German Shepherd Bite Force
Considering how often German Shepherds are seen working as police dogs, it’s not hard to assume that they’re a powerful breed with a significant bite force.
But exactly how hard can a German Shepherd bite? As a dog owner, I feel that it’s crucial to fully understand my breed’s capabilities in order to properly care for them and take responsibility for their powerful potential.
We’ve broken down the bite force of a German Shepherd in this article, and everything you need to know about the jaws of your furry friend.
The Breed
German Shepherds are a beautiful and popular breed of dog. Originally bred to protect herds of sheep and livestock on farms, they are strong, loyal, protective, and make excellent working dogs.
Physically, they are a large species, weighing between 50 and 90 pounds and at about 23 inches tall. A dog that big is sure to have big chompers too!
These aren’t just vicious animals, however. They are extremely loving and snuggly with people they consider family or friends, although they take time to warm up to strangers. They are also extremely intelligent, active, and one of the most easily trainable dog breeds available.
How is Bite Force Measured?
In order to understand the bite force of a German Shepherd, we must first understand exactly how bite force is measured.
Bite force is measured in PSI (pounds per square inch). PSI is used to measure pressure. For reference, the average professional boxer punches at between 1,200 to 1,700 PSI.
Now that we understand how to measure bite force, we can explore the bite force of a German Shepherd.
Bite Force of a German Shepherd
The German Shepherd is widely understood as having a bite force of 238 PSI. This may not seem like a lot in comparison to the punch, but try to keep in mind that a punch from a professional boxer can break bone.
To try to understand further, we can compare this bite force with other animals. Crocodiles have the highest bite force measured in animals, at 3,700 PSI. Lions have a bite force of 650 PSI. When you think about it, having nearly half the bite force of a lion is pretty impressive.
A bite force of 238 PSI puts the German Shepherd just below the top ten highest bite forces in dogs. Some dogs higher on the list are Pitbulls, Rottweilers, Mastiffs, and Doggo Argentinos. Bully breeds generally have higher bite forces.
Conclusion
German Shepherds are gorgeous animals- but they’ve got big teeth. Though they’re not the strongest dogs of all time, they’ve still got an impressive bite force of 238 Pounds per Square Inch.
Make sure to always take care with your German Shepherd around children who could unwittingly upset him. Practice muzzle training for your dog to prepare him for stressful situations which could cause him to bite. Train him to look to you for guidance instead of acting aggressively.
Most importantly, don’t forget to brush his teeth, to protect those powerful pearly whites!