Is a Silken Windhound Right for You? Take the 14‑question fit-check
Graceful and gossamer-coated, the Silken Windhound looks like someone shrunk a Borzoi and kept all the elegance. But behind the glamour is a true sighthound: built for sudden speed, sweetly people-focused, and wired to chase what moves.
Developed in the U.S. in the late 20th century from Borzoi and Whippet lines, Silkens pair a silky, low-maintenance coat with a gentle, affectionate temperament. They’re typically quiet indoors, fast outdoors, and happiest with secure places to stretch their legs.
Take these questions and watch the advice tailor itself to your answers. By the end, you’ll know if this is your next heart dog—or the right breed at the wrong time.
Your Pace of Life
Indoors, Silken Windhounds act like refined lounge artists. Outdoors, they flip a switch—short, thrilling bursts of speed instead of hours of plodding. Your default pace sets the tone for both of you.
Question 1 of 15
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What does a satisfying weekend with a dog look like?
How They Like to Move
Silkens don’t need endless miles, but they do need chances to open up safely. Think secure field, fenced yard, or sighthound sports like Fast CAT and lure coursing.
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What’s your plan for giving a sighthound its sprint time?
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Home Base and Fencing
Containment matters more to a sighthound than square footage. Silkens are light, agile, and can clear a low fence if something sprint‑worthy appears.
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What does your yard or everyday outdoor access look like?
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Recall Reality Check
Sighthound recall can be solid until a rabbit appears—then instinct does the steering. Many Silken owners choose management over magical thinking.
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How do you feel about a mostly-on‑leash life outside secure areas?
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Cats and Critters
Silkens are sighthounds first—movement flips the chase switch. Some live peacefully with resident cats, but it takes management and respect for instinct.
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What’s the small‑pet situation at home?
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Training Temperament
Silkens are biddable for sighthounds—soft, clever, and people‑oriented. They learn best with short, upbeat sessions and rewards, not pressure.
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How do you like to teach a dog new things?
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Coat Care Reality
The Silken’s long, silky coat is low odor and relatively low maintenance for its length. A weekly brush prevents tangles behind ears and in feathering; baths are occasional.
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Your feelings about weekly brushing and basic upkeep:
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Living With Some Fluff
Silkens shed lightly to moderately, more with seasonal changes. Weekly brushing and a decent vacuum keep the sparkle at bay.
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Dog hair on the couch and sweaters—is that okay?
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Weather Sensitivities
Like other sighthounds, Silkens run lean with thin skin. They chill quickly in cold weather and can overheat if sprinting hard in high heat or humidity.
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Your local climate is mostly:
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Who’s at Home
Silkens are gentle, affectionate, and sensitive to chaos. They adore polite kids and calm adults, and they thrive on predictable routines.
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Describe your household vibe:
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Dog Social Life
Silkens usually enjoy other canines and often do best with a compatible playmate. Their thin skin and high speed make rough, chaotic play risky.
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What are your plans around other dogs?
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Time Spent Solo
Silkens love their people and often do well with another dog for company. Most adults can handle moderate alone time if their exercise and enrichment boxes are checked.
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On a typical weekday, your dog would be alone…
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Healthcare and Safety
Silkens are generally healthy with lifespans often into the teens. Like many sighthounds, they have thin skin, unique anesthesia considerations, and in some lines, testable genetic issues (breeders commonly screen for MDR1 drug sensitivity and eye conditions like CEA/PRA).
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How prepared are you for breed‑specific vet needs?
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Fun You’ll Do Together
Silkens are crowd‑pleasers in Fast CAT and lure coursing and enjoy rally or trick training in short, happy bursts. They don’t need medals—just chances to move and use their brains.
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Which activities sound like your kind of fun?
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Getting Around Safely
Sighthounds ride best when they’re secured—long legs and sudden stops don’t mix. Crate training or a crash‑tested car harness prevents a bad day from becoming a tragedy.
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How will you handle car travel and containment on the go?
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Your result
Answer the 15 questions above and your match score appears here.
Sviatoslav Oleksiv founded The Pets and Love in 2019. A lifelong pet owner and Rhodesian Ridgeback enthusiast, he writes and edits our guides to help fellow pet parents give their animals the best care.
Every guide follows our editorial standards. This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice — always consult a licensed veterinarian about your pet's health.