SILKEN FAQ
General Information on Silken Windhounds
- I have never heard of them; What are they and where did they come from?
- How much and what do they eat?
- Should I get a boy or girl?
- What are their coats like as a puppy? Adult?
- Do these dogs shed?
- Do these dogs bark or howl?
- What is their personality like?
- Can they handle hot/cold/wet/dry weather?
- What is the difference between a Borzoi and a Silken Windhound, apart from size?
- Are Silkens hyperactive?
- Are there any medical considerations for Silkens?
- Do Silkens have any anesthesia requirements?
- Do Silkens have any sensitivities to particular medications?
- All colors are accepted, but what colors do they come in?
- How/where do I get one?
- How do I pick my new Silken?
I have never heard of them; What are they and where did they come from?
In 1984, Kristull Borzoi embarked on the journey to create the Silken Windhound. The foundation dogs for this breed were selected from some of the top winning show and performance Borzoi kennels, several coated whippet-type dogs from Windsprite Kennels that the breeder termed "longhaired whippets".( Recent DNA studies show that a coated herding breed was introduced into these charming whippet-type dogs), and a Whippet from prestigious show lines.
What has resulted, through many years, and a painstaking process of selection ,is a magnificent, elegant little hound with long hair that seems especially designed to fill a surprising gap in the line-up of Sighthound breeds, that of a small to medium sized, coated hound.
The ISWS is working towards acceptance into the AKC Foundation Stock Service program, where, they will be ready to take their place as the first American Sighthound.
How much and what do they eat?
Most people free-feed their animals unless they show a problem of gaining too much weight. A good choice, higher quality kibble is what most people choose with variations for puppies and nursing mothers. A few of our members and owners are trying the Bones and Raw Food (BARF) Diets with success as well. Talk to the breeder you buy your Silken from, as well as your veterinarian, before settling on a diet. Moreover, remember pregnant and lactating bitches will need a different caloric intake than a spayed animal. In addition, puppies have different nutritional requirements and need a different diet/food.
Unlike many breeds, the boys seem to be just as sweet and loveable as the girls are, if not more so! Overall sex differences are less pronounced in this breed than in some others. Males, in general, will have a heavier coat than the females. The males also tend to be larger and heavier than the females.
What are their coats like as a puppy? Adult?
Coat varies, but usually a variety of long-ish to very long, with feathering. Some coats are straight and some are very curly. All are acceptable.
Some never shed, and others do shed, but not in amounts like other long-haired breeds such as Golden Retrievers, or even Borzoi, that blow coat. A female that is pregnant/nursing will blow coat during that time. Puppies will often blow their coat about 12-18 months of age. Stress, estrus, diet and weather, in addition to genetics, can all affect how much coat they will grow.
They are all capable of barking, but in fact rarely do.
What is their personality like?
Shy, boisterous, dominant, submissive - they are as varied as people and it takes some time to find one that matches you. They are not aggressive towards people and most get along well with every dog they meet. The breed tendency is a quiet, loving dog that is happy to be middle of the pack, no overt fighting or dominance struggles are common in this breed. They have a friendly personality that only improves with socialization. They love to run and have fun with others of their kind as well as with humans, but are more than ready to snuggle with you when it's nap time.
Can they handle hot/cold/wet/dry weather?
Silkens seem to have no trouble in any weather. They glory and frolic in snow; splash through puddles; race in the wind; and bask in the sun. They will adapt their exercise and exposure depending on the temperature outside.
What is the difference between a Borzoi and a Silken Windhound, apart from size?
Size honestly is the biggest physical difference between the two breeds. Unless the two dogs are juxtaposed, you may be hard put to tell the difference. There are other difference, of course, mostly seen in the head of the dogs because of the addition of Whippet (long-haired and smooth) blood. In a Borzoi, the head length, when you measure from the front corner of the eye, is roughly the same as the distance from the rear corner of the eye to the back of the skull. In Silkens, the front portion of the head seems to be longer than the rear. There also tends to be a slight gradual dip in Silken heads immediately after the eyes going into the nose. On a borzoi, this "dip" or "stop" is not apparent and in some can be reversed; some Borzoi heads are a bit convex in this area. Backskulls also tend to be a tad larger in Silkens than in Borzoi. Some eye shapes on Silkens are rounder than a Borzoi's eye shape, and overall, Silken eyes tend to be a bit larger. Ears on a Silken seem to be a bit larger in proportion to their heads than they are on a Borzoi; ear set differs from dog to dog. Heads in general are larger in proportion to the bodies of the Silkens than in Borzoi. Coat is more profuse and longer on Borzoi. The MAIN difference that we see between the breeds is mental. The change in attitude from a Borzoi to a Silken is a total turnaround. Silkens are attached to their owners with an invisible string. They do not 'run away'. They actively want to be a part of whatever is going on. They have total bite inhibition, a desire to please, and are portable - all huge pluses from an ownership standpoint.
Most are not hyperactive; however, there could be the odd one that is more active than is the norm for the breed.
Are there any medical considerations for Silkens?
So far, no medical abnormalities except for a few cases of cryptochordism have been noted. A health committee is working on a database to keep track of any that do arise so that we can continue to breed healthy dogs.
Do Silkens have any anesthesia requirements?
As with all Sighthounds, Silkens do possess some anesthetic sensitivity. Be sure to talk to your vet when it is time for any surgical procedure on your Silken.
Do Silkens have any sensitivities to particular medications?
Most do not tolerate flea collars well, but topicals such as Advantage, FrontLine and Revolution are good alternatives. Also, talk to the individual breeder about what they use on their own dogs.
All colors are accepted, but what colors do they come in?
You will see red, cream, fawn, and brindle, parti-colored (spotted), black, silver, and white. The best places to see all the colors are at the website of individual breeders.
Find a current breeder on our Breeder listings page and send them an email or visit their website or their home. Talk with them and find out all about them and their dogs, then visit, visit, visit!
You have to talk with the breeder you are working with and decide if you want a pet/show or breeding quality animal, and then work with the personality of the animals you are looking at and have the breeder help you pick the one that would fit best into you household.
