Silken Windhound

The Silken Windhound is a small American sighthound with a long silky coat — a young breed with a documented founding and a deliberate emphasis on health.

History

It was developed in the United States from the 1980s from Borzoi and small sighthound stock, to produce a long-coated sighthound of manageable size. Its founder kept open records and encouraged genetic testing from the beginning, which is unusual for a new breed and has kept the population healthier than most.

Temperament

The breed is known for being gentle, playful and companionable, more people-oriented than most sighthounds and generally easy with children and other dogs.

Care and training

It needs room to run and secure fencing, since the chase instinct is intact. The silky coat needs regular brushing but mats less than its length suggests. Training should be gentle; it is a soft breed.

Health

Generally sound; a drug sensitivity carried by some lines is tested for, and the breed's open health records are one of the reasons it is worth mentioning. These are known patterns for the breed and a matter for a breeder and a vet; the measured facts are in the panel.