| GENERAL APPEARANCE: The Silken Windhound is an
elegant, small to medium-sized sighthound with a moderately long silky
coat. Its classic lines and athletic build are the hallmark of a true
coursing dog. When viewing a Silken Windhound, one has the impression
of grace, balance, and strength integrated with exceptional running
ability.
SIZE, PROPORTION, SUBSTANCE: The accepted measurements for
Silken Windhounds are 18.5 -23.5 inches (47-60 cm) at the withers.
Dogs over or under the ideal shall be penalized to the extent of
the deviation. In proportion, Silken Windhounds are approximately
square or slightly rectangular. Silkens that are excessively longer
or shorter than they are tall should be penalized according to the
extent of the deviation. The build of the Silken Windhound is sleek,
through a balanced combination of fine bladed bone and smooth muscle,
and never looks frail. Heavy, round, or coarse bone is faulty.
HEAD: The Silken Windhound's expression is alert,
friendly and intelligent. Eyes are rather large and dark, almond-shaped
and set somewhat obliquely. Pigment around eyes is full and dark.
Ears are small and fine in texture, folded and lying back along
the neck when in repose. When alert, ears may prick or semi-prick.
Hanging, or drooping, houndy ears are undesirable. Moderately long
in head, the Silken Windhound has a fairly narrow back skull which,
when viewed from above, tapers gradually through a full muzzle to
the nose. The muzzle is in good balance to the skull. When viewed
from the side, the top plane of the muzzle is parallel to the plane
of the flat skull, with a barely perceptible stop between. The head
is well chiseled, skin dry and tight, with noticeable veining. The
nose is dark, and may be slightly down-turned at the end. Lips and
flews are tight, in keeping with the dry head. Pigment on lips is
full and dark. Jaws are strong to accommodate the teeth, which are
large for a dog of this size, with full dentition and scissors bite.
Missing teeth should be penalized.
NECK, TOPLINE, BODY: The neck is long and slender.
It is slightly arched, well muscled and powerful, never ewe necked.
The neck is free from dewlap or throatiness, widening gradually
and symmetrically into the shoulder. The topline rises gradually
from slightly behind the withers, with the highest point of the
arch being over the last rib, flowing smoothly over the muscular
loin, carrying through and falling gradually over the long croup.
The back is short and the loin moderately long, wide, muscular
and arched. It is important that the loin be flexible to sustain
and drive the double suspension gallop, which Silkens exhibit when
running at top speed. A flat back with steep croup is not a loin
arch and should be faulted. The chest is deep with moderate spring
of rib. A barrel shaped or slab sided body is faulty. The brisket
reaches as nearly as possible to the elbow, with a graceful upsweep
to the tuck-up; this creates the distinctive underline of the Silken
Windhound.
The tail is long and flexible, falling in a sweeping curve, free
of kinks and reaching past the hock. When carried, the tail should
not rise above the back. A tightly curled or gay tail is faulty.
FOREQUARTERS: The shoulder blades are well laid
back and are long and smooth with flat muscle. Fine withers are
preferred. Good return of upper arm is desirable, bringing the legs
well under the withers. Elbows turn neither in nor out. The forelegs
are straight and strong, with pasterns straight or slightly bent,
but never knuckled over. Dewclaws on front legs are acceptable.
The feet are well knuckled with tough, thick pads. Both the hare
foot, with its longer middle toes; and the cat foot, with its shorter
middle toes, is acceptable. Hare foot is preferred. Nails are strong
and of moderate length.
HINDQUARTERS: Hindquarters are well angulated,
with a long second thigh and well developed thigh muscles. Viewed
from the rear, the hindquarters are slightly wider than the front,
well muscled, without any suggestion of cowhocks. Stifles are well
bent, and hock joints broad and strong. Hocks are short. Rear dewclaws
may be removed. The feet are well knuckled with tough, thick pads.
Both the hare foot, with its longer middle toes; and the cat foot,
with its shorter middle toes, is acceptable. Hare foot is preferred.
Nails are strong and of moderate length.
COAT: The coat is soft, and silky in texture.
In no case should the coat be woolly or profuse enough to obscure
the outline of the Silken Windhound, nor so long as to interfere
with the function of a coursing hound. The coat may be straight,
slightly wavy, or curly. There is longer feathering along the back
of the forelegs, the brisket, hindquarters, around the neck, and
tail. Coat on the face, feet, front of forelegs and hocks are naturally
short. Feathering that frames the ears and face adds to the dog's
expression, and should not be trimmed. The Silken Windhound is shown
in a natural coat with minimal trimming.
COLOR, MARKINGS: All colors and markings are acceptable.
GAIT: The Silken Windhound moves with a smooth
effortless trot, which has good reach in front and good drive from
the hindquarters. Restricted or wasted motion of the legs or body,
when viewed from the side, is faulty. Paddling, hackneyed gait,
toeing in, and toeing out are faults in front movement. The hocks
should not roll in or out when rear movement is viewed. While the
hind legs are wider apart than the front, the feet, both front and
rear, seek a center of balance closer to the centerline when the
dog moves at a fast trot. Movement which is too wide, or too narrow,
or which does not converge towards a centerline, is faulty.
TEMPERAMENT: The Silken Windhound is an intelligent
hound of balanced character. While this breed exhibits strong prey
drive in the field, they are gentle, affectionate, devoted companion
animals in the home. An unwarranted show of timidity or nervousness,
or any sign of hostility towards people or dogs, should be penalized.
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