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Dogs aren’t always known for their speed, but they should be. While your average dog can run around 20 to 30 miles per hour, some of the fastest dog breeds can reach higher speeds, cover long distances, and perform feats of agility that will leave you in shock. This is why you see entire agility shows featuring the fastest, smartest, and quickest dogs from around the world.
In this article, we take you through some of the fastest dog breeds you’ll find out there. We’re covering several dogs that run up to 40 miles per hour or more! Plus, we provide a wide variety of fast dogs that range in size, temperament, and even intelligence. If you’re interested in adopting a fast dog breed, you’ve come to the right place. Read on to learn more about the fastest dog breeds below.
Things to Consider About the Fastest Dog Breeds
Adopting a fast dog breed sounds great, in theory, but there are some things you have to consider before you adopt one. For example, you need to make sure their nutritional needs are met and that you have enough space to care for them. Learn about some factors you need to consider before adopting the fastest dog breeds.
Nutritional Needs
High speeds come with high nutritional needs. You’ll find that the fastest dog breeds need to eat a lot of food to sustain themselves. What’s more, this food needs to be formulated for the specific breed (if possible) or at least for their specific size range.
For example, a border collie should be eating food formulated for high-energy medium-sized dogs, whereas greyhounds may need food for large dog breeds. If your fast dog is exercising often make sure they’re eating frequently, staying hydrated, and getting plenty of nutrients.
Housing
When you adopt a fast dog breed, you also have to consider housing. You don’t want to keep a greyhound stuck in a small apartment where they don’t have much room to stretch their legs. What’s more, if you plan on having a larger fast dog breed, you’ll likely need a dog park nearby, places for you to take your dog on walks, as well as enough backyard space for your dog to play.
The good news is that most single-family homes in the suburbs should be fine for a fast dog breed; you may only run into issues if you don’t have access to a backyard. On the other hand, avoid fast dog breeds that need a lot of exercise if you live in a city with limited room, outdoor activities, and walking space.
Training
Training is also crucial when it comes to adopting a fast dog breed. Most fast dog breeds were bred for hunting, so it’s common for them to have a prey drive towards smaller animals. If you have cats, other small dogs, or other pets, socializing them from a young age is important; this also applies to children as well.
Fast dog breeds often need mental and physical stimulation, which can be done through positive reinforcement training. Failing to train your dog can result in them expending energy in ways that you don’t want them to, so this should be high up there on your list of priorities.
Top 8 Fastest Dog Breeds
Most dogs are fast, but we can’t ignore the fact that some dogs are faster than others. Some dog breeds are used for racing and others are used to herd cattle at high speeds, some breeds definitely have the edge in the speed category. We cover the top 8 fastest dog breeds below.
1. Greyhound
Greyhounds are one of the most famous fast dog breeds you’ll come across. So much so that artists like Swedish House Mafia have written songs about their feats of speed. Greyhounds are often used in races and have reached recorded speeds of 45 miles per hour. This is several mph faster than the other dogs on this list, which makes them the ideal dog if you’re looking to adopt a fast dog breed.
What’s more, their fast speed is controlled by a modest temperament that keeps them calm, cool, and loyal. This makes them great house dogs if you have the space to accommodate them, which you’ll notice becomes a trend with most of the fastest dog breeds. After all, they need their long legs to handle and produce that speed. Overall, they’re the perfect racing dog.
2. Borzoi
The borzoi is another fast one, although they have an interesting and often funny-looking appearance. These dogs can reach speeds well over 35 miles per hour and sometimes keep pace with the fastest dog breeds like greyhounds. What makes this even more interesting is how borzois can reach these speeds as a large dog; many large dogs are slower due to their weight but this doesn’t stop the borzoi.
While borzois are fast, they make great companions for the whole family. They’re an emotionally-intelligent breed that values loyalty and love above all else. That said, these dogs are larger in size and need a lot of space. Therefore, we only recommend adopting a borzoi if you have access to a backyard or a dog park in your area.
3. Dalmatian
Dalmatians are also a breed that’s known for their speed. Sure, they’re also famous for their role in the 1961 film 101 Dalmatians, but their athleticism is what landed them this role in the first place. These dogs look muscular, run fast, and are even easy to train for agility shows. Dalmatians can easily reach speeds up to 35-37 miles per hour depending on their level of training and genetics. This is also impressive due to their size; they’re medium-sized dogs that weigh between 40-70 pounds and reach 20-24 inches in height.
Aside from being speedsters, Dalmations are happy and healthy dogs. They often reach the ripe old age of 13 and have a sensitive temperament that responds well to love, affection, and loyalty. In other words, they’re great family dogs if you have the space for them – a backyard big enough for playing or access to a local dog park or an area for you to walk them.
4. Great Dane
The case of the Great Dane is an interesting one. On one hand, you have one of the fastest dogs around that can routinely hit 30+ mph. On the other hand, Great Danes struggle with stamina and their speed is often short-lived. Therefore, Great Danes might be good for the occasional sprint, but over long distances, you’ll find that other breeds will catch up; even slow breeds have an advantage over Great Danes over long distances. Their lack of stamina is a result of their size, which may sound counterintuitive due to their massive muscles and hardy bodies.
While Great Danes are good sprinters, you’ll find that they’re even better companions. Some Great Danes will have a lot of energy, but as long as you have an average-sized yard or a dog park close to your home you shouldn’t have any issues. Their temperament is also mild and they’re smarter than they look, which makes training your Great Dane for speed and agility a breeze.
5. Siberian Husky
The Siberian husky might not be as fast as a greyhound, but they deserve a spot on a list of the fastest dog breeds. They can reach top speeds of 30 to 35 miles per hour, and while that’s impressive alone, they can do this in the snow. These sled dogs are famous for competing in sled races, working in snowy conditions, and even protecting animals from predators like wolves. Not only is the Siberian husky fast, but you’re getting a well-rounded companion that was bred to work.
These traits make the Siberian husky one of the easiest dogs to train once they respect you as a leader of their pack. That said, this can give you some trouble in the beginning if you’re not the best at training dogs. Once you get past the initial stages, you’ll find that Siberian huskies are smart, easy to train, and reliable for speed and disability.
6. Doberman pinscher
The Doberman pinscher is another fast dog that can really be an effective member of your family or even the workforce with the right training. These dogs have plenty of stamina, ambition to work, and the agility necessary to hunt, track, and compete in agility shows. When you combine these traits you’re left with a determined dog breed that will run fast and go as long as necessary.
We love Doberman pinschers for speed and agility but they’re not for everyone. These dogs can weigh up to 100 pounds and reach up to 28 inches at the shoulder, so you’ll need enough space and a backyard to house them. Additionally, Doberman pinschers aren’t the best dogs for first-time dog parents and might not get along with other pets if you have them. It’s for these reasons that you’ll often find them working alongside military, police, and firefighters instead of resting on someone’s couch.
7. Vizsla
Speed isn’t just about running fast; it’s also about endurance, recovery, and agility. While the Vizsla might not be the fastest in a straight line, these dogs have more than enough stamina to keep up with the fastest dog breeds over great distances. In fact, these dogs were bred hundreds of years ago and loved by the Maygar hunting tribes in Hungary. These dogs come in several variations, like the wire-haired Vizsla, but each one tends to be equally as fast and nimble.
While these traits were useful for hunting hundreds of years ago, today Vizslas are still sought-after for their endurance running capacity. For example, many runners will adopt the breed to run alongside them and have some company out there. They’re also useful for police and military work, but they’re less common than German shepherds and Doberman pinschers in these areas. Vizslas are also easy to train, loyal, and affectionate dogs. Therefore, you don’t have to worry about too many issues with them if you’re a first-time dog parent.
8. Border Collie
Last but not least, we have the border collie. These dogs share some of the best traits including being fast, smart, loyal, and affectionate. Aside from having a great temperament and trainability, that’s hard to find in other fast dog breeds, border collies are some of the fastest smaller dogs you can find. While they’re not as fast as a greyhound or borzoi, they can reach a top speed of 30 miles per hour. In fact, some border collies have gone even faster!
A border collie’s speed comes from how they were bred over the years; hunting dogs bred to chase down small, quick, and agile prey. That said, border collies are perfect fast dog breeds if you don’t have a massive amount of space. Since they’re only 18 to 22 inches at the shoulder, and often weigh less than 50 pounds, most home settings are fine for them.
Adopt One of the Fastest Dog Breeds Today
Your average dog tends to be faster than the average person, but why settle on average? The dog breeds we covered in this article are the fastest dog breeds that you can find. Whether you need a borzoi to help you track prey while you’re hunting, or you’re looking for a running companion like the Vizsla to help with your marathon training, plenty of breeds are available.
It’s important to note that adopting the fastest dog breeds might not always be possible; many of these breeds are rare and that will drive up the cost and limit availability. Also, if you want to make the most out of your time with any of the fast dog breeds we covered make sure you train them. Positive reinforcement will help you get the best results.