No Silken Windhound has ever been diagnosed with DM but since we knew it is present in Borzoi, one of the breeds used to create the Silken Windhound, we felt we had to make sure.

In May 2011 a large number of Silken Windhounds were tested, looking for the genetic markers for DM. Dogs from all blood lines were tested, from USA and Europe. There were in fact so many dogs tested that it about equals 5% of all Silken Windhounds that ever lived!

To our relief we did not find a single carrier. Every test came back clear!

If a Silken Windhound one day proves to be a carrier, or worse, affected, we will have to reevaluate this matter but for now we are content to say that there is presently no evidence of DM in the breed and the DM test will not be regularly performed by breeders.

Links to pages with photos from Silkenfest 2011

http://web.me.com/istetson/Stetson_Farm/Silken_Albums/Pages/Silkenfest_2011_show.html

http://www.pixf.com/photocart/index.php?do=photocart&viewGallery=10238

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.209109195787469.56347.207198935978495

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.210330315665357.56804.207198935978495

http://silkenwindhounds.shutterfly.com/2011silkenfest

A few of the many Silken Windhounds at Silkenfest 2011
Nessa – Avalon Preakness
Claire – Tangaloor Sunlit Silence
Keno – Allagante Ka-Nee-Ta
ILsa – Talisman of Art Nouveau
Ronan – Talisman’s Byzantine Empire

Silkenfest 2011 Winners Bitch and Reserve WB

Judge Patricia Murphy of Oaklara Borzoi. In order:
Open – Allagante Sahara Starfyre (Sahara)
American Bred – Aigrette’s Cobweb (Cobweb)
Bred By Exhibitor – Elessar’s Jean Grey (Marvel)
Novice – Kristull Cassis By Satsuma (Cassis)
12-18 Month – Morgandell Crazy Heart (Blondie)
9-12 Month – Allagante Lakota Sioux DX (Lakota)
6-9 Month – Fantasy Farms Musetta’s Waltz (Minnie)
Winner – Sahara
RWB – Marvel

Silkenfest 2011 Sweeps Females 9-12 mo

Mark Golden judging Silken Windhound 9-12 month old female puppies for Sweepstakes during Silkenfest 2011. Karen S with Allagante Lakota Sioux DX
Peter W with Kumbaya Pecan Metukah
This was a very nice class

Silkenfest 2011 Sweeps Female 12-15 mo

Silkenfest Sweepstakes class Females 12-15 months old
Morgandell Crazy Heart (Blondie)
Morgandell Bright Star (Kira Meira)

Litter sisters out of Kohana’s Pardon My Dust (Dusty) x Kumbaya Kilauea Morgandell (Pele)

Silkenfest 2011 Best in Sweeps

Sweepstakes class finals at Silkenfest 2011 held in Calistoga, California judged by Mark Golden.
Dogs -
Aigrette’s Golden Key (Best in Sweeps),
Morgandell Avatar,
Aeracuras Fantasy Gilbert.
Females -
Firebird’s Smoke N’ Fire Brindle (Best Opposite Sex),
Allagante Lakota Sioux DX,
Fantasy Farms Musetta’s Waltz,
Morgandell Crazy Heart

Bados, BOB (LC) at Silkenfest

Allagante Windspirit Barbados takes Best of Breed at Silkenfest 2011

Silkenfest 2011 Obedience Part 1

Silken Windhounds in Novice A Obedience class at Silkenfest 2011 held in Calistoga, CA. Judge is Dr William T. Beauchamp. Left to Right
Kristull Azure Twilight Allure (Azure)
Allagante Sahara Starfyre (Sahara)
Allagante Mystic Topaz (Rio)

Silkenfest 2011 Obedience Part 2

Cyndi Dell of Morgandell with Blaze – Talisman’s Beaux Arts going through the steps for Pre-Novice Obedience class at Silkenfest 2011

Silkenfest 2011 Friendly Faces

Some friendly faces of people attending Silkenfest 2011, the annual gathering of Silken Windhounds in the USA. This year’s event was held in Calistoga, CA just north of San Francisco and featured 4 days of events such as speaker seminars, health clinics, conformation show, obedience trial, straight racing and lure coursing. Special guest speaker was Wayne Cavanaugh, president of UKC

Agent Gita

From Calistoga with Love

Silkenfest 2011: Racing

Champion Kristull Unbreakable “Duke”

Silken Windhound IABCA Champion Kristull Unbreakable made a guest appearance at Silkenfest 2011 for health testing and to visit with his many friends. Duke is very happy now residing in San Diego, CA. Formerly called Bruce he is the sire of many champion Silken Windhounds.

It is suspected to be a recessive trait.  Now there is a research project to get DNA markers for Megaesophagus. This way we will be able to test our dogs before breeding and avoid combinations that can cause Megaesophagus in the puppies. It is a tragic disease that often ends with the dog’s demise. You can often see in Megaesophagus puppies that they will regurgitate the milk. Some get better as they grow up, others do not.

If your dog has been diagnosed by a vet for Megaesophagus, you can make a contribution to the research by sending in DNA swabs from your dog.
Please note; at this point they are only interested in dogs with an affirmative diagnosis, not the relatives of such dogs.

Research, Clemson U. — Call for DNA Cheek Swab Samples STAT

Please feel free to crosspost and please note that this is no longer a/v only to Americans, it can be worldwide
Pam Legault

I double checked on two aspects w/ Dr. Leigh Ann. The following changes are in effect:

1) Send a request via email to: LCLARK4@clemson.edu
— include your name, your ship to address, your dog’s age, & breed, age of onset of symptoms & age @ dx.

2) She will mail a kit out to you via snail mail, to be returned by you via snail mail. You will not need to go to your DVM.

3) She is able to accept (because they are cheek swabs), swabs from anywhere in the world!

Leigh Anne Clark, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
100 Jordan Hall
Clemson University
Clemson, SC 29634-0318

The above is important for the following reasons:

1) Request for cheek swabs — more samples needed/requested. Following parameters only apply: the dog must have been diagnosed at the age of one or before.

2) ANY BREED may be submitted. Focus is still on GSD as that is the initial grant parameter. IE more GSD samples are still needed. However, “we” are going to start looking at the other breeds.

3) The coffers have run dry. SNP research is expensive. The cheek swabs will cost you virtually nothing. Please visit your vet, explain what the purpose is, and chances are strong they will be sent free of charge or minimal expense. Please take that savings and send it to Leigh Anne at the address above. If you can send more, please do so. I will be sending a nominal monthly donation. It will take all of us working together to move forward. Stop-starts due to coffers running dry are to be avoided … even if you can only spare a one time small donation, please do it today.

Why this is important.

Being able to map the genes involved will ultimately lead to the ability to develop a test so that breeders can know before breeding which sire and dams are carriers or if they are in fact clear.
Please Note: Leigh Anne runs a tight ship out of necessity (expense). Thus, please know that no direct results will be made available. Your affected dog,,, and you,,, can play a huge part in the advancement of this scientific endeavor to (eventually) eliminate this insideous disorder. That’s a feel good for you and a win-win-win for everyONE!

Should you have any questions, please contact me. Anyone can donate. A thank you note to Leigh Anne along with your check will make her day.
I highly respect and appreciate all that she has endeavored thus far and bet you do as well.

Permission to cross-post, and encouraged. There are twenty-six known affected breeds, so should you belong to other breed lists, please share this info with all.

Please also share with your breeders in case they too know of other affecteds in their line to which you may not have knowledge.

– Your DVM will know how to take the cheek swabs. Minimum three (3).

Sincerely,
Peg McIntyre

Founder, cmERp (canine megaesophagus Education & Research project)

30 pages of Silken Windhounds in this issue of Sight and Scent Magazine!

You can find Silken Windhounds on a about a third of all pages of the current issue of the Sight & Scent Magazine.
Order the January & February 2011 issue with Silken Windhounds directly from the Sight and Scent Magazine.

It is 10 dollar with shipping within USA, 20 dollar to Europe.
The problem is that you can’t use your credit card on their site and they don’t take Paypal.
You can email them at the magazine and they will get back to you with a phone number that you can call and then give them your credit card number.

Since most people will not call all the way to USA from for example Europe, it could be a good idea if one person in a country order several copies and distribute them within your country later. That is what we will do in Sweden.
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The issue of Performance Sighthound Journal with the article about Silken Windhounds

This is an old issue from  2006 and there is a limited number of magazines left, but you can still order them.
It is Volume 3, Issue 1

Order from Performance Sighthound Journal
Price is 11  dollar + shipping to your destination.
Payment via Paypal.

If you are owning a Silken or plan to own a Silken, you are an embassador for a rare breed. You will get questions about them as soon as you step out your door and you need to know and learn about them to be able to give correct information to people. There are so many misconceptions out there…

The discussion lists will provide you with all the information you are looking for. There just may be one in your own language too!  Check in with us and we will guide you to the best lists for you.

The European discussion list is in English and lot’s of the European breeders and owners are there.
It is not as high volume as the American list, a thing that may be good to know 

New members have to be  approved by a moderator so please add a small presentation of yourself when you sign up.

Click to join Silken_Windhounds_Europe