Welcome to Summer's Spirit Sighthounds, home to Silken Windhounds, Italian Greyhounds, and a token German Shepherd!
Summer's Spirit Sighthounds is a small Kennel located in the North East. We focus our efforts on performance sports, i.e., straight racing, lure coursing, and agility, but also dabble in a little showing, slowly working on conformation titles for the Silken Windhounds.
Velichestvo Katarina, ISWS FCh, lure coursing at The Ohio Classic, September 2010, where she won Best of Breed! (Photo by Emily Pugh)
See her competing here.
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Katarina with her First and Second place ribbons and medals after competing in the ASFA International Invitational in Leesburg, VA, on May 14 & 15, 2011!
 Katarina competing on Sunday at the 2011 ASFA II |
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Photo by EMPhotos
Katarina and Sabe competing at the SHOT-ASFA lure coursing trials on October 22 & 23, 2011 in Williamsburg, VA. Katarina won the TOP DOG award for combined top score for both days!
Katarina's win picture from her TOP DOG placement at SHOT on 10/22-23/11 (Photo by Monica Gallier)
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Peach & Luigi taking advantage of the afternoon sun. Nov 2011
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 Silken Windhounds Oberon, Sabe, and Violet, March 2011 |
 Sabe snow stalking, January 2011 |
 Katarina with the bunny. |
 Sabe and his bunny. |
Sabe & Katarina Oct 2011 (EMPhotos)
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Taylor and his new friend, an 11 week old Rodesian Ridgeback, Oct 2011 (EMPhotos)
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Summer's Spirit Sighthound spoils 2010-2011
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Tucker and Luigi in the sun. Nov 2011
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About Silken Windhounds
Silken Windhounds are a recognized UKC breed. Read about this important event here.
SILKEN WINDHOUND BREED STANDARD
adopted by the ISWS, March 2001; revised December 2005
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.
See www.silkenwindhounds.org.
SILKEN WINDHOUND BREED STANDARD
adopted by the ISWS, March 2001; revised December 2005
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.
See www.silkenwindhounds.org.
