How Fast Finnish Lapphunds Can Run

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How Fast the Finnish Lapphund Can Run

The American Kennel Association (AKC) and its local clubs regularly conduct timed races for dogs. This competition is called the Fast CAT®, which stands for Coursing Ability Test. The Fast CAT is a timed 100-yard (91.4 meters) race where dogs run one at a time, chasing a lure.

The AKC has been conducting Fast CAT races for dogs since 2016. You can learn more about how the rules of the fast CAT race here.

Based on our analysis of the speeds of 15 different Finnish Lapphunds, the average speed of the Finnish Lapphund is 21.2 mph (34.1 kmph). The fastest speed on AKC record that the Finnish Lapphund ran in a race is 26.65 mph (42.9 kmph) and the minimum speed on record in a race for a Finnish Lapphund is 11.54 mph (18.6 kmph).

The name of the fastest Finnish Lapphund in the AKC record is Allegro`s Harbor The Raine Kai DCAT TKI, a male Finnish Lapphund. This was the Finnish Lapphund that set the 26.65 mph record speed.

If it comes down to the speed of the Finnish Lapphund male versus the female, the average speed of the male Finnish Lapphund is 21.8 mph (35.1 kmph), while the average speed of the female Finnish Lapphund is 20.3 mph (32.7 kmph).

Compared to the speed of other dog breeds, the Finnish Lapphund ranks number 152 out of 247 dog breeds in terms of its running speed..

The fastest dog breed is the Greyhound. Greyhounds can run at an average speed of 33.1 mph (53.3 kmph).

The slowest dog breed is the Pekingese. Pekingeses run at an average speed of 9.4 mph (15.1 mph).

Click here to see the list that rank dog breeds based on their running speeds. On the list, you will see how the Finnish Lapphund ranks compared to other 246 dog breeds

Note that all the speeds above are average” speeds over a distance of 100 yards, and not peak speeds. A dog may be able to running faster than the numbers above, but it will be for a very very short distance (time).

Unlike some AKC events such as conformation shows which a dog has to be purebred to participate in, both purebred dogs and mixed dogs can compete in the AKC Fast CAT competition.

You should consider signing up your dog for this fun activity. Your dog could win a fancy AKC title! Visit the AKC website to learn more.

You can watch an AKC fast CAT tournament here on Youtube

How to Make Your Finnish Lapphund Run Fast

If you want your Finnish Lapphund to run fast, make sure your Finnish Lapphund is in good health, and that you have conditioned and trained your Finnish Lapphund for running. Here at the things you can do to make your Finnish Lapphund run fast:

  • Make sure your Finnish Lapphund is in good health: Take them for regular veterinarian checks, feed them a good diet. This will ensure that your Finnish Lapphund is in good health necessary for running.
  • Well-formed bones: make sure the bones of your Finnish Lapphund are well-formed before making your Finnish Lapphund run. Importantly, do not run with a puppy because you can damage a puppy`s joint and bone structure through the high impact of running on their joints.
  • Condition your Finnish Lapphund for running: Before getting your Finnish Lapphund into serious running, first condition your Finnish Lapphund from running. First, start slow by exercising your Finnish Lapphund regularly. Also, play fetch with your Finnish Lapphund, take your Finnish Lapphund for regular walks. All these will make your Finnish Lapphund very fit for running.
  • Make sure your Finnish Lapphund is not overweight: Learn about how you can monitor your Finnish Lapphund`s growth to prevent your Finnish Lapphund from being overweight.

Get your Finnish Lapphund a dog fitness tracker to monitor its activity and running performance.

The dog fitness tracker that we recommend for the Finnish Lapphund is the Whistle GPS Health and Fitness Tracker. This tracker is packed with other useful features in addition to fitness tracking. The tracker can also monitor your Finnish Lapphund`s nutrition and sleep. It can let you know if your Finnish Lapphund is scratching or licking itself too much.

Learn more about the Whistle GPS Health and Fitness Tracker here on Amazon.

Fitness Tracker for Finnish Lapphund

Speed of Finnish Lapphund Compared to Other Dog Breeds

Finnish Lapphunds weigh around 33 to 53 pounds and height 17 to 20 inches tall at the shoulder.

How fast a dog breed runs depends on its weight and height. Tall dog breeds tend to run faster than shorter dog breeds.

See how the speed of the Finnish Lapphund compares to the speed of other dog breeds below:

The average speed of the Finnish Lapphund (in black) compared to the average speed of other dog breeds (in blue)
Dog Breed Average Speed
How Fast Italian Greyhounds Can Run 24.4 mph (39.2 kmph)
How Fast Icelandic Sheepdogs Can Run 23.2 mph (37.4 kmph)
How Fast German Spitzs Can Run 22.1 mph (35.6 kmph)
How Fast Irish Wolfhounds Can Run 21.8 mph (35.1 kmph)
How Fast Finnish Lapphunds Can Run 21.2 mph (34.1 kmph)
How Fast American Eskimo Dogs Can Run 21.0 mph (33.7 kmph)
How Fast Beagles Can Run 19.6 mph (31.6 kmph)
How Fast Petit Basset Griffon Vendéens Can Run 18.1 mph (29.2 kmph)
How Fast Silky Terriers Can Run 17.5 mph (28.1 kmph)
How Fast Coton de Tulears Can Run 16.4 mph (26.4 kmph)
How Fast Pekingeses Can Run 9.4 mph (15.1 kmph)

Read this article to learn about how fast dogs run.

Can the Finnish Lapphund Run Faster than the Australian Cattle Dog?

The Australian Cattle Dog can run faster than the Finnish Lapphund.

The average running speed of the Finnish Lapphund is 21.2 mph, while the average running speed of the Australian Cattle Dog is 24.0 mph.

The fastest Finnish Lapphund on record ran at a speed of 26.6 mph, while the slowest Finnish Lapphund competing in a race ran at a speed 11.5 mph.

On the other hand, the fastest Australian Cattle Dog on record ran at a speed of 30.0 mph, while the slowest Australian Cattle Dog competing in a race ran at a speed of 13.1 mph.

Speed of Finnish Lapphund versus speed of Australian Cattle Dog

Learn more about how fast Australian Cattle Dogs can run here.

Can the Finnish Lapphund Run Faster than the Swedish Lapphund?

The Finnish Lapphund can run faster than the Swedish Lapphund.

The average running speed of the Finnish Lapphund is 21.2 mph, while the average running speed of the Swedish Lapphund is 18.3 mph.

The fastest Finnish Lapphund on record ran at a speed of 26.6 mph, while the slowest Finnish Lapphund competing in a race ran at a speed 11.5 mph.

On the other hand, the fastest Swedish Lapphund on record ran at a speed of 18.3 mph, while the slowest Swedish Lapphund competing in a race ran at a speed 18.3 mph.

Can the Finnish Lapphund Run Faster than the Irish Water Spaniel?

The Irish Water Spaniel can run faster than the Finnish Lapphund.

The average running speed of the Finnish Lapphund is 21.2 mph, while the average running speed of the Irish Water Spaniel is 21.9 mph.

The fastest Finnish Lapphund on record ran at a speed of 26.6 mph, while the slowest Finnish Lapphund competing in a race ran at a speed 11.5 mph.

On the other hand, the fastest Irish Water Spaniel on record ran at a speed of 26.8 mph, while the slowest Irish Water Spaniel competing in a race ran at a speed of 5.0 mph.

Can the Finnish Lapphund Run Faster than the Glen of Imaal Terrier?

The Finnish Lapphund can run faster than the Glen of Imaal Terrier.

The average running speed of the Finnish Lapphund is 21.2 mph, while the average running speed of the Glen of Imaal Terrier is 18.0 mph.

The fastest Finnish Lapphund on record ran at a speed of 26.6 mph, while the slowest Finnish Lapphund competing in a race ran at a speed 11.5 mph.

On the other hand, the fastest Glen of Imaal Terrier on record ran at a speed of 25.7 mph, while the slowest Glen of Imaal Terrier competing in a race ran at a speed 5.8 mph.

Speed of Finnish Lapphund versus speed of Glen of Imaal Terrier

Learn more about how fast Glen of Imaal Terriers can run here.

Can the Finnish Lapphund Run Faster than the Maltese?

The Finnish Lapphund can run faster than the Maltese.

The average running speed of the Finnish Lapphund is 21.2 mph, while the average running speed of the Maltese is 14.7 mph.

The fastest Finnish Lapphund on record ran at a speed of 26.6 mph, while the slowest Finnish Lapphund competing in a race ran at a speed 11.5 mph.

On the other hand, the fastest Maltese on record ran at a speed of 24.4 mph, while the slowest Maltese competing in a race ran at a speed 8.2 mph.

Speed of Finnish Lapphund versus speed of Maltese

Learn more about how fast Malteses can run here.

How Fast the Finnish Lapphund Can Run Compared to Other Mammals

See how fast the Finnish Lapphund run compared to other mammals below:

The average speed of the Finnish Lapphund (in black) compared to the average speed of other mammals (in blue)
Mammal Average Speed
Cheetah 75.0 mph (120.7 kmph)
Horse 55.0 mph (88.5 kmph)
Jackrabbit 45.0 mph (72.4 kmph)
Gray Fox 42.0 mph (67.6 kmph)
Wolf 37.0 mph (59.5 kmph)
Grizzly Bear 35.0 mph (56.3 kmph)
Domestic Cat 30.0 mph (48.3 kmph)
Deer 30.0 mph (48.3 kmph)
Red Fox 30.0 mph (48.3 kmph)
North American Black Bear 30.0 mph (48.3 kmph)
Usain Bolt 23.4 mph (37.6 kmph)
Finnish Lapphund 21.2 mph (34.1 kmph)
Squirrel 20.0 mph (32.2 kmph)

Can the Finnish Lapphund Run Faster than the Usain Bolt?

The Usain Bolt can run faster than the Finnish Lapphund.

The average running speed of the Finnish Lapphund is 21.2 mph, while the average running speed of the Usain Bolt is 23.4 mph.

Speed of Finnish Lapphund versus speed of Usain Bolt

Can the Finnish Lapphund Run Faster than the Cheetah?

The Cheetah can run faster than the Finnish Lapphund.

The average running speed of the Finnish Lapphund is 21.2 mph, while the average running speed of the Cheetah is 75.0 mph.

Speed of Finnish Lapphund versus speed of Cheetah

Can the Finnish Lapphund Run Faster than the Domestic Cat?

The Domestic Cat can run faster than the Finnish Lapphund.

The average running speed of the Finnish Lapphund is 21.2 mph, while the average running speed of the Domestic Cat is 30.0 mph.

Speed of Finnish Lapphund versus speed of Domestic Cat

Can the Finnish Lapphund Run Faster than the Squirrel?

The Finnish Lapphund can run faster than the Squirrel.

The average running speed of the Finnish Lapphund is 21.2 mph, while the average running speed of the Squirrel is 20.0 mph.

Speed of Finnish Lapphund versus speed of Squirrel

Can the Finnish Lapphund Run Faster than the Horse?

The Horse can run faster than the Finnish Lapphund.

The average running speed of the Finnish Lapphund is 21.2 mph, while the average running speed of the Horse is 55.0 mph.

Speed of Finnish Lapphund versus speed of Horse

Can the Finnish Lapphund Run Faster than the Jackrabbit?

The Jackrabbit can run faster than the Finnish Lapphund.

The average running speed of the Finnish Lapphund is 21.2 mph, while the average running speed of the Jackrabbit is 45.0 mph.

Speed of Finnish Lapphund versus speed of Jackrabbit

Can the Finnish Lapphund Run Faster than the Deer?

The Deer can run faster than the Finnish Lapphund.

The average running speed of the Finnish Lapphund is 21.2 mph, while the average running speed of the Deer is 30.0 mph.

Speed of Finnish Lapphund versus speed of Deer

Can the Finnish Lapphund Run Faster than the Wolf?

The Wolf can run faster than the Finnish Lapphund.

The average running speed of the Finnish Lapphund is 21.2 mph, while the average running speed of the Wolf is 37.0 mph.

Speed of Finnish Lapphund versus speed of Wolf

Can the Finnish Lapphund Run Faster than the Red Fox?

The Red Fox can run faster than the Finnish Lapphund.

The average running speed of the Finnish Lapphund is 21.2 mph, while the average running speed of the Red Fox is 30.0 mph.

Speed of Finnish Lapphund versus speed of Red Fox

Can the Finnish Lapphund Run Faster than the Gray Fox?

The Gray Fox can run faster than the Finnish Lapphund.

The average running speed of the Finnish Lapphund is 21.2 mph, while the average running speed of the Gray Fox is 42.0 mph.

Speed of Finnish Lapphund versus speed of Gray Fox

Can the Finnish Lapphund Run Faster than the Grizzly Bear?

The Grizzly Bear can run faster than the Finnish Lapphund.

The average running speed of the Finnish Lapphund is 21.2 mph, while the average running speed of the Grizzly Bear is 35.0 mph.

Speed of Finnish Lapphund versus speed of Grizzly Bear

Can the Finnish Lapphund Run Faster than the North American Black Bear?

The North American Black Bear can run faster than the Finnish Lapphund.

The average running speed of the Finnish Lapphund is 21.2 mph, while the average running speed of the North American Black Bear is 30.0 mph.

Speed of Finnish Lapphund versus speed of North American Black Bear

Conclusion on How Fast the Finnish Lapphund Can Run

Note that the AKC`s speed test for dogs upon which this article is based does not pit dogs against each other in races as it is done in human races. Rather, a dog runs the race by chasing a lure, and the dog`s speed is recorded, and compared to the speed of other dogs.

Furthermore, the AKC speed test leverages the fact that dogs like to chase things. However, some dog breeds have a higher tendency to chase things than some other dog breeds. Breeds such as greyhounds, afghan hounds, and whippets are naturally wired to chase objects. Therefore, these breeds tend to excel in sports like the AKC speed tests.

Finally, running is a good exercise for dogs. Also, exercise is good for your dog`s health. Exercise will make your Finnish Lapphund live long. However, if you want to get your dog into running without getting your dog injured, make sure that your dog has grown past the puppy state, with well-formed bones, before you get your dog into running.