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How fast can different dog breeds actually run?
Some dogs barely reach 10 miles per hour. Others can go over 40. And in this video, we are ranking dog breeds from the slowest to the fastest, based on their estimated top speed. But one quick disclaimer before we begin: dog speed is not an exact science. Some breeds have reliable racing or sport data behind them, while others are based more on breed estimates and owner reports. So don’t think of every number as a perfect world record. Think of it as a realistic comparison of what a healthy adult dog of that breed may be capable of. And with that said… let’s start the race. Most dogs are much faster than people realize. The average healthy pet dog can usually run somewhere between 15 and 20 miles per hour. That already means many dogs can outrun the average human without much effort. That brings up an important question. Why are dogs so fast? And a big part of it is their anatomy. When a dog runs, its spine bends and stretches like a spring. This helps the body extend forward, then compress again, allowing the dog to cover more ground with every stride. Dogs also have powerful rear legs, flexible shoulders, and no collarbones like humans do, which gives the front legs more freedom of movement. In fast breeds, all of this is combined with long legs, a deep chest, a light body, and a narrow, aerodynamic head. But not every dog was bred for the same type of movement. Some breeds were created to sprint after prey in open landscapes. Others were bred to herd sheep, pull sleds, guard livestock, track scent, or simply keep people company. That is why speed varies so much from breed to breed. A Pug and a Greyhound are both dogs, but they are built for completely different jobs. Body shape matters a lot. Long-legged, lean breeds usually have the advantage in pure speed. Short-legged breeds like Dachshunds and Corgis can be surprisingly quick, but they simply cannot match the stride length of a sighthound. Flat-faced breeds like Bulldogs, French Bulldogs, and Pugs are slower not because they lack spirit, but because breathing and cooling down during intense exercise is much harder for them. Size alone does not decide everything either. Some giant breeds are powerful, but not especially fast. And some small terriers can explode forward with shocking speed because they are light, muscular, and full of drive. Age and fitness matter too. Most dogs reach their athletic peak as young adults, usually between two and five years old. Puppies should not be pushed into hard running because their joints are still developing, and senior dogs naturally slow down as their muscles and joints age. A fit, lean dog will almost always run better than an overweight dog of the same breed. So as you can see a dog’s speed is more than just a fun number. It tells a story about anatomy, history, instinct, breeding, and behavior. From the slowest little companions to the fastest canine athletes on Earth, every breed in this ranking was built for something. Some were built for comfort. Some were built for endurance. And some… were built for pure speed.
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Most people think dogs smell bad because they rolled in something disgusting.
But that classic ‘doggy smell’ usually comes from something else entirely: bacteria, yeast, trapped moisture, and oily buildup on the skin. But luckily, you can reduce that smell with these 5 simple steps. STEP 1 — Kill the Yeast If your dog has that strong, greasy, musty smell… regular shampoo often isn’t enough. Because the odor usually isn’t sitting on the fur. It’s coming from microorganisms living on the skin itself. That’s why many owners use anti-yeast or medicated shampoos designed to reduce bacteria and yeast buildup. And here’s the mistake a lot of people make: They wash the dog… and rinse immediately. But most medicated shampoos actually need time to work. So instead:
And honestly, one proper bath is often more effective than five rushed ones. STEP 2 — Stop the Moisture A surprising number of smelly dogs are simply staying damp for too long. This is especially common in:
That’s why some dogs smell MUCH worse after getting wet. So after baths, swimming, or rainy walks:
And that hidden moisture can create a really strong odor over time. STEP 3 — Use Acid Against Odor This is one of the most popular home remedies for doggy odor. And the idea is actually pretty simple: Yeast and bacteria don’t thrive as well in acidic environments. That’s why many owners use a diluted apple cider vinegar rinse after bathing. Here’s the basic recipe:
Focus especially on:
Never use vinegar on:
And this should only be an occasional treatment — not an everyday routine. For most dogs, once a week is more than enough. Using too much vinegar too often can dry out and irritate the skin instead of helping it. STEP 4 — Clean the Hidden Zones Sometimes the smell isn’t coming from the entire dog. Sometimes it’s coming from one small area owners forget to check. Usually:
The same goes for wrinkled breeds. And paws can also become surprisingly smelly because yeast loves warm damp spaces between the toes. So even if the coat looks clean… hidden areas can still produce a LOT of odor. STEP 5 — Fix the Problem Underneath For many dogs, the smell is actually a symptom of an underlying skin issue. And allergies are one of the biggest causes. Because when the skin becomes inflamed or unhealthy, yeast and bacteria can multiply much more easily. That’s why many owners see improvements after:
But if your dog suddenly develops:
Because at that point, the smell could be coming from an actual infection — not just normal dog odor. But for many mildly smelly dogs… these 5 steps can make a huge difference. So remember: kill the yeast, stop the moisture, use acid against odor, clean the hidden zones, and fix the problem underneath. Because once you control the source of the smell… everything changes. Dogs are the most diverse animals on Earth.
From two kilograms to over one hundred. From flat faces to long snouts. From tiny legs… to impossibly long legs. On this channel alone, I’ve covered more than 600 different dog breeds — all completely different. But under the surface… something doesn’t add up. Because when scientists look at their DNA, they find that dogs are surprisingly similar to each other. In fact, on average, two random dogs can be genetically closer than two random humans. So how can something that looks so different… be so similar? The answer isn’t how much diversity dogs have. It’s how that diversity is organized. Imagine you have dogs with short legs… medium legs… and long legs. If you leave them alone, those traits mix randomly. So most dogs end up somewhere in the middle-- not too short, not too long. They start to look… pretty similar. Which is why many street dogs around the world actually look surprisingly alike. But now imagine you want one specific trait. Short legs. Maybe so the dog can go underground and flush out foxes. So you take only the dogs with short legs… and breed them together. Again. And again. And with each generation… the legs get shorter.That’s what humans did to dogs. Over thousands of years, we didn’t create endless new traits. We sorted them. Separated them. And then exaggerated them. And we gave those groups a name: breeds. And here’s where it gets even stranger. Most of the dramatic differences you see-- especially size-- come from a surprisingly small number of genes. Not hundreds. Not even dozens. Around fourteen genes account for most of the size variation in dogs. Fourteen. Compare that to humans, where height alone involves hundreds of genes working together. That’s why dogs can range from tiny lap companions to massive guardians-- with a size difference of over forty times. It’s not because they’re genetically more complex. It’s because a few key genetic switches have an outsized effect. But if dogs look this different, then surely they must behave completely differently too… right? Not exactly. Because when scientists tried to measure how much a dog’s breed actually predicts its personality, they found something surprising. Breed explains only a small part of a dog’s behavior. It is estimated that only about nine percent of personality traits could be linked directly to breed. Nine percent. That means the vast majority of what makes a dog… is shaped by something else. Environment. Experience. Training. Individual variation. So yes, some tendencies exist. Herding dogs may be more likely to stalk movement. Retrievers often have a natural instinct to carry things. Some breeds are more responsive to human direction. These traits come from the jobs dogs were originally bred for-- hunting, guarding, herding, retrieving. But even then, they’re just tendencies. Not rules. And many behaviors people assume are breed-specific… aren’t, at least not strongly. Things like aggression, sociability, or fearfulness don’t neatly map onto breed categories. Which means a dog’s breed is a surprisingly poor predictor of who that dog will actually become. So when you look at a Chihuahua and a Great Dane, you’re not really looking at two different kinds of animals. You’re looking at the same genetic material-- organized in completely different ways. Some of the things dogs can smell… shouldn’t be possible.
But they are. And I’m going to prove it to you. Let’s start with one of the most fascinating… whale poop. 1. Whale poop Because dogs can detect whale poop… floating in the ocean… from over a mile away. Scientists actually use trained dogs on boats to track whales by finding their feces. Because even when the whales are completely invisible… their scent isn’t. You might be wondering… why would anyone want to track whale poop? But for scientists, it’s a valuable source of information -- about what whales eat… their hormones… and even how healthy they are. So even when the whale itself is impossible to find… a dog can still locate it. But as impressive as that sounds… this next one is even harder to believe. 2. Identical twins Because dogs can even tell identical twins apart… just by smell. Even though identical twins share the same DNA… and look completely identical to us… they don’t smell the same to a dog. Because your scent isn’t just determined by your genes -- it’s influenced by your diet… your environment… and even the bacteria living on your skin. So while we see two identical people… a dog smells two completely different scent profiles. But dogs don’t just tell people apart… they can actually track exactly where you’ve been. 3. Your exact path (hours later) Because dogs don’t just recognize scent… they can follow it. And it is almost impossible to explain how good they are at it. Every step you take leaves behind a trail -- tiny skin cells, crushed plants… disturbed ground. And while that trail is completely invisible to us… to a dog, it’s like a map. They can track exactly where you walked… even hours later. And even more impressively… they can tell which direction you went. Because each step leaves a slightly different scent -- meaning a dog can literally follow your path through time. But what’s even more impressive… is that some things don’t leave a trail at all. And dogs can still find them. Termites. 4. Termites inside walls Even when an infestation is buried inside wood… with no visible signs at all… trained dogs can smell it. Because termites release tiny chemical signals -- and to a dog, even that is enough. In fact, termite detection dogs are so accurate… they can find infestations long before humans ever notice them. Which means they’re not just detecting a problem… they’re detecting it before it even becomes visible. And sometimes… those invisible things are happening inside our bodies. 5. Diseases (cancer, diabetes, Parkinson’s)Diseases. Dogs have been trained to detect diseases like cancer… diabetes… and even Parkinson’s. Because illness changes the chemistry of your body -- releasing tiny compounds that alter your scent. And while we can’t detect those changes… a dog can. In some cases, dogs have identified cancer… just by smelling a person’s breath or skin. Diabetic alert dogs can warn their owners when blood sugar is dropping -- sometimes before any symptoms appear. And with Parkinson’s… dogs have been able to detect changes in scent years before a diagnosis. Which means a dog’s nose isn’t just powerful… it can be life-saving. But even that might not be the limit. Because dogs can detect something even smaller… something we can’t even see. 6. Viruses (COVID-19) Viruses. Even though they’re microscopic -- far too small to see -- dogs can sometimes detect them just by smell. It works in a similar way to diseases. When a virus infects the body… it changes how we smell. It alters the chemicals we release through our breath… our skin… even our sweat. And dogs can pick up on those changes. During the COVID-19 pandemic, trained dogs were able to identify infected people just by smelling samples -- quickly, and with surprising accuracy. Which means they weren’t smelling the virus itself… but the invisible chemical changes it caused. And at that point… it starts to feel like there’s almost nothing a dog’s nose can’t detect. So we started training dogs to find things that aren’t invisible at all… but deliberately hidden. 7. Explosives / drugs Drugs… explosives… dirty money… sealed away, and difficult to detect. But even the smallest traces release tiny particles into the air -- particles a dog can smell. That’s why detection dogs are used in airports, border crossings… and police operations around the world. Because even if something is carefully hidden… tightly wrapped… or buried deep inside luggage… a dog can still find it. And sometimes… what they’re trained to detect is far more surprising than explosives and drugs. 8. Hidden electronics (USB drives, hard disks) Hidden electronics. USB drives, hard disks… These things do not even have a smell. Or at least… it doesn’t seem like they do. These devices can be concealed inside walls… furniture… even inside everyday objects. But these electronics contain specific materials -- like certain plastics and chemical compounds -- that release faint odors. Odors far too subtle for humans to notice… but not for a dog. Which is why specially trained dogs can locate hidden digital storage devices… even when they’re carefully concealed. And this brings us to the final point. Things that aren’t just hidden… but lost forever.9. Human remains underwater (ENDING)Lost beneath the surface of lakes… rivers… and oceans. Places where visibility is low… and searching can take days… or even weeks. But even there… a dog’s nose can still work. Specially trained dogs are able to detect human remains underwater -- by picking up scent particles that rise to the surface. Particles carried through the water… and released into the air. Invisible to us… but detectable to a dog. Which means that even in places where humans see nothing… a dog can still find answers. And sometimes… closure. Because a dog’s sense of smell isn’t just powerful… it reveals a world we don’t even know exists.
Hugging your dog To us, it’s a sign of affection. But in the dog world… it can feel very different. Wrapping your arms around another animal restricts their movement… and takes away their ability to walk away. And for many dogs, that’s uncomfortable. Not all dogs hate hugs. Some tolerate them… and some even seem to enjoy them. But many don’t -- they just tolerate them. In studies observing dog behavior during human interaction, dogs showed more stress signals when they were physically restrained… compared to when they could move freely. And you can often see these signals right in moments like this. They turn their head away… lick their lips… or suddenly go still. Not because they love it -- but because they’re trying to cope with it. So if your dog leans into you, that’s their version of affection. But if they pull away, if they are stiff or if they lean their head away… it’s probably best to let them go.
Patting dog on the top of their head and touching their face is viewed as something all dogs enjoy. But for many dogs, a hand coming straight toward their face can feel intrusive… even uncomfortable. It blocks their vision. It comes from above. And they can’t always predict what you’re about to do. So instead of leaning into it, many dogs will lean away. Turn their head. Blink more. Or slightly pull back. Again, not because they’re being difficult -- but because they’re trying to create a bit of space. Studies looking at human–dog interaction have shown that the type and location of touch matters. Dogs tend to be more relaxed when contact happens on areas like the chest… the side of the neck… or along the body. Places they can see… and feel in control of. So if you want to pet your dog in a way they actually enjoy, it’s often less about how much… and more about where.
Looking into your dog’s eyes. Now… this one depends. Soft eye contact? That can actually be a good thing. Dogs often use gentle eye contact to bond with their owners. But hard staring… is something completely different. In the dog world, a fixed, unbroken stare is often a warning signal. It can mean tension… challenge… or even a threat. And many dogs will react to it. They’ll look away… turn their head… or become noticeably still. Because from their perspective, this isn’t friendly. It’s pressure. Studies on dog communication show that dogs are very sensitive to human gaze and attention. They constantly read where we’re looking… and how we’re looking. So a soft glance can feel safe. But a hard, prolonged stare -- especially up close… can make some dogs uncomfortable.
Especially forcing your dog into them. And it does not matter if it is with other dogs, or other people. Because sometimes we might think we are helping the dog and of course we all want our dog to be friendly To be social and to be confident. So when we meet someone on a walk, we bring them closer. We say „go say hi“ But not every dog wants to say hi. And that’s completely normal. Just like people, dogs have preferences. And when they don’t have a choice… that’s where stress starts to build. You’ll often see it in small signals. They slow down… hang back… or position themselves behind you. Sometimes they freeze. Sometimes they try to avoid the situation entirely. But when we keep moving them forward anyway, we’re ignoring what they’re trying to say. And over time, this can actually make them more anxious -- not more social. Because instead of learning that new situations are safe… they learn they have no control. So rather than pushing your dog into interactions, it’s usually better to let them choose. Give them space. Let them approach at their own pace. Because confidence doesn’t come from being forced -- it comes from feeling safe.
For us, a walk is simple. Get from point A to point B. Maybe get some exercise. But for a dog… a walk is something completely different. It’s how they explore the world. Through smell. Dogs experience their environment primarily through scent, not sight. So when they stop to sniff, they’re not being slow… they’re gathering information. Who was here. What happened. How long ago. And when we keep pulling them forward… rushing them along… we’re cutting that experience short. Studies on canine behavior show that allowing dogs to sniff during walks can actually lower their stress levels and promote more relaxed behavior. Because it’s mentally enriching. It’s not just a walk. It’s stimulation. And we all know how important stimulation is – but sometimes we take it too deep, we buy different puzzle toys, inventing different tricks and tactics, but we often forget the basics – just let your dog walk and sniff. So sometimes, the best thing you can do on a walk… is slow down. And let your dog read the world in the way they’re meant to.
But focus on something else. Noise. And chaos. Our world is loud. Voices. Traffic. TV. Music. And most of the time… we barely notice it. But dogs do. Their hearing is far more sensitive than ours. And they don’t always understand where these sounds are coming from… or what they mean. Sudden noises. Raised voices. Chaotic environments. They can all be overwhelming. And it’s not just the sound itself. Dogs are extremely tuned in to our emotions. So when things get tense… loud… unpredictable… they feel that too. You might see it in small changes. They become restless… start pacing… or look for a place to hide. Not because something is physically wrong -- but because the environment feels unstable. And when that happens often enough, it can build into long-term stress. So while we can’t control everything, it helps to be aware of the environment we’re creating around them. Because what feels normal to us… can be overwhelming to them.
Lets start with something extremely important – consistency, or in this case – inconsistency Because being inconsistent with the rules can be extremely stresfull for the dog. Sometimes your dog is allowed on the couch. Other times, they’re not. One day pulling on the leash is fine… the next day, it’s not. And from our perspective, that makes sense. There are exceptions. Different situations. But to a dog… that’s confusing. Dogs don’t think in “sometimes.” They learn through patterns. Clear, repeatable patterns. And when those patterns keep changing, they’re left guessing. What works. What doesn’t. What you actually want. Studies on learning and behavior show that consistent signals make it much easier for dogs to understand and predict outcomes. While inconsistent responses can slow learning… and increase frustration. Not because the dog is stubborn -- but because the rules keep shifting. So when a dog seems like they’re “not listening”… sometimes they’re not being disobedient. They’re just trying to figure out which version of the rule applies today.
How we introduce new things. Because when we teach something new, or expose a dog to something unfamiliar… we often expect quick progress. When we succesfully train them proper sit command, we suddenly expect they will do it perfectly outside or even around distraction. But for a dog, that’s a huge jump. And it is important to understand that learning doesn’t work in big leaps. It works in small steps. Gradual exposure… repetition… building confidence over time. The same applies to things they’re afraid of. Loud noises. Busy places. The vet. The car. If you push them too far, too quickly… you’re not helping them get used to it. You’re overwhelming them. And instead of learning that the situation is safe… they learn that it’s something to fear. Research on animal behavior shows that gradual exposure -- often called desensitization -- is far more effective than forcing a dog to “just deal with it.” Because confidence doesn’t come from being pushed through fear. It comes from experiencing something at a level they can handle… and slowly building from there. So sometimes, the fastest way forward… is actually to slow down.
Your dog is constantly communicating with you. But dogs do not use words. They use posture… movement… small, subtle signals. And they’re happening all the time. Turning their head away. Licking their lips. Yawning when they’re not tired. Freezing for a moment. These are not random. They’re signals. Ways of saying… “I’m uncomfortable.” “I need space.” “This is too much.” Studies looking at human–dog interaction have shown that these stress signals are often missed… or misunderstood by people. Which means many dogs are communicating clearly… but no one is listening. And when those signals are ignored, dogs often have to escalate. From subtle… to obvious. From turning away… to growling… or snapping. Not because they’re aggressive -- but because the quieter signals didn’t work. So learning to recognize these small signs… might be one of the most important things you can do for your dog.
Getting angry at normal dog behavior. Dogs bark. They chew. They dig. They get excited. That’s not misbehavior. That’s being a dog. But from our perspective, it can feel frustrating. A chewed shoe… barking at the door… jumping when someone comes in. And the natural reaction is… to get angry. To raise your voice. To tell them to stop. But the problem is -- the dog often doesn’t understand what they did wrong. Because they’re not breaking a rule they know. They’re just following their instincts. Studies on training methods show that relying on punishment can increase stress and damage the relationship between dog and owner. Not because the dog is “bad”… but because they’re confused. What works much better is showing them what to do instead. Giving them an alternative. A clear, repeatable behavior that leads to a positive outcome. For example -- if your dog jumps on people when they come in… don’t just tell them “no.” Teach them to sit. And when they really sit instead of jumping, than reward the moment With a treat or with a big praise. And over time, that becomes their new default. So instead of trying to suppress what comes naturally to them… it’s usually more effective to guide it in the right direction.
Punishing… or yelling at your dog. It might seem like it works. They stop what they’re doing. They back off. They freeze. Problem solved… at least in that moment. But what’s really happening is something very different. The dog isn’t learning what you want. They’re learning to avoid the situation… or to avoid you. Studies comparing training methods have shown that dogs trained with punishment tend to show more stress… and more negative emotional states. Not because they’re stubborn -- but because they’re unsure. And over time, that uncertainty can affect your relationship. Because instead of seeing you as a source of guidance… they start seeing you as something unpredictable. Something they need to be careful around. And that’s where problems begin. Not just in behavior -- but in trust. So while punishment can stop behavior in the moment… it doesn’t teach the dog what to do instead. And without that clarity… the same behavior usually comes back. Dogs can tell identical twins apart just by smell.
They can track which direction a person walked by sniffing their footsteps. And trained dogs can even detect whale poop floating in the ocean from more than a mile away. Because dogs live in a world we cannot see. A world made almost entirely of smells. And their sense of smell is basically a superpower. But the way a dog’s nose actually works is even stranger than you might think. And once you understand it, you’ll never look at your dog sniffing the ground the same way again. “How Powerful a Dog’s Nose Is” Dogs rely on smell far more than we do. While humans experience the world mostly through sight, dogs experience it primarily through their noses. And the difference between our sense of smell and theirs is enormous. Humans have about six million scent receptors in their noses. Dogs can have over two hundred million. And their brains dedicate a much larger area just to processing smells. That’s why dogs can detect things we would never even notice. From hidden drugs and explosives… to diseases like cancer or diabetes. But the real secret behind this incredible ability isn’t just the number of receptors. It’s the design of the dog’s nose itself. How the Nose Actually Works If you look closely at a dog’s nostrils, you’ll notice something interesting. They don’t just face forward like ours. They also curve to the sides. When a dog exhales, air shoots out through these side slits. And those side openings create tiny swirling air currents that actually pull new smells back toward the nose. When a dog inhales, the air inside the nose also splits into two streams. One goes to the lungs for breathing. But another part goes into a special smelling chamber designed to capture scent molecules. So every time a dog sniffs, it’s constantly drawing in fresh smells from the environment. Almost like a conveyor belt constantly delivering new smells into the nose. And dogs can sniff five to ten times per second, continuously updating their picture of the world. Dogs Experience the World Differently And to understand how differently dogs see the world, it helps to compare it to our vision of the world. Because smell works very differently from sight. Light travels incredibly fast and moves in straight lines. That’s why vision feels almost instant to us. But smells behave very differently. They’re made of tiny molecules drifting slowly through the air. They move around corners. They spread through spaces. They stick to surfaces. And they can linger for minutes… or even hours. Which means smells can reveal something that sight cannot. The past. To a dog, a sidewalk isn’t just a sidewalk. It’s a story of everything that happened there earlier.. Who walked here earlier. Which dogs passed by. Whether they were male or female. Healthy or stressed. Information that we simply cannot perceive. The Walk Insight Have you ever wondered why your dog stops during walks and start sniffing one tiny spot on the ground. To us, it looks like nothing. But to them, it can be full of information. Have you ever noticed how focused your dog becomes when they find an interesting smell? When your dog stops to sniff a patch of pee, it’s a bit like us checking social media. Every scent is a message left behind by another dog. Your dog is basically scrolling the neighborhood news. And that’s why constantly pulling your dog forward during walks can be frustrating for them. For us, a walk is about getting from point A to point B. But for dogs, the walk itself is the destination. So sometimes it’s worth slowing down. Let your dog sniff the ground. Let them read those scent messages on the lamp posts and sidewalks. Because for your dog, that is their whole world. And you might be surprised how much happier and more relaxed your dog becomes when they’re allowed to explore the world the way dogs naturally do. |