Which dog breed is the fastest on the track?
If you have a dog that needs a lot of room to run, you’ll need a large yard. Alternatively, you may take your dog to the dog park on a regular basis or go running with him. In the right environment, some of the breeds on this list can be satisfied to lounge around the house for long periods of time. Others on this list, on the other hand, have a seemingly limitless supply of energy that is barely affected by the long run.
Some dogs are just born runners and will never slow down! If you’re looking for an energetic companion who loves being outside, these are the best-suited breeds for you.
Here are the top five fastest-running dog breeds.
Greyhound
Taking the top spot for the fastest dog is the greyhound. With a peak speed of 45mph, the greyhound is the fastest dog in existence. The breed is designed for speed instead of endurance and does not require a lot of exercises.
Saluki
Running at 42 mph. The Saluki is an ancient dog breed, dating back to the same time period as the Greyhound. Hunting hares and gazelles was a pastime for Salukis. By the Egyptian pharaohs, they were preserved in mummified form and treasured by Muslims as a gift from Allah.
Afghan Hound
They were originally utilized in the deserts and mountains of Afghanistan, where they were bred. It has to have a long, flowing coat to keep warm. Afghan Hounds, another old breed, have a strong sense of self-reliance and can be challenging to teach. As a clownish breed, they need a lot of maintenance to keep their long, flowing hair from getting matted. In order to catch an Afghan Hound, you’ll need a high degree of agility, and this breed is no exception. They have a propensity for developing strong emotional ties with a single individual. They can run up to 40 mph.
Vizla
The Vizla was bred in Hungary to be both a pointer and a retriever, making it the third-fastest dog in the world, tied with the Afghan Hound at 40 mph. They were known as “Velcro Vizslas” because of their desire to stay close to their favorite person while hunting, a characteristic that has carried over into present society. An energetic dog like the Vizsla needs a lot of exercises to avoid becoming destructive. Leaving them alone for too long can cause them to suffer from separation anxiety. Their boisterousness makes them a terrific choice for older children, but they may be too much for younger ones.
Jack Russell Terrier
38 mph -A relatively new breed on this list, Parson Jack Russell was inspired to create the Jack Russell Terrier by his desire to find the perfect fox hunter’s dog. They are bursting with vitality and possess a strong sense of self-reliance. When they’re bored, they’re prone to acting out and causing trouble. There are a number of dog sports that Jack Russell Terriers may excel at if you have the time to coach him and supply him with a lot of energy.
Dalmatian
With a speed of 37 mph, this breed’s inclusion on our list should come as no surprise, given their illustrious past. A high degree of energy has been instilled in Dalmatians because they were trained for lengthy periods of time to chase down highway criminals and protect their masters. They are prone to hearing loss as well. For the appropriate household, a Dalmatian may be a fantastic pet, but they aren’t for everyone.
Border Collie
Border Collies are an intelligent and highly trainable breed. They were originally bred for herding sheep, which required them to be agile and fast. Like many other working dogs, they love to run – at top speed, a Border Collie can run as fast as 30 miles per hour. They are very energetic dogs requiring plenty of daily exercise. Whether it is fetching a ball or herding livestock, providing a Border Collie with an active lifestyle is very important.
Borzoi
Originally bred to be hunting and coursing dogs, Borzois would go after wolves, rabbits, and foxes. A large breed, Borzois can reach higher speeds than many other larger dogs. A very sensitive dog and considered one of the best family pets, a fully grown and healthy Borzoi can run as fast as 35 miles per hour.
Doberman Pinscher
Doberman Pinschers are frequently used for protection work. In fact, the Doberman was originally bred in 1880 by a tax collector (Karl Friedrich Louis Dobermann) for protection purposes. Considered among the best guard dogs, the Doberman is an athletic breed that can run up to 32 miles per hour. They may not be the fastest on this list, but they can still cover short distances very quickly. This makes the Doberman an excellent guard do
German Shepherd
German Shepherds are very good sprinters and are frequently used in police and military work. Their ability to cover short distances quickly and trainability makes it a preferred breed for these kinds of duties. This breed of dog can run up to 30 miles per hour with very explosive speeds. German Shepherds are also excellent at guarding. They are very courageous and loyal, not to mention very popular – the GSD ranked in second place in both our 2019 analysis and 2022 analysis of the most popular dog breeds in the world.
Great Dane
Another large breed to make it on this list, Great Danes are very athletic and muscular dogs that can run quickly despite their size. Although the physical capacity and high energy levels of Great Danes enables them to sprint at a ferocious speed, their lack of stamina means it is often short lived. Great Danes can push their bodies but they aren’t very good at running long distances. It’s important to provide them with plenty of water and breaks when running long distances. A fully-grown Great Dane can reach speeds of up to 30 miles per hour.
Poodle
Poodles come in three different sizes – the Standard Poodle, the Miniature Poodle and the Toy Poodle. The Standard Poodles are the fastest among the different sizes of the breed. In general, are alert and instinctive dogs that love to run. This might be surprising – but they hide a very athletic and muscular body underneath their famous curly fur. Standard Poodles can reach speeds of 30 miles per hour.
Siberian Husky
The Siberian Husky is a dog that was bred for sled-pulling. Their main duty was simply running. A working dog, the Siberian Husky may not be the outright fastest breed, but their endurance more than makes up for it. Siberian Huskies can run more than 100 miles a day and reach speeds of up to 10 to 15 miles per hour when pulling a sled. Without a sled, Siberian Husky can run as fast as 30 miles per hour. Their ability to cover long distances gave them recognition for having one of the highest stamina of any dog, and they are still used for sled pulling to this day. Hundreds of Siberian Huskies can be seen at the annual Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race in Alaska.
Whippet
A medium-sized dog, Whippets originated in England and are a descendant of Greyhounds. In fact, they can often be mistaken for Greyhounds as they share a lot of similar physical features, but Whippets are smaller in size. Whippets were bred to hunt by sight which required them to have high speeds. They aren’t as fast as the Greyhound, but they can run for long distances with speeds of up to 35 miles per hour to catch prey. Despite their high energy levels, Whippets are very gentle with children, making them a good family pet.
Frequently Asked Question:
Do dogs have the ability to run long distances?
It’s true that any dog can run a marathon, which is about 27 miles, given a little bit of time and dedication. It’s one thing to know that your dog is capable of running a marathon, but another to get your dog to do so.
