How Fast Can Rhodesian Ridgebacks Run? Vet-Verified Facts & Comparison Chart
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View 2 More +Rhodesian Ridgebacks are known for being patient, loyal, and loving and make great watchdogs. They’re also known for being fast canines, but just how fast? Rhodesian Ridgebacks can run up to 33 miles per hour (mph), which is a bit slower than Greyhounds, who can run up to 45 mph. While that’s much slower than the Cheetah, which can run up to 75 miles per hour for short bursts, that’s still quite fast for a dog.
If you’re wondering about the Rhodesian Ridgeback’s running speed and other facts, join us as we further explore the incredible Rhodesian Ridgeback.
How Fast Can a Rhodesian Ridgeback Run?
The Rhodesian Ridgeback is an impressively fast breed, ranking among the fastest dog breeds. Their top recorded speed is around 33 mph, but most of the fastest Ridgebacks run between 28 and 30 mph.1 You most likely don’t have any frame of reference for how fast that is, especially compared to other animals. Fortunately, the chart below compares the Ridgeback’s top speed to other animals.
The Rhodesian Ridgeback Compared to Other Animals
| Rhodesian Ridgeback | 30 mph |
| Greyhound | 45 mph |
| Greater Roadrunner | 26 mph |
| Polar Bear | 25 mph |
| Cheetah | 75 mph |
| Lion | 50 mph |
| Elite Human Sprinter | 27.5 mph |
| Average Human Sprinter | 12–15 mph |
The Greyhound, the world's fastest dog breed, runs at a top speed of 45 mph, only 15 mph faster than the Rhodesian Ridgeback. Meanwhile, the fastest land animal, the Cheetah, has a top speed of 75 mph, which is 45 mph faster than the Ridgeback. You might think the Ridgeback isn’t that fast since its top speed is only 2.5 mph faster than the fastest human. But it’s important to realize that 27.5 mph is the top speed a human has ever accomplished.
The Rhodesian Ridgeback is faster than the fastest human being ever, Olympic athlete Usain Bolt, whose top speed was 27.5 mph. The average human can run 5 to 6 miles per hour, significantly slower than the Rhodesian Ridgeback. This makes the Rhodesian Ridgeback an exceptionally fast and athletic breed compared to both humans and most other dogs.
Humans purposefully created most dog breeds to fulfill certain tasks; this begs the question, “Why were Rhodesian Ridgebacks bred to be so fast?”
The Rhodesian Ridgeback’s History and Why They’re So Fast
The Rhodesian Ridgeback was developed in southern Africa during the late 19th century, particularly in the region that later became known as Rhodesia (modern-day Zimbabwe). The breed became highly valued by big-game hunters for its endurance, speed, and courage.
European settlers, including Dutch-descended colonists, brought various dog breeds with them to the region. These dogs were eventually crossed with ridged hunting dogs kept by the Khoikhoi people. Those native dogs were known for being hardy and resilient and had a distinctive ridge of hair along their backs that grew in the opposite direction from the rest of the coat.
Cornelius Van Rooyen
In the late 19th century, a missionary named Charles Helm brought his family and two ridged female dogs to Rhodesia. These dogs were believed to be descended from European breeds crossed with the ridged hunting dogs kept by the indigenous Khoikhoi people. There he met Cornelius Van Rooyen, a famous big game hunter. Occasionally the reverend's business would require him to travel back to South Africa; during these trips, he would leave his dogs with Van Rooyen and allow them to breed with Van Rooyen’s many dogs.
Big Game Hunting
As a big game hunter in Africa, Van Rooyen hunted lions and needed a team of dogs. Some of the reverend’s puppies joined his team of lion hunters, a job which they were very well suited for. As they came to be known, Van Rooyen's Lion Dogs needed to be brave enough to come face to face with a lion, fast enough to keep their distance and keep the beast distracted, and intelligent enough to retreat if things weren’t going their way.
Today’s Ridgebacks
While the Ridgebacks of today are very different from Van Rooyen’s Lion Dogs, due to breeders in the 20th century aiming for a protector and companion as opposed to a lion hunter, the dog retains many of its ancestors’ traits. They retain the courage, intelligence, and speed they used to hunt lions in the African bushin the late 19th century.
Although the breed developed from a mix of European hunting dogs and indigenous ridged dogs, the Rhodesian Ridgeback was selectively bred to enhance desirable traits such as athleticism, resilience, and loyalty. Their speed and agility were particularly important for keeping a safe distance from large animals while assisting hunters in difficult terrain.
Wrap Up
The Rhodesian Ridgeback Dog can run up to 30 miles per hour, making it one of the fastest dogs on the planet. The Greyhound runs 15 mph faster than the Rhodesian Ridgeback at 45 mph. Although they’re not as fast as the top dogs, they’re among the few breeds with a history of lion-hunting. If you’re considering giving a Rhodesian Ridgeback Dog a forever home with you and your family, ensure you have plenty of room in your yard for them to gallop around.
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Sources
Featured Image Credit: Osetrik, Shutterstock
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Patricia is an experienced pet writer and lifelong animal lover. When she isn’t writing, Patricia enjoys spending time with her pets, cats Binx and Link and dog Mystery. Mystery and Link have been with her since birth. Binx was found under her house as a kitten and promptly welcomed into the family. Patricia enjoys volunteering at her local rescue shelter and sharing her extensive knowledge of pets.
