Silken Windhound: Your Complete Guide
Silken windhounds are known for long snouts, people-pleasing personalities, and the urge to give their humans affection. They’re not the biggest dogs around but a perfect medium-sized dog for big apartments, houses, and just about any other location.
The silken windhound is a recent breed that’s become popular, so they’re not recognized by every Kennel club.
While the silken windhound is not a recognized breed by the American Kennel Club (AKC), they’ve been recognized by the United Kennel Club (UKC) and have appeared in shows worldwide. This is how they’ve become famous recently as more and more people run to adopt these loving companions.
That said, it’s hard to know if a dog breed is right for you without understanding more about the breed. This is where we come in. We’ll take you through everything you need to know about silken windhounds to help you determine if they’re a good fit.
Quick Look at the
Below is a quick look at the silken windhound breed in terms of their physical characteristics, lifespan, temperament, and grooming needs.
| Weight/Height | 18-24 inches, 25-50 pounds |
| Coat Type | Silky, long, smooth, multi-color |
| Grooming Needs |  |
| Shedding | |
| Temperament | Affectionate, loyal, playful |
| Good With Kids |  |
| Good With Other Animals | |
| Intelligence |  |
| Easy to Train | |
| Energy Level | |
| Barking Habits | |
| Lifespan | 12-20 years |
What Is the History of the Silken Windhound?
Silken windhounds haven’t been around for a long time. While their popularity grows, they’re still not recognized by major kennel clubs like the American Kennel Club (AKC). However, many breeders in the United States and worldwide are starting to breed the silken windhound.
While not much is open about the silken windhound’s history, many people attribute the first variation of the breed to Francie Stull. Stull is the owner of Kristull Kennel, which is known for breeding borzoi dog breeds.
However, in the 1980s, Francie Stull began to produce silken windhounds, and the first one born was in 1985. It would take 13 years for the breed to officially be named the silken windhound, which happened in 1998.
Following the naming of the breed, the International Silken Windhound Society was born. The breed standard came to be three years later, in 2001, when the breed standard was maintained. While the American Kennel Club still doesn’t recognize the breed, the United Kennel Club (UKC) does recognize the silken windhound as a legitimate breed.
Today, silken windhounds are available at various breeders nationwide and even worldwide.
What Do Silken Windhounds Look Like?
Silken windhounds have a long and flat snout, accompanied by a flat head with floppy ears. They’re not the tallest or biggest breed, but they’re about the same size as your average German shepherd or Labrador retriever.
Their coat length is long and wavy, with tons of color variations. For example, they can be blue, red, silver, gray, white, tan, brown, or any other common dog color combination. Many silken windhounds will also have a combination of these colors. Spotting, steaks, and even some stripes are also common.
What Size Is a Silken Windhound?
Silken windhounds are medium-sized dogs, and male and female silken windhounds are about the same height and weight. On average, they weigh around 33 to 60 pounds, and their height is about 18 to 24 inches. That said, their coat and tail can make them appear bigger than they are.
What Is a Silken Windhounds Coat Type and Length?
Silken windhounds have a medium-length coat that can be wavy, wiry, or straight. This coat can also be longer in some areas of their body, like their hind legs. They’re also known for having longer hair around the neck and paws. Their coats are usually smooth and shiny. While their coats can vary in color, the length and softness is standard across the entire breed.
What Is a Silken Windhounds Temperament?
Silken windhounds are some of the friendliest dogs you can find. They love to meet new people, play with their owners, and go for long walks. Silken windhounds also love to cuddle up on the couch and form deep bonds with their owners.
While they may be high energy during the day, you’ll have another bedmate when it’s time to turn in for the night. Plus, windhounds are adaptable dogs, so you can move to homes or apartments at your leisure without worrying about how they will react.
Are Silken Windhounds Good With Kids?
Silken windhounds are great dogs for the whole family, including kids. They love to play and have plenty of energy to tire themselves and other kids.
While silken windhounds are generally good with children, it’s important to keep an eye on them when playing with a silken windhound. This is because young children might be too rough or can make loud noises that startle the dog, which can lead to injuries and other problems. Thankfully, this is rare and something you must worry about too often.
Are Silken Windhounds Good With Other Animals?
Silken windhounds aren’t bad for other animals as long as they’re not too small. Animals that are too small may trigger their prey instinct, which will initiate a chase or rough playing. This behavior can be trained from your silken windhound, but it may take some time, and it’s best to train them young.
Regarding other dogs and larger animals, you shouldn’t have any issues with a silken windhound.
Remember, it never hurts to start a socialization routine early if you plan on having your silken windhound around other people or dogs.
Are Silken Windhounds Aggressive?
No, silken windhounds are not aggressive dogs. They love humans and other animals, especially if they receive socialization training at a young age. The only time silken windhounds will be aggressive is if they feel like they’re in danger. This is rare and isn’t typical of the breed, but they can jump into action to protect your family.
Do Silken Windhounds Bark?
Silken windhounds aren’t known for their barking, but they may be vocal with you when they want affection. If they are barking, they either want their owner’s attention or to alert them that something is wrong. Otherwise, they won’t bark often, even at strangers. If your silken windhound does bark excessively, they’re receptive to training to reduce their barking.
Are Silken Windhounds Affectionate?
Silken windhounds are an affectionate breed that loves to spend time with their owners. That said, they’re so affectionate that they don’t like being left alone. So, ensure you spend plenty of time with them so they don’t get sad or lonely.
Silken windhounds are also affectionate with strangers and open up to them quickly. Even without socialization training, you shouldn’t have problems getting them to open up to strangers.
Are Silken Windhounds Intelligent?
Silken windhounds aren’t the smartest dog breeds, but they’re relatively intelligent and easy to train. In fact, their people-pleasing temperament makes them easy to prepare because they’re eager to learn new things. Silken windhounds are also quick learners and love to learn new commands.
It’s also possible to train them to complete complex tasks like agility training, tricks, and even service dog work. Overall, silken windhounds are above average in intelligence but not as smart as some of the top dogs.
Are Silken Windhounds Energetic?
Silken windhounds are energetic, but they might come in waves. For example, windhounds might be more playful during the day with bursts of energy, but they might calm down towards the evening hours.
Additionally, your silken windhound’s energy levels may fluctuate based on the day. Some days, they might prefer cuddling up and sleeping while having more energy on other days.
To manage their energy levels, ensure they have access to walks, dog parks, or a backyard.
Are Silken Windhounds Easy to Train?
Silken windhounds are easy to train, but it depends on the type of training. For example, you won’t have much luck training them as guard dogs because they’re not aggressive.
However, they’re easy to train as service dogs and agility dogs. When it comes to agility training, they’re good enough to perform complex tasks, understand dozens of commands, and even complete tricks.
Are Silken Windhounds Good Watchdogs?
Silken windhounds are terrible watchdogs, unless you give them extensive training. They’re bad watchdogs because they love meeting new people and won’t jump to bark or attack strangers. Silken windhounds might not even alert you to strangers because they might be too busy greeting them before you get a chance to see them.
Are Silken Windhounds Good Service Dogs?
Yes, silken windhounds are good service dogs. They’re good service dogs because they’re easy to train, even for novice pet owners.
When it comes to service dog tasks, they’re best suited for psychiatric service dog work. Some examples include guiding the blind and deaf, applying deep pressure therapy (DPT), and showing people to safety during panic attacks or bouts of anxiety. Silken windhounds are also smart enough to fetch medications and remind their handlers that it’s time to take medications.
Aside from service dog work, silken windhounds are great at helping as therapy dogs or emotional support animals. They can bond with their owner and keep comfortable at home or in public. That said, their size can make it difficult to bring to some public locations or on public transportation.
As therapy dogs, silken windhounds can perform many of the same tasks as an ESA. However, they’re good at bonding with multiple people and can be helpful in nursing homes, schools, hospice care locations. That said, their size might not be appropriate for some locations, so keep this in mind before adopting a silken windhound for therapy dog purposes.
How to Care for a Silken Windhound?
Silken windhounds aren’t too challenging to care for, but you have to stay on top of things like their coat and teeth. It’s a good idea to brush their teeth regularly or provide them with bones that can improve their dental health.
Also, watch their nose, ears, and paws for signs of discomfort or infection. Additionally, check their nails and clip/trim them at least once per month for the best results. Nails that are too long will result in health problems and possible pain.
The last thing to note is that it’s important to brush their coat to prevent knots.
Do You Need to Groom a Silken Windhound?
Despite their long, luscious coat, you don’t have to groom silken windhounds too often. In fact, one of the primary reasons silken windhounds were bred was to have a sight dog that didn’t require frequent grooming. Therefore, you only have to brush them a few times weekly to keep their coat healthy. You can also bathe them once per month or whenever they’re dirty.
Still, it’s best to visit a professional groomer if you need help with nail trimming and trimming their coat.
Do Silken Windhounds Shed?
Yes, silken windhounds shed. They can shed consistently throughout the year, so keep an eye on your carpets and furniture if you want to keep dog hair off them. However, they don’t shed as much as other breeds with long coats. Plus, if you brush them often, you can reduce the amount of shedding.
What Health Problems Do Silken Windhounds Have?
Silken windhounds are one of the healthier breeds and don’t suffer from too many genetic defects. There also aren’t many breed-specific health issues that silken windhounds face. However, there are some conditions to be aware of. We list these health conditions below:
- Hip Dysplasia: A common health condition in medium and large breeds that causes the knee joint to become inflamed.
- Heart Problems: As your silken windhound ages, they might experience heart problems like hypertension.
- Eye Problems: Progressive Retinal Atrophy, and other eye issues may begin late in a silken windhound’s life.
- Deafness: Hearing loss may occur after they pass the 10-year mark.
- Umbilical Hernia: When pulling or tugging, hernias can develop in their umbilical region.
There are also some specific problems that these dogs may face based on their genes. The first example is Lotus Syndrome. It’s an illness that appears soon after birth, and most silken windhounds won’t survive this health problem. These are only some health problems this breed may face, so it’s important to bring your dog to the vet regularly to prevent any health problems.
How Long Do Silken Windhounds Live?
Silken windhounds are a healthy dog breed that doesn’t struggle with too many health issues. The average windhound can last for around 14 years, which is better than most medium-sized breeds.
That said, it’s not uncommon for silken windhounds to live for up to 20 years. Feeding your silken windhound the right diet, giving them affection, and plenty of exercise will extend their lifespan.
What Should a Silken Windhound Eat?
Silken windhounds should have a diet that’s suitable for medium-sized dogs. Many dog food brands have the size and energy level of the dog listed on the bag for you to see. Choose high-quality food products designed for medium-sized, high-energy dogs for the best results.
When it comes to what they want to include in their diet, they focus on protein that comes from animals and fiber from vegetables. The key to a healthy silken windhound is a balanced diet.
Include healthy fats, vitamins, and minerals in their diet when possible. This isn’t as important because most types of kibble and wet food will have minerals, vitamins, and healthy fats mixed in.
Also, a silken windhound’s diet will change based on their age. Puppies need to eat a diet designed for puppies and must eat more frequently (4 times a day), and adults should only eat adult dog food about two times per day.
Is a Silken Windhound the Right Dog for Me?
Not every dog breed is for everyone, so it’s important to understand if the windhound is right for you before adopting or purchasing one.
To know if the silken windhound is right for you, it’s best to start with your home situation. You’ll want to have enough space for them to get exercise, so living in a backyard or near a park is ideal. However, it’s important to note that silken windhounds also do well in apartments as long as they get the right amount of exercise.
Next, consider how often you’re home. Silken windhounds thrive when people are around because they get lonely otherwise. If you don’t have someone home they can get anxious, which can lead to problems.
You might also want to consider the age of any children before adopting, as long as your kids are older than 3-5, you shouldn’t have any issues with a silken windhound.
These are the most important factors to consider when looking for a silken windhound.