Silken Windhounds are small-to-medium, athletic sighthounds with silky coats and a gentle companion manner at home. The breed may suit a household that can provide daily exercise, safe opportunities to run, and thoughtful management around small animals; individual dogs vary, so meet the dog and discuss your household with a breeder before deciding.
How big does a Silken Windhound get?
The United Kennel Club (UKC) describes the Silken Windhound as an elegant, small-to-medium sighthound with an athletic build, fine bone, and smooth muscle. Its breed standard gives a height range of 18½–23½ inches (47–60 cm). It permits all colors and markings. The sources cited here do not establish a reliable weight range.
What is a Silken Windhound’s temperament like?
The UKC standard describes a dog with balanced character and intelligence. It distinguishes the breed’s strong prey drive in the field from its gentle, affectionate, devoted behavior at home. The standard faults unwarranted timidity, nervousness, or hostility toward people or dogs.
The International Silken Windhound Society (ISWS) says individual personalities vary. It describes most Silkens as friendly, usually quiet, loving, and comfortable as part of a group, but those general descriptions cannot guarantee how a particular dog will behave. When considering a puppy or adult, discuss whether you want a companion or a performance prospect and what you expect from a dog’s temperament with the breeder.
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Prey drive and household fit
Prey drive matters when planning walks, off-leash exercise, and life with small animals. A breed standard is not a precise prediction of an individual dog’s response, so ask about the dog in front of you and consider how you will manage outdoor access and introductions at home.
How much exercise does a Silken Windhound need?
ISWS says Silkens need daily exercise and room to run. It also describes them as normally quiet and well-behaved indoors. Plan for both regular activity and a safe place to stretch out at speed; do not assume that a quiet indoor manner means a dog can do without daily exercise.
Silken Windhounds may take part in sighthound sports such as lure coursing and racing, as well as agility, obedience, therapy work, and scent work. These are optional interests, not requirements for owning the breed.
Do Silken Windhounds shed, and how much grooming do they need?
ISWS describes the breed as naturally clean and requiring little grooming. Coat length ranges from medium-long to very long, sometimes with feathering, and shedding varies; all dogs shed. A basic comb or pin brush can be useful for routine coat care, but the society does not describe special equipment as necessary.
Where did the Silken Windhound come from?
According to UKC’s breed history, Francie Stull developed the breed from Borzoi, Whippet, and Whippet-based lurcher lines. The first litter was whelped in 1985, and the name Silken Windhound was adopted in 1998. The International Silken Windhound Society was chartered in 1999; UKC recognition followed on March 18, 2011.
What should prospective owners know about health and diet?
ISWS reports that the breed’s Canine Health Information Center (CHIC) program began in 2021 and that 110 dogs entered during its first full year, as reported by the society in 2022. That figure is a historical participation count, not a disease-prevalence estimate or evidence about an individual dog’s health. ISWS also describes health clinics and subsidized testing for members. The information cited here does not establish disease prevalence, a complete screening protocol, or a health guarantee.
For diet choices, ISWS advises discussing options with both the breeder and a veterinarian. It notes that puppies, pregnant or nursing dogs, and adults have different needs; this guide does not prescribe a diet.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How do I find a Silken Windhound breeder?
ISWS is the breed society and registry resource. It maintains the breed registry and says DNA testing is required for registry integrity. Its breeder listings are a starting point for finding contacts and talking through whether a Silken Windhound fits your lifestyle.
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- Start with the ISWS breeder listings. Contact breeders to ask about available or planned litters and the roles they breed for.
- Describe your household and routine. Discuss exercise, access to safe running space, other pets, and whether you want a companion or a dog for activities.
- Ask about the individual dog. Talk through temperament, coat, and the health information available for the puppy’s parents and relatives. The sources here do not establish a single comprehensive screening checklist, so ask what the breeder does and what records are available.
- Consider the long-term fit. Decide whether you can accommodate daily exercise, outdoor prey-drive management, and the range of coat length and shedding found in the breed.
Sources
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