10 of the Fastest Dog Breeds and What Living With Speed Takes

Racing Greyhounds have recorded peak speeds around 43 to 45 mph, or 69 to 72 km/h, measured over a track distance rather than in a laboratory sprint. AKC describes the Greyhound as the fastest dog breed, and its breed article gives a speed of up to 40 mph, so "about 40 to 45 mph" is a fair way to put it. Males stand 28 to 30 inches and weigh 65 to 70 pounds; females are 27 to 28 inches and 60 to 65 pounds. Life expectancy is 10 to 13 years, and the short, smooth coat needs little grooming.

The practical point is the contrast between the sprint and the living room. The breed is known for a relaxed indoor routine, usually quiet and gentle, and often reserved with strangers. Short, positive training sessions suit it. AKC recommends a leash or secure fenced area because Greyhounds may run after perceived prey. Cardiac disease, eye disease and Greyhound polyneuropathy are breed concerns, and low body fat affects anesthesia and injury protection; DogServ is the place to start with health questions. A Greyhound can live in an apartment with exercise (see apartment dog breeds), but a home with no secure running space or loose small pets is a harder match.

The Saluki was selected for gazelle coursing and long-distance pursuit. Guinness-related figures commonly cite 68.8 km/h, or 42.8 mph for the breed, a reported speed, so expect individual Salukis to vary. Males stand 23 to 28 inches, and weights run about 35 to 65 pounds. Life expectancy is roughly 10 to 17 years. The coat is smooth or feathered and needs weekly grooming.

What sets the Saluki apart is endurance and independent pursuit rather than short track sprinting. The temperament is gentle, dignified and loyal, and the breed is usually quiet. Recall may stay unreliable around prey, so secure sprinting space matters more than an off-leash plan. Cardiac disease, arrhythmia, cancers, autoimmune and blood disorders and gastric dilatation-volvulus are reported. It fits owners who enjoy an independent dog and can provide fenced room, and it is a harder match for anyone expecting automatic obedience or a dog that shares space easily with small animals.

The Afghan Hound is a fast, agile sighthound developed for difficult mountain terrain in the region that is now Afghanistan, India and Pakistan. Speeds quoted for the breed are estimates, so its athletic reputation is a better guide than any single number. Dogs stand 25 to 27 inches and weigh 50 to 60 pounds, with a life expectancy of 12 to 18 years.

The coat is the daily commitment. The long, silky coat needs substantial brushing and grooming, and shedding is moderate. The breed's jumping ability makes fencing especially important, and full-speed running belongs in an enclosed area with tall fencing. Temperament is independent, dignified and aloof, loyal to bonded people; training is possible and takes patience with a dog that is independent. Sighthound anesthesia sensitivity, hip dysplasia and cataracts can occur. This is a good match for an owner who enjoys grooming and manages hunting instinct with a secure yard, and a poor one for a household that wants a low-maintenance coat.

The Sloughi is a North African sighthound bred for hare, fox, jackal and gazelle hunting. Published speeds for the breed are estimates. Males stand about 26 to 29 inches and females 24 to 27 inches, at roughly 35 to 50 pounds. Life expectancy is about 10 to 15 years, and the short, smooth coat means low grooming and low to moderate shedding.

This breed is particularly sensitive and reserved, devoted to its family, and often needs a calm household and careful socialization. It is usually quiet and not highly biddable, so it needs daily activity and secure sprinting space instead of a plan built on off-leash reliability. Autoimmune disease, eye disease, cardiac disease, epilepsy and bloat are reported by breed-health organizations. It suits a settled home with a patient owner, and it is a harder fit for a busy, chaotic household or for someone wanting a highly social dog with dependable recall.

The Whippet has some of the best-documented numbers in the group. A 2019 to 2020 study timed 31 dogs over 200 meters, and the Whippets averaged 15.42 seconds, about 46.69 km/h or 29.0 mph. That was a small, racing-experienced sample, so read it as an average. AKC states that Whippets can reach speeds up to 35 mph. Males stand 19 to 22 inches and females 18 to 21 inches, at about 25 to 40 pounds, and life expectancy is 12 to 15 years.

For many households this is the strongest apartment fit among fast breeds, as long as the dog gets regular exercise and safe sprints (more in apartment dog breeds). The breed is amiable, gentle and intelligent, sometimes mischievous when young, and usually quiet. The coat is short and smooth, with low grooming. Recommended screening includes cardiac, eye and BAER hearing tests. Whippets suit owners who like short bursts of play and a calm evening, and they do best indoors in cold weather and in a yard with secure fencing.

The Borzoi is a large sighthound developed for speed and wolf coursing, and AKC gives its full-stride speed as 35 to 40 mph. Males stand at least 28 inches and females at least 26 inches. Weights commonly run about 60 to 105 pounds, and life expectancy is approximately 9 to 14 years. The long, silky or wavy coat needs regular brushing.

Size is the distinctive practical point. A Borzoi changes crate, vehicle, food, veterinary and home-space requirements, so plan those before you plan a sprint. The temperament is calm, gentle, independent and sensitive, and training takes patience. The breed is usually quiet and needs walks plus secure running. Gastric dilatation-volvulus, cardiac disease, thyroid disease and orthopedic problems are recognized concerns. The Borzoi suits an owner with space and a high tolerance for a very large dog, and it is a poor match for a small apartment with no exercise plan or a home with fragile small pets.

The Ibizan Hound is an agile coursing and jumping hound. AKC describes it as an exceptional jumper capable of clearing a five-foot fence, which is why jumping and climbing matter here more than a top speed. Males stand 23.5 to 27.5 inches, and females 22.5 to 26 inches. Dogs weigh about 45 to 50 pounds and live approximately 11 to 14 years. The coat is smooth, wire or long depending on the variety, with moderate grooming.

That jumping ability can defeat ordinary yard fencing, so check height and gaps before the first off-lead session and keep doors secure. The temperament is intelligent, independent, playful and alert. It can be trained with motivation but may ignore commands during a chase, and it can be vocal. Autoimmune thyroid disease, seizures, deafness and eye problems are reported. This hound fits an owner who enjoys an athletic, independent dog and has a tall, secure fence, and it is a harder match for low fences or for people who dislike climbing and chasing.

The Vizsla is a fast sporting breed that combines speed, stamina and field work, which makes it more of an all-day athlete than a pure sprinter. Males stand 22 to 24 inches and females 21 to 23 inches, at about 44 to 60 pounds. Life expectancy is approximately 12 to 14 years. The short, smooth coat means low grooming and moderate shedding.

Compared with most sighthounds, a Vizsla is more likely to seek continuous human interaction and sustained daily activity. It is affectionate, energetic, sensitive and trainable, but it can become destructive without activity, and vocal behavior is moderate. It needs substantial daily exercise, field work and company. Hip dysplasia, epilepsy, allergies, cancer and thyroid disease are reported breed concerns. A Vizsla suits an active person who wants a running partner after the dog matures; it is a harder match for sedentary households or long stretches alone. For more on staying busy with an active breed, see working dog breeds.

The Dalmatian is an athletic carriage and endurance dog with strong running ability, and its reputation rests on stamina more than a measured sprint. Males stand 19 to 23 inches and females 19 to 22 inches. Weights commonly run about 45 to 70 pounds, and life expectancy is approximately 11 to 13 years. The short, dense coat is easy to groom but sheds noticeably.

The distinctive practical point is the mix of endurance and a particular risk of urinary stone problems, so ask a veterinarian about it before you make a long-term plan; DogServ can point you toward help. Deafness, hip dysplasia, allergies and eye disease are also recognized concerns. The breed needs daily exercise and mental work, and it is energetic, intelligent, athletic and often independent. It can bark or become destructive when under-exercised. Dalmatians suit active owners who can brush up on shedding, and they are a poor match for sedentary homes or households that leave the dog alone for long periods.

The Jack Russell is a small, explosive terrier bred for fox work and rapid pursuit. It stands about 10 to 15 inches tall, commonly weighs 13 to 17 pounds, and lives approximately 13 to 16 years. The coat is short, broken or rough, with easy to moderate grooming and moderate shedding.

A small body comes with a demanding terrier workload: digging, chasing, problem-solving and a lot of vocal energy. The dog is very active, bold, clever and persistent, and it needs digging, scent, chase, training and exercise outlets. A Jack Russell may be highly trainable for engagement and tasks while still being unreliable around wildlife, so recall around prey can be poor and a leash or enclosed area is the safe choice. Luxating patella, Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease, deafness, eye disease and ataxia are reported. It suits an owner who enjoys a spirited small dog, and it is a harder match for a quiet, passive home. See small dog breeds for more compact options.