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Entry 292Filed under Breeding

Silken Windhound vs. Whippet: Temperament, Size, and Exercise Needs

Silken Windhounds and Whippets share affectionate sighthound traits and overlapping standard heights. Compare their prey-drive notes, exercise guidance, and coat differences.
3-minute read By Animalso Team
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Silken Windhounds and Whippets are affectionate, athletic sighthounds with overlapping standard heights. The clearest day-to-day difference is their coat: Silkens have a longer, silky coat with feathering, while Whippets have a short, close coat. Both need daily activity and safe opportunities to run, but available guidance does not establish that one breed needs more exercise than the other. The right fit depends on the individual dog and your household.

Silken Windhound vs. Whippet at a glance

Factor Silken Windhound Whippet
Standard height 18.5–23.5 inches (47–60 cm) at the withers, per the United Kennel Club standard. Desirable height is 18.5–20 inches for dogs and 17.5–18.5 inches for bitches, per the Royal Kennel Club standard.
Temperament in the standard Balanced, gentle, affectionate, and devoted at home; the standard also notes strong prey drive in the field. Gentle, affectionate, and even in disposition.
Exercise guidance The International Silken Windhound Society recommends daily exercise and room to run. The American Kennel Club suggests walks, retrieving, or play in a safely fenced area, and advises keeping Whippets on lead outside a fenced area.
Coat Soft and silky, potentially straight, wavy, or curly, with feathering. Fine, short, and close.
Home life The parent club describes Silkens as normally quiet and well-behaved indoors. The Royal Kennel Club describes Whippets as adaptable in domestic and sporting settings.

These are breed-standard descriptions and general guidance, not guarantees about every dog. The standards do not provide comparable breed weight ranges.

Temperament: similar companionship, with a prey-drive distinction

Both breeds are described as gentle and affectionate companions. The UKC Silken Windhound standard puts the distinction plainly: “While this breed exhibits strong prey drive in the field, they are gentle, affectionate, devoted companion animals in the home.” The Royal Kennel Club describes the Whippet’s disposition as “Gentle, affectionate, even disposition.”

The Silken parent club says individual personalities vary; it describes the breed generally as friendly toward people and not usually territorial or dog-aggressive. It also notes that Silkens may enjoy running and playing before settling down at home. These are broad breed-club descriptions, not promises about a particular dog. The sources do not establish that one breed is calmer, more sociable, less aggressive, or easier to train than the other.

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Which is bigger?

The standard height ranges overlap. UKC accepts Silken Windhounds from 18.5 to 23.5 inches (47 to 60 cm) at the withers. The Royal Kennel Club lists desirable Whippet heights of 18.5 to 20 inches for dogs and 17.5 to 18.5 inches for bitches. That means some Silkens fall within the Whippet height range; it is not accurate to say every Silken is taller than every Whippet. Standard measurements describe ideal guidance, not the height of every individual dog.

How much exercise does each need?

Both need regular activity and safe opportunities to run, but the cited guidance does not give a comparable daily-minute target or show that one breed uniformly needs more exercise.

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  • Silken Windhound: The International Silken Windhound Society recommends daily exercise and room to run. Its FAQ also describes activities Silkens may enjoy, including walks, play, coursing, and racing, and says exercise should be adjusted for weather.
  • Whippet: The American Kennel Club lists walks, vigorous retrieving sessions, or play with another dog in a safely fenced area as exercise options. It advises keeping a Whippet on lead outside a fenced area.

Plan around the individual dog’s age, health, and activity level rather than assuming a breed-wide exercise ranking. Because both are sighthounds and the Silken standard specifically notes field prey drive, use secure fencing for off-lead running and keep a dog leashed outside a safely enclosed area.

Coat and grooming: the most visible practical difference

A Silken Windhound’s soft coat may be straight, slightly wavy, or curly, with feathering on the legs, chest, hindquarters, neck, and tail. The Whippet standard calls for a fine, short, close coat. A Silken therefore has more coat to manage as a practical matter, but the cited standards do not establish a precise difference in grooming time.

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How to choose between them

Start with the routine you can provide and the individual dog in front of you. The Silken parent-club FAQ advises prospective owners to consider their lifestyle and requirements and to speak with breeders about matching. Ask about a dog’s temperament, prey interest, exercise habits, and comfort being handled for coat care. Prefer the Silken if you are drawn to its silky, feathered coat and can accommodate that coat; prefer the Whippet if you want the short, close coat. For either breed, make a realistic plan for daily activity and safe running opportunities.

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