A dog’s jaw can be gentle enough to carry a fragile pup, and strong enough to protect, defend, and perform intense working tasks. That contrast is what makes jaw strength so fascinating, which shows anatomy, evolution, and purpose carefully shaped over generations.
Bite force is the term used to define how much pressure a dog’s jaws can apply when biting and is measured in pounds per square inch (PSI). This depends upon several factors such as head shape, skull structure, jaw muscle thickness, body weight, and genetic pool.
The primary factor that decides the bite force is the size of the dog breed, and this is supported by a study. The breeds with longer snouts and small sizes have low bite strength as compared to the dogs with shorter snouts.
The bite incidents mostly happen due to fear, stress, lack of early exposure, pain, or poor training practices. Remember, a trained dog always communicates through its behavior long before it resorts to biting, and sometimes dog owners ignore those signals.
Ultimate Dog Breeds with Jaw Strength
1. Kangal
Fearless Kangal with one of the strongest bite forces developed in Turkey to hunt big game, to protect sheep, and other farm animals. Kangal has a 740 PSI bite force and is skilled as a livestock guardian, thanks to its protective instincts and muscular build, deterring the intruders at first sight.
Kangal, also known as the Anatolian Shepherd dog, is a gentle giant towards children and family members. This dog is blessed with multi color double coat, which protects them from harsh weather conditions, as mentioned by Purina.
Due to their large size, athleticism, and sharp instincts to guard, these dogs need experienced owners. The bite of a Kangal is capable of breaking the bones and fingers of humans if they are not provided with early socialization and proper training.
2. Cane Corso
The imposing presence and strong protective nature of the Cane Corso, which is an Italian dog breed, have helped it to work as a guard dog for several generations. As a mastiff-type breed, the Cane Corso possesses one of the most powerful bite forces among dogs, delivering an impressive bite pressure of around 700 PSI, which reflects its strength and working heritage.
This loyal companion bonds closely with its family member and keeps a close eye when trained to protect kids. Owing to their large stature, these dogs should be introduced to training classes at a young age to behave well in new surroundings as adult dogs.
Sensitive and serious, Cane Corsi react unevenly if not handled gently, with experienced hands. They have short double coats that do not shed much, which is why the Cane Corso is low maintenance big dog. Cane Corso requires ample space to relax with fenced yards.
3. Rottweiler
Rottweilers originally bred to drive and guard livestock that is aggressive, and pull carts, and earned their name as butcher’s dogs. Rotties rank among the breeds with the strongest bite force thanks to their strong jaws and fiercely loyal nature, which often results in them reflecting their dangerous behavior.
In the US, this dangerous breed has a reputation as fighting dogs, but some of their owners have also adopted them as family pets, where they get a chance to display their sweet, devoted, and affectionate side. They are powerful, with intimidating appearance making great guard dogs via proper training.
Rottweilers’ average bite strength is around 328 pounds per square inch, which is deadly enough to cause severe injuries.
Fun Fact: In the USA, according to collected data from 2005 to 2019, this dangerous breed is reported to be responsible for dog attacks with 51 fatalities.
4. Tosa Inu
Japanese dog breed, Tosa Inu initially bred as a fighting dog in the 14th century, and is also called Japanese Mastiff due to its courageous and tenacious personality. This extremely muscular and powerful breed has a strong jaw, making it one of the strongest dogs in terms of bite force that is about 556 PSI.
Tosa Inu is banned in the UK due to its potential threat of having one of the strongest dog bites, that leads to fatal injuries and tissue damage. However, they are blessed with eager to please nature, making them trainable and domesticated dogs with positive reinforcement methods, says the AKC.
When it comes to physical activities, these dogs are laid back and do not need a serious amount of exercise. They enjoy indoor activities, ball retrieving, agility, and dog training. Due to protective instincts, this breed exhibits aggressive behavior towards other dogs and strangers; thus, socialization is vital.
5. Presa Canario
A short-nosed breed, the Presa Canario was initially bred to protect and herd livestock. It is also found to have the strongest bite force of any group of dogs. According to PetMD, in their native country (Canary Islands), they were used in the fights as well before showing their services as guard dogs.
Presa Canario has a protective nature, due to which it remains distant with new ones and in new surroundings, making it an obedient and loyal breed towards dog owners with the right training and early socialization. These dogs are not well-suited to multi-pet households due to their strong prey drive.
This imposing, yet patient breed bonds closely with their favorite ones, and to amaze many of us, they also cuddle and enjoy following their humans just like a shadow. Presa Canario has a broad head and powerful jaws with an average bite force of 556 PSI, enough to cause life-threatening blood loss.
6. Leonberger
Large size and strong protective instincts, along with an average bite force that ranges up to 399 PSI, make the Leonberger a powerful dog breed. However, a properly trained and socialized Leo carries a gentle, calm, and friendly temperament. Originally bred as watchdogs but today they make excellent companions.
While reigning in Germany, Leonberger had also enjoyed the European royalty. They were almost extinct in World Wars, their fans continue their breeding, and currently, we often see them assisting law enforcement agencies in search and rescue missions.
Easygoing and loyal Leos are calm dogs, and love spending time as couch potatoes. Nevertheless, they thrive in dog sports like agility, swimming, and pulling sleds. They are velcro dogs and do not like to be left alone for a long time.
7. German Shepherd
A multi-purpose working dog breed, the German Shepherd also holds the record of multiple scientific studies to verify its bite. The average bite force of GSD ranges between 238 and 300 PSI. This may not be impressive, but it still can cause serious injuries if these dogs are not trained well.
Although the German Shepherd is a large, muscular breed, its jaw structure and bite strength are not as powerful as those of some other dogs. As a result, despite its strength and versatility, it does not rank at the very top among breeds with the strongest bite forces.
German Shepherds are used in military and police work due to their strong protective instincts, exceptional intelligence, and high trainability. These canines also make wonderful guard dogs for families and individuals. To avoid their aggressive behaviors, they should be physically and mentally stimulated daily.
Conclusion
All the mentioned breeds have strong bite forces, reminding us that a breed’s origin, temperament, and physical features must be considered as important factors before buying and adopting them.
However, our list of these breeds does not limit you but informs you about them as they can also be trained as wonderful family dogs with the right guidance.
Socialization and supervision are two basic must-haves when you are going to introduce your canine pal to your kid.
