Top 11 Fastest Dogs

Written by Patrick Sather
Updated: August 6, 2023
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While some dog breeds can run fast, you’ll occasionally come across a dog that can run like the wind. These lightning-quick canines really know how to put the pedal to the metal and can accelerate to insane speeds. Most of these speedy pups started out as sighthounds bred to course or track down agile game animals like rabbits, foxes, or deer. They range in size from tall to small, but all evolved traits that allow them to reach serious speeds. Although some breeds enjoy a reputation for going fast, others tend to fly under the radar while continuing to notch impressive numbers on the speedometer. That said, do you know which breeds count among the fastest dogs in the world? 

In this article, we’ll discuss 11 of the fastest dog breeds from across the globe. For our ranking, placing will be determined by a dog’s top speed rather than an average speed. This means that some dogs may place higher than they normally would due to evidence of particularly fast specimens. Without further ado, here is a list of 11 of the fastest dogs in the world. 

Like the Afghan and Ibizan hounds, vizslas can run up to 40 miles per hour.

11. Weimaraner

Fastest Dogs: Weimaraner

The Weimaraner can run up to 35 miles per hour.

©fishcat007/Shutterstock.com

The Weimaraner is a large, athletic breed of hunting dog. Originally bred in the early 19th century in what is now modern-day Germany, the Weimaraner got its start hunting large game like boar, bear, and deer. With its strength, size, and stamina, it can reach a top speed of up to 35 miles per hour. It gets its name from the Grand Duke of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach, Karl August, who lived in the city of Weimer and enjoyed hunting. That said, it also occasionally goes by the name “Gray Ghost” due to its gray coat, eye color, and stealthy approach to hunting prey. The Weimaraner is an energetic hunting dog and requires an active owner. Due to their high prey drive, they will frequently course and kill small mammals and may not get along well with smaller pets. 

10. Borzoi

Tallest Dogs: Borzoi

The Borzoi is one of the tallest and fastest dogs in the world, reaching speeds up to 35 miles per hour.

©Grisha Bruev/Shutterstock.com

Also known as the Russian hunting sighthound or Russian wolfhound, the borzoi traces its roots back to the working dogs of Central Asia. After the 17th century, the breed became popular in what is now modern Russia as a hunting dog thanks to its impressive speed. At their fastest, borzois can run up to 35 miles per hour. Despite their history as hunting dogs, borzoi also make great domestic pets. Their family-friendly reputation likely stems from their quiet and sensitive nature. That said, they can act nervously around children, and their large size can make them difficult to handle without appropriate training. It’s essential that borzois get plenty of exercise and that you give them variety in terms of tasks when it comes to training, as they can easily get bored. 

9. Whippet

Fastest Dogs: Whippet

The Whippet’s name translates as “to walk briskly,” which makes sense as it can run up to 35 miles per hour.

©Liliya Kulianionak/Shutterstock.com

Also known as the English Whippet or Snap Dog, the Whippet is a small-to-medium-sized sighthound breed from England. Descended from Greyhounds, the Whippet gets its name for an outdated 17th-century term that translates as “to move briskly.” Despite their smaller stature than some other sighthounds, Whippets can reach speeds up to 35 miles per hour. Given their speed, they qualify as the fastest dog in the world in their weight class. They excel in dog sports including agility courses, lure coursing, flyball, and dock diving. Known as gentle and quiet dogs, Whippets make excellent house dogs thanks to their dignified air. In fact, their stately appearance and popularity in racing led many enthusiasts to call them the “poor man’s Greyhound” or “poor man’s racehorse.” 

8. Dalmatian

Dalmatian with red collar

The Dalmatian was bred to hunt game and escort carriages and can run up to 37 miles per hour.

©Alex Fleming/Shutterstock.com

One of the most recognizable breeds in the world, the Dalmatian is famous for its unique white coat covered in black or brown spots. It traces its roots back to the historical region of Dalmatia in modern-day Croatia, which is also where it gets its name. Originally raised as hunting dogs, Dalmatians also rose to prominence through their work as carriage dogs and escorts for early fire engines. At their fastest, they can run up to 37 miles per hour. Thanks to its novel colors and athletic physique, it remains popular both as a show dog and a family pet. They inherit a high susceptibility to certain health problems, including deafness, urinary stones, and allergies, which may require frequent medical interventions. While they tend to get along well with children and other animals, they possess a lot of energy and can act distrustful of strangers. 

7. Irish Wolfhound

Irish wolfhound standing outside, looking up

Irish wolfhounds were so good at their jobs that they helped to wipe out all the deer in Ireland.

©iStock.com/Ashva

As its name suggests, the Irish wolfhound was bred to hunt wolves, though they have also been used to hunt deer and wild boar. There is also evidence that they hunted Irish elk, which became extinct 12,000 years ago. Their top speed is 40 mph, which they can only maintain for sprints, not long distances.

Speaking of extinction, the breed almost went extinct as the number of wolves and other games decreased in Ireland. In fact, a US Civil War memorial to the Irish Brigade at Gettysburg featured a life-sized Irish wolfhound. The inscription erroneously states that the breed “…has been extinct for more than a hundred years.” In the mid-1800s, Captain George Augustus Graham, a Scottish soldier, made saving Irish wolfhounds from extinction his mission. He did this by rounding up Irish wolfhounds to use in his breeding program and crossing them with Scottish Deerhounds.

Today, Irish wolfhounds are far more likely to be family pets than hunting dogs. They are large, powerful canines, but known for their gentle dispositions. Like other sighthounds, they do have an extremely strong prey drive, however, so experts don’t recommend keeping them in homes with small animals.

6. Ibizan Hound

Ibizan Hound standing posed to perfection

The Ibizan Hound features large, upright ears and can run up to 40 miles per hour.

©Sally Wallis/Shutterstock.com

The Ibizan hound originates from Ibiza, Spain, which is also where it gets its name. A member of the hound family, the Ibizan Hound is an agile, lean breed with serious speed. At its fastest, an Ibizan Hound can run up to 40 miles per hour. It historically worked as a hunting dog in the Catalan-speaking regions of Spain and southern France. Thanks to its agility and quickness, it can hunt small game including rabbits and hares over difficult terrain. The breed comes in two different varieties – smooth and wiry. You can easily spot an Ibizan hound thanks to its large, upright ears that taper from the base to the tip. Known for their intelligence and engaging nature, Ibizan hounds also love to entertain their owners. While they can act stubborn at times, they respond well to positive reinforcement. 

5. Afghan Hound

Oldest Dog Breeds - Afghan Hound

Although it may not look fast, the Afghan Hound can run up to 40 miles per hour.

©WildStrawberry/Shutterstock.com

Closely related to the Saluki, the Afghan hound is a breed originating from the colder, mountainous regions of Afghanistan. Known by many other names including the Barakzai hound, Kabul hound, or Galanday hound, over 13 different types of the breed currently exist. Originally bred as a working dog, many of the modern breeds now feature prominently as show dogs and racing dogs. With a top speed of 40 miles per hour, the Afghan hound is one of the fastest dogs on Earth. It comes in a wide variety of colors, including fawn, gold, brindle, red, blue, white, and grey, and traditionally sports a fine, silky coat. Due to their long, luxurious hair, they require frequent grooming and maintenance. In addition, they frequently struggle with obedience training and require an experienced and determined trainer. 

4. Vizsla

vizsla running down a path

Vizsla translates to “searcher” or “tracker” in Hungarian, which makes sense given they can run up to 40 miles per hour.

©Bianca Pinkernell/Shutterstock.com

The vizsla is a medium-sized sporting dog from Hungary prized for its natural hunting ability and superior trainability. In its native Hungary, its name translates to “searcher” or “tracker,” an obvious nod to its skill at smelling and running down fowl and other small game animals. Like the Afghan and Ibizan hounds, vizslas can run up to 40 miles per hour. Despite their smaller stature, they frequently feature defined muscles. They come in a range of colors, with the standard being a golden rust hue. Due to their size, build, and color, they often get mistaken for Rhodesian ridgebacks or redbone coonhounds. Vizslas tend to act very affectionately and quickly bond with their owner. They make great guard dogs and hunting dogs, and excel both at pointing and retrieving, as they are natural swimmers. 

3. Sloughi

Fastest Dogs: Sloughi

Often mistaken for a Saluki, the Sloughi can run like the wind, reaching speeds up to 42 miles per hour.

©iStock.com/slowmotiongli

The Sloughi is a sighthound breed from North Africa. Often confused with the saluki or Afghan hound, the Berber people originally bred the sloughi to hunt game including hare, jackal, fox, wild pigs, and gazelle. Thanks to its robust and athletic frame, it can reach a maximum speed of 42 miles per hour. When running, it appears elegant and does not possess any exaggerated movements or disproportionate limbs or muscles. Due to their history as hunting and guard dogs, they tend to act reserved around strangers, and may not act overly friendly at first. Known as a typically shy breed, they require proper socialization, but generally, get along well with children and families. That said, they possess a high prey drive, so it’s important to introduce your sloughi to small pets at a young age. 

2. Saluki

Oldest Dog Breeds - Saluki

The Saluki is an ancient breed from the Fertile Crescent and can run up to 43 miles per hour.

©Purino/Shutterstock.com

The Saluki is a standardized breed of sighthound originating from the Fertile Crescent. An ancient breed bred by nomadic tribes to hunt game, the Saluki is often mistaken for the sloughi or Afghan sound. With its deep chest and long legs, it can run up to 43 miles per hour. In addition, they possess incredible stamina and can run 2 to 3 miles at high speeds before tiring. Their coats appear either smooth or feathered, with the fur on both types possessing a silky texture. They come in a range of colors including white, cream, fawn, red, tan, black, or tri-color. In addition to generally acting reserved around strangers, Salukis do not like rough play and enjoy quiet environments. Despite their size and activity level, they do well in apartments, although they exhibit a high prey drive and may chase smaller pets. 

1. Greyhound

Calmest dog - greyhound standing in the field

The greyhound is the fastest dog in the world, capable of running up to 45 miles per hour.

©iStock.com/Photography by Adri

Also referred to as the English greyhound, the greyhound is a sighthound famous for its role as a coursing and racing dog. The breed is over 4,000 years old and was historically used to chase down pretty using its keen eyesight and speed. It’s the fastest dog in the world, capable of running up to 45 miles per hour for short stretches. That said, it lacks the stamina of more rugged breeds such as the saluki, which can run at high speeds for longer distances. They typically grow short fur in a variety of shades and sport a lean, sleek frame. Known as good house pets with loving natures, greyhounds get along well with children and other pets. That said, they often exhibit a sensitive nature and high prey drive, which can lead them to chase small animals and pets if they do not receive socializing and training. 

Summary of the Top 11 Fastest Dogs

RankBreedTop SpeedKey Features
11Weimaraner35 miles per hourGray coat and eyes, and a high prey drive
10Borzoi35 miles per hourWhite, rough coat, long muzzle, and limbs, quiet, sensitive nature
9Whippet35 miles per hourShort pale gray coat with dark streaks, slender, athletic build
8Dalmatian37 miles per hourShort white coat covered in black spots, dark eyes, energetic nature
7Irish Wolfhound40 miles per hourLarge build, medium length, rough gray coat
6Ibizan Hound40 miles per hourSlender, athletic build, short coat covered in swathes of brown and white, large upright ears
5Afghan Hound40 miles per hourA long, silky coat in fawn, gold, brindle, red, blue, white, or gray
A stubborn streak
4Vizsla40 miles per hourMuscular build, a short coat in a variety of colors including golden rust
Excellent swimming skills
3Sloughi42 miles per hourLong-limbed athletic frame, short brindled coat, and a high prey drive
2Saluki43 miles per hour.Smooth or feathered silky coat in white, cream, fawn, red, tan, black, or tri-color
1Greyhound45 miles per hourSlender, long-legged frame, short coat in a variety of colors
Table of the Top 11 Fastest Dogs

The photo featured at the top of this post is © Liliya Kulianionak/Shutterstock.com

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