Federation Cynologique Internationale (FCI) recognized 360 dog breeds exist in the world. However, that number still doesn’t include several unofficial and experimental dog breeds. But there is one fact regarding those dog breeds. Among them, there is one breed of dog with the strongest bite force in the world.
Among the wide variety of breeds, this particular dog is quite hard to spot. So, in this article, we will rank some of them to answer the question of what dog has the strongest bite force. However, before we dive into the topic, there is some aspect that might compromise the accuracy of this rank.
After reading some scientific journals and reports about this topic, we can conclude several things. First, there is no exact correct way of measuring the force of a dog bite. It’s Because dog bite forces are determined by various things. Some aspects might include the size of the jaw and skull. Other than the size of the skull, a dog’s bite force is also determined by which part of the jaw a dog puts its force to bite. So, it’s not always about the dog breed.
Second, published research articles regarding this topic are scarce. This is likely because some of them can’t find an accurate method to measure a dog’s bite force. A dog bite cannot be initiated in command. Therefore, scientists will never know for sure whether the dog uses their full bite power or not.
In conclusion, answering the question of What dog has the strongest bite force is very difficult. With that being said, don’t take this rank as a reliable fact. But rather as a mild reference of how much damage a dog bite gives. So, here are dogs with the strongest bite force in the world
Tosa Inu / Japanese Mastiff
Many people often regard this dog as very intimidating. This is because, unlike other Mastiff, Tosa Inu tends to be aggressive and watchful. They often show violent tendencies to other dogs they regard as a threat. However, Tosa Inu is still a very trainable dog. However, it requires a lot of effort to make the dog friendly to humans and other dogs.
A Japanese Mastiff can weigh between 36 to 61 kg and 62 to 82 cm in height. In terms of bite force, the Japanese Mastiff is one of the dogs with the strongest bite force. The bite force of this dog is measured at 556 psi (pound per square inch).
Dogue de Bordeaux / French Mastiff
The French Mastiff is the oldest Mastiff breed on the planet. This specific Mastiff breed can be found in at least the 14th century. Back then, this dog was typically used for farm work. Some of them might include pulling carts, guarding livestock, and doing other heavy-duty work. Many people believe that this dog is descended from a Greek giant war dog called Molossus.
What dog has the strongest bite force?. Well, it depends on the size. Adult French Mastiffs could reach around 54 to 63 kg in weight and 23-27″ in height. Similar to Japanese Mastiffs, this dog’s bite force is also measured at 556 psi.
Cane Corso / Italian Mastiff
The once common dog now can only be found in Puglia, Italy. The Italian Mastiff is usually kept as a guard dog for livestock. In the past, the dog was also used as a hunting dog for big game hunting. Like the French Mastiff, this dog is also believed to be the descendant of the Molossoid dog.
However, unlike other Mastiff dogs, Cane Corso is more muscular and less bulky. By standard, the dog could reach a height of 70 cm and a weight of 50 kg. The bite force is also much more with 700 psi. So, is this the answer for what dog has the strongest bite force? Well, we still have two more to go.
Bandog / Bandog Mastiff
The Bandog Mastiff was initially found in England around the 13th century. Many people believed that Bandog is a mixed-breed between Pit Bull Terrier and Neapolitan Mastiff. Not many of these dogs can be found in common. Moreover, they are often not recognized as an official dog breed by several official organisations.
This dog is known for its fierce characteristic. In fact, the name is derived from the treatment given to the dog itself. The dog is usually ‘banded up’ or chained when they’re not being used for war or guard duty. Male Bandog could grow to 76 cm in height and 57 kg in weight. With 730 psi of bite force, the dog is known as one of the dogs with the strongest bite force.
Kangal Shepherd
Kangal dogs are a livestock guardian dog commonly found in Sivas, Turkey. Although often called Kangal Shepherd, the dog is not actually used to herd livestock. Instead, the dog lives among the livestock to protect them from being attacked by predators such as wolves, bears, and jackals. However, it is also possible to make Kangal as pets.
The sizes varied between males and females. The full-grown male could reach up to 80 cm in height and 60 kg in weight. The female could reach up to 70 cm in height and 50 kg in weight. Due to its duty, Kangal is the top dog with the strongest bite force. It usually measures at 743 psi.
So, what dog has the strongest bite force? Although terrifying, it doesn’t mean that those are the most dangerous dogs. In reality, other dog breeds have more tendency to bite than those listed above.
With that said, we can conclude that the dogs with the strongest bite force are mostly Mastiff. However, it is very surprising that the top is the Kangal, a non-Mastiff breed. One thing in common with those dogs is that they’re massive in size. Therefore, it is very likely that they’ll have a strong bite force.
Moreover, we can also conclude that the dog with the strongest bite force is not determined by its breed. But it is determined by various factors. So, we hope that this article helps to answer the question of what dog has the strongest bite force.