Mary Allen
The so-called “fighting dogs” or “listed dogs” are repeatedly criticized because they are said to have significantly stronger teeth than other dogs.
But is that even true? And which dog has the strongest teeth? On this page, we will show you how these questions can be answered.
You can rest assured that the size of the dog does not matter how strong the bit is.
Giving your dog a bone is a great way to watch. Even the “little ones” can splinter chewing bones with their teeth and bite properly.
The dog’s biting power
At the latest when an incident involving a dog bite becomes known, the dangerous nature of dogs is discussed again.
Special breeds are still rated particularly negatively. Most of the time, however, the dog owners are to blame and not the dog if the animal is not properly, or incorrectly, trained.
When people are bitten by dogs, it is not uncommon in the newspaper to talk about a biting force that weighs a ton.
This statement is completely wrong. No dog has the bite force of a ton. Physically, you can see the false statement because a dog’s bite force is measured in Newtons, not kilograms.
However, it has not yet been possible to achieve correct values here. Dogs are living creatures and don’t obey the laws of physics. They do not bite at full force on command.
Therefore, no scientifically based studies on the bite force of dogs are available.
Despite the large and strong teeth, dogs can use and control their power carefully. Just think of a mother dog carrying her puppies.
Terriers have the strongest teeth
The biting force can therefore not be determined meaningfully. This is different from the bit strength.
The fact is that some dog breeds have particularly strong teeth. However, these are not, as you might suspect, the “fighting dogs”.
Dogs used for hunting underground have the strongest bits. These include above all different types of terriers, which tend to be among the smaller dog breeds.
The classic hunting dog breeds also have very strong teeth. In comparison, the dentition of the Molosser is weak.
This means that bit strength is not related to a dog’s size. Dogs that are classified as “fighting dogs” do not have stronger teeth than other dogs.
How many teeth does a dog have?
The adult dog has 42 teeth.
In each half of the jaw, there are three incisors, one canine, four front molars, and two back molars and in the lower jaw, there are three more back molars.
Most dog breeds have a scissor bite. This means that the teeth of the upper jaw grip the outer tooth surfaces of the lower jaw.
Dogs with a scissor bite include the Doberman, the German Shepherd, and the Bernese Mountain Dog.
In contrast, a Bull Terrier has a pincer bite. This is where the incisors meet.
As with humans, underbites and overbites also occur in dogs. Other tooth misalignments are also known. Collies, Boxers, and pugs are predominantly affected by these anomalies.
Dogs can’t chew
The dog’s upper and lower jaws are connected by a hinge joint. Therefore the dog can only open and close the bit.
Lateral chewing movements, as they are capable of humans or primates, are impossible for the dog. Dogs cannot chew or grind food.
But that is not necessary at all. Instead, dogs use their fangs to chop up their prey. They help to break down tough and firm tissue such as tendons or cartilage.
Therefore, remember to clean your teeth regularly, for example with chew toys.
The fangs are for holding on. This requires appropriate strength in the jaw.
Decisive for this biting power is the size of the head, its muscle mass, and the size of the jaw and teeth.
How often does a dog bite?
How severe a dog bite depends on various factors.
When attacking or defending, some dog breeds bite hard once and then hold on.
Other dogs, on the other hand, bite repeatedly. It also comes to multiple bite injuries.
A dog that bites multiple times is the German Shepherd. If he attacks other dogs or a person, this usually means serious injuries.
However, shepherd dogs are not among the “listed dogs”. In contrast to the shepherd dog, this bite firmly once. Injuries of varying severity depending on where the animal grabs.
A dog bite will always hurt
However, a domestic dog will never use all of its biting power to intentionally injure another animal or human.
Nevertheless, caution is always required when dealing with dogs, especially with strange dogs. Because no matter how strong his teeth are, a bite is always unpleasant and painful.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which teeth are particularly long and conspicuous in dogs?
The canine teeth of the dog are long and pointed. Dogs use them to grab and hold their prey or food.
Which dog is the strongest?
The Kangal comes from the Turkish city of Sivas. This dog breed, native to Turkey, has by far the strongest biting power. At 743 PSI, the Kangal is #1 on the list. It even surpasses a lion, which has a bite force of 691 PSI.
How many teeth does a dog have?
A full-grown dog’s dentition consists of 42 teeth: 20 in the upper jaw and 22 in the lower jaw. More specifically, one finds in dogs: 12 incisors (6 each in the upper and lower jaw) and 4 canines (2 each in the upper and lower jaw).
Are dog teeth harder than human teeth?
In dogs, the tooth enamel is about 0.1-1 mm thick, depending on the tooth. Although the enamel layer of human teeth is thicker than that of dogs, few people would “dare” to chew on objects that they give their dogs for granted.
Which teeth come last in a dog?
In the upper jaw, the adult dog has three incisors (incisors), one canine (canine), four front molars (premolars), and two rear molars (molars). There is one more rear molar in the lower jaw.
Which animal bites the hardest?
Values of bite force and bite force quotient. The highest measured bite force so far comes from the saltwater crocodile with 16,143 N cm−2. The black piranha is the animal with the highest bite force quotient.
Which dogs bite the most?
German Shepherds, Dobermans, Rottweilers, and large mongrel dogs bite the hardest and most often. This is because these dogs are very popular and numerous. According to a study by the pediatric surgery department of the University of Graz, the German Shepherd and the Dobermann lead the biter statistics.
Who is the most beautiful dog in the whole world?
The Golden Retriever comes from Scotland and is now one of the most beautiful dogs in the world. It was originally bred to hunt waterfowl. Today it is mainly kept as a family dog, but also as a rescue and guide dog, as it is easy to train, very intelligent, and reliable.