Why is it That Dogs Grow So Fast?
Dogs grow so fast compared to humans because they have much faster metabolisms and much shorter life spans.
From a biological perspective, the purpose of life is to recreate.
Therefore, dogs need to grow faster than humans to sexually mature and reproduce before they die of old age.
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?
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.
Why Do Puppies Grow Into Adult Dogs So Fast?
Puppies grow into adult dogs so fast compared to humans because of their genetic makeup. Dogs are mammals, and so are humans.
This means they have many similarities, but there are still many differences, which is why there can be such a difference in growth rates.
Of all animal species, humans take the longest to grow into fully matured adults (in fact, some of us never quite seem to get there!).
Humans grow and mature slowly because we are so complex. We have massive brains that use a lot of energy, slowing down the growth process.
Dogs are less complex. Puppies are born much more advanced than humans.
Because dogs live much shorter lives, they need to grow faster to reach maturity with enough time to breed their own puppies.
Dogs are sexually mature around six to twelve months of age and, even at the latest, are considered fully grown adults at three years old.
However, human infants are still basically babies at three years old.
But dogs only live from roughly eight to fifteen years, and the worldwide average human lifespan is approximately seventy.
Yes, puppies can grow too fast, which can cause medical issues in later life. However, this is a risk only for larger dog breeds.
It can occur if they are fed too much of the wrong types of food which causes them to grow too fast for their bodies to cope with.
This then leads to problems such as canine hip dysplasia in canine adulthood.
So, if you have a young puppy of a large breed, you should speak to your vet to ensure their diet is appropriate and that you don’t overfeed them.
If you are in financial difficulty and are worried about vet bills, this site lists helpful resources for charities to help you pay your bills.
(If you don’t live in the US, you can use Google to find similar help in your country, there is a lot of support for dog owners who are in difficulty).
Dog Fasting: Is Intermittent Fasting Safe For Your Pets? – Dr. Berg
How fast can dogs run? If you’ve ever watched your pup run with a canine pal at the park or even chase you around your yard, you know dogs can run. But, how can dogs be so damn speedy?
Can four legs allow our dogs to run faster than humans? How fast an average dog can run depends on several variables such as body composition, breed, size, age, and other factors.
This guide delves into everything you need to know about a dog’s running speed, including how dogs can run so fast, the fastest dog breeds, and everything in-between. Let’s dive right in!
Most dogs can sprint faster than humans, and having four legs gives them a definitive advantage.
Let’s take the greyhound, one of the fastest dogs, as an example. Any animal that can reach speeds of up to 45 mph must have a very specialized body.
Dog’s that are built to run fast usually have an aerodynamic shape. Their body is designed like it was made to cut through the air to reach high speeds.
The dogs that can run the fastest will most likely have a slender body, small head, flattened rib cage, and long, well-balanced muscular legs to minimize air resistance.
Dog’s paws have a specialized structure that helps them accelerate fast during a race. Their paws are covered by thick, resilient pads that provide a firm grip on almost any surface. A dog’s toenails provide traction while running at fast speeds.
Pro Tip: If your dog is a fast runner, keeping nails trimmed is essential because nails that snag or break during running can cause considerable bleeding and pain.
They have four gaits of speed: walk, trot, canter, and gallop, the last one being the fastest gait achieved when the dog is running at full speed.
The gallop is a four-time gait suspension where all the legs are lifted off the ground. All dogs have a single suspension gallop, and it happens when the dog achieves suspension.
Dogs built to run, such as the greyhound and whippet, have a double-suspension gait that gives these dogs air-born features. The first suspension happens when the dog achieves full extension with the front legs extended forward and the rear legs are extended rearward. The second suspension occurs when the back feet overtake the front. The hind legs are almost under the shoulders.
Dogs have disconnected shoulder bones (lacking the collar bone, unlike humans) that allow a greater stride length, makes running easier and faster.
A strong respiratory and cardiovascular system impacts a dog’s running endurance and how fast they can go.
Dog breeds like the sighthounds are built with oversized, powerful hearts that pump blood fast enough to keep up with the race and incredible speeds. They possess larger lungs and nostrils that allow for fast and deep air intake. Better breathing equals more oxygen for their muscles, and that equals more endurance.
On the other hand, a dog with less capacity and a smaller heart will not run as fast.
Larger dogs can usually run faster than smaller dogs as longer legs mean longer strides or traveling greater distances in fewer steps.
However, while larger dogs may have an advantage, the most significant factor influencing the running speed of a dog is not so much its size but the force of the dog’s contact with the ground upon each footstrike. The more powerful the strike to the ground, the faster the dog can run.
For instance, imagine a greyhound racing against a Great Dane. A dog with long weak legs won’t run faster than a dog with the right balance of length and muscle on its legs.
When running a dog’s tail serves as a counterweight to your dog’s body movements. As our dog needs to change direction while running fast, his body needs a little extra help. The tail ensures your pup doesn’t spin off course or tumble around.