The 4 Fastest Dog Breeds in the World

The English Greyhound is considered the fastest dog in the world in short distances. The English Greyhound comes from the Spanish Greyhound, and has evolved into a magnificent and athletic animal through crossings. It can reach up to 63 km (40 miles) per hour.

At first, English Greyhounds (like all other breeds of greyhounds) were used for hunting by royalty. Over time, these animals have become involved in the detestable world of greyhound racing, which moves huge amounts of money.

Fortunately, nowadays there are more and more sensitive people who adopt greyhounds as pets. Greyhounds are loyal, affectionate, gentle and obedient companions - and surprisingly quiet and lazy. They are undoubtedly magnificent pets.

The Spanish Greyhound, or Galgo Español,is a thoroughbred which is native to the Iberian Peninsula. It is an ancient breed which experts say derives from the hunting dogs of the pharaoh courts of Ancient Egypt.

It is an exceptionally athletic dog, able to run at 60 km (37 miles) per hour. They can be differentiated from English Greyhounds through their rear being higher than the front, and they are smaller in general.

This is probably the most widespread dog throughout Spain, as it is used in various forms of hunting and sports. Unfortunately, in rural Spanish populations these poor dogs are unbearably mistreated. Luckily, there are associations that protect animal rights, and there are increasing numbers of families who have taken exploited dogs into their home.

The Saluki is a dog with a long history. Egyptian pharaohs used this dog breed in their days of big-game hunting. It's known that there are inscriptions in pharaoh tombs dating back to 2000 B.C. speaking of this ancient breed of greyhound.

Experts say that the Saluki descended from the wolves of the Ara desert. Nowadays, Bedouins use the Saluki as a dog for hunting gazelles. Some are also kept as pets, and they are valued very highly. It is an ancestor of the Spanish Greyhound.

The Afghan Hound can run fast between rocks, crevices and obstacles of the rugged Afghan mountains. Apart from its extraordinary vision that allows for a clear view of its surroundings, the Afghan hound has a physical characteristic that distinguishes it from other dogs: its kneecaps.

The structure of an Afghan hound's kneecaps allows the bottom half of its strong legs to rotate asymmetrically and individually. As such, the Afghan greyhound can place each of its four legs in the best position on the ground. For this reason, this magnificent dog can pursue the elusive mountain goats in the impressive Afghan mountain ranges without hesitation. It is a dog for big game hunting, which is a highly valued characteristic to have in Afghanistan's climate and extreme terrain.

In other parts of the world the Afghan hound is considered a "gentleman's" dog, when in fact its extraordinary beauty and its distinguished manners mask the relentless hunter that it is deep down.

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