Draft:Windsprite

• Comment: This would be a nice article for, say, a dog fancier magazine. But for Wikipedia it needs to be much more neutral. There is a lot of material about how wonderful these dogs are: all of that needs to be removed or toned way down.
  Separately, please open the article for editing and look at the reference section. There are a lot of errors which should show in red. Please fix those. M kuhner (talk) 10:33, 17 September 2026 (UTC)

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Windsprite
An exemplary Windsprite in a free stack. Photo by Jamie Ohman.
Other names	Silken Windsprite, Longhaired Whippet
Origin	United States of America
Traits Height 16-22" Weight 20-35 lbs Coat Long-haired, Smooth Colour Immaterial
Dog (domestic dog)

The Windsprite is a small- to medium-sized, coated, American sighthound breed of great power and elegance, with a temperament that makes it well-suited to companionship and family life. This rare breed was founded in the Northeastern United States beginning in the 1950s by Walter A. Wheeler, Jr., who originally referred to the breed as Longhaired Whippets. For over 70 years, the breed has been preserved and improved by a passionate base of supporters throughout both the United States and Europe.

Windsprites are known for their amiable nature, as well as their trainability and athleticism. These dogs fill a variety of roles with ease, from family pets to sports prospects, melding handler focus with an easygoing temperament typical of many sighthounds. Even so, a Windsprite should be keen and intense in the field. Their energy requirements are generally considered low to moderate, though some may have higher needs than others.

Name

The Windsprite was originally known as the Longhaired Whippet. This was widely considered a misnomer given the breed's mixed origins. Although they are closely related to the similarly-built, smooth-coated Whippet, Windsprites are a completely separate breed. Despite the Windsprite's makeup primarily consisting of Whippet stock, it is also believe to include Shetland Sheepdog, Borzoi, and possibly Italian Greyhound.

The official logo of the International Windsprite Club.

The name Longhaired Whippet remained a point of contention for many years. In October of 2017, over 60 years after the breed was first established, the Board of Directors of the International Longhaired Whippet Club moved to change the breed's name in an effort to put the controversy to bed and to increase the acceptance of these dogs among the fancy. Subsequently, the breed and its parent club, now known as the International Windsprite Club, were renamed.

Early owners of the breed used the nickname "Silken Windsprite", not to be confused with the Silken Windhound, of which the Windsprite is itself a principal foundation breed (though this is contribution is often incorrectly attributed to an unnamed line of "Whippet-based Lurchers"). Today, the breed is still referred to as "Silken Windsprite" throughout Europe. In the United States, the breed's country of origin, the dogs formerly known as Longhaired Whippets are now simply known as Windsprites, so named in honor of the breed founder's kennel affix, which was originally coined in 1958.

History

The Windsprite breed was founded by Walter A. Wheeler, Jr (1924 - 2013) of Sherborn, Massachusetts, beginning in the mid-1950s. As the story goes, Wheeler had been involved in breeding and showing purebred Whippets for some time before claiming to have witnessed Whippet puppies with longer coats at the home of a fellow breeder, who denied any such thing. Nevertheless, this experience reportedly inspired Wheeler's effort to restore the long-haired variety, the existence of which he believed to be well-documented in historical paintings, sculptures, and so on. His foundation line of "Long-haired Whippets" were registered with the American Kennel Club in 1958 and their long, silky coats were said to provide "not only aesthetic quality, but [also protection] from cold and injury."

In the 1970s, Wheeler unveiled his project, professing to have discovered a rare, recessive gene through aggressive line-breeding, resulting in his kennel producing Whippets with silky, feathered coats. Understandably, there was much skepticism about this claim and the Whippet community was very opposed to the idea that Wheeler's Longhaired Whippets were purebred. In the early 1980s, an investigation was conducted by the American Whippet Club, which determined that the dogs could not be shown to be purebred. As a result, Wheeler's dogs were de-registered. In 1981, Wheeler established his own breed club, the Longhaired Whippet Association (LWA), with the earliest version of a formal breed standard copyrighted by the LWA soon after. Wheeler himself retired from breeding in 2003, at the age of 79.

The breed founder, Walter A. Wheeler, Jr., exhibiting a Windsprite.

Even before the advent of genetic testing, there were early indications that Wheeler's long-haired dogs were comprised of more than just Whippet bloodlines. For instance, some presented with symptoms of drug sensitivities associated with the MDR1 gene, which was known to be present in a number of herding breeds, but did not appear in Whippets. Wheeler's very first litter, produced when he was only 16 years old, was a litter of Shelties. Today, we have confirmation via DNA testing that the Windsprite's genetic makeup includes Shetland Sheepdog. There is some anecdotal evidence from those that worked with Wheeler that the early foundations of the breed may have contained small amounts of Borzoi and Italian Greyhound content as well.

In addition to the breed's murky early foundations, we know from pedigree records and personal accounts that the Windsprite population received a significant infusion of Borzoi blood in the mid-1980s when a male Windsprite was accidentally bred to a female Borzoi. Though this 1985 litter is widely considered to be the founding breeding that led to the creation of Silken Windhounds, there is evidence that the breeder of those Borzoi-content dogs continued to sell, show, and breed them as "Long-haired Whippets" for at least another full decade, if not longer. The Silken Windhound was not officially declared a separate breed from the Windsprite until March of 1999 with the creation of the International Silken Windhound Society, whose website in those early days clearly stated that "the Silken Windhound started from a base of 'Longhaired Whippets'."

An English Whippet bitch believed to have been used in the founding of the Windsprite breed.

Many early breed records are believed to have been lost with the passing of the breed's founder on September 17th, 2013. Without those records, much of breed's past has been shared via oral history. That said, it has been written that CH Hilgarth Shot Silk of Pennyworth, "Betty", a Whippet whelped in the United Kingdom in 1955, was the Windsprite's "foundation dam" and that "her progeny produced Mr. Wheeler’s first fuzzy puppies". Betty was closely related to the lines of the breeder whose coated puppy Wheeler claimed to have witnessed. He had been known to say that Betty, a small fawn with a blue mask, had a coat with "a lion's mane and a squirrel's tail" that required hand stripping and trimming to remove longer hair in order for her to be successful in the show ring. The accuracy of this claim is also lost to time.

Before the widespread availability of genetic testing provided confirmation that Wheeler's dogs were not purebred Whippets, a division grew amongst North American fanciers of the Windsprite breed, leading to the creation of a second breed club. While Wheeler's Long-haired Whippet Association maintained the breed's purity, the International Long-haired Whippet Club (ILWC), founded in 2001, embraced the reality that this was a separate breed in the early stages of development. Though no other backcrosses or outcrosses were formally sanctioned by the ILWC, approval to freely cross Windsprites back to Whippets was granted in writing by the breed founder.

Today, the modern iteration of the Windsprite breed association in the United States, the International Windsprite Club (formerly the International Long-haired Whippet Club) has inherited the work of the Longhaired Whippet Association to further the advancement, protection, and preservation of the Windsprite by establishing and maintaining a community of fellowship among breed fanciers and friends. The International Windsprite Club also maintains a breed registry; authorizes and conducts matches, dog shows, and performance events; educates and assists owners and prospective owners on the care, training, showing, and breeding of Windsprites, and so on.

Appearance

A headshot of an adult female Windsprite, showing the breed's sweet expression. Photo by Jessa Michie.

The appearance of the Windsprite is very similar to that of a Whippet, with the addition of a longer coat and silky feathering on the neck, chest, ears, legs, and tail. These are small, athletic sighthounds with well-muscled hindquarters, a strong loin, a deep chest, a flowing outline, and an overall impression of elegance and power. The head is very like a Whippet's, long and lean, with a broad, flat back skull, large, dark eyes, and small, delicate rose ears. At rest, a Windsprite's expression should be soft and almost modest. When on alert, the expression is keen and intense.

The Windsprite moves with a reaching, floating gait at a trot and runs in a double-suspension gallop, much like other sighthound breeds. Color is immaterial. All coat colors are accepted. The breed is without any disqualifying faults, but certain traits, such as prick ears, short necks, and flat backs, are considered highly undesirable. Though the work is ongoing, much effort has been made on the part of breeders over the years to achieve consistent breed type, with an eye to bone and substance, as well as maintaining a classic, curving silhouette.

The breed ranges in height from approximately 17-21" at the withers. A recent survey of Windsprite owners revealed that weight is quite consistent across the breed at 20-35 pounds, with a few outliers in the upper teens and even fewer in the upper 30s and low 40s. Females tend to be slightly smaller than males. Males trend slightly larger and generally have heavier feathering than females, but coat length and texture varies some on an individual basis, regardless of sex, in accordance with the breed standard.

Temperament

Windsprites are celebrated by the fancy for their playful and pleasant temperaments. They serve as strong candidates for family companionship, known to coexist easily and peacefully with children and other animals of all kinds, especially if introduced when young. With a reputation for being warm and sociable with strangers, many Windsprites naturally excel as therapy dogs. Admirers describe them as having an excellent "on" switch, with their default mode being "off". They are typically relaxed, calm, and gentle at home, but become energized and eager for play time and performance sports. Some may have higher exercise requirements as puppies, frequently settling as they mature, but the breed overall is typically straightforward to raise as puppies and easy to live with as adults.

Like many sighthound breeds, they benefit from short training sessions using positive reinforcement methods. Being on the sensitive side, it is important that they receive thorough early socialization to encourage confidence and comfort in various settings. Though a more cautious, reserved nature can occasionally be observed in the breed, they should never be sharp or aggressive under any circumstances.

Health

Windsprites are known to be quite healthy in the world of purebred dogs, overall, with lifespans frequently extending well in to the mid- to upper-teens. Due to consistent backcross efforts for genetic diversity throughout the past and present of the breed, the average coefficient of inbreeding is 21% as of 2024, according to Embark. There are ongoing efforts being made by many breeders to reduce that number further.

Bea (Tova's Gotta Dance) celebrating her 18th birthday. Bea passed away in 2026, about six months shy of her 20th birthday. Photo by Tucker's Legacy.

Health concerns that have been observed in the breed include incidences of autoimmune and digestive issues, such as environmental allergies, food sensitivities, and inflammatory bowel disease, as well as exercise-induced hyperthermia, and Addison's disease. Recently, genetic testing for risk genes associated with Copper Storage Disease became available via Embark and their prevalence in the breed is still being determined by the breed club, though the breed is not known to suffer from Copper-Associated Hepatopathy at this time. Further research into the health of the breed is needed in order to confirm the true prevalence of these concerns. Efforts are underway by the International Windsprite Club's Health Committee to confirm and better understand the frequency and impact of these issues in the breed. In the meantime, many breeders are careful to avoid passing on known health issues in their dogs, selecting pairings with great deliberation.

All Windsprites must undergo genetic testing in order to be registrable with the International Windsprite Club. It is strongly recommended that breeding prospects be screened for any eye and heart issues with the OFA within the prior twelve months preceding mating, as well as being tested for canine brucellosis shortly beforehand. The results of genetic tests for MDR1 and CEA are taken into account when making breeding decisions, in order to avoid the carrier-to-carrier pairings that would produce affected puppies that carry two copies of the genes. Each of these steps is required by the breed club's Breeder Code of Ethics, which allows breeders to opt in to an ongoing commitment to ethical and responsible breeding choices, as well as providing prospective owners with a resource to help them select a well-bred puppy. Breeders following the Breeder Code of Ethics can be easily identified on the breed club's website, Windsprites.org.

An example of a Smooth Windsprite, displaying a short, yet plush coat.

An integral component of maintaining and improving the genetic diversity and health of the Windsprite breed is the use of backcrossing to Whippets. Per the IWC's website, "Access to genetic testing via partnership with Embark allows responsible Windsprite breeders to plan pairings carefully and ensure that genetic coefficient of inbreeding is taken into account, rather than relying on significantly less accurate pedigree-based estimations." However, a recent Whippet backcross is not a guarantee of genetic diversity. Since Whippets formed a significant portion of the breed's foundation, breeders must be deliberate in finding matches that lend themselves to the goal of reducing the average coefficient of inbreeding.

The offspring resulting from a Windsprite being backcrossed to a Whippet are considered smooth Windsprites by the International Windsprite Club and are allowed to compete in dedicated conformation classes for their variety. Given that the long-haired gene is recessive, smooth Windsprites are born without the length, texture, and feathering of a coated Windsprite, but they may have a coat that is more plush and dense than the close, firm coat of a Whippet. Smooth Windsprites carry the gene for long hair and their progeny each have a 50% chance of being either coated or smooth when bred with a long-haired dog, whereas a long-haired to long-haired breeding will always produce a coated Windsprite. At this time, no other breeds are sanctioned for backcross or outcross by the International Windsprite Club. Therefore, only Whippet backcrosses are able to contribute to the wider gene pool.

Performance

Three Windsprites competing in AOK9 Sprint Racing at a recent International Windsprite Club specialty show. Photo by Carolyn Chow.

Although Windsprites have not been primarily bred for hunting live game, they take after their Whippet ancestors in their drive for coursing and their intensity and speed in the field. The breed standard indicates that they should be fit and conditioned for this function in all types of terrain. At specialty shows hosted by the International Windsprite Club, the breed engages regularly in agility, rally obedience, and straight racing, in addition to conformation. Titles are offered by the club in the aforementioned sports, as well as titles for versatile dogs succeeding in multiple areas. Owners of Windsprites engage in many different performance sports with their dogs, including but not limited to coursing, racing, obedience, rally, freestyle, agility, disc, fetch, tricks, flyball, and dockdiving.

Although intact Windsprites are not eligible for participation in performance sports with the American Kennel Club (AKC), altered dogs can be registered through the Canine Partners program and are able to earn AKC titles. In the United States, intact Windsprites are able to participate via registration in the United Kennel Club's Performance Listing or via other dedicated sports organizations. Access to sighthound-specific lure sports is available for the time being through programs for non-sighthounds, mixed breeds, or dogs of unrecognized breeds, such as the American Sighthound Field Association's Lure Chasing Instinct program or Racing And Coursing Enthusiast's AOK9 program, which allows Large Gazehound Racing Association and National Oval Track Racing Association affiliate clubs can diversity their offerings. In Europe, access to performance sports varies greatly depending on recognition status.

Recognition

The breed is not currently recognized with the American Kennel Club (AKC), United Kennel Club (UKC), or Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI). However, it is recognized nationally in several European countries and is accepted by a large number of performance sport organizations in the United States.