The 11 adorable dog breeds with the strongest bites as studied by scientists
Britain has always been known as a nation full of dog lovers.
And this fondness for pooches shows little sign of abating; Kennel Club figures reveal that the number of people looking for puppies surged by around eight per cent since the start of the Covid pandemic.
Of course, there are many breeds to choose from, 221 to be precise.
So there's plenty of thinking to do before picking the best addition to your home. Size, family-friendly, crossbreed are all coniderations that must be made, while psychologist Stanley Coren’s book ‘The Intelligence of Dogs’ can help as it ranks breeds by instincts, obedience, and the ability to adapt.
One other attribute that's worth considering is how strong their bite is – a measure that has been studied by scientists.
The issue of dog bites has been a major issue in the West Midlands in recent weeks, with a number of reported attacks involving XL bully dogs.
Of course, this doesn’t necessarily mean that these breeds will be more likely to bite – and individual dogs will vary greatly in strength – just that you need to be extra-careful to train these dogs properly as they have the potential to cause serious harm.
So, here are the breeds that research has shown to have the strongest bites, in pressure per square inch (psi). For reference the average human’s bite is around 162 psi.
Only using breeds recognised by the UK Kennel Club are included meaning such breeds as the Cane Corso (700 psi), Dogo Canario (540 psi) and Dogo Argentino (500 psi) are not included.
1. Kangal
The Kangal has the strongest bite of any breed of dog - a hefty 743 psi. This makes them particularly good at guarding livestock from predators in their native Turkey, but the breed is also known to be a great family dog if properly trained, getting on particularly well with children.
2. Dogue de Bordeaux
The Dogue de Bordeaux has a fearsome bite strength of 556 psi - although this breed is notoriously so lazy they are unlikely to often use it.
3. Mastiff
The Mastiff's impressive 552 psi bite has been used to great effect over the years in everything from guarding villages to hunting wolves. Now they are more often gentle giants used as family dogs.
4. Leonberger
Another gentle giant, the Leonberger is most likely to use its 399 psi bite to chew sticks, toys - and maybe its owners shoes.
5. Rottweiler
The Rottweiler's jaws are capable of delivering a bite of up to 328 psi. They are generally a calm and gentle breed, but are best suited to more experienced owners.
6. German Shepherd
Famously one one of the top dogs for police forces and armies, the German Shepherd can apply a bite of 238 psi if required to during service.
7. Boxer
Don't let the Boxer's relatively strong bite of 230 psi make you think they aren't a good family dog - they are great with humans of all ages, although can get aggressive around other animals.
8. Dobermann
The Dobermann has a bite force for this dog is 229 psi and makes a great watch dog - although they are a breed best avoided by families with young children.
9. Chow Chow
The Chow Chow may not have a bite as powerful as the lions they resemble, but at 220 psi they are still one of the strongest in the canine world.
10. Bulldog
The Bulldog may have a bite force of 210 psi, but their friendly and loveable nature means that they have little in the way of aggression.
11. Malinois
Also known as the Belgian Shepherd, the Malinois only has a slightly weaker strength bite than it's better known German cousin - 195 psi.
