The 10 Fastest Dog Breeds On Earth

Different dog breeds have different strengths. Those strengths vary in uses to humans, but one that will always pique a person’s interest is just how quick a dog is. Here, we look at the top 10 fastest dog breeds in the world, in reverse order. It is fascinating and staggering to see the speeds to which some dogs can achieve – many are faster than some urban speed limits which is amazing considering that it is just the physiology of a dog that gives them the ability to run that fast.

Border Collie – 30 Miles Per Hour

One of the most popular breeds as a pet, the Border Collie, is also one of the quickest dogs to grace the face of the planet. Their quick speeds, of up to 30 miles an hour, as well as astounding intelligence earned them the right as a Shepherd’s best friend and are commonly seen being used as a sheepdog. Whilst they are energetic, and can literally keep running and running all day long, they are also fiercely loyal and obedient. All these characteristics make them the ideal choice to work on a farm and herd sheep. So for those that also want them as a family dog, it is only wise to do so if you have the space to let these dogs run off their energy, as well as the time to take them on at least one long dog walk a day.

Doberman Pinscher

This often thought of as intimidating breed, is not only incredibly strong, it is also incredibly fast. While obviously solid and muscular in its build, a Doberman Pinscher’s weight does nothing to hold back its highest achievable land speed of 32 miles per hour. It is not a particularly old breed and was developed in the 20th Century in Germany with the sole purpose of protecting farms and homes as a guard dog. The breed is now used widely within police forces around the world as well as within the military as in addition to being strong and quick, they are also very intelligent. They are also famous for their pointy ears, which sadly do not naturally grow in that way. Instead, they are often subject to the controversial practice of ear clipping by humans.

Related Post: Dog Food for Dobermans

Whippet

Whippets can often be mistaken for Greyhound puppies as they have a very similar look, just on a much smaller scale. They were originally used simply to hunt and kill rats around the home as their small size prevented them from being used for hunting. In the past, they have also been known to be used in racing and gaming as their land speed has been seen to reach 34 miles an hour. For a dog of its size, this is lightning quick. They have grown in popularity recently as family pets owing to their loyal and loving nature. While they can suffer quite acutely from separation anxiety, the flipside is they are one of the most affectionate dogs out there.

Borzoi

The Borzoi originally hailed from Russia and as such is sometimes more commonly known as the Russian Wolfhound. In the past it was used as a sight dog and, along with its awe inspiring speed, was used by Russians to help hunt wolves and keep homes protected. As a breed, they have been known to reach anything up to 36 miles an hour, hence why the word Borzoi started to be used for their breed name. In an old form of Russian, Borzoi can be translated to mean fast. With little need to hunt wolves in more populous urban areas, they are now more often seen to be taking the place of a much loved family pet within a home. They are friendly, but will need a fair amount of space to run around.

Dalmatian

The well known breed, the Dalmatian, is not just famous for its part in a Disney film. Indeed, it is also well known for its lightening quick speeds which have been recorded as anything up to 37 miles per hour, easily making it one of the fastest dog breeds on the planet. They are an instantly recognizable breed owing to their attractive black or brown spots on their white coats. They are fiercely protective of their owners with a highly attuned pack instinct. This has meant that they were often used as guard dogs in the past and, owing to their speed, were sometimes used to run alongside carriages to prevent any roadside robberies in the past.

Jack Russell Terrier

Don’t let the small size of these dogs deceive you. A Jack Russell Terrier is one of the fastest dog breeds in the world and has been seen to achieve speeds of up to 38 miles an hour which is awe inspiring given the length of their little legs! They were, and still are, put to good use to make the most of this speed during hunting season when foxes need to be ferreted out of their hiding holes. It is not a very old breed, which was originally developed from the English White Terrier, a type of dog that sadly no longer exists. However, that gives the Jack Russell Terrier a known history of just over 200 years.

Related Post: Dog Food For Jack Russell

Vizsla

The Vizsla is one of the most energetic dogs on the planet and with that energy they can achieve speeds just under 40 miles an hour. They originally hail from Hungary and have two types of look to them. There is the short haired, smooth Vizsla which is better known, but there is also the scruffy looking Vizsla that has wire hair. Both sorts will have a coppery tone to their fur as well as being fiercely loyal to their owners. Their retrieving instincts is at its highest when their masters are around and are well known to greet an owner at the front door with some sort of present in their mouths – be it a slipper, newspaper or otherwise. They are a lot of work for a household in need of a pet, but they are also incredibly charming in their own boisterous way.

Afghan Hound

The Afghan Hound is known for its looks as well as its incredible speed. This breed can manage to run at 40 miles an hour making it very useful to the hunters that used them in their native Afghanistan and neighboring countries when the breed was first discovered. They are one of the oldest breeds on the planet, but interestingly have not been bred consistently with many other types of dog so their blood line is one of the purest to be seen on the planet. They have managed to evolve and develop as a consequence, which is why they are no so adept at surviving cold temperatures at very high altitudes. This was one of their characteristics that Afghan hunters would have wanted to exploit during hunting season over a thousand years ago.

Saluki

The Saluki is a handsome dog that can reach up to 42 miles an hour so is just pipped to the post by another hound at number one in the top ten fastest dog breeds. Dog experts have noticed that a Saluki not only has a staggering land speed, as a breed they also have the ability to maintain that speed for incredibly long periods of time. They are also one of the oldest known dog breeds on the planet and have been dated back almost as far as 2200 BC. Their speed and agility gave them an obvious job to humans throughout the ages so they have often been put to work by their owners to catch game and animals like foxes and rabbits. They’re wonderful pets for any family thinking of adding a canine to their clan, but they do need space to run around and burn off all that energy.

Greyhound

Perhaps most well known of any fast breed dogs, and for good reason, is the Greyhound. They have been used as racing dog for a number of years owing to the fact that they can reach an eye watering 45 miles per hour on land. Oddly though, as a breed, they do not need to be walked very much and are quite docile animals. They originally came from the Ancient Celts, based in the Eastern realms of Europe. In addition to being used in racing and betting, their speed has been harnessed to chase game and during hunting. However, their calm disposition makes them fantastic family pets where their unconditional love will often be returned by every member of the family due to their affectionate ways.

Related Post: Dog Food for Greyhounds

Sources:

1. Running and Staying Safe with Your Dog – PetMD
2. Top 10 Tips for Running with Your Dog – HowStuffWorks