Ok, what does Abetten mean?  Well, as a new breed I felt my kennel name should reflex my goals.  Abetten is Old English for Abetting - To approve, encourage, and support (an action or a plan of action); urge and help on.  This was just what I hope to do for the Silkens. 


JESS at 14 weeks of age practicing "Stand"

BECKY'S PERSONAL DOG HISTORY

I have been involved with dogs my entire life.  I've always been an animal lover and was hit by the 'purebred' bug when I discovered the Westminster Kennel Club dog show when I was around 9 years old.  I would check out books from the library and read everything I could about ever breed of dog I could find.  I started saving my pennies and purchased my first Purebred puppy when I was 10 years old.  It was an Irish Setter who had a Champion dad and his mom was out of two Champions!  I gazed at his pedigree and couldn't believe I had my first pedigreed dog.  The breeder put me in touch with the owner of my puppy's sire and that was the start of my Jr Showmanship training. 

Over the years I have shown and finished many different breeds.  Irish and English Setters, many Shiba Inu, and a Sammy for a friend when I was young, a few others.  I really enjoyed conformation but there was something else I wanted to do.  High End working!  I had always been interested in SAR training and purchased my first dog specifically for that work in 1999.  He was a Standard Poodle!!  Not a traditional breed for working SAR, but a breed that is know for it's ability to do anything and everything.  I have mild allergies and needed a large breed that didn't shed much.  There weren't to many options that would work for our household (we wanted a non-aggressive breed that could live with many other animals with no issues).  Goldens, Labs, Shepherds all shed to much.  Many of the low shedding dogs don't do well off leash and don't do well in high end working jobs.  So I visited a Standard Poodle breeder and ended up coming home with one!  2 years later he and I certified as a Wilderness Live SAR team. 


Marquis Anutta Fine Wine CD, NA, NAJ, CGC, SAR certified
AKA Merlot

It was a fabulous experience.  Since I started in Poodles 8 years ago I have bred and produced 5 litters.  I have many obedience, agility, and therapy titled pups out in the USA.  They are a wonderful breed and I have 4 living with me now.  However, Poodles can't lure course...

Over many years I have watched and admired the Borzoi.  From time to time I would visit a website and just gaze at them in wonder.  Borzoi were simply to large for my lifestyle so it wasn't an option but I still liked to look.  I didn't want a smooth coated breed due to our lifestyle (lots of camping, hiking, cold weather sports, etc)   In early 2007 I was sitting at the car wash waiting to drive in when the car ahead of me had a "I Love my Borzoi" sticker.  That stuck in my mind and I went home to do internet search on the breed yet again.  It had probably been 5 years since I had last had the urge to look.  Well I stumbled upon the Gryffyn's Aeyrie Borzoi and Silken Windhounds  Website.   WHAT?  A breed I didn't know?  No way!!  I know most of the breeds out there.  Low and behold it was a dream come true.  Someone had seen my need and started a breed that is just what I want.  A coated sight hound that isn't 28inches tall!!!  I did a quick search for Silken's in Colorado Springs and couldn't believe it when I found a great breeder right here Firebird Silken Windhounds!!  It couldn't be avoided.  I had to contact them.  Of course they just happen to have a 11 week old male show puppy waiting for that perfect home.  And wouldn't you believe he just happen to be the color I wanted, A darker brindle.

Now the rest is history.  We are a brand new kennel of one Silken!  I can see this breed stealing the heart of everyone it meets.  They are low shedding, but still coated.  They take almost no time to groom (unlike my wonderful poodles).  They housetrain easily, unlike most other smaller sighthounds.  They are devoted yet calm and nondistructive.  Sweet and gentle yet hard working courser!  I'm so excited you can't even imagine.  Please come back often and see how our boy is growing.  I'm sure you will be bitten as hard as I when you see your first Silken in person!

Becky Baxter
Abetten Silken Windhounds