The whippet possesses remarkable speed, although regulations often restrict its full potential on most residential roads due to speed limits of 25 or 30 mph, which are deemed too slow. This hound has retained its title as the country’s fastest dog for the second consecutive year, triumphing at the American Kennel Club’s 2022 Fastest Dogs USA event held recently in North Carolina. The event was televised on ABC on a Sunday afternoon, coinciding with a disappointing performance by my favorite football team.
Reas participates in the Fast CAT competition, a humorous name considering it exclusively involves dogs. CAT stands for Coursing Ability Test, where dogs sprint 100 yards in pursuit of a fluffy lure. Lindsay Manetti, Reas’s owner, notes his passion for chasing these lures, emphasizing his extraordinary speed, averaging 34.98 mph with a 100-yard dash time of 5.847 seconds. Manetti rewards Reas with a post-run treat of cheese, sardines, and a steak dinner, indicating her excellent care for him.
Whippets, alongside breeds like greyhounds, borzois, and salukis, are renowned as some of the fastest breeds globally, making them ideal for sports such as Fast CAT, flyball, and dock diving. Following Reas in the competition was another whippet named Winston. Notably, any breed can participate in Fast CAT, including floppy-eared basset hounds like Angelique, who recorded an average time of 11.812 seconds over 100 yards, topping her breed this month.
