Quick Links: Table of Contents
- How Fast the German Shepherd Dog Can Run
- How to Make Your German Shepherd Dog Run Fast
- Speed of German Shepherd Dog Compared to Other Dog Breeds
- How Fast the German Shepherd Dog Can Run Compared to Other Mammals
- Conclusion on How Fast the German Shepherd Dog Can Run
How Fast the German Shepherd Dog 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 849 different German Shepherd Dogs, the average speed of the German Shepherd Dog is 24.4 mph (39.3 kmph). The fastest speed on AKC record that the German Shepherd Dog ran in a race is 35.57 mph (57.2 kmph) and the minimum speed on record in a race for a German Shepherd Dog is 4.93 mph (7.9 kmph).
The name of the fastest German Shepherd Dog in the AKC record is Priya Unleash The Fury FDC CA BCAT CGC, a female German Shepherd Dog. This was the German Shepherd Dog that set the 35.57 mph record speed.
If it comes down to the speed of the German Shepherd Dog male versus the female, the average speed of the male German Shepherd Dog is 24.4 mph (39.3 kmph), while the average speed of the female German Shepherd Dog is 24.4 mph (39.2 kmph).
Compared to the speed of other dog breeds, the German Shepherd Dog ranks number 49 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 German Shepherd Dog 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 German Shepherd Dog Run Fast
If you want your German Shepherd Dog to run fast, make sure your German Shepherd Dog is in good health, and that you have conditioned and trained your German Shepherd Dog for running. Here at the things you can do to make your German Shepherd Dog run fast:
- Make sure your German Shepherd Dog is in good health: Take them for regular veterinarian checks, feed them a good diet. This will ensure that your German Shepherd Dog is in good health necessary for running.
- Well-formed bones: make sure the bones of your German Shepherd Dog are well-formed before making your German Shepherd Dog 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 German Shepherd Dog for running: Before getting your German Shepherd Dog into serious running, first condition your German Shepherd Dog from running. First, start slow by exercising your German Shepherd Dog regularly. Also, play fetch with your German Shepherd Dog, take your German Shepherd Dog for regular walks. All these will make your German Shepherd Dog very fit for running.
- Make sure your German Shepherd Dog is not overweight: Learn about how you can monitor your German Shepherd Dog`s growth to prevent your German Shepherd Dog from being overweight.
Get your German Shepherd Dog a dog fitness tracker to monitor its activity and running performance.
The dog fitness tracker that we recommend for the German Shepherd Dog 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 German Shepherd Dog`s nutrition and sleep. It can let you know if your German Shepherd Dog is scratching or licking itself too much.
Learn more about the Whistle GPS Health and Fitness Tracker here on Amazon.
Speed of German Shepherd Dog Compared to Other Dog Breeds
German Shepherd Dogs weigh around 75 to 95 pounds and height 1 foot, 10 inches to 2 feet, 2 inches tall .
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 German Shepherd Dog compares to the speed of other dog breeds below:
| Dog Breed | Average Speed |
|---|---|
| How Fast German Shepherd Dogs Can Run | 24.4 mph (39.3 kmph) |
| How Fast Peruvian Inca Orchids Can Run | 24.2 mph (39.0 kmph) |
| How Fast Siberian Huskys Can Run | 23.7 mph (38.2 kmph) |
| How Fast American Hairless Terriers Can Run | 23.3 mph (37.5 kmph) |
| How Fast Portuguese Water Dogs Can Run | 21.8 mph (35.1 kmph) |
| How Fast Wire Fox Terriers Can Run | 20.4 mph (32.8 kmph) |
| How Fast Caucasian Shepherd Dogs Can Run | 19.5 mph (31.3 kmph) |
| How Fast Newfoundlands Can Run | 18.5 mph (29.7 kmph) |
| How Fast Petit Basset Griffon Vendéens Can Run | 18.1 mph (29.2 kmph) |
| How Fast Polish Lowland Sheepdogs Can Run | 18.1 mph (29.1 kmph) |
| How Fast French Bulldogs Can Run | 17.9 mph (28.8 kmph) |
Read this article to learn about how fast dogs run.
Can the German Shepherd Dog Run Faster than the Hamiltonstovare?
The German Shepherd Dog can run faster than the Hamiltonstovare.
The average running speed of the German Shepherd Dog is 24.4 mph, while the average running speed of the Hamiltonstovare is 12.1 mph.
The fastest German Shepherd Dog on record ran at a speed of 35.6 mph, while the slowest German Shepherd Dog competing in a race ran at a speed 4.9 mph.
On the other hand, the fastest Hamiltonstovare on record ran at a speed of 15.4 mph, while the slowest Hamiltonstovare competing in a race ran at a speed 7.8 mph.
Can the German Shepherd Dog Run Faster than the Flat-Coated Retriever?
The German Shepherd Dog can run faster than the Flat-Coated Retriever.
The average running speed of the German Shepherd Dog is 24.4 mph, while the average running speed of the Flat-Coated Retriever is 24.3 mph.
The fastest German Shepherd Dog on record ran at a speed of 35.6 mph, while the slowest German Shepherd Dog competing in a race ran at a speed 4.9 mph.
On the other hand, the fastest Flat-Coated Retriever on record ran at a speed of 28.4 mph, while the slowest Flat-Coated Retriever competing in a race ran at a speed 15.2 mph.
Learn more about how fast Flat-Coated Retrievers can run here.
Can the German Shepherd Dog Run Faster than the Dachshund?
The German Shepherd Dog can run faster than the Dachshund.
The average running speed of the German Shepherd Dog is 24.4 mph, while the average running speed of the Dachshund is 13.5 mph.
The fastest German Shepherd Dog on record ran at a speed of 35.6 mph, while the slowest German Shepherd Dog competing in a race ran at a speed 4.9 mph.
On the other hand, the fastest Dachshund on record ran at a speed of 22.2 mph, while the slowest Dachshund competing in a race ran at a speed 2.9 mph.
Learn more about how fast Dachshunds can run here.
Can the German Shepherd Dog Run Faster than the Silky Terrier?
The German Shepherd Dog can run faster than the Silky Terrier.
The average running speed of the German Shepherd Dog is 24.4 mph, while the average running speed of the Silky Terrier is 17.5 mph.
The fastest German Shepherd Dog on record ran at a speed of 35.6 mph, while the slowest German Shepherd Dog competing in a race ran at a speed 4.9 mph.
On the other hand, the fastest Silky Terrier on record ran at a speed of 23.8 mph, while the slowest Silky Terrier competing in a race ran at a speed 3.6 mph.
Learn more about how fast Silky Terriers can run here.
Can the German Shepherd Dog Run Faster than the Collie?
The German Shepherd Dog can run faster than the Collie.
The average running speed of the German Shepherd Dog is 24.4 mph, while the average running speed of the Collie is 21.2 mph.
The fastest German Shepherd Dog on record ran at a speed of 35.6 mph, while the slowest German Shepherd Dog competing in a race ran at a speed 4.9 mph.
On the other hand, the fastest Collie on record ran at a speed of 28.1 mph, while the slowest Collie competing in a race ran at a speed 6.3 mph.
Learn more about how fast Collies can run here.
How Fast the German Shepherd Dog Can Run Compared to Other Mammals
See how fast the German Shepherd Dog run compared to other mammals below:
| 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) |
| German Shepherd Dog | 24.4 mph (39.3 kmph) |
| Usain Bolt | 23.4 mph (37.6 kmph) |
| Squirrel | 20.0 mph (32.2 kmph) |
Can the German Shepherd Dog Run Faster than the Usain Bolt?
The German Shepherd Dog can run faster than the Usain Bolt.
The average running speed of the German Shepherd Dog is 24.4 mph, while the average running speed of the Usain Bolt is 23.4 mph.
Can the German Shepherd Dog Run Faster than the Cheetah?
The Cheetah can run faster than the German Shepherd Dog.
The average running speed of the German Shepherd Dog is 24.4 mph, while the average running speed of the Cheetah is 75.0 mph.
Can the German Shepherd Dog Run Faster than the Domestic Cat?
The Domestic Cat can run faster than the German Shepherd Dog.
The average running speed of the German Shepherd Dog is 24.4 mph, while the average running speed of the Domestic Cat is 30.0 mph.
Can the German Shepherd Dog Run Faster than the Squirrel?
The German Shepherd Dog can run faster than the Squirrel.
The average running speed of the German Shepherd Dog is 24.4 mph, while the average running speed of the Squirrel is 20.0 mph.
Can the German Shepherd Dog Run Faster than the Horse?
The Horse can run faster than the German Shepherd Dog.
The average running speed of the German Shepherd Dog is 24.4 mph, while the average running speed of the Horse is 55.0 mph.
Can the German Shepherd Dog Run Faster than the Jackrabbit?
The Jackrabbit can run faster than the German Shepherd Dog.
The average running speed of the German Shepherd Dog is 24.4 mph, while the average running speed of the Jackrabbit is 45.0 mph.
Can the German Shepherd Dog Run Faster than the Deer?
The Deer can run faster than the German Shepherd Dog.
The average running speed of the German Shepherd Dog is 24.4 mph, while the average running speed of the Deer is 30.0 mph.
Can the German Shepherd Dog Run Faster than the Wolf?
The Wolf can run faster than the German Shepherd Dog.
The average running speed of the German Shepherd Dog is 24.4 mph, while the average running speed of the Wolf is 37.0 mph.
Can the German Shepherd Dog Run Faster than the Red Fox?
The Red Fox can run faster than the German Shepherd Dog.
The average running speed of the German Shepherd Dog is 24.4 mph, while the average running speed of the Red Fox is 30.0 mph.
Can the German Shepherd Dog Run Faster than the Gray Fox?
The Gray Fox can run faster than the German Shepherd Dog.
The average running speed of the German Shepherd Dog is 24.4 mph, while the average running speed of the Gray Fox is 42.0 mph.
Can the German Shepherd Dog Run Faster than the Grizzly Bear?
The Grizzly Bear can run faster than the German Shepherd Dog.
The average running speed of the German Shepherd Dog is 24.4 mph, while the average running speed of the Grizzly Bear is 35.0 mph.
Can the German Shepherd Dog Run Faster than the North American Black Bear?
The North American Black Bear can run faster than the German Shepherd Dog.
The average running speed of the German Shepherd Dog is 24.4 mph, while the average running speed of the North American Black Bear is 30.0 mph.
Conclusion on How Fast the German Shepherd Dog 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 German Shepherd Dog 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.