Dogs come in all shapes and sizes - the UK Kennel Club recognises 221 different pedigree dogs, from Affenpinscher to Yorkshire Terrier (there are sadly no dog breeds starting with the letter ‘z’!).
Then there are all manner of crossbreeds, from so-called ‘designer dogs’ to lovable mongrels.
Each has its own list of positive and negative attributes, and it’s important to take plenty of time to think about what breed will fit into your lifestyle the best - for instance a smaller dog if you live in a flat, or a hypoallergenic dog if the mere mention of dog hair makes you think about sneezing.
There is even scientific research to guide you, in particular psychologist Stanley Coren’s groundbreaking book The Intelligence of Dogs.
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 14 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 - 734 psi
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 - 700 psi
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. | Canva/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. | Canva/Getty Images - 560 psi
4. Mastiff - 552 psi
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. | Canva/Getty Images