How Fast Can a Pit Bull Run Compared to Other Dogs?

Dogs aren’t the fastest animal on the planet, but they can definitely hold their own. In fact, some dog breeds even make the list of the top 10 fastest animals in the world.

But what dogs fall into this category, and do Pitbulls make the list?

“How Fast Can Pit Bulls Run?”

On average, Pit bulls can keep up to running paces of around 25-30 miles per hour which is approximately 40-48 km/hr! This speed elevated Pit bulls to the number 23 fastest dog on the planet.

Let’s delve deeper into this question.

Keep reading…

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What are the Fastest Dogs in the World?

1. Greyhound

The fastest running dog in the world is the Greyhound, at an amazing speed of 45mph!

2. African Wild Dog

Just behind them, at 44 mph, is the African Wild dog.

But where does the Pit Bull fit in? While it is not the fastest dog in the world, it can outrun much of the competition.

Pit Bulls are considered one of the most athletic dog breeds in the world. This should come as no surprise with their evident muscular build.

Pit Bulls are strong, agile, and extremely energetic.

That may not be as fast as a Greyhound or cheetah, but it is faster than any human we know!

Where Do Pit Bulls Get Their Strength, Speed, And Agility From?

To answer this question, we must travel back in history to learn more about the breed’s ancestry.

Pit Bulls were originally bred from Old English Bulldogs.

Back in the 1800s, Old English Bulldogs were bred for the sport of bull-baiting – a form of sport that set dogs to attack a barely mobilized bull.

This required the dogs to be strong, agile, and speedy. In 1835, blood sports were outlawed, and a new sport came into town – dogfighting.

For this sport, bulldogs were mixed with terriers and bred to fight one another.

The result was an extremely strong, muscular, fast, and agile “Pit Bull” breed.

And though dogfighting has been outlawed for many years (thank goodness), Pit Bulls still maintain the same build and strength they were bred to originally have.

Pit Bulls Are Excellent Running Companions

Because Pit Bulls are so fast and energetic, they make excellent running companions.

Pit Bulls require ample exercise to maintain their muscular build and run off their excess energy.

If you don’t have time to engage in exercise, play, and sport with your dogs, a Pit Bull may not be the best breed for you.

Why Should You Run With Your Pit Bull?

Though you may not be able to keep up with them in speed, you can easily train your Pit Bull to stay by your side and become the perfect running companion.

But why should you run with your Pit Bull?

Running Allows Your Pit Bull To Exhaust Their Energy. Pit Bulls have an extreme amount of energy, especially as puppies. If they don’t get a lot of exercises, you will pay for it at home! Always remember, a tired Pit Bull makes for a happy owner. Running is a great way to help them wear off some excess energy so they don’t keep you awake at night or destroy your house.
Running Keeps You And Your Dog Healthy. We all need exercise to keep our bodies healthy, and our dogs are no different. Running with your Pit Bull is like killing two birds with one stone – you get your daily exercise intake. And the benefits of that? Weight loss, improved mental sharpness, reduced anxiety and depression, improved heart strength, and a better overall sense of well-being.
Running Has Mental Benefits. Did you know that an active lifestyle can reduce stress and anxiety? Not only is this true for humans, but it’s also true for our best friends. Active dogs tend to live longer, happier lives.
Running Is a Great Way To Bond With Your Dog. We have dogs for a reason – to be our best friends. So we need to treat them right. Dogs, especially Pit Bulls, love to run. So when you run with them, you are building that special bond that just the two of you have. So run – your Pit Bull will thank you!

Putting a Pit Bull Speed To Use :

Pit Bulls are such fast runners (top running speed of 30mph) that there are many sports they can thrive in. These include:

Search And Rescue

Man and dog have been working alongside each other for years, and dogs are police officers’ best friends.

Modern training methods have allowed dogs to enter the workforce as K9s.

These dogs are specifically trained to assist police and law enforcement in their line of work.

Police dogs can be granted many jobs such as tracking criminals, sniffing illegal materials, and searching and rescuing.

The Pit Bulls “never give up” attitude makes it the perfect canine to work alongside law enforcement personnel.

Weight Pulling

The idea of weight pulling is exactly as it sounds – a dog is given a designated amount of weight to pull behind it and a certain time limit to pull it (usually 60 seconds).

In a race, the dog that pulls the weight the furthest is deemed the winner.

Weight pulling is not for every type of dog, but the muscular build of the Pit Bull makes it the perfect candidate.

This sport is a fantastic outlet for Pit Bulls and their competitive owners.

While most people claim that weight pulling is completely humane and that Pit Bulls thrive in the sport, others remain of the opinion that it is controversial and cruel.

Agility Training

Agility training is a popular canine sport wherein the owner (or handler) directs a dog through various obstacles.

These include tunnels, tires, weaving poles, jumps, and teeter-totters.

The goal is to have the canine finish the obstacle course as quickly as possible.

Because Pit Bulls are so fast, they are the perfect candidate for such a sport.

Not only that, but they love it! Pit Bulls are always eager to please their owners.

Doing so while completing their very own obstacle course allows them to wear off energy.

And at the same time, it allows them to gain much-needed love and affection from their owners.

Herding

Herding dogs are bred to control livestock.

There are many different types of herding, including duck herding, sheep herding, bull herding, and cattle herding (to name just a few).

Herding dogs can be any size but require strength, agility, and high activity levels.

Herding dogs must also be able to problem-solve, obey orders, and think independently.

They must also have the desire to please.

And what dog has all of the above characteristics?

The Pit Bull of course!

Flyball

In the canine world, Flyball is considered somewhat of an extreme sport. It requires skill, balance, and athleticism.

Wikipedia describes flyball as “a dog sport in which teams of dogs race against each other from the start/finish line, over a line of hurdles, to a box that releases a tennis ball to be caught when the dog presses the spring-loaded pad, then back to their handlers while carrying the ball”.

The quick speed, combined with the muscular build and athleticism of the Pit Bull makes it the perfect breed for this extreme sport.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, Pit Bulls are not the fastest of all dog breeds, but they are high on the list.

Their strength, athleticism, and speed make them the perfect sporting companions.

Whether you want to train your dog in sports like search and rescue, weight pulling, herding, flyball, or agility training, or simply make them your running companion, the Pit Bull would be more than happy to work by your side.