Top 10 Strongest Dog Breeds in the World Part 1

1. English Mastiff

Their ancestors were used to fight lions, tigers, and bears in Roman arenas.

Photo: Michal Ninger, Shutterstock

This one shouldn’t come as a huge surprise, because English Mastiffs are, well, huge.

Males can easily weigh up to 250 pounds (and the largest one ever was 343 pounds!), so it’s completely reasonable to think that they can pack a considerable amount of strength inside their massive bodies.

2. Rottweiler

Their forebears were used by Roman soldiers to guard cattle on long marches.

Photo: Ricantimages, Shutterstock

Unlike Mastiffs, Rottweilers have no problem reminding you of their physical superiority when they feel the situation warrants it. That’s a big reason why they’re often used as guard and police dogs.

They’re about half as big as Mastiffs — which doesn’t sound impressive until you remember you’re talking about a dog that can potentially weigh 130 pounds.

Like those larger dogs, Rottweilers also have an ancient lineage, as their forebears were used by Roman soldiers to guard cattle on long marches.

3. German Shepherd

Might be the pound-for-pound strength kings.

Photo: tr19001, Pixabay

They tend to top out at around 100 pounds, which is fairly reasonable compared to some of the giants on this list.

Still, they’re incredibly muscular and athletic, and they can be fearless when the situation depends on it.

That’s why you often see them chasing after fleeing suspects when even their police handlers are afraid to get too close — and it’s why you often see those same suspects immediately surrendering if it means that the cops will call off their dog.

4. Kangal

Kangal is the strongest dog in the world in one very important area: bite force.

Photo: FOTMA, Shutterstock

Also known as the Anatolian Shepherd

heir chomp has been measured at a whopping 743 PSI, which is more than enough to snap through bone.

Fortunately, these are very sweet-natured dogs, just like their Mastiff cousins.

They were bred to watch over herds of sheep in their Turkish homeland, where they’d have to fend off wolves, lions, cheetahs, and more — yet when they’re off the clock, they’re very loving and protective towards their human masters.

5. Siberian Husky

Bred for one purpose — to pull sleds — they can go for miles through thick snow without getting tired.

Photo: Rob Wee, Pixabay

Have you ever heard someone say that a powerlifter is the strongest person in the world, and then someone else says that the actual strongest person is some regular-looking 150-pound guy who can do 1,000 pull-ups in a row?

Huskies are like that average-looking guy. They’re not very big, weighing in at a mere 60 pounds, but they can outwork just about any other dog on the planet.

6. Great Dane

originally bred for hunting bears and boars but ...

Photo: mtajmr, Pixabay

While we’re comparing dogs to humans, have you ever known a person who was naturally bigger and stronger than everyone else, but couldn’t be bothered to get off the couch to prove it? If so, you’ve met a human Great Dane.

These massive mutts can weigh nearly 200 pounds, and if you’ve ever had one as a pet, then you know they can destroy your home without even meaning to.

They were originally bred for hunting bears and boars but eventually discovered that hunting for Cheetos on the couch was much more civilized.

7. Newfoundland

Large, imposing creatures, but these pups were created to take down relatively small game: fish.

Photo: rzoze19, Shutterstock

They’re incredibly powerful swimmers, thanks in part to their webbed paws, and they’re strong enough to lug a human out of raging waters. Today, they’re often used in search-and-rescue missions, and tales of their heroics are both common and astonishing.

Newfies are incredibly sweet and easy to train, so they’re great to have around children. After all, “Nana” from Peter Pan was a Newfoundland, and you never saw Captain Hook mess with her.

8. St. Bernard

St. Bernards were bred by monks to conduct rescues in the Alps, and they took to this job admirably ...

Photo: Ilona Krijgsman, Pixabay

...despite not getting any specific training from the monks; instead, puppies learned by watching older dogs.

They’re no longer used for Alpine rescues, but their powerful noses and eagerness to please ensure they stay in high demand for search-and-rescue missions. When not working, they can often be found competing in (and winning) strength competitions.

9. Rhodesian Ridgeback

Hmm…another dog originally bred to fight lions.

Photo: boumapetrovice, Pixabay

It seems like there’s some correlation between taking on giant jungle cats and being way too formidable for your average dog walker.

Despite being a relatively sensible 90 or so pounds, these dogs are tough as nails. They’re incredibly lean and muscular and make fantastic guard dogs, as they’re incredibly protective of their home and humans.

10. Irish Wolfhound

If you’ve ever wanted a dog that can put its elbows on your shoulders and look down into your eyes, this is the pooch for you.

Photo: Tikhomirov Sergey, Shutterstock

The tallest of all dog breeds, these mutts can measure over six feet from nose to tail.

They were originally created to hunt wolves, but they also dabbled in taking on bears and lions as well. However, modern Wolfhounds are remarkably poor guard dogs, as they’re just too friendly and welcoming.

This makes them great with children, though, as well as loving pets. Best of all, they’re fantastic for getting items off of hard-to-reach shelves.

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