Top 7 Fastest Dog Breeds

Here are 7 of the fastest dog breeds. Some breeds on this list will be obvious, but others not so much… Scroll to the bottom to find out which is the fastest small dog breed!

Greyhound

Greyhounds are the fastest dog breed, with their speed reaching up to 45mph! This breed continues to be bred to race ever since the 18th century. According to research, Greyhounds can reach their top speed in just six strides. 

Saluki

The Saluki is another fast dog breed; its top speed reaching 42mph. They are similarly built to Greyhounds, and so although this breed is recognised as the second fastest dog breed, it is clear that Saluki’s could be pretty good competition! 

Afghan Hound 

The Afghan Hound can reach speeds of over 40mph, meaning they are another extremely fast dog breed. Despite their long legs and aerodynamic build, it is ultimately their luscious long locks that slow them down. Compared to other breeds, they are still very fast! 

Hungarian Vizsla 

Bred for hunting and retrieving, Vizsla’s have an impressive athletic build. This enables the breed to reach speeds of up to 40mph, meaning they earn their place on the fastest dog breed list.

Dalmatian 

Not as lean as the other breeds on this list, they still possess an athletic build, meaning they can reach up to 37mph. Their speed also likely came from the fact they were bred originally to protect carriages by running next to them for long periods of time, improving their speed and endurance. 

Whippet

Not as the name suggests, Whippets can only reach up to 35mph. This is still extremely fast but compared to other dog breeds on this list, this is quite a bit slower. This breed has long legs, is lightweight, but it is their size (they are much smaller than Greyhounds) that let them down in this area. 

Jack Russell

Surprisingly, Jack Russells can reach up to 30mph, which is impressive for a small, short-legged dog! They are generally known as the fastest small dog breed.