The Strongest Dog Breeds in the World – Origin & Characteristics

Since time immemorial, dogs have been some of the most varied and resilient animals on this planet. Dogs by themselves have been made to either be strong, delicate, or simply average for the sake of being a family pet.

But what about dogs that are stronger than they look? What about dogs who have been bred for the sole purpose of being tough and sought after for such purposes? Strong dogs can have many uses, from being a military/police dog to working or hunting dogs for purposes of either pulling sleds or capturing big or small games.

This article will be dealing with some top 15 strongest dog breeds in the world to help a dog owner pinpoint exactly which dogs are the strongest and whether one should get them or not. Do note that the stronger a dog is, the harder it will be to train effectively in terms of self-control.

Top 15 Strongest Dog Breeds in the World

This article will be taking an in-depth look at some of the 15 strongest dog breeds in the world and why they are considered so strong:

1. Bernese Mountain Dog

Breed Overview:

• Group: Working
• Height: 23-27.5 inches
• Weight: 70-115 pounds
• Coat and Color: Topcoat and undercoat that is medium in length. Colors can include either Black Tan & White or Black Rust & White
• Life Span: 7-10 years
• Origin: Switzerland

Due to being a working dogs, the Bernese Mountain dogs are some of the strongest dog breeds in the world. Being outright able to handle up to or more than 1,000 pounds, this dog can be exceptionally fearsome due to their agility and tensile strength.

2. Saint Bernard

Breed Overview:

• Group: Working
• Height: 26-30 inches
• Weight: 120-180 pounds
• Coat and Color: Smooth and rough double coat that is short in length. Colors may include Brindle & White, Rust & White, etc.
• Life Span: 8-10 years
• Origin: Switzerland

Muscular and tall, the St. Bernard dogs are fearsome in their own rights as they belong to a group of working dog breeds and hence have a body befitting the structure of such a dog. Being intelligent and strong, Bernard can effectively work as an excellent guard dog for either an owner or an entire family.

3. Bulldog

Breed Overview:

• Group: Non-Sporting
• Height: 14-15 inches
• Weight: 40-50 pounds
• Coat and Color: Short coat that is smooth. Colors generally include Fawn, Brindle, Red, White, etc.
• Life Span: 8-10 years
• Origin: England

Also known as either English Bulldog or British Bulldog, this dog breed, while being pudgy and small, are extremely strong when it comes to being a guard. Originally bred to be fighting dogs during the 13^th century, these dogs are exceptionally strong and agile when it comes to fighting.

Be careful though, a little bit of non-socialization and these Bulldog dogs may just bite a stronger with their strong jaws.

4. Siberian Husky

Breed Overview:

• Group: Working
• Height: 20-23.5 inches
• Weight: 35-60 pounds
• Coat and Color: Medium-length double coat that is lush and thick. Colors can be White, Silver-Gray, White, etc.
• Life Span: 12-14 years
• Origin: Siberia

Bred for pulling sleds during harsh climates, these dogs are strong under their own rights when being made to a task. Although friendly and welcoming to other people and dog breeds, the Huskies are conditioned to be one of the strongest dog breeds due to the climate under which they were bred.

5. Kangal

Breed Overview:

• Group: UKC Guardian
• Height: 28-32 inches
• Weight: 90-145 pounds
• Coat and Color: Short coat that is slightly dense, Colors may normally be Fawn, Tan with black face masks….
• Life Span: 12-15 years
• Origin: Sivas, Turkey

Rightfully considered to be one of the strongest and oldest dog breeds in the world, the Kangal dog breed, bred in Turkey for being guardian dogs, is truly terrifying. With a bite force of 734 PSI, these dogs can easily tear apart any living being on this planet with their jaws only.

Despite their fearsome reputation, these dogs generally won’t attack a stranger and remain aloof to them. Although training them in socialization will even make these dogs friendly with others!

6. Rottweiler

Breed Overview:

• Group: Working
• Height: 22-27 inches
• Weight: 80-135 pounds
• Coat and Color: Smooth, short coat. Colors can be either Black & Rust, Black & Mahogany, Black & Tan and alike
• Life Span: 9-10 years
• Origin: Germany, Rottweil

Bred for keeping cattle in check, the Rottweilers are strong when it comes to being a guard dog. In fact, these dogs are some of the favorite guard dogs of many family households as these dogs are used for keeping out intruders.

7. German Shepherd

Breed Overview:

• Group: Herding
• Height: 22-26 inches
• Weight: 50-90 pounds
• Coat and Color: Medium size double coat. Colors include Sable, Black, Gray, etc.
• Life Span: 7-10 years
• Origin: Germany

While not outright aggressive, these strong dogs bred in Germany for herding purposes can be effective watchdogs. These dogs due to being bred for herding are strong and intelligent; their bite force is strong enough to even break a human’s bones.

This can be good enough for keeping out potential intruders at bay or even give them a bad case of broken bones.

8. Tosa Inu

Breed Overview:

• Group: FSS (Foundation Stock Service, not recognized by AKC)
• Height: 21.5-23.5 inches
• Weight: 100-200 pounds
• Coat and Color: Smooth, double coat that is short in length. Colors are Black, Brindle, Fawn, and Red
• Life Span: 10-12 years
• Origin: Japan

Despite being considered a rarity, the Tosa Inu dog, crossbreeds of Bull Dog, Great Dane, and Mastiff, are technically the strongest dogs who may just be on par with the Kangal dogs of Turkey. Muscular and outright imposing, these dogs have a bite force of over 556 PSI which is highly impressive.

9. Great Dane

Breed Overview:

• Group: Working
• Height: 28-32 inches
• Weight: 110-175 pounds
• Coat and Color: Short coat with colors that can be either Harlequin, Black or Silver, etc.
• Life Span: 7-10 years
• Origin: Germany

Tall, imposing, and slightly lanky like a horse, the Great Danes are some of the strongest dog breeds in the world. Although normally guard dogs, they can be trained to be a guard dog for protecting family members and taking down potential intruders.

10. Newfoundland

Breed Overview:

• Group: Working
• Height: 26-28 inches
• Weight: 100-150 pounds
• Coat and Color: Double coat that is medium in size. Colors include Sable, Black, Gray, etc
• Life Span: 9-10 years
• Origin: Newfoundland and Labrador

Being considered one of the strongest dog breeds in the world, the Newfoundland dog breeds are perfect for being guard dogs, although they will have to be trained to be so. On the other hand, these dogs have a weaker bite force in comparison to other dogs, but their heavy weight makes up for that.

11. Tibetan Mastiff

Breed Overview:

• Group: Working
• Height: 24-26 at the minimum
• Weight: 70-150 pounds
• Coat and Color: Thick Medium-length double coat. Colors can be either Black, Red Gold Sable or Brown, etc
• Life Span: 10-12 years
• Origin: Tibet

Originally bred to be a guardian of livestock and other sorts of cattle, these guard dogs are extremely powerful and rightfully can be considered one of the strongest dog breeds in the world. While loyal to their owners, these dogs will need owners with strong mental fortitude as those who are inexperienced will be dominated by these dogs instead.

These dogs are not only terrifying in their appearance but also in their physical stats and a bite force of 550 PSI.

12. Rhodesian Ridgeback

Breed Overview:

• Group: Hound
• Height: 24-27 inches
• Weight: 70-85 pounds
• Coat and Color: Smooth and short coat. Colors can either be Light Wheaten or Red Wheaten with a black mask and white trails on the coat.
• Life Span: 10-12 years
• Origin: South Africa

One of the strongest of the sighthound breeds, these dogs, recognizable due to the ridge that appears on their spines, are strong dog breeds. While certainly not as strong as a Mastiff or a Kangal, these dog breeds are perfect for hunting and being trained to be wary or alert to strangers.

13. Doberman Pinscher

Breed Overview:

• Group: Working
• Height: 24-28 inches
• Weight: 60-100 pounds
• Coat and Color: Short and smooth coat. Colors can be Black & Rust, Blue & Rust, etc
• Life Span: 10-12 years
• Origin: Germany

With a strong physique and rigid body structure, the Doberman is appropriately terrifying when working pulling a cart or working to take down an intruder. The Doberman dog breeds are often wary of strangers and may outright be aggressive with them if not given proper training.

14. Chow Chow

Breed Overview:

• Group: Non-Sporting
• Height: 17-20 inches
• Weight: 45-70 pounds
• Coat and Color: Rough double coat that is smooth and medium in size. Colors can be Black, Cinnamon, Cream, Blue, or Red
• Life Span: 8-12 years
• Origin: China

Fluffy and pleasant, these dogs may give the false impression of being non-aggressive and friendly. But when it comes to a stranger, chow chow dogs can spring in action and may either make the mistake of biting a friendly person or driving away from an intruder.

These dogs generally have a PSI of 220, which might not be much compared to something like a Tibetan Mastiff, but good enough to take down most intruders.

15. Cane Corso

Breed Overview:

• Group: Working
• Height: 23.5-27.5 inches
• Weight: Proportionate to height itself
• Coat and Color: Short coat that is smooth. Colors may include Black, Red, Gray Brindle, etc.
• Life Span: 9-12 years
• Origin: Italy

The Cane Corso dog breeds are exceptionally strong, with a bite force of 700 PSI, these dogs can utterly break down bones of whatever living things they bite down upon. While these dogs might be aggressive towards strangers and wholly destructive when bored, they can be the perfect guard dogs and be trained to be more social but still protective.

Conclusion

While these 15 strongest dog breeds in the world may probably have stats that may change in the future, it is still a fact that most of the dogs in this list are fearsome enough for anyone, whether it be big animals, humans, or alike.

If you are the type to feel slight fear about intruders breaking in, are going on a long trip, and want a guard dog to protect yourself. Then with a consideration of your budget, you may try to get some of the dogs listed in this article and try for yourself to see just how strong these furry fellows are!