Which dog is the fastest dog in the nation? Now we know.
The 2020 AKC Fast CAT Invitational took place December 9-11, 2020 in Orlando, FL in conjunction with the AKC National Championship Presented by Royal Canin.
The fastest dogs from each breed, based on rankings from AKC Fast Coursing Ability Tests (Fast CAT), were invited to participate in the inaugural AKC Fast CAT Invitational for the designation of Fastest Dog USA or Speed of the Breeds Champion. All dogs ran three times, with the cumulative speed determining the fastest dogs.
Don’t worry if you missed the action — you can watch the Fastest Dogs USA event on ESPN2 on Friday, Dec. 25 at 4 p.m. ET.
A crowd favorite at the invitational was Buster the Pekingese. Although he was the slowest dog in the event, he is the fastest Pekingese in the nation and was honored to attend the inaugural event. Buster was awarded the “Turtle Award” for being the slowest dog with the biggest heart.
Fastest Dog USA Winners
The fastest dogs in the country were named Fastest Dog USA and Speed of the Breeds Champion, which brought together 117 dogs from across the country. Fastest Dogs USA was awarded based on the outright fastest dog according to miles per hour. Speed of the Breed was awarded based on the percentage of speed run over the average speed for that breed.
Fastest Dog USA: Wailin’ Phelan The Bearded Lass CAX FCAT3, an All-American Dog known as “Phelan,” owned by Krista Shreet and Ted Koch of Crownsville, MD.
Phelan ran 100 yards in 6.346 seconds—or 32.3 miles per hour. For reference, Usain Bolt’s fastest time has been clocked at almost 28 mph.
Speed of the Breeds Champion: Safranne’s Make Mine M”Ag”Nificent MX MXJ T2B BCAT, a Poodle known as “Elliot,” owned by Deborah Burnett of Gray Court, SC.
So What is Fast CAT?
Fast CAT is a timed straight race of 100 yards. Dogs run one at a time and the dog’s time to complete the 100-yard dash is converted into MPHs.
Any dog over 12 months can participate, including mixed-breeds! Don’t worry if your dog isn’t built to be fast — dogs are ranked by breed and the top 20 dogs in each breed can be found by year and breed. Since all dogs can participate, there is a wide range of speeds and all dogs have a chance to be ranked.
Get Started With Your Own Dog
Your first step to learn about Fast CAT is to call or visit your local AKC club and see if they offer the Fast Coursing Ability Test. You can also ask to speak with someone who has already taken part in Fast CAT as they would be more than happy to share their expertise with you.
Then it’s very easy to participate: Just find an event and fill out an entry form that you can get from your local AKC club’s premium list. For most dogs, chasing a lure is completely instinctual, so dogs don’t need training. Check with your veterinarian before starting any new activities to make sure your dog is in proper shape.