Silken Windhound facts for kids
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| Other names | Silken, Windhound | ||||||||
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| Origin | United States | ||||||||
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| Domestic dog (Canis lupus familiaris) | |||||||||
The Silken Windhound is a beautiful and graceful dog breed from the United States. These dogs are a type of sighthound, which means they use their amazing eyesight and speed to chase things. Just like other sighthounds, Silken Windhounds are very good at coursing, which is a sport where dogs chase a fake lure.
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What Makes Silken Windhounds Special?
Their Look
Silken Windhounds are elegant dogs. They are usually small to medium in size. They have lovely, soft fur that feels like silk. Their coats can be many different colors, from pure white to deep black. You might see them with bright stripes (called brindles), solid colors, or even spotted patterns.
Their Personality
Silken Windhounds are very loving and playful dogs. They make great pets for families, especially those with children. Because they are so friendly, they are not good guard dogs. However, they are easy to train for living inside your home. They can even learn to live happily with smaller pets. Silken Windhounds love to play sports like agility (obstacle courses) and flyball (catching balls). They also enjoy being therapy dogs and learning commands.
Training Your Silken Windhound
Silken Windhounds are smart and learn quickly. The best way to train them is by using rewards and lots of praise. Keep training sessions short and fun. When treated well, these dogs will form strong bonds with their owners.
Like many Sighthounds, Silken Windhounds can sometimes slip out of regular buckle collars. Because of this, most owners prefer to use semi-slip collars. These collars are designed to be safer for sighthounds.
Silken Windhound Health
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Silken Windhounds usually live a long time, often into their mid-to-late teens. They are generally healthy dogs. Serious bone and joint problems, like hip dysplasia, are rare. A condition called bloat (where the stomach twists) is also uncommon in this breed.
Some Silken Windhounds can be sensitive to certain medicines, like ivermectin. There is a simple test to find out if a dog has a special gene (called MDR1) that causes this sensitivity. Responsible breeders are working hard to make sure this gene is not passed on to puppies.
History of the Breed
The Silken Windhound breed was created by Francie Stull. She was a very successful breeder of other sighthound breeds, like the AKC Borzoi and Deerhounds. She used her favorite Borzoi and Lurcher dogs to start the new breed.
The first Silken Windhound puppies were born in 1985. Later, in 1999, a special club for the breed was formed. It was called the International Silken Windhound Society. In 2011, the Silken Windhound was officially recognized by the United Kennel Club. Today, you can find Silken Windhounds in over 24 countries around the world!
Events and Sports
Silken Windhounds take part in many dog sports and shows all over the world. They compete in events as part of the hound group. For example, in Slovenia, they are accepted by the Slovenian Kennel Club, which is part of the FCI.
Silken Windhounds also love to compete in sighthound sports. In Finland, they race alongside other sighthounds in lure coursing (chasing a fake lure) and straight racing events. The International Silken Windhound Society has its own racing programs. These programs allow Silkens to compete and earn titles for their speed.
In 2009, Silken Windhounds were accepted into the ASFA for limited stakes events. This meant they could compete in certain lure coursing competitions. In their first month, over forty Silken Windhounds took part! In 2010, they were also accepted into NOFCA, the National Open Field Coursing Association. This allowed them to compete in open field coursing events.
