February 26, 2019
Do you know what breed is the fastest dog in the world? You probably do, but some of the other breeds on this list may surprise you. In fact, several of them can reach over 40 miles per hour! From racing dogs to hunting dogs or sporting dogs to hound dogs and beyond, here are the 17 fastest dog breeds in the world from the American Kennel Club.
17. Italian Greyhound – 25 Miles Per Hour
The Italian Greyhound stands just 13-15 inches at the withers and weighs just 8-11 pounds, but is a small speedster. They can run at speeds of 25 mph, with some even recorded reaching speeds of 28 mph.
16. Giant Schnauzer – 28 Miles Per Hour
The Giant Schnauzer is 24-28 inches tall and 55-110 pounds, but that doesn’t stop this breed from being pretty fast – these large dogs have been recorded at speeds of 28 mph.
15. Scottish Deerhound – 28 Miles Per Hour
Speaking of big dogs, the Scottish Deerhound is 30-32 inches tall and weighs 75-110 pounds but can also run quite fast. They, too, have been recorded reaching speeds up to 28 miles per hour.
14. German Shepherd – 30 Miles Per Hour
The German Shepherd is 22-26 inches tall and 50-88 pounds but is long and lean and able to reach speeds up to 30 mph. Their speed makes sense given their history as herding dogs, as well as police and military dogs.
13. Standard Poodle – 30 Miles Per Hour
The Standard Poodle is 18-24 inches tall, weighs 45-70 pounds and is regularly thought of as a pretty and proper dog because of it’s oft groomed and shaped curly fur. A lesser known fact about Poodles is that they can run at speeds of 30 mph.
12. Border Collie – 30 Miles Per Hour
The Border Collie is more of a medium sized dog, standing 18-22 inches tall and weighing 27-45 pounds. They can reach speeds of 30 mph, which is pretty helpful for a dog who’s original job was to herd livestock.
11. Doberman Pinscher – 32 Miles Per Hour
The Doberman is 24-28 inches tall, 71-99 pounds and pretty fast. They are long-legged and muscular dogs, able to reach speeds of 32 mph. All of this is helpful when you were bred to be a guard dog who, at times, may have had to chase away intruders.
10. Whippet – 34 Miles Per Hour
Standing 18-22 inches tall and weighing 15-31 pounds, Whippets were originally Greyhounds that were considered too small for hunting. It’s no surprise then that these dogs can reach speeds of 34 mph (with some even recorded at 40 mph).
9. Weimaraner – 35 Miles Per Hour
The Weimaraner is a lean and muscular breed, standing 23-26 inches tall and weighing 55-88 pounds. They can reach speeds up to 35 mph, which makes sense given they were originally bred to hunt deer and wolves.
8. Borzoi – 36 Miles Per Hour
The Borzoi, also known as the Russian Wolfhound, was bred in Russia to hunt wolves. They are 27-34 inches tall, 55-100 pounds in weight and can run up to 36 mph. Fun fact: their name comes from an old Russian word for “fast.”
7. Dalmatian – 37 Miles Per Hour
Known for it’s spots more than it’s speed, the Dalmatian stands 22–24 inches tall and weighs 35-71 pounds. But these dogs can actually run at speeds of 37 mph, making them one of the fastest breeds.
6. Jack Russell Terrier – 38 Miles Per Hour
A smaller breed on the list is the Jack Russell Terrier. They are just 10-15 inches tall and 14-18 pounds but can run fast. They can reach speeds of 38 mph, which makes sense given their original job as a fox hunter.
5. Vizsla – 40 Miles Per Hour
The Vizsla is a long-legged, lean dog that stands 21-25 inches tall and weighs 40-64 pounds. They are light-footed and can run very fast, reaching speeds up to 40 mph, which was helpful for dogs bred to be hunter companions.
4. Ibizan Hound – 40 Miles Per Hour
Ibizan Hounds are muscular dogs, standing 24-28 inches tall and weighing 45-65 pounds. Originally bred to hunt rabbits, this breed can reach speeds up to 40 mph and jump up six feet in the air.
3. Afghan Hound – 40 Miles Per Hour
Afghan Hounds stand 24-29 inches tall and weigh 57-75 pounds, but their long fur can cover up just how long and lean they truly are. They can run at 40 mph, which isn’t much of a surprise given they are closely related to the Saluki (who is next on the list).