How Fast Can A Chihuahua Run

How Fast Can A Chihuahua Run: Chihuahuas are one of the smallest dog breeds around us that are popular by their polite nature and charming personality. They first originated in Mexico. They are intelligent, confident, playful, beautiful and sometimes protective dogs. They are a very good option for those families who have no garden space in their living area, because they don’t require a lot of exercise. That’s why they can be adjustable in a small apartment. 

Sometimes Chihuahua’s can be very athletic and super fast dogs. They are tiny dogs and can run up to 33.7 KPH at their fastest, which is impressive. Before entering a Chihuahua into your family, you may have wondered how fast this little breed is and how long they can run for. Today in this article, we will explain everything you need to know about your Chihuahua’s running.  

How Fast Can A Chihuahua Run

  

History Of Chihuahua 📖

Chihuahuas are the oldest dog breed and originated in Mexico. Chihuahua is descended from the Techichi, which was introduced by the Toltecs. After that the Techichi is transformed by the Aztecs into the lightweight and small dog which we call Chihuahua today. It is suggested by the researchers that the first appearance of the dog similar to Chihuahua was around 100 AD.

There are many reasons for the breeding of Chihuahua by the Aztecs such as companionship, rituals, food and religious purposes. The name Chihuahua is introduced from the state of Chihuahua in Mexico, because they believed that this dog was the first breed. 

Around the 1800s, Chihuahuas started their way to America. In 1904, the American Kennel Club recognized the Chihuahua as a breed. After a few years, the Chihuahua became popular in shows. In the 1940s and 1950s, the Chihuahua breed experienced another influx in popularity. Today, Chihuahuas are a popular option for those families who want an independent and energetic dog.  

How Fast Can A Chihuahua Run

How Fast Can A Chihuahua Run

Chihuahuas can run faster than their size and their average running speed can be 15 miles per hour, but the fastest Chihuahua on record ran at a 22 MPH. If you train your Chihuahua, they will run faster than usual. With proper and hard training, the Chihuahua can run up to 30 MPH which is incredibly fast for such a small dog. 

Basically, the Chihuahua are not the fastest dog breed. The world’s fastest dog breed is Greyhound that can run up to 45 MPH and the second fastest dog in the world is Saluki which can run up to 42 miles per hour. These dog breeds are significantly larger in size than Chihuahua. 

Can A Chihuahua Run Faster Than A Human

how fast can a chihuahua run

The average human runs at a speed of 5 to 10 miles per hour. The fastest Chihuahua can run around 23 miles per hour and the fastest human runner is Usain Bolt who broke the record of running at 27 miles per hour. The average Chihuahua runs up faster than the average human. The average Chihuahua runs up to 8 miles per hour. At their fastest speeds, humans are still faster than Chihuahuas and their average speeds are similar.  

Do Chihuahua Enjoys Running

Chihuahua may be small and tiny leg dogs and they love to run around and release their energy. Chihuahuas enjoy running, this doesn’t mean that they can run long distances with you. They are very small dogs and not suitable for long distance running. They only run to explore at their own pace and release their energy in a fun and energetic manner. A run around the special park would be enough time for them to release their energy. 

If you have a Chihuahua, it’s important to ensure that they get enough exercise as they need. Regular walks and runs will help to keep them healthy and fit. It’s also important to note that running is not an exercise a Chihuahua needs, they also need mental stimulation to prevent boredom. They can get physical and mental stimulation in the form of toys, puzzles and training.

How Fast Can A Chihuahua Run

 

Do Chihuahua Make A Good Running Partner

Dog breeds that were bred to be good for hunting have a required stamina, endurance, and muscle structure to be good runners. That’s why they tend to make excellent running partners. Chihuahua are not bred for hunting, so they are not good at running. They are unable to make the required stamina to go for long runs with you. If you love running and you are searching for a dog to accompany you on your runs, then we suggest that you get another dog breed instead of a Chihuahua. Boxer is an excellent choice for long-distance runners who like to get out and about. 

Are Chihuahua Good For Long-Distances

Chihuahuas are unable to develop the required stamina to go for a long-distances. So, Chihuahuas are not suitable to go for long-run and walk with their owner. Chihuahuas are toy dogs and they enjoy indoor activities instead of running a marathon. Chihuahua are known to be aggressive towards other dogs and despite them being very small, very barky too. They originated as a family dog, but they are not suitable for those families whose children don’t know how to behave with pets because they are fragile dogs. 

How Does It Compares To Other Dog Breeds

The average Chihuahua can run up to a speed of 22 miles per hour. They are relatively fast when we compare with humans, but when we compare to other fastest dog breeds in the world, they are way behind. 

            BREEDS    FASTEST SPEED 
Greyhound45 mp
Saluki33 to 40 mph
Afghan Hound34 to 40 mph
Vizsla40 mph
Jack Russel Terrier38 mph
Dalmatian37 mph
Whippet35 mph
Doberman Pinscher32 mph
Poodle30 mph
German Shepherd30 mph
Siberian Husky28 mph
Rat Terrier 28 mph
Chihuahua22 mph
How Fast Can A Chihuahua Run

Why Does My Chihuahua Run Slow

There are many reasons why your Chihuahua doesn’t run fast. Some reasons are given below:

  • They might be too old
  • They might be carrying too much weight
  • Their legs might be too short
  • They have an underlying health condition

If you are worried about your Chihuahuas running speed then contact the vet for a check-up. 

How To Train A Chihuahua To Run Fast

how fast can a chihuahua run

Most Chihuahuas enjoy running, but not all of them are naturally fast runners. To increase your Chihuahua speeds, put in some effort by training them. Training a Chihuahua to run faster is not difficult as it may seem. Here are some tips you can use while training your Chihuahua to run faster.

Start With A Short Distance

When you start training your Chihuahua to run faster, it’s important to start with a short and slow distance. This will help them to build up their stamina and confidence. Because of the size difference, it will feel like you are moving too slow, but your Chihuahua runs faster than you. 

Pick A Good Running Surface

During training of your Chihuahua to run faster, you need to choose a good surface that will protect their joints and paws when they get going quickly. Meet with the vet or trainers, it will give you some great ideas about their training to run faster. 

Use Positive Reinforcement

When training your Chihuahua to run faster, make sure that you  use positive reinforcement. Reward them when your Chihuahua does something good like they run a little bit faster than before, then praise them. This will help to encourage them.

Be Consistent

Be consistent when training your Chihuahua to run faster, this means you should train them regularly. If you train them once a week, then it will not show much progress. They might forget the things that you taught them and force you to start over every time, so you need to be consistent.  

Maintain A Good Diet

A good diet can also affect your Chihuahua’s running. If your Chihuahua eats well, it will help to get the energy to keep them running all day long. So need to feed your Chihuahua nutrient-rich foods including protein, Omega 3s, and nutrients. You can also add supplements in their diet. Before changing the diet of your Chihuahua, it’s important to meet with the vet.

Have Patience

Training of your Chihuahua is not going to happen overnight. It’s necessary to have patience and not get frustrated. If you get frustrated, you feel the training process harder. 

Let Them Rest

Your Chihuahua needs time to recover from all the running. Give them plenty of breaks to keep them rested, if you push them too hard they could end up getting injured. So, rest days are very essential to keep your dog healthy. 

How Fast Can A Chihuahua Run

Health Issues That Can Affect Chihuahua’s Running Speed

chihuahua skull

There are some health conditions that can affect your Chihuahua’s running speed and make it difficult for your Chihuahua to run faster. These include:

  • Arthritis
  • Cushing’s Disease
  • Obesity
  • Hypothyroidism
  • Lung Disease
  • Heart Disease

These health conditions required a veterinarian check-up. 

CONCLUSION

Chihuahuas are active dogs that enjoy running. An average Chihuahua can run up to 8 miles per hour and the fastest Chihuahua runs up to 22 miles per hour. With proper training, they may be able to reach speeds of up to 30 miles per hour. Chihuahua are small sized dogs and are known for their friendly, loving, intelligent and loyal nature. 

Chihuahua enjoy indoor activities. They are  used as a family dog but they are not suitable for those families whose children don’t know how to behave like pets. If you love running, you need to get another dog instead of a Chihuahua like Greyhound, Saluki, Afghan Hound, Vizsla, Whippet, Dalmatian and many others. 

FAQs

The Chihuahua is not a fast dog breed. An average Chihuahua can run up to 8 miles per hour.

Chihuahuas are small sized dogs, so they don’t make a good running partner. There are many other dog breeds that originated for hunting like Greyhound and Saluki, which make a good running partner.

Chihuahua require less exercise than other dog breeds. They only need 30 minutes to 1 hour of exercise per day and they can be achieved through walks, playing sessions and interactive toys. 

How Fast Can A Chihuahua Run

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