and indoor dog, being comfortable running outside all day, as well as chilling with the family in the living room. Their stature and character makes them suitable companions for families with small children, providing affection and playfulness. Keep in mind that this is a sight hound and, what with its charming and quiet character, it will not make a very good guard dog. It makes friends with strangers easily due to its trusting nature.
The Silken Windhound can cohabitate with other small dogs, but make sure they are properly socialized, as their sight hound abilities would drive them to chase small animals, whether they are living under the same roof or outside.
