Talisman Hounds is a small kennel of Silken Windhounds located in Northern California. I breed and show Silken Windhounds exclusively and have been involved with the breed club very intensively for years. Our dogs have won multiple Best in Specialty Show awards , and multiple Best of Breed, and Reserve Best in Show, as well as the coveted Best in Show in all breed shows , both here and in Europe, and are consistantly some of the top ranked performance hounds in the breed.

Our goal for the breed is to eventually have AKC recognition, and we are working toward that with the help of the AKC's FSS (foundation stock service ) program, DNA testing, and a lot of work by Francie Stull, the breed founder, along with many other members of the Silken Windhound club around the world, to ensure that the Silken Windhounds as a breed has a solid, healthy, and diversified genepool to bring into the future. For a great deal more information on the Silken Windhound breed, see the official International Silken Windhound Society site...

Silken Windhounds are not miniature Borzoi, but they resemble that breed more than any other. This picture is of an adult male Borzoi, Ivan, with his diminutive pal, adult male Silken Cinnibar. Most adult Silken Windhounds are about the same size as an average 3 1/2 to 4 month old Borzoi puppies, approximately 19 to 24 inches tall and 20 to 45 lbs. This makes the Silken a very appealing breed to people like me, who want a furry borzoi-like sighthound but don't want the logistical issues presented by a dog that can reach the top of the refrigerator merely by standing on it's hind legs.

Silken Windhounds are commonly mistaken for Saluki. The Silken Windhound is actually quite different physically and mentally from a Saluki, and it is not hard to tell them apart when you have them both together.

Adult Silken males usually are about the same size or smaller than a female Saluki, their ears and body structure are quite different, and in general, most Silkens are much more agreeable about doing what people want them to do than many imperious Saluki. When watching Silkens follow commands from people, I imagine Salukis think that Silken Windhounds as a breed are chumps. After all, the Saluki has managed for millennia using only selective hearing toward the requests of their bipedal servants.

Here are some comparison shots of a Saluki and three Silken Windhounds. From left to right are Silken Windhound Cat, then her father Caliban, and below on the stairs is the lovely Saluki girl Zaari. The second picture is of Zaari again with her Silken Windhound friend Gideon. It is easy to see some of the physical differences in coat and ears between the breeds here .

Silken Windhounds are also not Whippets. Aside from the fuzz, Silkens tend to be physically larger in general than the Whippet, with a much different head structure, eye set, and attitude than Whippets.

Silkens also really like the cold and snow, and many Silkens (we call them swamphounds) actually have a strong liking for water, and enjoy diving in mud, ponds, rivers and oceans with equal fondness. Whippets are notoriously opposed to water, and my Whippet Kaisa will 'hold it' as long as she can to avoid going out to potty when it's raining, miserably cracking the dog door open just a tiny bit occasionally to check the weather. In contrast, the Silkens trot outside and do thier business as if it's a normal day even when it's pouring.

Despite their difference of opinion on water, my gang of hounds regularly agree to romp together. From left to right below are some of our Silkens, and the two other hounds who have lived here at Talisman - Sebastian, Caliban and Sheba, Gideon playing the part of the rabbit on the ground, and bringing up the rear with her trusty squeaky ball, Kaisa the Wonder Whippet.

As a breeder, I am committed to breeding happy, beautiful, elegant, loving, athletic companion hounds, who can excel in the show ring, racing, agility and lure coursing field, as well as being couch buddies, car co-pilots and best pals. Mental and physical soundness and type are always of primary consideration when planning breedings. For me, structure, movement and health are regarded as important as the breed standard stipulation that Silkens be easygoing, loving, people and dog social companions.

Pups here are born and raised in the home, with people and other dogs around twenty four hours a day. I spend a lot of time with my litters, and socialize them a great deal with other people, sights, sounds and smells before they go to their new families. Here are some pictures of the first Silken Windhound litter born at Talisman; you can see more pictures of our pups here.

One of the best things about this breed is their easygoing temperament. This temperament makes it very easy to live with several Silkens of any age all together in the home with no worries. Silken Windhound adults generally adore puppies, and when there is a puppy in the house, many adults will spend a great deal of time playing with them.

The best thing about Silken Windhounds is how much they love their people and want to be with them as much as possible. Most Silkens are grade A cuddlers, and love nothing better than to relax draped around their two legged pals.