About this breed
The Silken Windhound is an elegant and athletic sighthound developed in the United States during the 1980s. Created from carefully selected Whippet-type lurchers, together with Borzoi and Whippet bloodlines, the breed was developed as a medium-sized coated sighthound that combined speed, soundness and a balanced temperament.
The Silken Windhound possesses the grace and running ability associated with traditional sighthound breeds. The moderately long, silky coat distinguishes the breed from many other sighthounds, while retaining the streamlined outline and balanced construction needed for efficient movement.
In the home, the breed is generally gentle and affectionate, while retaining the alertness and instinctive prey drive typical of a sighthound. Adaptable and sociable, the Silken Windhound forms close bonds with family members and is well suited to a variety of lifestyles, provided there is sufficient exercise and engagement.
Intelligent and responsive, the Silken Windhound enjoys regular activity and, in addition to conformation showing, has participated in racing, lure coursing, agility, flyball, scent work and therapy support.
Photo credit: Joyce Chin ©
Images for this breed
The Hound breed group
Breeds originally used for hunting either by scent or by sight. The scent hounds include the Beagle and Bloodhound and the sight hounds such breeds as the Whippet and Greyhound. Many of them enjoy a significant amount of exercise and can be described as dignified, aloof but trustworthy companions.
Colour Watch
Category 0: Breeds with no NBS colour registration options.
Read more about Colour Watch.
Breed Standard colours
Breed standard colour means that the colour is accepted within the breed standard and is a traditional and well-known colour in this breed.
Breed standard colours in this breed include:
- Black
- Black, white trim
- Black spotted on white
- Black brindle
- Black brindle, white trim
- Black brindle spotted on white
- Black & tan
- Black & tan, white trim
- Black & tan spotted on white
- Black & tan brindle
- Black & tan brindle, white trim
- Black & tan brindle spotted on white
- Blue
- Blue, white trim
- Blue spotted on white
- Blue brindle
- Blue brindle, white trim
- Blue brindle spotted on white
- Blue fawn
- Blue fawn, white trim
- Blue fawn spotted on white
- Blue fawn brindle
- Blue fawn brindle, white trim
- Blue fawn brindle spotted on white
- Chinchilla
- Chinchilla, white trim
- Chinchilla spotted on white
- Cream
- Cream, white trim
- Cream spotted on white
- Cream brindle
- Cream brindle, white trim
- Cream brindle spotted on white
- Cream sable
- Cream sable, white trim
- Cream sable spotted on white
- Fawn
- Fawn, white trim
- Fawn spotted on white
- Fawn brindle
- Fawn brindle, white trim
- Fawn brindle spotted on white
- Fawn sable
- Fawn sable, white trim
- Fawn sable spotted on white
- Gold
- Gold, white trim
- Gold spotted on white
- Gold brindle
- Gold brindle, white trim
- Gold brindle spotted on white
- Gold sable
- Gold sable, white trim
- Gold sable spotted on white
- Mahogony
- Mahogony, white trim
- Mahogony spotted on white
- Mahogony brindle
- Mahogony brindle, white trim
- Mahogony brindle spotted on white
- Mahogony sable
- Mahogony sable, white trim
- Mahogony sable spotted on white
- Red
- Red, white trim
- Red spotted on white
- Red brindle
- Red brindle, white trim
- Red brindle spotted on white
- Red sable
- Red sable, white trim
- Red sable spotted on white
- Silver
- Silver, white trim
- Silver spotted on white
- Silver brindle
- Silver brindle, white trim
- Silver brindle spotted on white
- Silver sable
- Silver sable, white trim
- Silver sable spotted on white
- White
- White and black
- White and blue
- White and chinchilla
- White and cream
- White and fawn
- White and gold
- White and mahogony
- White and red
- White and silver
Other colour/s
'Other' means you consider your puppy to be a colour not currently known within the breed and one that does not appear on either the breed standard or non-breed standard list. In this instance you would be directed through our registrations process to contact a breed club and/or council to support you on identifying and correctly listing the new colour.
Non-breed-standard colours
Non-breed-standard colour means that the colour is not accepted within the breed standard and whilst some dogs within the breed may be this colour it is advised to only select a dog that fits within the breed standards for all points.
Colour is only one consideration when picking a breed or individual dog, health and temperament should always be a priority over colour.
Health
Whether you're considering buying a Silken Windhound puppy or breeding from your dog, it's important to understand the health issues that may affect the breed and how they can be managed or avoided.
Pre-breeding health screening
Good Practice schemes and tests
We strongly recommend that breeders, at a minimum, conduct these tests before breeding, as evidence indicates these conditions are a significant concern in the breed.
Click here to find out more about The Kennel Club's health standard
Find out about a particular dog's results
Please visit our Health Test Results Finder to discover the DNA or screening scheme test results for any dog on The Kennel Club's Breed or Activity Register.
You can also view the inbreeding coefficient calculation for a puppy's parents, or for a dog you're thinking of breeding from.
DNA testing services
We don’t currently offer a breed-specific DNA testing package for this breed, but we have a wide selection of individual DNA tests available. To find out more and view our full selection, click here.
The breeding for health framework
Throughout 2025 we ran a major review of our pedigree dog health work, from which we have developed a new model called the breeding for health framework.
This framework covers all aspects of health and welfare that should influence breeding decisions for any breed or type of dog, building on from our previous Breed Health and Conservation Plans, and is broken down into three main areas of health:
- inbreeding/ genetic diversity
- conformation
- breed-related disease/ wellbeing
By applying the breeding for health framework, we can group all the breeds that share a certain issue together, so that we can provide targeted support and breed communities can share relevant experiences and expertise. All previous actions and priorities from the Breed Health and Conservation Plans are being transitioned into the new framework.
You can read more about the breeding for health framework here, and watch this space as we update and progress this framework to apply to your breed
More about health
Have any questions about health in your breed?
If you have any concerns about a particular health condition in your breed then you may wish to speak to your vet or you could contact your breed health co-ordinator.
Breed health co-ordinators are individuals working on behalf of breed clubs and councils who are advocates for the health and welfare of their chosen breed. They acts as a spokesperson on matters of health and will collaborate with The Kennel Club on any health concerns the breed may have.
To contact your breed health co-ordinator please email
Breed watch
Category 1
Currently no points of concern specific to this breed have been identified for special attention by judges, other than those covered routinely by The Kennel Club's breed standard.
Breeding restrictions
There are a number of the Royal Kennel Club's rules and regulations that may prevent a litter from being registered, find out about our general and breed specific breeding restrictions below.
More about breeding
There are not currently any additional breed specific restrictions in place for this breed.
Looking for a puppy?
Looking for a Silken Windhound? Explore our list of puppies and rescue dogs for sale near you.
More information
Need to find out more about a breed?
Use our Find a Club service to locate a breed club who can offer support and advice for the breed you're interested in.
Use our Find a Puppy service
The Royal Kennel Club's Find a Puppy service connects you with breeders who have puppies available. Search our register, and let's help you find your new best friend.
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