You may think your dog is fast, but is it one of the fastest in the world? Some dog breeds are incredibly fast, and it is wise to know which ones do so you can accommodate their needs in your home. So, what are the top fastest dog breeds in the world? We will be talking about each one in this article.
1. Greyhound
The Greyhound is the fastest dog on this list that can reach speeds up to 45 miles per hour. Greyhounds were originally used as a sporting dog to catch and chase deer, rabbits, foxes, and much more. Much later, they were more refined to become racing dogs, which made this breed the fastest dog on earth.
While this breed is very fast, it is more of a spirt runner, which means this breed can not run for very long distances for very long. This is a very gentle breed that is great around children and adults. This dog breed needs a lot of exercise so make sure you have an adequate play area for your dog or that you take them out to parks to burn off that extra energy.
2. Saluki
The Saluki is another breed that has incredible speed at around 42 miles per hour. This dog originated in the middle east, and the Arabs nicknamed this dog the noble. They were mainly used for running as well as catching prey such as gazelle, rabbits, and other small animals.
It is actually said that this breed can’t go as fast as a Greyhound, but it can run much farther. This is a very tall dog, as well as naturally lean. This is a very intelligent dog, so it should be quite easy to train as long as you are consistent with it. They are very friendly dogs and require a lot of exercise throughout the day.
3. Afghan Hound
The Afghan Hound is our third fastest dog breed in the world. This breed can reach speeds at 40 miles per hour. This breed is originally from the country of Afghanistan; this breed was used to hunt for animals in the desert. This dog breed dates back to thousands of years old, so they have some incredible traits and genes.
They are very closely similar to the Saluki dog breed, as the Afghan Hound has some similar features. This dog has very long hair that flies when the dog is running through the wind. This dog is very beautiful but will need a lot of grooming to keep them looking this way. They can be tough to train, but if you work hard, the breed will eventually get the objective. Many breeders take the Afghan Hound and breed them with other types of dogs to create a new hybrid breed.
4. Vizsla
The Vizsla dog breed is basically tied with the Afghan Hound when it comes to speed. The Vizsla breed can also run up to 40 miles per hour. This breed originated in Hungary and was used as a pointer and retriever dog that helped hunters get their game after it was killed. Today this breed still works with hunters.
This dog breed has a very muscular build. They are thin but also very strong. They can be easily trained, and they have good obedience meaning they will listen to their owners. They love to be with their owners, and if they get left alone for long periods of time, they can develop separation anxiety. Give your Vizsla lots of love, and they will be very happy and loyal to you.
5. Jack Russell Terrier
You may be surprised to see such a little dog on the list for the fastest dogs in the world, but little dogs can have incredible speeds. The Jack Russell Terrier can run up to 38 miles per hour. That’s amazing for such a tiny dog. These dogs were originally used and still used today to hunt for foxes.
These little dogs are very energetic, so they need an outlet for all the energy they have. If they don’t get plenty of playtime and exercise, they can resort to bad behavior and start destroying things in their home. They are extremely lovable and good with children, both young and old.
Some breeders mix together the Jack Russell with other breeds to create different hybrids of dogs. An example of a mixed breed with this dog is the Jack-A-Ranian, a mixture of the Jack Russell Terrier and the Pomeranian.
6. Dalmatian
The Dalmatian breed dates back to the 1600s when they used to ride along with their master’s carriages and stop the carriage from being robbed by highwaymen. To keep up with the fast carriages, they had to be fast, and that is why this breed can run up to 37 miles per hour. This breed has a ton of energy, so it is perfect for owners that spend a lot of time outside running, skateboarding, or even swimming.
Nowadays, people recognize this dog breed from the iconic 101 Dalmatian movie or as a symbol associated with firetrucks and firehouses. They are very friendly and social animals. When it comes to strangers, this breed can be quick to protect its owners. They make excellent guard dogs and are very easily trained due to their intelligence.
7. Borzoi
The Borzoi originated in Russia, and it is also known as the Russian wolfhound. It gets its name from what it was designed to do, which was hunting down wolves in Russia. The name Borzoi means fast in old Russian. This breed can reach a range of speed from 35-40 miles per hour, the average being right around 36 miles per hour.
Like the Greyhound, this breed can run incredibly fast, but it doesn’t have a ton of endurance for long runs. This dog is around a medium-sized dog with very long legs. They have a beautiful coat that will take time to groom perfectly. They are very active dogs that love to get outside playing fetch and running around, but at the same time, they also love to curl up with their owner on the couch.
8. Whippet
The Whippet is the cousin of the famous Greyhound. This breed was also called the poor mans Greyhound a long time ago because I guess it wasn’t as good performance-wise as the Greyhound. This breed was used to chase small rodents and to lure out rabbits. They go crazy over small animals, which means they are going to chase anything that moves. It is best not to have small animals in the home because the Whippet might get to carried away.
This breed can run up to 35 miles per hour. Still very impressive speed for a smaller to medium-sized dog. This breed is very loyal to owners, so you will have a very loving dog if you decide to get this breed. They also have the appearance to be very tall and thin. Even if you feed this breed the proper amount of food, they also look skinny.
9. Doberman Pinscher
The Doberman Pinscher is a naturally born guard dog while also having amazing abilities to guard; they are also one of the fastest dogs in the world. They can run up to speeds of 32 miles per hour. They are also very loyal and friendly dogs. While they may look super tough and mean to others to their family, they are sweet and lovable.
The breed originated from Germany when a tax collector wanted a dog to protect him when collecting money. This led to the successful breeding of one of the first Doberman Pinschers. They are very intelligent dogs, while some of these dogs are used in the service category among police officers.
10. German Shepherd
The German Shepherd is not only one of the most popular dog breeds in the world, but it also joins the list of one of the fastest dogs in the world. This dog breed can run over 30 miles per hour. These dogs are mostly used in service jobs like assisting police, search and rescue, and even seeing-eye dogs. This breed does a lot due to its high intelligence.
German Shepherds need a lot of exercise as well as a lot of room to lounge and play. This dog would not do well in a small apartment or small home. A fenced in yard would work great for this type of dog. They also love to be played with, so find the time to do so with this breed.
The German Shepherd has also been bred with other breeds to make different mixed breeds. Some are for a purpose while others are for looks. Some mixes you may have seen are the Long Haired German Shepherd or even the German Shepherd Lab Mix.
Top 10 Fastest Dog Breeds in the World – Infographic
Conclusion
As you can see, the top ten fastest dog breeds in the world don’t go under 30 miles per hour. That is incredibly fast compared to other dog breeds and just as fast as some cars. I hope you found the world’s fastest dog breed article interesting. It’s always cool to see how the breeds stand up to each other in these type of categories. You can also check out the ten most dangerous dog breeds to see if your breed is on that list.