Silken Windhound
Overview
The Silken Windhound is a medium dog from the Hound group — an energetic, active breed that needs real daily exercise. In temperament it's intensely devoted and bonded to its family, highly trainable and eager to work with you and it would rather not be left alone for long. With a typical lifespan of 14 to 20 years, the Silken Windhound is a long commitment.
Is the Silken Windhound right for you?
A good match if — you're newer to dogs and want a forgiving breed; you live in an apartment or smaller home; you have children at home; you're active and want a dog to move with; you want a closely bonded companion; you enjoy training and want a responsive dog; you want a sociable dog that greets everyone.
Think twice if — the dog would regularly be left alone for long stretches.
What a Silken Windhound needs from you
Day to day, the Silken Windhound needs a lot of daily time from you and substantial daily exercise. It does best with a moderate amount of space and a little dog know-how. It's a social breed that doesn't like being isolated for long.
Living with a Silken Windhound
At home, the Silken Windhound adapts to apartment life with daily walks. It's good with children, friendly with most new people, very quiet and rarely barks, and a fairly dry-mouthed breed.
Key facts
- Size
- Medium
- Height
- 18 to 23.5 inches
- Weight
- 20 to 55 pounds
- Life span
- 14 to 20 years
- Group
- Hound Dogs
What it needs from you (at a glance)
| Space needed | |
| Experience needed | |
| Maintenance | no data yet |
| Time per day | |
| Need for company | |
| Handling / closeness | |
| Cost level |
Health & what to watch for
The start matters most: get a Silken Windhound from someone who health-tests their lines — ask to see the results — or from a reputable rescue, and register with a vet early. Ask the breeder which screenings they run for the breed, and keep it lean and well-exercised. Across every breed the single biggest lever you control is weight — a lean dog lives longer and has fewer problems. Food intolerances usually show as itchy skin, recurring ear trouble or an upset stomach; if that turns up, a vet-guided elimination diet beats guesswork. This is general guidance, not veterinary advice — your vet knows your individual dog.
Best toys
Good toys for a Silken Windhound: toys that burn real energy — a ball launcher, a flirt pole, fetch and tug; puzzle feeders and treat-dispensing toys to keep that quick mind busy. Rotate a few at a time rather than leaving everything out — novelty is half the value — and always supervise a new chew.
Growing up
The first months are the socialization window: calm, positive exposure to new people, sounds, surfaces and other animals now shapes the adult dog more than almost anything else. Channel the energy early with structured outlets and basic training, or a bored youngster will invent its own jobs.
What it costs
Scaled to this breed’s roughly 17 kg and a ~17-year life, keeping a Silken Windhound works out at about:
Rough cross-breed averages in USD — a planning guide, not a quote. Break it down by life phase in the Cost Calculator →
Temperament (at a glance)
| Affection | |
| Energy | |
| Vocalness | |
| Trainability | |
| Tolerates alone |
Its presence, grown
Raised with patience and consistency, the adult Silken Windhound settles into a lively, animated presence. It devotes itself utterly to its family — your shadow, your second self. It warms to most new people readily.
As your partner
Picture it as a grown partner at your side: active days, real walks and a partner with energy to share. It would rather not be left alone for long.
What makes it unique
What sets the Silken Windhound apart is a nose or an eye that locks onto a trail and a single-minded drive to follow it. It thinks, problem-solves and genuinely thrives on having a job to do.