Quick Links: Table of Contents
- How Fast the Italian Greyhound Can Run
- How to Make Your Italian Greyhound Run Fast
- Speed of Italian Greyhound Compared to Other Dog Breeds
- How Fast the Italian Greyhound Can Run Compared to Other Mammals
- Conclusion on How Fast the Italian Greyhound Can Run
How Fast the Italian Greyhound 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 93 different Italian Greyhounds, the average speed of the Italian Greyhound is 24.4 mph (39.2 kmph). The fastest speed on AKC record that the Italian Greyhound ran in a race is 35.78 mph (57.6 kmph) and the minimum speed on record in a race for a Italian Greyhound is 2.54 mph (4.1 kmph).
The name of the fastest Italian Greyhound in the AKC record is MACH Igrf`s Little Miss Nina MXS MJS MXF T2B2 FCAT, a female Italian Greyhound. This was the Italian Greyhound that set the 35.78 mph record speed.
If it comes down to the speed of the Italian Greyhound male versus the female, the average speed of the male Italian Greyhound is 24.9 mph (40.0 kmph), while the average speed of the female Italian Greyhound is 23.9 mph (38.4 kmph).
Compared to the speed of other dog breeds, the Italian Greyhound ranks number 51 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 Italian Greyhound 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 Italian Greyhound Run Fast
If you want your Italian Greyhound to run fast, make sure your Italian Greyhound is in good health, and that you have conditioned and trained your Italian Greyhound for running. Here at the things you can do to make your Italian Greyhound run fast:
- Make sure your Italian Greyhound is in good health: Take them for regular veterinarian checks, feed them a good diet. This will ensure that your Italian Greyhound is in good health necessary for running.
- Well-formed bones: make sure the bones of your Italian Greyhound are well-formed before making your Italian Greyhound 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 Italian Greyhound for running: Before getting your Italian Greyhound into serious running, first condition your Italian Greyhound from running. First, start slow by exercising your Italian Greyhound regularly. Also, play fetch with your Italian Greyhound, take your Italian Greyhound for regular walks. All these will make your Italian Greyhound very fit for running.
- Make sure your Italian Greyhound is not overweight: Learn about how you can monitor your Italian Greyhound`s growth to prevent your Italian Greyhound from being overweight.
Get your Italian Greyhound a dog fitness tracker to monitor its activity and running performance.
The dog fitness tracker that we recommend for the Italian Greyhound 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 Italian Greyhound`s nutrition and sleep. It can let you know if your Italian Greyhound is scratching or licking itself too much.
Learn more about the Whistle GPS Health and Fitness Tracker here on Amazon.
Speed of Italian Greyhound Compared to Other Dog Breeds
Italian Greyhounds weigh around 6 to 15 pounds and height 13 to 15 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 Italian Greyhound compares to the speed of other dog breeds below:
| Dog Breed | Average Speed |
|---|---|
| How Fast Pharaoh Hounds Can Run | 26.3 mph (42.3 kmph) |
| How Fast American Bulldogs Can Run | 24.4 mph (39.2 kmph) |
| How Fast Italian Greyhounds Can Run | 24.4 mph (39.2 kmph) |
| How Fast Appenzeller Sennenhundes Can Run | 24.2 mph (39.0 kmph) |
| How Fast Basenjis Can Run | 23.8 mph (38.3 kmph) |
| How Fast Redbone Coonhounds Can Run | 23.0 mph (37.0 kmph) |
| How Fast Bernese Mountain Dogs Can Run | 20.8 mph (33.5 kmph) |
| How Fast Welsh Terriers Can Run | 20.3 mph (32.6 kmph) |
| How Fast Papillons Can Run | 17.8 mph (28.6 kmph) |
| How Fast Coton de Tulears Can Run | 16.4 mph (26.4 kmph) |
| How Fast Dachshunds Can Run | 13.5 mph (21.7 kmph) |
Read this article to learn about how fast dogs run.
Can the Italian Greyhound Run Faster than the Russell Terrier?
The Italian Greyhound can run faster than the Russell Terrier.
The average running speed of the Italian Greyhound is 24.4 mph, while the average running speed of the Russell Terrier is 19.2 mph.
The fastest Italian Greyhound on record ran at a speed of 35.8 mph, while the slowest Italian Greyhound competing in a race ran at a speed 2.5 mph.
On the other hand, the fastest Russell Terrier on record ran at a speed of 28.1 mph, while the slowest Russell Terrier competing in a race ran at a speed 9.2 mph.
Learn more about how fast Russell Terriers can run here.
Can the Italian Greyhound Run Faster than the Small Munsterlander?
The Small Munsterlander can run faster than the Italian Greyhound.
The average running speed of the Italian Greyhound is 24.4 mph, while the average running speed of the Small Munsterlander is 25.4 mph.
The fastest Italian Greyhound on record ran at a speed of 35.8 mph, while the slowest Italian Greyhound competing in a race ran at a speed 2.5 mph.
On the other hand, the fastest Small Munsterlander on record ran at a speed of 27.5 mph, while the slowest Small Munsterlander competing in a race ran at a speed of 23.3 mph.
Learn more about how fast Small Munsterlanders can run here.
Can the Italian Greyhound Run Faster than the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog?
The Italian Greyhound can run faster than the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog.
The average running speed of the Italian Greyhound is 24.4 mph, while the average running speed of the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog is 19.4 mph.
The fastest Italian Greyhound on record ran at a speed of 35.8 mph, while the slowest Italian Greyhound competing in a race ran at a speed 2.5 mph.
On the other hand, the fastest Greater Swiss Mountain Dog on record ran at a speed of 25.5 mph, while the slowest Greater Swiss Mountain Dog competing in a race ran at a speed 10.9 mph.
Learn more about how fast Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs can run here.
Can the Italian Greyhound Run Faster than the Chesapeake Bay Retriever?
The Chesapeake Bay Retriever can run faster than the Italian Greyhound.
The average running speed of the Italian Greyhound is 24.4 mph, while the average running speed of the Chesapeake Bay Retriever is 25.1 mph.
The fastest Italian Greyhound on record ran at a speed of 35.8 mph, while the slowest Italian Greyhound competing in a race ran at a speed 2.5 mph.
On the other hand, the fastest Chesapeake Bay Retriever on record ran at a speed of 29.3 mph, while the slowest Chesapeake Bay Retriever competing in a race ran at a speed of 9.2 mph.
Learn more about how fast Chesapeake Bay Retrievers can run here.
Can the Italian Greyhound Run Faster than the Chinook?
The Italian Greyhound can run faster than the Chinook.
The average running speed of the Italian Greyhound is 24.4 mph, while the average running speed of the Chinook is 22.1 mph.
The fastest Italian Greyhound on record ran at a speed of 35.8 mph, while the slowest Italian Greyhound competing in a race ran at a speed 2.5 mph.
On the other hand, the fastest Chinook on record ran at a speed of 25.1 mph, while the slowest Chinook competing in a race ran at a speed 15.8 mph.
Learn more about how fast Chinooks can run here.
How Fast the Italian Greyhound Can Run Compared to Other Mammals
See how fast the Italian Greyhound 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) |
| Italian Greyhound | 24.4 mph (39.3 kmph) |
| Usain Bolt | 23.4 mph (37.6 kmph) |
| Squirrel | 20.0 mph (32.2 kmph) |
Can the Italian Greyhound Run Faster than the Usain Bolt?
The Italian Greyhound can run faster than the Usain Bolt.
The average running speed of the Italian Greyhound is 24.4 mph, while the average running speed of the Usain Bolt is 23.4 mph.
Can the Italian Greyhound Run Faster than the Cheetah?
The Cheetah can run faster than the Italian Greyhound.
The average running speed of the Italian Greyhound is 24.4 mph, while the average running speed of the Cheetah is 75.0 mph.
Can the Italian Greyhound Run Faster than the Domestic Cat?
The Domestic Cat can run faster than the Italian Greyhound.
The average running speed of the Italian Greyhound is 24.4 mph, while the average running speed of the Domestic Cat is 30.0 mph.
Can the Italian Greyhound Run Faster than the Squirrel?
The Italian Greyhound can run faster than the Squirrel.
The average running speed of the Italian Greyhound is 24.4 mph, while the average running speed of the Squirrel is 20.0 mph.
Can the Italian Greyhound Run Faster than the Horse?
The Horse can run faster than the Italian Greyhound.
The average running speed of the Italian Greyhound is 24.4 mph, while the average running speed of the Horse is 55.0 mph.
Can the Italian Greyhound Run Faster than the Jackrabbit?
The Jackrabbit can run faster than the Italian Greyhound.
The average running speed of the Italian Greyhound is 24.4 mph, while the average running speed of the Jackrabbit is 45.0 mph.
Can the Italian Greyhound Run Faster than the Deer?
The Deer can run faster than the Italian Greyhound.
The average running speed of the Italian Greyhound is 24.4 mph, while the average running speed of the Deer is 30.0 mph.
Can the Italian Greyhound Run Faster than the Wolf?
The Wolf can run faster than the Italian Greyhound.
The average running speed of the Italian Greyhound is 24.4 mph, while the average running speed of the Wolf is 37.0 mph.
Can the Italian Greyhound Run Faster than the Red Fox?
The Red Fox can run faster than the Italian Greyhound.
The average running speed of the Italian Greyhound is 24.4 mph, while the average running speed of the Red Fox is 30.0 mph.
Can the Italian Greyhound Run Faster than the Gray Fox?
The Gray Fox can run faster than the Italian Greyhound.
The average running speed of the Italian Greyhound is 24.4 mph, while the average running speed of the Gray Fox is 42.0 mph.
Can the Italian Greyhound Run Faster than the Grizzly Bear?
The Grizzly Bear can run faster than the Italian Greyhound.
The average running speed of the Italian Greyhound is 24.4 mph, while the average running speed of the Grizzly Bear is 35.0 mph.
Can the Italian Greyhound Run Faster than the North American Black Bear?
The North American Black Bear can run faster than the Italian Greyhound.
The average running speed of the Italian Greyhound is 24.4 mph, while the average running speed of the North American Black Bear is 30.0 mph.
Conclusion on How Fast the Italian Greyhound 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 Italian Greyhound 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.
