Fastest Domestic Dog Breeds Ranked by Speed

The Greyhound is often considered the fastest domestic dog breed, reaching speeds of up to 45 miles per hour.

These dogs are built for speed, with a sleek, muscular body and long legs that allow them to cover a lot of ground quickly.

The Whippet is another breed that's known for its speed, reaching up to 36 miles per hour and requiring regular exercise to stay healthy.

They're also known for their friendly and outgoing personalities, making them a great choice for families who want a fast and loving companion.

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The fastest domestic dog breeds are truly remarkable. One of the most notable breeds is the Greyhound, which can sprint at speeds up to 45 miles per hour.

Greyhounds are built for speed, with a thin build, well-defined muscle tone, a flexible spine, and a natural drive to hunt. They're bred to catch rabbits and other quick-moving prey.

The Vizsla breed is another fast-moving dog, but they're also extremely active and thrive when mentally stimulated. They make great companion dogs and are highly intelligent.

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Doberman Pinschers are also known for their impressive speed and loyal personality. They require a good amount of mental and physical stimulation and do best in active households.

Here are some of the fastest domestic dog breeds, ranked by their top speeds:

Note: The top speeds for Vizsla and Doberman Pinscher are not specified in the provided article sections.

The Greyhound is the clear winner when it comes to speed, capable of reaching up to 45 miles per hour. Their slender build, well-defined muscle tone, and flexible spine make them a natural sprinter. They're bred for short-distance sprints, but can keep up with a two-legged running partner for a good workout.

Here are the top 5 fastest dog breeds:

These breeds are built for speed and agility, making them perfect for active owners who want to keep up with their pets.

The Greyhound is the fastest dog breed, capable of sprinting at impressive speeds up to 45 miles per hour. Their thin build, well-defined muscle tone, and flexible spine make them natural speed machines.

Historically bred to catch rabbits and other quick-moving prey, Greyhounds are designed for speed. With a natural drive to hunt, they can outrun most small and large game – for short distances, anyway.

Greyhounds are not just fast, but also agile, with tall legs that make long leaps look effortless.

The top 10 fastest dog breeds in the world are a diverse group, with some surprising speedsters making the list.

Greyhounds are the clear winners when it comes to speed, performing their best during short-distance sprints and reaching incredible speeds of unknown. They're also pretty low-energy dogs, making them a great choice for owners who want a fast pet that won't wear them out.

Salukis are not only one of the fastest dog breeds but also one of the oldest, with a history of hunting that dates back thousands of years. They're built and bred for speed, making them a great choice for owners who want a fast and agile pet.

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Afghan Hounds are popular for their unique appearance and loyal personality, but they're also incredibly fast, reaching speeds of unknown. They make great additions to active, quiet, and loving homes, but their grooming needs require a lot of dedication.

Whippets are like smaller Greyhounds, with a slender and athletic build that makes them surprisingly fast. They're exceptionally active and spunky, and love to play, making them a great choice for owners who want a fast and energetic pet.

Jack Russell Terriers may be small, but they're surprisingly fast, reaching speeds of up to 38 miles per hour. Their short legs are surprisingly impressive powerhouses, making them a great choice for owners who want a fast and feisty pet.

Borzoi, also known as Russian Wolfhounds, are natural sight dogs, meaning they mainly hunt by sight instead of smell. They're incredibly fast, reaching speeds of 35 to 40 miles per hour, and are known to be very loyal with a calm and graceful demeanor.

Border Collies are considered one of the most intelligent dog breeds, and are known to be extremely easy to train. They're also incredibly fast, making them a great choice for owners who want a fast and obedient pet.

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Dalmatians have an incredibly high activity level and thrive with plenty of mental and physical stimulation. They were originally bred to trot alongside the horses that pulled firefighting carriages, making them a great choice for owners who want a fast and energetic pet.

Here's a list of the top 10 fastest dog breeds in the world, in order from fastest to slowest:

Most dogs can run about 15 to 20 miles per hour for a short distance, but some breeds can reach incredible speeds of up to 45 miles per hour.

Lean, long-legged dogs with deep chests tend to be the fastest, with some breeds reaching speeds of 25 to 45 miles per hour. Their slender build and muscular legs enable them to excel in both racing and lure coursing.

The fastest dog breeds, such as Greyhounds and Whippets, can reach speeds of up to 35 miles per hour, making them well-suited for competitive athletics. Their natural drive to hunt and chase prey helps them maintain high speeds over short distances.

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Dobermans are another breed that can run fast, reaching speeds of up to 30 miles per hour. Their strong legs and toned body structure allow them to take impressively long strides.

Jack Russell Terriers may be small, but they can run surprisingly fast, reaching speeds of up to 38 miles per hour. Their tiny legs carry them through the wind with ease, making them a joy to watch.

The Irish Wolfhound is not only one of the fastest dog breeds, but it's also the tallest, reaching speeds of up to 35 miles per hour. Despite their imposing stature, they're known for their gentle and friendly nature.

In agility trials, dogs like Greyhounds and Whippets can maintain speeds of around 35 miles per hour for at least a few minutes. This impressive athleticism is a testament to their breeding and training.

The Greyhound is the clear winner when it comes to speed, reaching an impressive 45 miles per hour.

The Doberman is a close second, with a top speed of 30 miles per hour, thanks to its strong legs and toned body structure.

The Jack Russell Terrier is a tiny but mighty dog, capable of reaching 38 miles per hour despite its small size.

The Whippet is another speedy breed, reaching up to 35 miles per hour with its slender build and muscular legs.

The Irish Wolfhound is not only fast, but also one of the tallest dog breeds, reaching speeds of up to 35 miles per hour.

The Saluki is a close competitor to the Greyhound, with a top speed of 42.8 miles per hour, making it a contender for the fastest dog title.

The Borzoi is another breed that's happy to sprint at a moderate pace, reaching speeds of up to 36 miles per hour.

These speeds are impressive, especially considering the Greyhound's ability to sprint at such high speeds for short distances.

If you're considering a fast dog breed, you'll want to know what to expect in terms of energy level and training needs. Vizslas are extremely active and thrive when mentally stimulated.

Their high intelligence and eagerness to please make them highly trainable. With proper exercise and mental stimulation, Vizslas can be wonderful companions for active families.

Doberman Pinschers, on the other hand, are historically one of the best guard dogs there is. They require a good amount of mental and physical stimulation and do best in active households.

Here are some key characteristics of these breeds:

The Greyhound is a sleek and speedy breed, built for short bursts of intense energy. They can reach speeds of up to 45 miles per hour.

The Whippet is a compact powerhouse, bred for speed and agility. They're known for their short, smooth coats and athletic builds.

The Saluki is a regal and beautiful breed, with a rich history dating back thousands of years. They're built for endurance and speed, making them a popular choice for those who want a fast and loyal companion.

These breeds have found new roles as cherished pets and competitive athletes, and each offers a unique blend of velocity and heart.

The Whippet is a medium-sized dog that's often compared to a smaller Greyhound, and for good reason - they're both bred for speed. They can reach speeds of up to 35 mph, making them one of the fastest dogs of their size.

Originally bred to aid poachers in hunting down rabbits and other small animals, Whippets have a high prey drive and may not do well living with cats or other small animals. They'll chase after anything that moves, no matter how well-trained they are.

Whippets are great apartment dogs, especially given their aversion to barking. They love to lounge and cuddle for hours when they're not sprinting. With regular exercise and a few sprints a week, Whippets make sweet family dogs.

Their slender build and muscular legs enable them to excel in both racing and lure coursing. Whippets are also known for their friendly and lively personalities, making them excellent companions.

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The Vizsla is a breed that's instantly recognizable by their bright, reddish-gold coats. They're all-around athletes that can reach speeds of 30 mph and are equally proficient in hunting, retrieving, swimming, and agility sports.

Vizslas are super smart and energetic, which makes them perfect running, hiking, or cycling companions. They tend to bond closely and affectionately to their owners, which is why they're often referred to as the "Velcro Vizsla."

This breed has a lot of energy and needs plenty of exercise to prevent it from becoming destructive. They're prone to separation anxiety if left alone too much, which makes them a great playmate for older kids but potentially too rambunctious for little kids.

Their tails are quite brittle and are often docked a third of the way down to prevent injury, although the necessity of this operation is contested.

The Borzoi is a Russian hunting dog that can reach speeds of up to 36 mph. They were originally bred for hunting and coursing, going after rabbits, foxes, and wolves in teams of 3 dogs.

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They were favored by royalty and are happy with a moderate amount of exercise. In fact, they'll often be happy to lounge in bed most of the day.

However, they don't like to be alone and prefer to be by your side as much as possible. This can be a bit much for some owners, but it's just part of their nature.

Unfortunately, the Borzoi is notorious for shedding and requires regular grooming. This can be a big responsibility for some owners, especially if they're not used to dealing with dogs that shed a lot.

Despite their speed, the Borzoi is not an ideal candidate for racing dogs. They're very independent and tend to get bored fast, which makes them selective with their obedience.

The German Shepherd is a popular breed known for its intelligence and loyalty.

Originating from Germany in the late 1800s, this breed was developed to herd sheep and other livestock.

German Shepherds are highly intelligent dogs, ranking 3rd in Stanley Coren's book "The Intelligence of Dogs".

Their high energy levels require regular exercise and mental stimulation to prevent boredom and destructive behavior.

A well-exercised German Shepherd will be a happy German Shepherd, and they need at least 30 minutes of exercise per day.

German Shepherds are often used as police and military dogs due to their courage, strength, and agility.

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The Border Collie is a herding dog, which means he has an overwhelming urge to gather a flock. This instinct to nip, nudge, and bark, along with his energy, cannot be trained out of him.

Border Collies can run all day long without tiring, making them perfect for dog sports like agility and herding. They are extremely intelligent and adapt well to nearly any dog sport you can imagine.

A brisk walk or a game of fetch every day isn't enough activity for the Border Collie. He must have a task, whether it's actually herding sheep or competing in dog sports.

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Dobermans are quite stubborn, but they can easily run 30 miles per hour when given the motivation to do so.

Their incredibly strong legs and toned body structure allow them to take impressively long strides.

The development of the Doberman Pinscher breed is credited to a man named Karl Friedrich Louis Doberman, a tax collector who selectively bred these dogs to have a loyal, fast, and protective companion to accompany him on tax collections.

People have been paying up ever since for this incredible breed of dog.

The Weimaraner is a German dog that can run at speeds of up to 35 mph or 56 km/h.

These dogs were bred to hunt and are known for their high prey drive, which means they have a strong instinct to chase and catch small animals.

With their energy levels, Weimaraners need plenty of exercise to stay happy and healthy, making them great companions for active families.

Weimaraners are extremely friendly and enjoy spending their time playing with their family or running with other dogs.