Is This the Fastest Dog Alive?

Most dogs are pretty fast when they have their eye on the ball. It could even be the sound of food hitting their bowl, or an enemy squirrel entering the yard, that gets them moving. Some dogs, however, practically break the sound barrier, reaching blinding speeds while maintaining the composure of a professional dancer.

In this YouTube video, a dog blows the competition away with a race for the ages. Let loose, the dog chases after a lure and easily eclipses it halfway through the run. This dog may be a scourge to mailmen everywhere, but how does it run so fast? Let’s learn more about the breakneck speeds of dogs like this, how breeding allowed for such tempo, and how it compares to world record holders.

Greyhound History

As you might be able to tell from this YouTube video, the dog is a greyhound. Despite close contenders, no dog breed on Earth can run as fast as this one. They are a tall, muscular, yet slender breed of dog. They are bred for the explicit purpose of hunting down game with speed and agility reminiscent of NASCAR racers.

The exact origin of the greyhound breed remains disputed. However, ancient art on a funeral vase from 6000 BC in Turkey depicts a dog that looks suspiciously like a greyhound. From there, greyhound-like dogs pop up in art and artifacts from 4,200 BC in Iran and in Middle Kingdom Egyptian tombs (2134 – 1784 BC). The first remains of a dog identified as a greyhound, however, come from an archaeological excavation at Tell Brak in modern-day Syria. Dated to approximately 4,000 years old, it seems that greyhounds have been around longer than most modern civilizations.

From there, greyhounds continue to pop up in historical records; writings from the Roman occupation era of Great Britain suggest that troops had greyhounds in tow. They were a pet exclusive to the nobility in the Middle Ages, thanks to their strong association with heraldic symbols of European power. It took until the 18th and 19th centuries, however, for greyhounds to be officially registered in studbooks. These first authenticated registers associated greyhounds squarely with open-range hunting, where speed and eyesight were imperative.

English Greyhound Characteristics

The records of greyhounds are scattered, but their skills are definitive. They can run faster than a bicycle, and can easily keep up with a car on city streets. Known as the English Greyhound in particular, and the greyhound in general, these dogs are characterized by powerful haunches, flexible spines, and deep chests, all centered around thin builds. This unique physique helps greyhounds reach incredible speeds with apparent ease.

Despite their natural ability to run and keep running, greyhounds live the happiest lives as family pets in quiet households. They are sensitive creatures, prone to being startled awake when their sleep is disturbed. While some dogs do well with forceful commands, greyhounds respond better to gentleness. They are social, outgoing, and tend to be very protective of their loved ones. Some people even call them “velcro dogs” because of their tendency to follow people from room to room.

Although they may prefer calm and quiet environments, greyhounds’ speed has made them ideal for activities such as coursing, racing, and hunting. For better or worse, greyhounds excel at these activities, outpacing other breeds with unparalleled ease. This breed can reach top speeds of 43 to 45 miles per hour, though their average race speeds are typically between 35 and 40 miles per hour. The greyhound in this YouTube video, however, might be the fastest dog alive.

Winston the Greyhound

This YouTube short shows a greyhound named General Winston racing in the 100-yard dash. He starts strong and keeps pushing until his body dissolves into a blur of momentum and might. Halfway through the dash, he even eclipses the lure attached to a string. While he may look like the fastest dog alive, he actually finished second in the competition.

Another greyhound named Reese narrowly beat Winston for first place, with an average of 5.847 seconds at 34.98 mph in the heats. General Winston was just behind, with an average of 5.939 seconds at 34.44 mph. While it’s difficult to confirm exactly how fast General Winston was running in this video, one viewer suggested he reached speeds of over 35 miles per hour. That’s noticeably faster than the fastest human in history: Usain Bolt. Bolt’s best speed was around 27.79 miles per hour.

The Fastest Dog Ever

General Winston may be fast, but the quickest dog ever recorded was also, unsurprisingly, a greyhound. According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the fastest dog in history was a greyhound named Star Title, who reached 41.83 miles per hour on a straightaway track in Wyong, New South Wales, Australia, on March 5, 1994. The only other dog breeds on Earth that can approach this pace are Salukis, Afghan Hounds, and Whippets.