Updated at: 14-06-2022 - By: Jane Brody

In most cases that I know of, dogs move at the same speed unless they are running or stalking prey or an enemy dog/cat that they want to attack. When dogs are not walking, they are sleeping, lazing around, eating, or playing. If you want your dog to walk at a particular pace, maybe the best thing to do would be to train it, especially if you are going to walk a disabled person as a guide dog.

A dog’s pace also depends on several things that include health of the dog, age, size, weight, walking or running space, etc., which brings me back to the question, For how many seconds does the dog move at the slower speed? I do not have an exact answer to the question, but we can look at the factors that make a dog run fast.

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Factors That Make Dogs Run Fast

Factors That Make Dogs Run Fast

According to science, several factors influence how fast a dog runs. Of course, you have to remember that most dogs run faster than humans do, but they have four limbs to their advantage. The following are the attributes that influence a dog’s speed.

1. Aerodynamics Body Shape

Dogs have body shapes specially built for running. However, some have better-specialized aerodynamics body shapes than others do. One good example is Greyhound, which is the fastest dog in the world. A Greyhound has a flattened rib, a small head with a slender log body and muscular legs that minimize air resistance, and an excellent paw structure for perfect traction. The body design is ideal for speed.

2. Cardiovascular and Respiratory System

The dog’s cardiovascular and respiratory systems also influence how fast it runs or how far it can walk without tiring. A good example again is the Greyhound, the fastest dog on the planet. The Greyhound has a powerful oversized heart with fast blood pumping abilities that help them keep up with their incredible speeds.

The nostrils and lungs of grey are larger than average for the deep and fast intake of air—the better the breathing, the more oxygen to the muscles leads to better endurance. A dog with a smaller heart and less capacity lungs will not run with the same speed as a more endowed dog.

3. Skeletal Structure

Dogs have a unique bone structure, which is the main factor that influences their mobility. Unlike humans, they have disconnected shoulder bones without a collarbone. The lack of a collarbone provides them with larger strides, which makes their running easy and fast.

4. Limbs

Factors That Make Dogs Run Fast 2

Dogs with longer legs run faster than those with shorter ones do, which explains why some larger dog breeds are better at running than the smaller breeds. The long limbs help them take longer strides, which translates to traveling greater distances with fewer strides or steps.

Even though large-sized dogs have an advantage over small-sized dogs when it comes to running faster, some large dogs do not have any speed. One example is the Great Dane. It is a large built dog, but its legs do not have the same strike to the ground as those of a Greyhound.

5. Paws

Dog’s paws have resilient, thick pads and a unique structure that provides them with excellent grip on practically any surface. Its toenails offer them excellent traction, especially when they are at fast speeds. The best way to ensure that the dog’s paws provide the best running and traction abilities is to trim them frequently to prevent snagging or breaking that causes pain or bleeding when they are running.

6. Tail

The dog’s tail helps it counter its weight when running. It ensures that the dog stays on course without tumbling or spinning off.

7. Gait

The four-speed gaits of a dog are walking, which is the lowest, trotting, cantering, and galloping. Galloping is the dog’s fastest gait that it can only achieve at a fast speed, and it requires lifting all four legs off the ground for stride distance and speed.

Wrapping It Up

It is not easy to calculate or tell the seconds a dog moves at a slower speed. All I can tell you is that a dog only slows down if it is getting ready to attack or when it is resting, eating, or sleeping. Another factor that makes a dog reduce its walking speed is walking a person who cannot walk fast. If a dog is not walking at its pace, then most likely, it will be running. The speed at which a dog runs depends on the above factors and its space for running.

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