The top speed of the fastest known human, Usain Bolt, is 27.3 mph (43.9 km/h).
On the other hand, the greyhound (the fastest dog breed) has achieved a maximum speed of 72 km/h or 44.7 miles per hour.
Yes! You read that right.
A greyhound is almost three times as fast at running as the fastest human that has ever lived.
But why are dogs faster than humans? What makes them such good runners?
Dogs are faster than humans because their anatomy makes them better able to run.
For example, dogs can run on all fours and use just the tips of their toes, giving them a massive speed advantage.
They also have tissue structures that help them run and have faster metabolisms.
In his article, we will look into the factors listed above.
Then, I will explain what each means and why dogs run faster than humans.
By the time we are done, you will know why you will likely lose if you race against your dog or any abled-bodied dog – even if you are athletic and fast for a human.
NOTE – You might like to read this post. It answers the question: Why Do Bulldogs Like to Skateboard?
Dogs Run on All Fours, Which Comes With Faster Gaits
Humans use two limbs, our legs, to walk and run. This is called bipedal locomotion.
Dogs use all four of their limbs in what is termed quadrupedal locomotion.
Generally speaking, quadrupeds such as dogs are faster runners than bipeds such as humans.
However, this is not always the case.
One way to show that quadrupeds (like dogs) are usually faster than bipeds (like humans) is to compare the speed of other bipeds with that of dogs.
| Animal | Top Speed | Type of Locomotion |
| Ostrich | 69 km/h or 43 mph | Bipedal |
| Greyhound | 72 km/h or 45 mph | Quadrupedal |
| Fastest Human (Usain Bolt) | 43 km/h or 27 mph | Bipedal |
The table above shows that an ostrich, a biped, is just about as fast as a greyhound, a quadruped.
So far, it seems wrong to assume that humans are slower than dogs because we use two limbs instead of four.
However, ostriches have one card up their sleeves that humans don’t have, aside from being bipeds.
They walk and run on their toes instead of their whole feet like us, making them much faster.
We will look into that in detail later in the article.
But, for now, we can take another approach. So, let’s ask ourselves – how much faster could humans run if we used all four limbs?
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Humans Sprinting Using Quadrupedal Locomotion
In 2015, a Japanese national – Kenichi Ito – became the fastest human to run on all fours.
He ran 100 meters (328 feet) in 15 seconds, achieving speeds of 23 km/h or 14 mph.
This speed was enough to win the Guinness World Record for fastest quadrupedal locomotion in humans, which hasn’t been broken since. Here’s a YouTube video of that incredible feat:
Still, that pace of 14 mph (23 km/h) still doesn’t compare to the rate of the fastest human running bipedally at 27 mph (43 km/h).
Nevertheless, scientists have found that quadrupedal locomotion could decrease the time to win a 100-meter (328-foot) race from the current 9.58s to 9.27s.
This breakthrough would happen in 2048, assuming the current race-time trends continue.
Running on all fours could help a human win the 100-meter (328-foot) race in 9.27s, but how?
When running on all fours, humans can gallop.
When running at top speed, galloping is the gait used by horses, cheetahs, and greyhounds.
Humans haven’t evolved to run on all fours, which is why it would take us up to 2048 to increase our top speed when using quadrupedal locomotion.
However, dogs are adapted to using all four limbs to gallop, which explains why they are faster than us.
NOTE – Check this post out if you are interested in reading about why dogs like to walk.
Dogs Use Their Toes Instead of the Whole Foot To Run
When humans move, our toes and the soles of our feet make contact with the ground.
This motion is called plantigrade locomotion.
When dogs move, only their toes contact the ground in a phenomenon called digitigrade locomotion.
Dogs can move this way because their ankles are anatomically where human knees are.
So, the “soles of their feet” are akin to calves in humans.
Digitigrades move quicker than plantigrades. Digitigrade movement enables greater stride length, an important factor in speed.
| Top Speed | Type of Locomotion | |
| Fastest Human (Usain Bolt) | 43 km/h or 27 mph | Plantigrade |
| Hippo | 48 km/h or 30 mph | Digitigrade |
| Cat | 48 km/h or 30 mph | Digitigrade |
Ostriches mentioned earlier are also digitigrade, which explains why they move much faster than humans despite being bipedal.
NOTE – Check out this post if you want to know the answer to the question – why do dogs grow so fast?
Dogs Have a Higher Metabolism
The process by which the food we eat converts into energy is called metabolism. Dogs have a higher metabolism than humans.
Energy is required when performing high-intensity activities such as running.
Therefore, the more fuel available, the better we can perform such activities.
For elite athletes to increase their performance, they typically undergo intensive training.
During the training, their metabolic levels rise when accompanied by an appropriate increase in dietary intake, such intensive training results in improved performance.
Though this factor only accounts for a slight difference, dogs run faster because their bodies provide more energy during the activity.
NOTE – You might also like to take a look at this post, which answers the question, why does my dog chase cars?
Dogs Have Tissue Structures That Are Better Adapted to Running
When it comes to physical activity, you can divide the muscles of animals into two groups.
- Fast-twitch muscles: These muscles work during explosive activity, such as sprinting. Such muscles tire quickly.
- Slow-twitch muscles: These muscles are for endurance activities, such as long-distance running.
Humans typically have 50% slow-twitch and 50% fast-twitch muscles, enabling moderate speed and considerable endurance.
Fast sprinters usually have a higher distribution of fast-twitch muscles than the average human.
For example, most sprinters have 70% fast-twitch and 30% slow-twitch muscles.
However, the limb muscles of the greyhound consist of 80 to 100% fast-twitch muscles.
Judging by tissue structure alone, even the fastest human sprinter can’t outrun a greyhound because he doesn’t have enough fast-twitch fibers.
Related Post: Why Do Dogs Like Playing Fetch?
Final Notes On Why Dogs Are Faster Than Humans At Running
Dogs being faster than humans has everything to do with nature.
They have a higher proportion of fast-twitch muscles, use quadrupedal locomotion, have a higher metabolism, and have longer strides because only their toes contact the ground when running.
Quadrupedal locomotion enables dogs to use fast gaits such as the rotary gallop.
If you’ve been under the impression that your dog is faster than you because you are out of shape, you can now rest easy.
No matter your condition, your dog will most likely always defeat you in running races.
So that is the end of this post looking at the question – why are dogs faster than humans?
If you have any questions, please feel free to comment below.
Tim is a proud, vetted, and experienced dog foster carer for a charity helping dog owners escape domestic abuse.
He has years of experience training and caring for dogs, both his own and other people’s.
He is an expert in canine behavior and is highly skilled in dealing with all dogs but specializes in the difficult ones that other people may struggle with.
When he isn’t fostering dogs, he is making friends with other people’s pups!