7 Breeds Of Dog With The STRONGEST Bite Force (Ranked + Photos)

There’s a lot of speculation about the dog with the strongest bite force out there, and much of it isn’t necessarily true. For instance, there are all kinds of rumors about Pitbull’s biting abilities, and while their bite is powerful (approximately 240 to 330 PSI), they don’t have a locking mechanism.

And while popular opinion may have led you to believe it’s dogs like the Pitbull, German Shepherd, or Rottweiler who have the strongest bites, you’d be surprised. Instead, you’ll find that many dogs with the strongest bite force are bigger breeds with large heads and powerful jaws.

Table of Contents

dog with the strongest bite force — 7 Breeds of Dog with the Strongest Bite Force (Ranked)

So here are seven breeds of dogs with the strongest bite force. You may have heard of some of these before, but a few might be new!

1. Spanish Mastiff (540 PSI)

The Spanish Mastiff is the first dog on our list. This breed is quite large, like many others that we’ll talk about in this article. The Spanish Mastiff’s purpose is to protect farms and cattle, making them a guardian breed.

Spanish Mastiff stretches in front of his owner.

In addition to being a large breed, they have a massive head and a crushing jaw pressure of approximately 540 PSI. This bite force enables them to grab, hold, and defend themselves from anything threatening their flock.

This breed is known for being keenly intelligent, affectionate, and kind with their families while maintaining a calm and confident demeanor. You’d feel like that, too, if you were as powerful as this dog!

2. English Mastiff (552 PSI)

The English Mastiff is a particularly massive giant and a breed where a large head is considered desirable. This breed’s bite force comes in at about 552 PSI, marking them as having one of the strongest bite forces.

An English Mastiff dog is amongst the largest in the world

For their part, while they look intimidating (and for a good reason), English Mastiff is known for being calm and docile protectors. They’re loyal to their family but take a while to warm up to outsiders.

If you’re considering bringing one of these guardian giants into your home, you’ll want to research proper socialization techniques.

3. Tosa Inu (556 PSI)

The Tosa Inu joins us at approximately 556 PSI for their bite force. Breeders initially bred this dog for fighting, so their powerfully crushing jaws aren’t surprising. However, that’s a thing of the past.

tosa inu japanese fighting dog — A Tosa Inu was bred in Japan as a fighting dog.

These days, Tosa Inus are used as guard dogs.

They’re known for their affectionate nature with their own family while behaving more distantly with strangers. Proper socialization is critical with this breed because, unfortunately, Tosa Inus have been known to act aggressively with other dogs if they recognize them as trespassers.

While owners should work on obedience and manners with this keenly intellectual and protective dog, unusually aggressive behavior is not a hallmark of the breed.

4. Dogue de Bordeaux (556 PSI)

The Dogue de Bordeaux is a delightful breed, with a large, robust body lower to the ground than some of their contemporaries. Their massive heads have big soulful eyes and perpetually sweet expressions.

giant Dogue de Bordeaux — What a face! The super large dog breed known as Dogue de Bordeaux

But with a bite force of 556 PSI, they are more than capable of defending the family they adore. They’re known for being good with all family members but will need a firm hand in obedience and training.

If you bring this breed into your life, they’ll reward you with an intensely loyal and affectionate companion.

5. Cane Corso (700 PSI)

The Cane Corso stuns with 700 PSI, making them one of the dogs with the strongest bite force. This powerful breed is a guardian and protector, with an intimidating build and an aloof manner.

Cane Corso autumn leaves — Cane Corso with autumn leaves background!

Unless, of course, they’re your companion. In this case, the Cane Corso will be a fiercely loyal addition to your family with a great propensity for learning. The breed is eager to please, but they will need firm boundaries and an owner that can handle them.

Because as bright as the Cane Corsos are, they’re more than capable of taking over a household if the owner doesn’t prepare for them.

6. Bandog Mastiff (730 PSI)

The Bandog Mastiff, or the American Bandogge, isn’t a recognized breed by most clubs. It’s a combination breed that can include the Pitbull, Mastiff, and even Bulldog crossbreeds. The average PSI of these crossbreeds comes in at a tremendous 730 PSI.

Bandog stands and looks at owner — Bandog stands on the playground and looks at the owner.

With the Bandog Mastiff not having any set standard, what you receive could be vastly different from dog to dog. But many of them share similar qualities of being large dogs with powerful jaws and a guardian breed temperament.

7. Anatolian Shepherd (743 PSI)

The Anatolian Shepherd, also known as the Kangal Shepherd, among other names, tops this list. This dog is tall, muscular, and will always defend its family. Between their jaw-crushing power and nimble athleticism, the Anatolian Shepherd is a force to be reckoned with in the field.

standing Anatolian Shepherd Dog — Anatolian Shepherd Dog stands on a grass looking at his side.

Their PSI comes in at a staggering 743.

Like many other livestock guardian breeds we’ve discussed, the Anatolian shepherd has a strong personality and will own the owner if the dog isn’t given proper socialization and obedience training.

Things To Keep in Mind

When it comes to determining the dog with the strongest bite force, it can be important to keep some facts in mind.

Cranium Shape

One thing that many of the dogs had in common on our list was that they were large breeds. According to a study conducted in 2009, the biting force was directly connected to the size of a dog’s skull. Dogs with smaller heads were seen to have a lesser bite force.

Cane Corso with a little girl — A little girl pets Cane Corso.

While dogs like the Anatolian Shepherd, with much larger heads, had a higher PSI.

But it’s not only the size of the head that matters. There was also evidence to suggest that the shape of the head had an impact on the study’s results as well. Dogs that specialists considered brachycephalic (think along the lines of a Pug) have a lower bite force than dogs with a similar cranium size but a different head shape.

Bite Force Variations

Another factor to consider is that bite force is difficult to measure. It may seem simple to obtain live bite force measurements. However, how hard a dog bites in a testing situation may not be as strong as in real-life situations.

A dog growls to someone coming near him.

If that’s true, it would mean some breeds have a stronger bite force than previously thought.

On the other hand, the tests can’t always account for dogs suffering from undiagnosed health problems, such as dental pain. These issues would cause them to bite with less force and can skew results.

Before You Go

Knowing the dog with the strongest bite force is a fascinating subject that has spurned numerous scientific articles as researchers tried to tease out an answer.

You can assume that a large breed with a big head and powerful jaw will have a stronger bite force than other dogs. Of course, this is only a rough estimate because testing results can be skewed due to the dog’s age, illness, injury, and temperament.

If you’re considering bringing one of these breeds into your home as your next companion, do your research carefully. Many of them are highly intelligent, require work to keep them occupied, and will need an abundant amount of socialization and training to thrive.