Activities to do with your Silken

Silken Windhounds are versatile dogs that enjoy a wide variety of activities and dog sports. If you are contemplating things to do with your Silken Windhound, we hope that you find something on this list that sparks your curiosity.

Please note that the Silken Windhound breed is not yet recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC). Consequently, Silken Windhounds are unable to be registered by the AKC and cannot participate in AKC conformation shows and/or dog sports as the purebred dogs that they are. SWHCOA hopes that AKC will soon accept our breed into their Foundation Stock Service Program (FSS), which is a registry of rare and developing breeds. If and when this comes to pass, Silken Windhounds will be able to participate in AKC dog sports and certain AKC conformation events. SWHCOA looks forward to the day when our dogs can participate in all that AKC has to offer.

Finally, please note that the list of activities provided here is by no means exhaustive. If you do something with your Silken that we haven’t thought of, we’d love to hear about it! Just send us a note on our website or on our Discord.

Conformation
Many Silken Windhound owners show their dogs in the conformation ring. At this time Silken Windhounds in the United States participate in conformation shows under the following clubs:

At this time, when the Silken Windhound Club of America (SWHCOA) hosts dog shows sanctioned by the ISWS, entered dogs compete for ISWS points and championships. However, we also hope to also offer our own SWHCOA shows, point-tracking, and championships soon.

"Rocket" (CSB Agent Bell Rocket Belt) struts his stuff in the show ring. Photograph by Christina Beckerman.

 

Whisper (UCH Starfyre Whisper of Raindrops) being awarded with first place in the American Bred class at the 2023 Silkenfest by judge Dr Carmen Battaglia. Photograph by Olyhillary Photography.
Running Sports

As sighthounds, most Silken Windhounds are natural athletes with an obvious love for running games. The following clubs allow Silken Windhounds to compete in running sports like racing and coursing:

Racing

Coursing

Agility

Silken Windhounds are athletic, smart, and tend to be more biddable than most sighthounds. This combination of traits has allowed several Silken Windhounds and their handlers to enjoy the fast-paced sport of dog agility. The following organizations allow Silken Windhounds to compete in agility:

Obedience and Rally Obedience
Obedience and Rally Obedience require a dog and handler to work as a team to perform prescribed maneuvers. As Silken Windhounds are intelligent and often willing to please “their person”, many have enjoyed success in obedience games. The following organizations allow Silken Windhounds to compete in obedience and rally obedience:
"Pip" (BISS BOSS ABISS MHIT ISWS Ch UKC Ch RO1 Sundance Wings of Inanna RA ATD RATI CGC SPOT) in tune with her partner during Rally Obedience trial. Photograph by Olyhillary Photography.
Nosework

Silken Windhounds may be sighthounds, but that doesn’t mean they can’t use their noses. Silken Windhounds participate in a variety of nosework sports. The following organizations allow Silken Windhounds to compete in nosework:

Australian Shepherd Club of America (ASCA) offers scent detection and tracking

Rat Sports
 
In these relatively new dog sports, dogs use their noses and brains to find hidden rats. Many Silken Windhounds enjoy hunting for the (safely caged) vermin. The following organizations allow Silken Windhounds to compete in rat sports:
Persephone (Wyndolyn Persephone) rests on a hay bale during Barn Hunt. Photograph by Sooner Photography
Persephone (Wyndolyn Persephone) reaches to sniff out a hidden rat. Photograph by Play Paws Record.
Shed Hunting
This sport derives from the real-life practice of hunting for shed deer antlers in the late winter and spring. Though their fellow canine competitors are often retrievers and other working breeds, Silken Windhounds have also been successful in this sport. The following organizations allow Silken Windhounds to compete in Shed Hunt:
Quila (Attaway Running with the Night) posing with a shed hunt find. Photograph by Pauline Ng.

 

Mac (Winsome's Macintosh) delighted with his shed hunt find. Photograph by Pauline Ng.
Flyball

Some Silken Windhounds compete in flyball, which is a fast-paced sport in which teams of dogs race over hurdles and retrieve tennis balls. The following organizations allow Silken Windhounds to compete in flyball: 

Dock Jumping
 
Although Silken Windhounds lack the webbed toes and water-resistant coat that characterize most “water dogs”, many love water and some have even competed in the sport of dock jumping. The following organizations allow Silken Windhounds to compete in dock jumping and diving sports:
“Dock Diving Dottie” (Entourage Style & Grace) has liftoff! Photograph by Emily Stein
“Dock Diving Dottie” retrieves a bumper. Photograph by Emily Stein
Weight Pull

Although Silken Windhounds bear little resemblance to the draft breeds typically seen in weight pull competitions, some dogs enjoy the sport. The following organizations allow Silken Windhounds to compete in weight pull:

Companion Dog Skills

These activities are a great fit for those Silken Windhounds—and their owners—who may not wish to compete in dog sports. The United Kennel Club (UKC) offers the Socialized Pet Obedience Test (SPOT) Program, which tests a dog’s ability to perform the basic obedience and life skills that modern society requires of dogs. Many Silken Windhounds have attained their UKC SPOT and SPOT-ON titles.

Trick Training

Training tricks is a fun activity for both dogs and their humans. Silken Windhounds have attained trick titles through Do More With Your Dog, which offers titles from novice to expert.

Three (CSB Agent Rosa Klebb “#3”) awaits the postman. Photograph by Christina Beckerman