DOG GROUP, MOST AGRESSIVE BREEDS, AND BITE FORCE BY BREED

Dogs are fun and loving companions that are bound to bring endless joy into your home. However, adopting a dog is not something that you should do on a whim. They come with much more responsibility than one could expect. That’s why you need to take your time to figure out what you and your family would want in a dog.  

With more than 190 dog breeds and varieties registered in the American Kennel Club (AKC), finding your next pet might get difficult. Like humans, each of these breeds come in all shapes and sizes. They have different needs, temperaments, and behaviour. AKC considered this and placed various breeds into groups, classifying them according to their common characteristics, personality, and purposes. If you’re looking for a new addition to your family, these dog groups should be able to help narrow down your choices.  

Most dog groups tend to have specific breeds that exhibit aggressiveness more than others. While all dogs can be aggressive due to fear, frustration, discomfort, protectiveness, or other circumstances, some breeds are more aggressive than others. Other professionals may have different opinions, but the ones included in this guide had some of the lowest passing rates in the temperament tests conducted by the American Temperament Test Society (ATTS).     

Aggressive breeds can become a massive problem for their owners, especially if they take it out on a person or another animal. This can lead to dangerous incidents like attacks and bites. Dog bites can vary from small nips to causing permanent damage. That’s why knowing the strength behind your dog’s bite is essential to understand the responsibility that comes with dog ownership.  

The strength of their bite or bite force is measured in Pounds per Square Inch (PSI), telling the amount of force exerted per square inch of space. However, measurements won’t always be consistent as the pressure changes depending on the dog, the bitten object, and their mood during the bite. It’s most likely the reason online sources can’t agree on the actual bite force of most breeds.  

In this guide, learn about the different dog groups, which of the most aggressive breeds are under these groups and their bite force.   

  • Working   

Breeds in this group are known as the blue-collar workers of the canine community. They excel in completing laborious tasks that help humans, like guarding homes, pulling sledges, and performing water rescues. Some even work as service or guide dogs or for security, police, and military.  

    • Doberman Pinscher: Doberman Pinschers were originally bred to protect and accompany Karl Louis Doberman, a tax collector in Germany. They make the ideal protectors because of their intelligence, courage, protectiveness, and trainability. However, they can also become irritable or aggressive when they don’t get enough exercise. Avoid getting bit by these guys at all costs as they have a bone-breaking bite force of 245 PSI  
    • Dalmatian: As a working group breed, Dalmatians guard passengers and cargos as coaching dogs. Those protective instincts remain to this day. While they are ideal playmates for children for their endless energy, they need early age socialisation and a lot of attention to prevent them from developing behavioural issues. Their big, wide, and strong jaws are something to look out for as their bite force can allegedly range from around 170 to 200 PSI.  
  • Pastoral Group  

Like dogs in the working group, dogs are hard-working breeds though their jobs usually revolve around gathering, herding, and protecting livestock. These days, their work extended to much more than herding though some might still keep their protective nature and herd small children. Pastoral dogs can have an abundance of energy, requiring regular exercise as an outlet.  

While no breeds from this group got in the top of the most aggressive dog breeds, some pastoral dogs have powerful bites than most, like German Shepherds with 238 PSI, Belgian Malinois with 195 PSI, and Kangal dogs with 743 PSI.  

  • Toy  

Dogs in toy groups are the perfect pets for those worried about their living space. They don’t take up a lot of space, and some are even small enough to fit in purses. They also shed less, need less food and supplies, and require lower veterinary costs.  

    • Chihuahua: Chihuahuas are most well-known for their extremely fierce and temperamental nature, making them effective alert dogs and watchdogs. But if you got them as companions, rest assured as these guys are loyal and devoted, and any aggressive behaviour they display can be corrected. When it comes to their bite force, multiple online sources tend to exaggerate their power. Their actual bite force is likely to be around 100 to 180 PSI, not much stronger than a human bite.  
  • Hound   

Hounds are a diverse group that share a common love for hunting. Most of them were bred to pursue and bring down quarry on their own with the help of their acute sense of smell to track scents or their heightened sight and remarkable stamina to wear out their prey relentlessly. As such, most breeds in this group might need some exercise to burn off their energy and prevent them from redirecting this to any destructive or antisocial behaviours.  

    • Dachshund: Daschunds are a small breed with a long body, short legs, and a great nose for tracking prey.  They’re fearless and determined creatures with the ability to find their target, dig into burrows, and run quickly. As a hunter, they will never give up on subduing their prey, which is why you should keep them away from smaller pets like gerbils and rabbits. Daschunds doesn’t seem to have an official number for the bite force, but it’s been speculated to be around 150-180 PSI.  
  • Gun Dogs  

Gun dogs, commonly known as Sporting dogs, are breeds that assist hunters in capturing and retrieving game, which is different from dogs in the Hound groups who track and catch their prey on their own. As hunting became more of a sport than a necessity, their talents were more utilised as service dogs. There aren’t any breeds in this group that got into the top five of the most aggressive breeds, but some have a strong bite strength, including Labrador Retrievers, who have a bite force of 230 PSI.   

  • Terrier  

With a high prey drive and energetic nature, terriers are group breeds that specifically hunt and kill vermin above and below ground. This makes them especially active and lively dogs, which often leads to great companionship with their owners. However, their high energy levels and talent to dig into burrows can create trouble for you and your yard. As long as their owners understand these dogs before taking them in, they are an absolute delight to have in your home. Many Terrier breeds don’t fit in with the most aggressive breeds. However, it does include the American Pit Bull, which has a terrible reputation as the most dangerous dog. They might have a bite force of 235 PSI, but they are far from the most aggressive.  

  • Utility Group  

Utility or Non-Sporting Groups are considered the most diverse because they don’t categorise breeds by specific features. This is more of a compilation of the dogs that don’t share any mutual characteristics with other groups.  

    • Chow Chow  

The distinctive-looking Chow Chows might seem like teddy bears, but they’re rarely interested in cuddling or hugging. They are highly territorial dogs that are unfriendly towards strangers who get too close. Sneaking up behind them would be a terrible idea as they can get startled and bite. With a pound-force of 220, a bite from a Chow would not be a fun experience.  

Dog ownership has its benefits and risk, but the same can be said about other pets. As long as you evaluate the qualities you want in a dog and ensure that you give them a proper environment and consistent training, you don’t need to be afraid that they’ll become aggressive or bite someone.