Top Dog Speeds: How Fast Can a German shepherd Run?

The speed of an outdoor dog is a critical aspect that you as the owner must be well aware of. Speed is part and parcel of their daily lives. How fast can a German shepherd run !? You should be well aware of this issue so that you can be sure whether he can get himself out of any fix or do his job expedite.

In this article, we will discuss the speeds at which your GSD can run.

Why is Speed Important in a German Shepherd Dog?

There is this craze of late among dog enthusiasts of owning a German shepherd dog. The craze, of course, is justified though. This dog has lots of skills and speed due to its tons of energy.

At first, you may think they are too wild, but after thorough training, they become very obedient, protective and intelligent. It is their speed though that is increasingly becoming popular among dog lovers.  Why is their speed important though?

1. Use as service dogs

Why would anyone use a sloppy dog for a service dog? Sincerely speaking, there is no reason at all. You need a dog with speed when chasing down a criminal or when you need to get somewhere really quick. The GSD is, therefore, the perfect candidate.

The German shepherd needs to combine his excellent tracking skills to ensure someone engaging in unlawful activities never gets away. Their agility is also very useful here too. They need to make sharp corners and turns without tumbling over themselves.

2. Herding dogs

This is one of the original purposes of this dog. It is one of the job descriptions that need you to be able to answer the question, How fast can German shepherd run !? Your dog needs to chase down that running goat/sheep or cow. If the animal can outrun him, then what is the point of herding in the first place?

3. Jogging with you

GSD are built to endure long-distance jogging with their owners. He will provide you the best company as you trot the sidewalks in the morning. In this way, you are not the only one getting the benefits of good exercise. The shepherd to gets to burn all that extra energy in them. For more extreme exercise, you can practice sprinting. The Shepherd will handle that exceptionally well too.

How fast can a German shepherd run !?

The German shepherd’s athleticism has been a well-established fact from time immemorial. They have retained this characteristic over generations until now. If you thought this dog was a slouch, then you are in for a rude shock.

A well-bred German shepherd can clock speeds of up to 30 miles per hour or 40 kilometers per hour.  This might not be the fastest speed among the various dog breeds, but it is still quite impressive for such a seemingly heavy dog.

This speed is comparable to the GSD’s counterpart, the Belgian Malinois. Due to their impressive speeds, work ethics, athleticism, and intelligence, they are both heavily utilized as Service and police dogs.

It is worth noting that not every German Shepherd dog will clock this speed. It could be more, range in the same region or even slower. The speeds will vary depending on various factors and the motivation behind the need for the speeds.

Factors affecting GSD’s Speed

• One of the factors affecting the speeds of a GSD is definitely the health of the dog. A perfectly healthy dog can easily clock these speeds, unlike an unhealthy dog. The type of diet that you feed your dog affects how healthy the shepherd will be. A diet rich in lean protein helps in the development of strong muscles, and the dog oozes in energy and confidence.
• The level of training: To properly answer the question, “ How fast can a German Shepherd run ” you, first of all, need to train him well. An active dog will be able to handle the toll such speeds will exert on him. If your dog is just starting training or is one of those that you lock the whole day indoors, do not even dream that he will reach such speeds. The sudden surge in adrenaline will be too much to handle.
• The age of the dog of course: A mature, full-grown German Shepherd who is well fed, is given the right amounts of training, can run at 48 KPH with a lot of ease. A young GSD may not be able to, just as an aging one.

GSD Speed Compared with other Breeds

• Greyhound: 45 MPH
• Whippet: 35.5 MPH
• Husky: 28 MPH
• Anatolian Shepherd: 28 MPH

A detailed discussion of the speeds of various dog speeds can be found here.

Help your German Shepherd Achieve her top speed

So, how fast can a German shepherd run? There you have it. Your buddy can go up to about 30 mph. This does not, however, occur any day at any time.  It will depend on how fit and well-bred he is.

Last Updated on 06/07/2022 by Karen Snow