Silken Windsprite: temperament, price, health, and breeders

The Silken Windsprite, called Silken Windhound in the United States, was created in Texas by Francie Stull, a Borzoi breeder. The first litter was born in 1985. The program combined small Borzois, long-haired Whippets and more distantly related sighthounds, in order to obtain a medium-sized, fast, easy-going, silky-coated sighthound. Recognized by the United Kennel Club in 2011, it is also accepted by the German and Dutch kennel clubs, but not by the FCI. In Europe, the name Silken Windsprite was chosen.

It is a slender and graceful sighthound, 46 to 60 cm at the withers, with a variable weight of approximately 9 to 25 kg. The head is fine and elongated, the eyes large and expressive, the ears rose-shaped. The body is supple, the chest deep. The coat, medium-long and silky, forms fringes on the ears, limbs and tail. All colours and colour combinations are permitted.

Gentle, affectionate and calm at home, the Silken Windsprite is a very sociable dog that gets along well with children and other dogs. It is sensitive and does not appreciate roughness. It is not a guard dog: it readily welcomes strangers. Like any sighthound, it may chase small animals that run away.

It alternates very fast running phases and long moments of rest on the sofa. It needs to be able to gallop safely several times a week, in an enclosed space or during activities such as coursing and track racing. It adapts well to apartment living if this need is met.

More cooperative than many sighthounds, he willingly learns with gentle methods and rewards. Recall must be worked on early and reinforced, as the sight of a hare can trigger pursuit. Early socialization with the household cats is recommended.

The breed remains rare in France; puppies often come from Germany, the Netherlands or the United States. The price reflects genetic testing and lineage tracking.

The Silken Windsprite is a healthy breed, closely monitored by its clubs. Some genetic conditions are known and can be screened for, including sensitivity to certain medications and an eye abnormality.

Athletic dog with a fast metabolism, it needs a quality diet, rich in protein and highly digestible.

The breed is one of the longest-lived among medium-sized dogs: many individuals exceed 15 years. Its creators focused from the outset on health, with genetic monitoring and systematic testing.