Far from small dachshunds or other chihuahuas, certain breeds of dogs are so powerful that they even beat large wild predators.
Some are afraid of cat scratches, others of dog bites: even though they are our best friends, animals can sometimes react violently when we push them, when they are frightened, stressed, injured or vulnerable. This is why we teach children that doggies, as cute as they are, are not toys and that we must respect their space when they express the need. Because no, most of the time, our four-legged friends are not unpredictable and show signs of discomfort before baring their fangs: biting is often the last resort, regardless of the breed.
Some dog breeds unfortunately get a bad rap. For example, although it has a better reputation, a Labrador Retriever has slightly greater strength than a Doberman. But the power of the bite has no effect on the behavior of the animal: whatever its breed, a well-educated and healthy dog will not be aggressive without reason. On the other hand, although they are not more inclined to bite than their peers, some dogs do have more impressive attributes. We often imagine that rottweilers or pitbulls, due to their strong stature, have the most powerful jaws. However, they don’t even make it into the top ten of the rankings. One breed in particular dethrones them all, by a long way: the kangal, also called the giant Anatolian shepherd.
The Kangal Shepherd is a very imposing dog: it can measure more than 80 cm at the withers, and weigh up to 65 kg. Selected for centuries to guard herds and defend them against packs of wolves or even bears, no wonder it is considered one of the most powerful dogs in the world. Its jaw can exert a pressure of 743 psi (pounds per square inch), or approximately 520 kg/cm²! This is the strongest ever measured in a dog. For comparison, the bite of the jaguar – which is still the feline with the most powerful jaw in the world – is estimated at around 500 kg/cm². The kangal also easily beats the great white shark and its 300 kg/cm².
Despite this phenomenal jaw, the kangal is renowned for being a real quiet force: he is calm and affectionate, including with children, if he has been socialized from a very young age. However, professional trainers do not recommend it to novice owners, because its very independent and territorial character deserves solid and consistent education. The Anatolian Shepherd is known to be an excellent guard dog, who will defend his territory and his family at all costs in the face of a threat, whether it is a stranger or a simple cat passing by. It is therefore better to avoid walking on your flowerbeds.
If the kangal exceeds all others in terms of power, certain dogs also have jaws capable of inflicting great damage. In second position, we find the bandog with 730 psi (approximately 510 kg/cm²), followed by the cane corso with 700 psi (approximately 490 kg/cm²). Conversely, despite its reputation as a dangerous dog, the pressure exerted by a pitbull’s jaw is “only” 235 psi, or 165 kg/cm². Unsurprisingly, the Chihuahua looks rather pale with its 100 psi, or 70 kg/cm², roughly the equivalent of the human jaw.
