The International Silken Windhound Society
P.O. Box 2603
McKinney, Texas 75070
January 28, 2010
Ms. Mari-Beth O'Neill
Assistant Vice-President - Customer Service
American Kennel Club
8051 Arco Corporation Drive, Suite 100
Raleigh, North Carolina 27617
Dear Ms. O’Neill:
The International Silken Windhound Society (ISWS) believes that misrepresentations,
inconsistencies and exaggerations made by the American Whippet Club (AWC) Board of
Directors to its members and to the American Kennel Club must be addressed. In its
correspondence, the AWC has maligned, defamed and libeled the ISWS, its members and
the Silken Windhound breed.
The AWC Board characterizes the Silken Windhound breed as a designer dog and/or
mongrel that has no purpose. This is both false and unfounded. The AWC wants to group
the Silken Windhound with cross-bred dogs and their allegedly unscrupulous breeders,
but there are obvious and distinct differences between the Silken Windhound and what is
referred to as a designer dog.
A designer dog is a cross-bred dog produced by breeding two different established breeds
together to produce offspring with the traits and characteristics of both parent breeds or
intentionally different from either parent. For the most part, designer dogs are
intentionally cross-bred dogs that are not bred beyond the first generation and are not
bred with the intention of creating a true breed.
The Silken Windhound is an emerging breed of several decades -- a medium sized, longcoated sighthound that can not only race, course and hunt rabbit and hare, but compete
with the best of other breeds in the show ring, obedience and agility trials, with a truly
safe and biddable temperament, making it the epitome of a family dog. It is produced by
breeding two Silken Windhounds together, resulting in litters that are representative of
that unique breed generation after generation.
The Silken Windhound, like all other domestic and recognized breeds, was developed by
crossing various foundation dogs to achieve the desired form, behavior, size and function.
As with ALL other recognized breeds, Silken Windhounds began as cross-bred dogs, but
over years and generations of breeding have achieved what is considered true breed
status, by any definition. The Silken Windhound should not be characterized as a crossbred dog, a designer dog or a mongrel. If those terms can be applied to the Silken
Windhound, then surely they apply to all existing breeds developed through the crossing
and mixing of various foundation stock.
The ISWS has stringent breeding and registry protocols, including mandatory DNA
profiling of all breeding stock. We have a task force in place to see, to the best of our
ability, that our dogs do not end up being over-bred by unprincipled breeders, sold
through pet shops or abandoned in shelters.
The ISWS wishes to clarify that we have no interest in the subjective, personal and highly
controversial debate between the AWC and the LHW communities. The ISWS sole
connection to the Whippet, the Borzoi and the Wheeler lurcher were as foundation stock
in the development of the Silken Windhound, which is now a breed totally independent
and separate from its foundation dogs and unique in its own right. The ISWS represents
the Silken Windhound breed exclusively; it does not represent, nor is it affiliated with,
the Long Haired Whippet or the Silken Windsprite. Our dogs are not Whippets, LHWs or
a variety of either; therefore we have nothing to contribute to that debate.
The AWC’s charter purports to protect the Whippet breed from detrimental influence
either from within or without the Whippet fancy. The AWC’s interest in the Silken
Windhound can only be considered valid if the Silken Windhound presents a threat to the
Whippet breed, whether in terms of genetic influence on the Whippet breed, or in terms
of social or political influence on the Whippet breed. The Silken Windhound presents no
such threat. We respect the AWC’s desire to maintain the integrity of the Whippet as an
independent breed and ask that they respect the ISWS’s desire to develop and maintain
the Silken Windhound as an unique and independent breed, as well.
The ISWS enthusiastically embraces the heritage of its foundation dogs and works to
emphasize the Silken Windhound as a true sporting Sighthound. The Silken Windhound
is bred for consistent conformation characteristics as well as for athleticism and the
proper mental and behavioral traits befitting a working, coursing breed. The standard for
the Silken Windhound reflects its working and sporting heritage and purpose.
The ISWS has created its own programs, in line with the heritage of its foundation
breeds, to help guide the breed’s development until such time that existing racing,
coursing, and showing organizations allow the Silken Windhound to join their
ranks. These ISWS programs mirror the finest performance organizations currently
existing. As Silken Windhounds find acceptance within the purebred dog community, we
hope that those organizations will accept our breed. Until that time, the ISWS will
continue to offer shows, field trials and racing events and to enjoy the sports for which
this breed and its foundation dogs were developed.
The AWC incorrectly stated issues regarding actions taken by the American Sighthound
Field Association (ASFA). Before the ASFA voted to include Silken Windhounds in the
Limited Stake, ASFA delegates were encouraged to poll their constituents for their
opinions. It is not true, as the AWC claims, that ASFA acted in our favor without
requesting membership opinion.
The ISWS is puzzled by the AWC Board's hostile interest in the affairs of the Silken
Windhound, as we do not claim that our hounds are a variety of, or a replacement for, the
Whippet. Just as the other sighthound breeds coexist at conformation shows, races, lure
coursing events, obedience trials, agility runs, dog parks and in our own homes, it is our
sincere wish that the Silken Windhound members can coexist with the AWC Board of
Directors as we do with a large number of their members. As a breed, the Silken
Windhound poses no threat, either directly or indirectly, to any other breed or
fancy. Our activities should not evoke such hatred or malice from the AWC Board;
likewise such intent of malice from the AWC Board should not affect the decisions made
by the AKC, the ASFA or any other organization which prides itself on promoting the
sport of purebred dogs and breeding for type and function. The Silken Windhound breed
merits recognition and stands with pride.
The ISWS believes that the values, hopes and aspirations for our beautiful breed mirror
the AKC’s own Mission Statement. The ISWS will not engage in any personal or
political fight with the AWC, preferring to focus on the pertinent facts surrounding the
Silken Windhound. We referenced the actions of the AWC Board only to refute the
fallacies affecting our breed club, our members and the breed itself. The high standards
that we maintain in dealing with others, our love of all dogs, and of our breed in
particular, are central to all we do.
We ask that you reference this rebuttal with any correspondence from the AWC. We can
offer further information should you feel it necessary.
Sincerely,
The International Silken Windhound Society
Board of Directors