History
Regalant Silken Windhounds is a small, home-based kennel located in mid-Michigan. I began breeding and whelping litters in 2021 after years of research and work with mentors. I breed an average of 1 to 2 litters each year, though because I am still a newer kennel, there are some years where I may not have any litters at all.
My focus
I enjoy doing a wide variety of activities with my silkens, and I breed dogs that I would like to own. This means dogs with lure drive and who enjoy being active. My adults have enjoyed agility, lure coursing, racing, nosework, trick training, and rally obedience, and I aim to produce at least some sports prospects with each litter.
I believe silkens are more successful in these activities when they are healthy and accurate representatives of the breed standard, so conformation and health feature heavily in my breeding decisions. My goal is to breed functional silkens that are happy, healthy, and beautiful.
A bit about me
I brought my first silken home in 2014 and became involved in the silken community in 2016. At the time I was new to dogs sports, dog shows, and the dog world, but I fell in love with it all. Since then I have tried to learn all I can about these wonderful dogs and the various activities they can enjoy. I am a current member in good standing with the International Silken Windhound Society. I am also a club member and agility instructor at Capital City Canine Agility Club.
What I look for in potential owners
I am looking for owners who are open to having a continued relationship with me throughout the life of their dog. I don’t simply want to turn dogs loose on the world—I love getting updates on Regalant dogs and their families.
I am looking for owners who are experienced sighthound owners or who are willing to learn. I am looking for owners who understand that owning a sighthound is different from owning other types of dogs. I will not sell a silken to a home that intends to use an invisible fence as a containment method.
I am looking for owners who intend to be active with their dogs, whether that be through organized sports and competitions or hiking and exploring the outdoors. I do have a preference for sports homes but it is not a deal breaker.
I am looking for owners whose priority it is to make their new silken part of their family. While I hope my dogs will go on to do exciting things, their first and most important job is to be a great pet.
FAQs
Q: How can I get a silken from Regalant?
A: If you think you would be a good fit for a Regalant dog, please fill out an application (if my applications are currently open) or follow along on my Facebook page. Applications are usually only open around the time I am expecting a litter. I do respond to every application I receive, though sometimes life gets busy and it takes me a week or three to get back to you.
Q: Do you have a waiting list?
A: I don’t have a traditional waiting list but more of a waiting pool. I match dogs to homes based on best fit, not based on who contacted me first. However, getting on my radar early and staying in touch will likely mean you’re on my mind when I begin to think about placing puppies.
Q: When do you decide where the puppies will go?
A: There are exceptions, but I generally do not decide where to place puppies until after their structural and temperament evaluations, which generally happen when the puppies are around 8 weeks old. They will not be sent home before 10 weeks of age, and I prefer to keep them until closer to 12 weeks.
Q: Do you take deposits?
A: No. I want you to feel comfortable changing your mind at any point in the process if you think that’s what’s best for you.
Q: How much does a puppy cost?
A: Silkens can range in price, with differences in the US primarily based on age, location, and puppy rearing methods. I charge $3,000 to $3,500 for a puppy. Dogs who have been with me longer may be priced differently. Prices are non-negotiable. I put hundreds of dollars and hundred of hours into my puppies; my prices ensure I have the financial stability to continue to produce wonderful dogs.
A: What is provided in the cost of a puppy?
Q: All puppies will be sold current on age-appropriate veterinarian-recommended vaccinations and will have been started on heartworm and flea/tick preventative. All puppies will be microchipped, and I pay for a lifetime registration of the microchip (registered as a backup contact). I also pre-register all puppies with UKC and ISWS, and provide paperwork on getting the registration switched over to the new owner’s name. In addition, I send puppies home with all veterinary records, a gallon-sized bag of their current food, some treats, and a few other items to help them transition to their new homes.
Q: I don’t have a fenced-in yard. Does that disqualify me?
A: While I have a strong preference for homes with fenced yards, it is not a deal breaker. I did not have a fence when I got my first silken, and I will forever be grateful to the breeder that gave me the opportunity to enjoy this wonderful breed anyway. If you do not have a fence, however, I will want to know what plans you have for exercising your silken safely. Puppies in particular need adequate exercise to develop properly and reduce their risk of injury. I will not sell to homes that intend to use an invisible fence as a containment method. It is not unheard of for sighthounds to bust through an invisible fence when presented with the right stimulus (like a bunny!), and then they can end up stuck outside the fence. In addition, an invisible fence does not prevent other dogs entering the property and causing problems or injury.
Q: How tall should a fence be to contain a silken?
A: It really depends on the silken. I have silkens who will jump gates in my house but who have never tried to get over my four-foot fence. I know of other silkens that will try their hand at getting over a six-foot fence. My advice is to always monitor your dog while they are outside.
Q: Can silkens be trained to be off-leash?
A: Yes, they can be, but before you let your dog off leash, be sure it has a rock-solid recall or that it is in a safe space. I do not recommend that novice dog owners ever have their silken unleashed outside of their house or their fenced-in yard.
Q: Can you recommend other breeders to me?
A: Yes! I am happy to recommend other breeders, for any reason. I do, however, ask that, if you submit an application with Regalant you let me know if you find your perfect silken elsewhere.
Q: In a nutshell, what does your overall process for placing puppies look like?
A: I will post a new application for each litter, and it will go live around the time of the expected whelping and stay live for a few weeks. I respond to every application I receive this way, but sometimes it can take me a week to ten days to get back to you. Over the next weeks I post regular updates on my Facebook page. The puppies receive structure and temperament evaluations at around 8 weeks of age, and I begin making my decisions about placements after that time. Puppies will be ready to go home a few weeks after that.
Q: What does your socialization process look like for puppies?
A: See my Raising Puppies page for more information. I also post lots of updates, including socialization photos and video, to my Facebook page.
Q: What health testing is done on the parents before being bred and on puppies before they go home?
A: All of the breeding dogs that live with me will have been tested for eyes (CAER), heart (echo and holter), and thyroid before being bred. They are also checked for their MDR1 and CEA status. Find links to health testing on each dog’s page here. I also want the dogs I breed to my girls to be health tested. I prefer using males that have been tested to CHIC standard. The puppies will be tested for MDR1 and CEA through Embark before being sent to their new homes. I also complete (or will cover the cost of) BAER testing for extreme white dogs. The other health tests for silken windhounds are generally recommended to be completed when the dog is older.
Q: Are puppies going to pet homes sold on a spay/neuter contract?
A: As of now, this is not something I do. Neither UKC nor ISWS has a limited registration option, and I believe dogs are better suited by being altered later in life. I recommend that non-breeding dogs be spayed or neutered after age 2 or after their first heat cycle (whichever comes later), but it is not a requirement I put in my contract. That said, I do sell dogs on a breeding or non-breeding contract based on their Embark results, their early evaluations, and the goals of the family they are being placed with. I do this to help ensure adherence to the breed standard and ISWS breeding and ethics guidelines.
Q: What else is in your contract?
A: I update my contract for each new litter, usually close to the time the puppies are headed to their new homes. Some clauses you can expect to find in the contract are a buy-back clause (in the event you cannot keep the puppy), penalties for unauthorized breeding or for surrendering or abusing the dog, and requests that you keep me updated of any health or behavior issues that arise with your dog. I send prospective homes the contract prior to puppy pickup so that they can review and discuss the terms with me.
Regalant Silken Windhounds 