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My Dog’s Quicker Than Your Dog
Watching a dog play and run around with other dogs is a joyful sight for any owner. A well-trained dog is a healthy dog without mischief and destruction on its mind. It’s lovely to see your dog enjoying a good run and it’s sure to make you feel very proud if other dogs can’t catch up to your boy. Even dogs who aren’t very fast like to chase balls, cats and other dogs, but how do dogs stack up when it comes to speed and which breeds are the fastest. Your dog might be the fastest in the neighborhood but would it stand a chance against a hunting dog? Some dogs were originally bred to catch prey or even to race. Those breeds are, of course, very fast, have athletic bodies and a lot of energy. If your canine is, as an athlete bursting with energy, it will need to deplete it by having a few good runs per day at the dog park or in your backyard. Athletic dogs also need vigorous training. So, if you don’t have enough time, energy or space for your dog to run, research before buying or adopting a dog and get a less energetic pup, otherwise neither of you will be happy. However, if you are fond of spending time outdoors as well as being active and playing with your dog, one of these dog breeds is sure to become your best friend. We have selected the 10 fastest breeds in the world. Let’s see which one is the Usain Bolt of the dog world and, at what speed they run. Did you know there’s a dog breed that can run at 45 miles per hour. Read on to learn which breed it is
10) German Shepherd
One of the most popular breeds, the German Shepherd is known as a very loyal and hardworking medium-sized breed due to their size in stature. They’re pretty fast and have a high stamina. They’re used for different purposes: drugs and explosives detection, guarding, herding, police work and assisting people with disabilities. When it comes to running they can run at an impressive 30 miles per hour.
9) Doberman Pinscher
Almost all of the fastest breeds were originally bred for hunting. However, the Doberman Pinscher is an exception. Coming from Germany, this breed has been used for guarding and now they are mostly used for personal defence and as police dogs. It will certainly catch whomever it needs to. It can run at a speed of 32 miles per hour. In addition to that, they are highly intelligent, loyal and protective of the ones they love.
8) Whippit
These sighthounds, which can run at speeds of 35 miles per hour originate from England. They are descendants of greyhounds and similar to them but smaller, formerly used for chasing rabbits in the past. Nowadays they can’t avoid chasing cats and other small animals
7) Borzoi
The borzoi was originally bred for hunting in the russian plains and sometimes they would even hunt wolves. It looks like a long-haired greyhound and it can come in any color. If you speak Russian, you’ll know that its name comes from the Russian word for fast and it’s certainly an appropriate name. They can reach a speed of 36 miles per hour. Borzois are loyal and even though they’re fast, they don’t require much exercise. When not outside, they’ll take a long nap
6) Dalmatian
The Dalmatian can run up to 37 miles per hour. They became very popular after the Walt Disney 101 Dalmatians movie, but originally they were used in Croatia for guarding and protecting carriages from robbery. They are still very popular and people love them for their charming black spots. Beware though, these dogs are active and need to put their high energy levels to good use. Dalmatians are actually born without spots with just plain white coats. Their spots form later as they grow into bigger pups
5) Jack Russell Terrier
This small and sturdy dog is a real energy ball and is pretty cute racing with a smile in a dog park or a field. The Jack Russell can reach a speed of 38 miles per hour. As most of the dogs on this list have been long-legged, the Jack Russells 38 miles an hour is especially impressive as he’s a little shorter. This dog has a white body with brown markings for a good reason. Originally, it was bred by the fox hunters in England who needed a white dog that would be easily distinguishable from a fox. The Jack Russell is playful, healthy and will be the happiest pup in the world if you spend some of your free time playing catch with it
4) Afghan Hound
As the name suggests, the Afghan Hound was first bred in Afghanistan for hunting in the deserts and mountains. Some of the adjectives that go with this breed are tall, highly intelligent, silly, independent, elegant and fast. It could reach a speed of up to 40 miles per hour. This hound is built for a whole day of hunting. Therefore, it has lots of energy and stamina but be warned, due to their independent nature, Afghan Hounds can be difficult to train and they’re likely to become close with one special person in their dog life
3) Vizsla
Vizslas boasts a beautiful, copper red brown coat and they run at a speed of 40 miles per hour. They originate from Hungary, where they were bred to be both pointers and retrievers. Vizslas are known as gentle, loveable and easy to train. However, you need to keep in mind that they are true athletes who need a lot of exercise, otherwise they can become bored and destructive
2) Saluki
Although not a very well-known breed, the Saluki is a medium-sized sight hat originally from the Middle East. It’s in second place with a speed of 42 miles per hour and it’s one of the oldest breeds. Originally bred for tracking and bringing down gazelles, rabbits and foxes, Salukis are graceful and fragile, but they have tremendous stamina and strength when running longer distances. The Saluki can even outrun the Greyhound, helped by their heavily padded feet, which absorb the impact while running
1) Greyhounds
This may not come as a surprise to anyone. The first place goes to Greyhounds. They are the fastest dog on the planet. Even people who don’t know much about dogs know that these slim and elegant canines participate in dog races. They can run up to 45 miles per hour but they’re known for being good sprinters rather than endurance runners. It’s interesting that when they’re at home they could be quite calm and they also like lounging on sofas. Some owners even describe them as lazy- that’s why they’re called 45 mile-per-hour couch potatoes. This makes them a suitable pet for anyone, whether you have acres of land or a city apartment. You can take your greyhound for a sprint and after that, it’ll happily take a nap until the next run. The Greyhound was originally bred to chase game and later through dog racing and selective breeding, it has become the fastest dog in the world. You can find it in many colors and even without seeing their explosive running abilities, their slender body and long pointy head makes them quite a recognizable dog breed.