All the species in the world have something that they are good at. Bears with their sheer power, cheetahs with their blinding speed, and humans with their incredible brain. Unfortunately, for humankind, this brain, despite the infinite number of innovations it produces, is the only thing we can brag about to the other species.
Our best friends, the cunning canines, have their super powerful nose. The spectrum of colors that they are able to see may be limited, but the accuracy of their nose makes up for it. Aside from their overwhelming olfactory skills, they have been blessed with speed.
We have to remember, there are around 340 dog breeds in the world. Each one of these was bred for a specific task. Not all of them were required to run fast. So over time, each breed has developed into what was required of them. Some are fast, some are strong, and some were bred just to be house pets.
Most of the worker dogs are required to do a lot of running. There are those which are required to have endurance, some were trained to attack, and some needed to be fast. But like everything else, not all the dog breeds are equal. Let’s take a look at the fastest dog breeds around.
Greyhound
Big surprise. With their slender body and long powerful legs, everyone around the world knows these dogs are the fastest. They are well-known as race dogs, which is frowned upon by animal activists and they may soon be free from this cruelty. They proudly boast of an average top speed of 43 MPH.
Vizsla
Clocking in at 40 MPH, Vizsla dogs are the top contender to usurp the mighty greyhound from the throne as the king of speed. Originating from Hungary, these pacey pups are popular as family pets. Imagine playing fetch with this breed; they’ll retrieve that ball so quickly that you will be the one who will get tired.
Jack Russell terrier
Small but terrible, the Jack Russell terrier dog is a concentrated bottle of sheer energy. They can run as fast as 38 MPH, and they like playing. In addition to their blinding speed, they are very agile pups. This is why they are a very popular breed to compete in flyball sports.
Borzoi
One look at a borzoi pup and you will know – this pooch is not a slowpoke and is probably not known for incredible strength. They can sprint as fast as 36 MPH. Borzoi dogs’ bodies are obviously built for speed and they do not disappoint. They are a product of a cross from a greyhound and an unconfirmed breed from Russia.
Weimaraner
Originally bred to hunt deer and wolves, the Weimaraner is blessed with speed and agility to match. They can run as fast as 35 MPH. If you plan to adopt one as a family pet, make sure that you can provide enough exercise in wide open spaces. Or else, prepare for some destruction at home.
