Quick Links: Table of Contents
- How Fast the Whippet Can Run
- How to Make Your Whippet Run Fast
- Speed of Whippet Compared to Other Dog Breeds
- How Fast the Whippet Can Run Compared to Other Mammals
- Conclusion on How Fast the Whippet Can Run
How Fast the Whippet 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 880 different Whippets, the average speed of the Whippet is 30.5 mph (49.1 kmph). The fastest speed on AKC record that the Whippet ran in a race is 40.99 mph (66.0 kmph) and the minimum speed on record in a race for a Whippet is 4.12 mph (6.6 kmph).
The name of the fastest Whippet in the AKC record is Jammin` Afternoon Tea At Chartwell BN FCAT2 CGC TKN ATT, a male Whippet. This was the Whippet that set the 40.99 mph record speed.
If it comes down to the speed of the Whippet male versus the female, the average speed of the male Whippet is 30.9 mph (49.7 kmph), while the average speed of the female Whippet is 30.1 mph (48.5 kmph).
Compared to the speed of other dog breeds, the Whippet ranks number 1 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 Whippet 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 Whippet Run Fast
If you want your Whippet to run fast, make sure your Whippet is in good health, and that you have conditioned and trained your Whippet for running. Here at the things you can do to make your Whippet run fast:
- Make sure your Whippet is in good health: Take them for regular veterinarian checks, feed them a good diet. This will ensure that your Whippet is in good health necessary for running.
- Well-formed bones: make sure the bones of your Whippet are well-formed before making your Whippet 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 Whippet for running: Before getting your Whippet into serious running, first condition your Whippet from running. First, start slow by exercising your Whippet regularly. Also, play fetch with your Whippet, take your Whippet for regular walks. All these will make your Whippet very fit for running.
- Make sure your Whippet is not overweight: Learn about how you can monitor your Whippet`s growth to prevent your Whippet from being overweight.
Get your Whippet a dog fitness tracker to monitor its activity and running performance.
The dog fitness tracker that we recommend for the Whippet 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 Whippet`s nutrition and sleep. It can let you know if your Whippet is scratching or licking itself too much.
Learn more about the Whistle GPS Health and Fitness Tracker here on Amazon.
Speed of Whippet Compared to Other Dog Breeds
Whippets weigh around 18 to 48 pounds and height 18 to 22 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 Whippet compares to the speed of other dog breeds below:
| Dog Breed | Average Speed |
|---|---|
| How Fast Whippets Can Run | 30.5 mph (49.1 kmph) |
| How Fast Perro de Presa Canarios Can Run | 25.2 mph (40.6 kmph) |
| How Fast Bedlington Terriers Can Run | 21.6 mph (34.8 kmph) |
| How Fast Tibetan Mastiffs Can Run | 20.4 mph (32.8 kmph) |
| How Fast Welsh Terriers Can Run | 20.3 mph (32.6 kmph) |
| How Fast Saint Bernards Can Run | 19.5 mph (31.3 kmph) |
| How Fast Swedish Vallhunds Can Run | 19.2 mph (31.0 kmph) |
| How Fast Portuguese Podengo Pequenos Can Run | 19.2 mph (30.9 kmph) |
| How Fast Affenpinschers Can Run | 16.0 mph (25.8 kmph) |
| How Fast Biewer Terriers Can Run | 16.0 mph (25.7 kmph) |
| How Fast Sussex Spaniels Can Run | 15.6 mph (25.0 kmph) |
Read this article to learn about how fast dogs run.
Can the Whippet Run Faster than the German Wirehaired Pointer?
The Whippet can run faster than the German Wirehaired Pointer.
The average running speed of the Whippet is 30.5 mph, while the average running speed of the German Wirehaired Pointer is 25.7 mph.
The fastest Whippet on record ran at a speed of 41.0 mph, while the slowest Whippet competing in a race ran at a speed 4.1 mph.
On the other hand, the fastest German Wirehaired Pointer on record ran at a speed of 30.9 mph, while the slowest German Wirehaired Pointer competing in a race ran at a speed 20.5 mph.
Can the Whippet Run Faster than the Irish Water Spaniel?
The Whippet can run faster than the Irish Water Spaniel.
The average running speed of the Whippet is 30.5 mph, while the average running speed of the Irish Water Spaniel is 21.9 mph.
The fastest Whippet on record ran at a speed of 41.0 mph, while the slowest Whippet competing in a race ran at a speed 4.1 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 5.0 mph.
Can the Whippet Run Faster than the Bouvier des Flandres?
The Whippet can run faster than the Bouvier des Flandres.
The average running speed of the Whippet is 30.5 mph, while the average running speed of the Bouvier des Flandres is 22.4 mph.
The fastest Whippet on record ran at a speed of 41.0 mph, while the slowest Whippet competing in a race ran at a speed 4.1 mph.
On the other hand, the fastest Bouvier des Flandres on record ran at a speed of 28.7 mph, while the slowest Bouvier des Flandres competing in a race ran at a speed 4.0 mph.
Learn more about how fast Bouvier des Flandress can run here.
Can the Whippet Run Faster than the Clumber Spaniel?
The Whippet can run faster than the Clumber Spaniel.
The average running speed of the Whippet is 30.5 mph, while the average running speed of the Clumber Spaniel is 16.7 mph.
The fastest Whippet on record ran at a speed of 41.0 mph, while the slowest Whippet competing in a race ran at a speed 4.1 mph.
On the other hand, the fastest Clumber Spaniel on record ran at a speed of 25.0 mph, while the slowest Clumber Spaniel competing in a race ran at a speed 8.3 mph.
Can the Whippet Run Faster than the Irish Wolfhound?
The Whippet can run faster than the Irish Wolfhound.
The average running speed of the Whippet is 30.5 mph, while the average running speed of the Irish Wolfhound is 21.8 mph.
The fastest Whippet on record ran at a speed of 41.0 mph, while the slowest Whippet competing in a race ran at a speed 4.1 mph.
On the other hand, the fastest Irish Wolfhound on record ran at a speed of 29.1 mph, while the slowest Irish Wolfhound competing in a race ran at a speed 7.2 mph.
Learn more about how fast Irish Wolfhounds can run here.
How Fast the Whippet Can Run Compared to Other Mammals
See how fast the Whippet 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) |
| Whippet | 30.5 mph (49.1 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) |
| Squirrel | 20.0 mph (32.2 kmph) |
Can the Whippet Run Faster than the Usain Bolt?
The Whippet can run faster than the Usain Bolt.
The average running speed of the Whippet is 30.5 mph, while the average running speed of the Usain Bolt is 23.4 mph.
Can the Whippet Run Faster than the Cheetah?
The Cheetah can run faster than the Whippet.
The average running speed of the Whippet is 30.5 mph, while the average running speed of the Cheetah is 75.0 mph.
Can the Whippet Run Faster than the Domestic Cat?
The Whippet can run faster than the Domestic Cat.
The average running speed of the Whippet is 30.5 mph, while the average running speed of the Domestic Cat is 30.0 mph.
Can the Whippet Run Faster than the Squirrel?
The Whippet can run faster than the Squirrel.
The average running speed of the Whippet is 30.5 mph, while the average running speed of the Squirrel is 20.0 mph.
Can the Whippet Run Faster than the Horse?
The Horse can run faster than the Whippet.
The average running speed of the Whippet is 30.5 mph, while the average running speed of the Horse is 55.0 mph.
Can the Whippet Run Faster than the Jackrabbit?
The Jackrabbit can run faster than the Whippet.
The average running speed of the Whippet is 30.5 mph, while the average running speed of the Jackrabbit is 45.0 mph.
Can the Whippet Run Faster than the Deer?
The Whippet can run faster than the Deer.
The average running speed of the Whippet is 30.5 mph, while the average running speed of the Deer is 30.0 mph.
Can the Whippet Run Faster than the Wolf?
The Wolf can run faster than the Whippet.
The average running speed of the Whippet is 30.5 mph, while the average running speed of the Wolf is 37.0 mph.
Can the Whippet Run Faster than the Red Fox?
The Whippet can run faster than the Red Fox.
The average running speed of the Whippet is 30.5 mph, while the average running speed of the Red Fox is 30.0 mph.
Can the Whippet Run Faster than the Gray Fox?
The Gray Fox can run faster than the Whippet.
The average running speed of the Whippet is 30.5 mph, while the average running speed of the Gray Fox is 42.0 mph.
Can the Whippet Run Faster than the Grizzly Bear?
The Grizzly Bear can run faster than the Whippet.
The average running speed of the Whippet is 30.5 mph, while the average running speed of the Grizzly Bear is 35.0 mph.
Can the Whippet Run Faster than the North American Black Bear?
The Whippet can run faster than the North American Black Bear.
The average running speed of the Whippet is 30.5 mph, while the average running speed of the North American Black Bear is 30.0 mph.
Conclusion on How Fast the Whippet 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 Whippet 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.