Which dog breeds have the strongest bite? What the evidence says

People often ask which dogs have the strongest bite, usually when choosing a breed or worrying about safety. The honest answer is that there is no trustworthy league table, but the evidence does tell us what affects bite strength.

Why online bite force figures are unreliable

You will often see breeds listed with exact bite forces, for example a Mastiff at over 500 PSI or a German Shepherd at around 230 PSI. These numbers are widely repeated, but we couldn't find them in published, peer-reviewed research. Measuring a live dog's bite is difficult. Results depend on how motivated the dog is, how the device is held and which teeth are used, so single numbers for whole breeds aren't meaningful.

What research shows

A 2009 study in the Journal of Anatomy estimated bite forces from the skulls of domestic dogs. It found:

• Size matters most. Predicted bite force increased strongly as skull size increased.
• Skull shape matters in bigger dogs. In medium and large dogs, skull shape made a significant difference to predicted bite force. In small dogs it didn't.

The study estimated bite force from skull measurements rather than measuring live dogs, so it compares groups of dogs rather than ranking breeds.

Which breeds are likely to have the strongest bites?

Based on size and head shape, the largest, broad-headed breeds are likely to have the most powerful bites. These include:

• Mastiff: one of the heaviest breeds, with a very broad head.
• Cane Corso: a large, muscular Italian guardian breed.
• Rottweiler: a powerful working breed with a broad skull and strong jaw.
• Leonberger: a giant breed with a large, broad head.
• German Shepherd and Dobermann: large working breeds widely used in police and protection work, where bite training is part of the job.

This isn't a ranking, and it doesn't mean these breeds are more likely to bite. It means a bite from a large, powerful dog is likely to cause more damage, which is why training and control matter so much.

Any dog can bite

Blue Cross stresses that all dogs have teeth and all dogs have the potential to bite. It notes that bites on children in the UK have involved many breeds and types, both large and small, and that focusing on breed alone is unhelpful when judging risk.

Dogs usually give warning signs before they bite. Blue Cross lists:

• lip licking, yawning when not tired, and raising a paw
• a tucked tail, looking away or trying to appear smaller
• moving away or hiding
• growling, showing teeth or snapping

If you see these signs, give the dog space and remove it from the situation.

How to reduce the risk of bites

• Socialise puppies gently with people, dogs and new experiences.
• Use kind, reward-based training. Punishment can make dogs more fearful and more likely to bite.
• Always supervise dogs and children together, and teach children to leave dogs alone when they are eating, sleeping or have moved away.
• Ask a vet to check for pain if your dog's behaviour changes, then get help from a qualified behaviourist.

The law in England and Wales

It is against the law to let any dog be dangerously out of control, anywhere, including in your own home and garden. Some types of dog are banned. Since 2024, owning an XL Bully dog in England and Wales has been illegal without a Certificate of Exemption. Check GOV.UK for the current rules. Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own XL Bully rules, introduced in 2024. Check mygov.scot or nidirect for details.