What is the fastest dog breed?

The Greyhound is the fastest dog breed. Built as a sighthound, it combines long legs, a deep chest, powerful hindquarters, a flexible spine, and a light but muscular frame. Racing Greyhounds can reach peak speeds of at least 69 kilometres per hour, with typical winning speeds around 58–61 km/h.

Its distinctive double-suspension gallop helps explain that speed. During each stride, all four feet leave the ground twice: once as the body contracts and once as it stretches out. Greyhounds also have a high proportion of fast-twitch muscle fibres and a large heart, adaptations that support explosive sprinting rather than prolonged endurance.

Greyhounds were historically bred to hunt by sight, especially in open country, and later became associated with coursing and track racing. A common mix-up involves the Saluki: it may rival or exceed the Greyhound over longer distances, but the Greyhound is the standard answer for fastest dog in a sprint. The Whippet is fast too, but is smaller and generally slower.