If you’ve been thinking about welcoming a new dog into your home then you’re in good company – Royal Kennel Club (the new name for the UK Kennel Club) stats show that the number of people looking for puppies has surged to record levels.
Dogs come in all shapes, colours and sizes - there are 221 different pedigree dogs recognised by breeders in the UK, from Affenpinscher to Yorkshire Terrier (there are sadly no dog breeds starting with the letter ‘z’!).
So there’s plenty of thinking to do before you select your family’s latest four-legged addition – whether you want a large dog, family-friendly dog, or an easy to train dog.
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There is even scientific research to guide you, in particular psychologist Stanley Coren’s groundbreaking book The Intelligence of Dogs.
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.
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1. Kangal
The Kangal has the strongest bite of any breed of dog - a hefty 734 psi. This makes them particularly good at guarding livestock from predators in their native Turkey, but the breed is also known to be a great family dog if properly trained, getting on particularly well with children. | Canva/Getty Images
2. Cane Corso
In second place, with a bite force of 700 psi is the Cane Corso - an Italian breed of mastiff that was traditionally used for hunting large game and herding cattle. It's not a breed that is recognised by the UK Kennel Club but it is legal to own and breed them in Britain. | Getty Images
3. Dogue de Bordeaux
The Dogue de Bordeaux has a fearsome bite strength of 560 psi - although this breed is notoriously so lazy they are unlikely to often use it. | Getty Images
4. Mastiff
The Mastiff's (also known as the English Mastiff) impressive 552 psi bite has been used to great effect over the years in everything from guarding villages to hunting wolves. Now they are more often gentle giants used as family dogs. | AFP via Getty Images