Silken Windhound

The Silken Windhound is a comparatively new breed. The idea of a small, longhaired dog to fill a niche within the sighthound group was the brain-puppy of Francie and Chuck Stull of Kristull kennels in the United States. From the mid-1970s they worked to craft and create their new breed, producing the first litter of official Silken Windhounds in 1987. Since then, the breed has been gradually growing in popularity with societies formed and recognition by kennel clubs.

Silken Windhounds are a breed suited to all kinds of different environments. Providing they are given a chance to bomb around at least once a day, they will then be content to curl up and relax at home. This makes them an attractive option for those living in urban centres. They are loving and affectionate dogs who prefer to be surrounded by human company as much as possible. They are a sociable breed that gets on well with children and strangers. Their long, silky coats require a bit of attention but are not a nightmare to look after.

About & History

Usually, a breed’s history is largely forgotten with scattered sources, folklore and maybe some genetic analysis informing many early histories. The Silken Windhound is different in this respect, as we know exactly how it came into being. In the mid-1970s, the owners of Kristull Kennels, Francie and Chuck Stull, identified a gap in the sighthound group. At the time they bred Borzoi and Deerhounds – both large, longhaired sighthounds. They realised that there was no established breed of small, longhaired sighthounds. Over the next few decades, they would work to create and curate this new breed, which would be smaller than a Borzoi but larger than a Whippet and have long hair.

Their starting point was longhaired Whippets. The exact origin of these longhaired Whippets is disputed and, in certain corners of the Internet, highly controversial. The controversy centres around whether the longhaired characteristic was the result of cross-breeding with Shetland Sheepdogs or a natural, previously unexpressed, characteristic of Whippets. Controversy aside, a longhaired Whippet by the name of Windsprite Autumnal Xenon and a Borzoi called Stillwater Kristull Peacock were the first pairing in what was to become the Silken Windhound.

Francie Stull continued refining the breed from this first pairing, crossing in further Borzoi and Whippet lines. The first litter to be pronounced as Silken Windhounds was whelped in 1987. Over the next decade, the breed was promoted and spread with the International Silken Windhound Society formed in 1999 with a breed standard established in 2001. Exports to other countries began in the early 2000s with the first Silken Windhound arriving in England in 2005. Since the Silken Windhound is a new breed, it has not been recognised by the American Kennel Club, however, the breed was recognised by the United Kennel Club in 2011.

Appearance

Silken Windhounds are small to medium sized dogs, standing at 46 to 60cm at the withers. Males typically weigh between 15 and 25kg with females slightly lighter at 10 to 20kg. The Silken’s face is typical of the sighthound family with a long muzzle and slender features. Their ears are small and triangular shaped. The body is slender, with a deep chest and significant abdominal tuck. The limbs are long and slender but well muscled. The rail is long and hangs down between the legs with a slight curve towards the end.

The Silkens coat is their main feature and is very similar in texture and coverage to that of the Borzoi. Their hair is soft and long with feathering on the backs of the forelimbs, undercarriage and tail. Silkens come in a wide variety of colours, often with spotting patterns including:

Character & Temperament

The Silken Windhound is known for being friendly and affectionate. They thrive off human company and would prefer owners that are around the house most of the time or who can take them along during their daily activities. Their friendliness isn’t just extended to members of their family, but they will warmly welcome any strangers into their home. This trait makes them eminently suitable as companion animals but they would be useless as guard dogs.

Silkens get along well with children and will play nicely. Their moderate size and light build make over-exuberant play less of a possibility than other, more robust breeds. A well socialised Silken will be able to cohabit with other cats and dogs, however, they still have a strong prey drive. This may exclude them from sharing their homes with smaller animals, such as rabbits, who may look more like food than friends.

Like other sighthounds, Silkens are big fans of being able to run around at breakneck speed. However, once they’ve had their fill of exercise, they will be quiet and well mannered around the home. They will have no problem with curling up and going to sleep in the evening rather than continuing to bounce off the walls.

Trainability

Silken Windhounds are an intelligent breed that take well to training. Training should begin as early as possible with basic commands being introduced from as early as eight weeks old. Socialisation is another essential part of training, ensuring that a Silken can express their full potential friendliness.

Their intelligence and trainability makes them especially suited to activities, such as obedience competitions, agility and other sports. They are eager to learn and will be happy to please their owners. Not only do these activities help to strengthen the bond they have with their owner, it also provides an outlet for their sighthound instincts to run around and chase things.

Health

Silken Windhounds have a long lifespan relative to other breeds with most individuals living to at least 14 years old. Some Silkens can even reach the ripe old age of 20. As a breed that has been carefully selected over recent years, they do not suffer from many genetic ailments. However, an annual check-up at the vets, along with booster vaccines, will keep them ticking over and alert you to any problems sooner rather than later.

Ivermectin Sensitivity

Although not a disease in its own right, prospective Silken Windhound owners should be aware that this breed can carry a genetic change that renders them susceptible to ivermectin. Ivermectin is a commonly used anti-parasite medication. It has a wide range of uses from internal worms to fleas and mange, and is generally a very safe drug to use.

Some breeds carry a gene, MDR1, which affects their sensitivity to ivermectin (and some other drugs), lowering the toxic dose. Affected breeds include pastoral dogs, such as Border Collies and Shelties. Interestingly, the gene is also found in Longhaired Whippets (see earlier section on the controversy surrounding the origins of the Longhaired Whippet), which contributed to the bloodline of the Silken.

Symptoms of ivermectin toxicity are neurological and include dilated pupils, vomiting, abnormal behaviour, weakness and difficulty breathing. Fortunately, a test is available for the MDR1 gene, which will identify carriers and affected individuals. The MDR1 gene is recessive, but it should be noted that carriers may also have a reduced tolerance to certain drugs. If you go ahead with a test, make sure to let your vet know the result, as it will affect prescriptions.

Exercise and Activity Levels

Silken Windhounds can be relaxed dogs who are happy to lounge around with you, but they won’t be happy doing this all day. They are capable of bursts of energy that need to be released as least once a day with a long walk or run. Providing this requirement is met, they are adaptable to many different living conditions from rural settings to city apartments.

The Silken’s trainability makes them suitable for all kinds of different activities so you needn’t limit yourself to just a stroll in the park. Activities, such as agility training, will not only make sure your Silken gets the physical activity they require, but also the attention and mental stimulation.

Grooming

With their long, silky locks, you would be forgiven for thinking that a Silken’s coat would be difficult to maintain with lengthy grooming sessions and weekly baths. Whilst they’re not the lowest maintenance dogs, you could do worse! Their fur requires combing a few times a week to prevent knots and tangles forming.

In general, shedding is moderate, so a weekly brush should be sufficient to remove excess hair. Regular baths are not generally necessary, but can be given as and when they’re needed. If they are not being exercised on hard surfaces, they may need their nails trimming once a month. Their ears should be checked for redness, inflammation and bad smells once a week.

Famous Silken Windhounds

Despite their fabulous fur, the Silken Windhound hasn’t been in the public eye much. You can find plenty of every day Silkens on Instagram, however, who are famous in their own right. Sivi is a gorgeous example of a Silken Windhound who goes for plenty of grand adventures!

Cross-Breeds

As a recently established cross-breed themselves, no breeder has begun making cross-breeds with this cross-breed.