We’re officially a nations of dog owners, with the UK’s most popular pet living in around one-in-three households (and rising).
That means that there are around three million pooches living here, with more people choosing to join the army of dog lovers every week.
Of course, if you are looking to welcome a dog into your family, there are 221 different breeds of pedigree dog to choose from, alongside numerous crossbreeds, so there’s plenty of thinking to do before you select your family’s latest addition.
There’s even academic guidance to seek out, with Psychologist Stanley Coren’s book ‘The Intelligence of Dogs’ ranking breeds by instincts, obedience, and the ability to adapt.
Choosing the right breed is absolutely essential – for example opting for a small dog if you don’t have much room at home, or a hypoallergenic dog if you suffer from allergies.
Different breeds of dog also tend to have very different physical attributes and strengths, including how strong their bite is – a measure that has been studied by scientists.
Of course, this dosn’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 11 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.
For the purposes of this article we are only using breeds recognised by the UK Kennel Club, meaning such breeds as the Cane Corso (700 psi), Dogo Canario (540 psi) and Dogo Argentino (500 psi) are not included.

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. | Canva/Getty Images

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. | Canva/Getty Images

7. Boxer
First bred in Germany in the late 19th century from the now-extinct Bullenbeisser, the Boxer was used primarily as a hunting dog. A bit of up to 230 PSI came in handy when trying to catch wild boar and deer. | Canva/Getty Images

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. | Canva/Getty Images

