About Starfyre Silkens...
Starfyre Silkens consists of a trio of Silken Windhounds in Southern California.
Dior is our lone gentleman and presides over his pack with great efficiency.
He is a multiple conformation Champion, BIS winner and an ISWS Lure Courser of
Merit (2nd in the breed and the first male), Expert Courser (1 of only 4 in the breed)
and a Lure Coursing and Straight Racing Champion.
Our young ladies, Azure and Sahara (Dior’s daughter), keep him on his toes.
The girls are four months apart and each received their AKC Canine Good
Citizen at seven months of age. My husband Keith says CGC stands for
Crazy Girls Club.
Aiden is Azure's littermate and nearby with my husband's mother (we co-own).
We consider him part of our pack as well.
All four are AKC Canine Good Citizens.
About Silken Windhounds...
Dior and Sahara Best Brace 2011 Nationals by Dave Mills
Silken Windhounds have the distinction of being America’s first Sighthound. The
breed was developed in Texas, USA by our founder and champion Francie Stull
of Kristull Ranch.
This gracefull, elegant breed was bred to be a medium-sized Sighthound to hunt
smaller game but they are also perfect as a pet and companion. They are very playful
and enjoy your company.
For a video of a Silken playdate click http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qE4sIQhboLQ
& http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZYAr2en3rvo for a beach playdate.
They quickly become part of the family and will "help" you with whatever you are doing...
even if they just supervise.
Windhounds are an extremely versatile gazehound and there are many activities
to participate in if they, and their owners, are so inclined. Such as...
Activities and Performance Events...
Sahara's 5 point major under Judge Patricia Murphy.
Conformation
The kennel clubs under which we currently show are:
Our parent club, International Silken Windhound Society… www.silkenwindhounds.org ,
The United Kennel Club......................................................................... www.ukcdogs.com ,
International Canine Kennel Club…..……....... www.international caninekennelclub.com ,
The National Canine Association............................................... www.nationalcanine.com ,
& International All Breed Canine Assn……………………….…....……. www.iabca.com
Silken Windhounds are built for speed and many enjoy performance events such as:
Straight Racing – hosted by ISWS at specialties or in conjuction with local LGRA or Whippet clubs. A straight racing meet
consists of three 200 yard sprints down a straight, flack track, meadow or field. Hounds run within their breed and are grouped by
ability. Medium-sized and larger breeds race in groups of up to four, whereas smaller hound
breeds may race up to six dogs. The smaller breeds may race less than 200 yards.
Click here for a video - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LvZPMacLGps
Lure Coursing – check www.ASFA.org for events in your region. A lure coursing field trial is meant to simulate the coursing of
game and to preserve and develop the coursing skills inherent in sighthounds. A "lure" of several white plastic bags is strung on a
line and pulley system, propelled by a generator. The course is usually no less than 600 yards, but 500 yards is the minimum.
The farthest we have coursed is 925 yards. The coursers are decided by random draw. Up to three dogs course at a time,
within their breed. First in a pre-liminary trial and then in a final. The direction of the final is reversed. The scores from both are
added together to determine placements. Placements are decided by the qualities of Enthusiasm 15 pts., Follow 15 pts.,
Speed 25 pts., Agility 25 pts. and Endurance 20 pts. for a possible score of 100. Hounds receiving the same score will have a
run-off to determine final placement and the course direction is again reversed.
To view a video of Dior coursing solo, click http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DHGB4rpDC4g .
To see him and other Silkens (and Magyar Agars) coursing click http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SzqSfeyHC4Q .
This footage was taken at Silken Windhounds of Califonia's first ASFA Fun Trial by Jennifer Gysler.
Oval Racing – check www.NOTRA.org for scheduled events in your area. An oval race meet consists of 3 or 4 racing programs at
the same distance. The length of the race is usually between 300 - 400 yards. Hounds race within their breed. They are graded by
their past performances in order to match racers against each other based on their racing ability. Whippets may race up to 5 dogs
per race, for other breeds, four dog races will be run.
To see an example of oval racing - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lJG69kiX1Xo
Agility, Obedience*, Rally-Obedience, Tracking and Utility are all activities Silken Windhounds may enjoy. These may be entered at UKC trials or at any All-Breed Trial held by the Australian Shepherd Club of America. For UKC visit www.ukcdogs.com ; or just check the event calendar at www.ASCA.org. All non-Aussie breeds obtain a tracking number so that ASCA may track points towards titles and awards.
Spayed and neutered dogs, who are structurally sound, can participate in all performance events. Most ISWS, NAKC & IABCA shows also have a class in which altered dogs may be show: companion class (ISWS), spay/neuter class (NAKC) & altered class (IABCA).
Our dogs were part of the Silken Genome Project and were DNA profiled with UC Davis.
Prior to UKC acceptance in 2011, the ISWS had a two-tiered registration. Papers were issued with a limited registration status and each dog was re-evaluted by the breeder after one year of age, before moving up to full status. A dog could be limited for it’s lifetime, but only dogs with full registration were able to be bred and receive registration papers. Now all Silkens are registered through the UKC and are still DNA parentage verified. All ISWS registered Silkens were issued UKC papers. Beware of buying a Silken Windhound without UKC registration papers.
Silkens Windhounds are one of the longest-lived breeds, typically living into their mid to late teens.
*ISWS has started including Obedience at its National Specialty and hopefully Regional Specialties will follow suit.
The kennel clubs under which we currently show are:
Our parent club, International Silken Windhound Society… www.silkenwindhounds.org ,
The United Kennel Club......................................................................... www.ukcdogs.com ,
International Canine Kennel Club…..……....... www.international caninekennelclub.com ,
The National Canine Association............................................... www.nationalcanine.com ,
& International All Breed Canine Assn……………………….…....……. www.iabca.com
Silken Windhounds are built for speed and many enjoy performance events such as:
Straight Racing – hosted by ISWS at specialties or in conjuction with local LGRA or Whippet clubs. A straight racing meet
consists of three 200 yard sprints down a straight, flack track, meadow or field. Hounds run within their breed and are grouped by
ability. Medium-sized and larger breeds race in groups of up to four, whereas smaller hound
breeds may race up to six dogs. The smaller breeds may race less than 200 yards.
Click here for a video - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LvZPMacLGps
Lure Coursing – check www.ASFA.org for events in your region. A lure coursing field trial is meant to simulate the coursing of
game and to preserve and develop the coursing skills inherent in sighthounds. A "lure" of several white plastic bags is strung on a
line and pulley system, propelled by a generator. The course is usually no less than 600 yards, but 500 yards is the minimum.
The farthest we have coursed is 925 yards. The coursers are decided by random draw. Up to three dogs course at a time,
within their breed. First in a pre-liminary trial and then in a final. The direction of the final is reversed. The scores from both are
added together to determine placements. Placements are decided by the qualities of Enthusiasm 15 pts., Follow 15 pts.,
Speed 25 pts., Agility 25 pts. and Endurance 20 pts. for a possible score of 100. Hounds receiving the same score will have a
run-off to determine final placement and the course direction is again reversed.
To view a video of Dior coursing solo, click http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DHGB4rpDC4g .
To see him and other Silkens (and Magyar Agars) coursing click http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SzqSfeyHC4Q .
This footage was taken at Silken Windhounds of Califonia's first ASFA Fun Trial by Jennifer Gysler.
Oval Racing – check www.NOTRA.org for scheduled events in your area. An oval race meet consists of 3 or 4 racing programs at
the same distance. The length of the race is usually between 300 - 400 yards. Hounds race within their breed. They are graded by
their past performances in order to match racers against each other based on their racing ability. Whippets may race up to 5 dogs
per race, for other breeds, four dog races will be run.
To see an example of oval racing - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lJG69kiX1Xo
Agility, Obedience*, Rally-Obedience, Tracking and Utility are all activities Silken Windhounds may enjoy. These may be entered at UKC trials or at any All-Breed Trial held by the Australian Shepherd Club of America. For UKC visit www.ukcdogs.com ; or just check the event calendar at www.ASCA.org. All non-Aussie breeds obtain a tracking number so that ASCA may track points towards titles and awards.
Spayed and neutered dogs, who are structurally sound, can participate in all performance events. Most ISWS, NAKC & IABCA shows also have a class in which altered dogs may be show: companion class (ISWS), spay/neuter class (NAKC) & altered class (IABCA).
Our dogs were part of the Silken Genome Project and were DNA profiled with UC Davis.
Prior to UKC acceptance in 2011, the ISWS had a two-tiered registration. Papers were issued with a limited registration status and each dog was re-evaluted by the breeder after one year of age, before moving up to full status. A dog could be limited for it’s lifetime, but only dogs with full registration were able to be bred and receive registration papers. Now all Silkens are registered through the UKC and are still DNA parentage verified. All ISWS registered Silkens were issued UKC papers. Beware of buying a Silken Windhound without UKC registration papers.
Silkens Windhounds are one of the longest-lived breeds, typically living into their mid to late teens.
*ISWS has started including Obedience at its National Specialty and hopefully Regional Specialties will follow suit.
Breeder Karen Sanders of Allagante and Owner/Handler Keith Hicks at the 2011 Nationals with Granddam Hillevi (BOS), son Dior, granddaughter Sahara (WB). Photo by Dave Mills
