Has any dog ever been maligned in the public eye in quite the same way as the poor Pitbull?

Their mainstream reputation as a fierce, unpredictable dog isn’t just unwarranted, it also paints a false portrait of this gentle, loving family-centric hound.

This has in turn has created an image of the breed that bears little, if any resemblance to the truth.

Pitbulls can be a handful for first-time owners, as they know their own minds, and are stubborn and willful.

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They’re also strong, but then all dogs are regardless of their size. And pound for pound, despite what you might have heard or read, Pitbulls are far from the strongest breed of domesticated canine.

There are actually a number of breeds that are far stronger than Pitbulls.

We would like to finally put the myth about the Pitbull being an overly aggressive and physically dominant breed to bed once and for all.

In order to do this, we thought that we’d find out which breeds were, and are stronger than a Pitbull, based on three simple criteria:

Bite pressure and power
Physical endurance and strength
Size and weight

The Bite Is Worse Than The Bark – Pressure And Power

Based solely on the amount of pressure that their jaws create when they do bite, the most powerful, and the strongest dog isn’t really surprising.

It’s one of the breeds that the media insisted on demonizing before they blamed everything on the humble Pitbull, the Rottweiler.

Rottweiler

If we’re basing strength purely on biting power, the amount of pressure that’s created when the dog clamps on its target with its jaws, then the title of world’s strongest dog belongs to the Rottweiler.

Their bite is capable of producing one hundred and fifty kilos per centimeter of pressure, which helps to explain their formidable reputation as both guard and watchdogs.

Mastiffs

They’re big and bouncy, and their bite is only slightly less powerful than that of the Rottweiler.

When a Mastiff fastens its jaws on whatever it is that they’re biting, it produces one hundred and forty-five kilos per centimeter of pressure, which is more than enough to obliterate anything they bite down on.

German Shepherd

There are a number of reasons why German Shepherds are the military and police’s chosen canine partners.

Even though it’s not the most important, the amount of pressure that they can inflict when they catch and bite down on whoever it is they’re chasing plays a part in that decision.

The one hundred and ten kilos per centimeter of pressure that their jaws produce make them an incredibly daunting adversary for any miscreant and one that no criminal wants to face.

Compared to the dogs who top the bite power chart, the humble Pitbull doesn’t even come close to the number one spot as its bite is only capable of generating one hundred and six kilos per centimeter of pressure.

Let’s Get Physical – Endurance And Strength

The fact that the dogs that rule the canine endurance and strength world are all working dogs, or were originally bred to be working dogs shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone.

These dogs were made to be tough, and that’s why they’re the leaders of the pack.

German Shepherd

Bright, intelligent, and physically capable, these working dogs originally come from herding stock, and their ancestor’s ability to round up and keep sheep and goats in line all day and every day is a trait that’s stayed with them.

They’re not only strong, their endurance levels are also legendary, which is why they’re commonly regarded as being the strongest dog in the world.

Siberian Husky

Don’t let their fluffy good looks and gentle demeanor fool you, underneath all that fur, Huskies are all muscle.

Their ability to drag dog sleds over vast distances without resting until the day’s work is done, and then get up the next morning and do it all over again makes this breed one of the strongest and most physically capable in the canine kingdom.

And their loving, loyal nature and pack mentality also make them great family dogs.

Doberman Pinscher

The whole package and the real deal, the Doberman Pinscher doesn’t just look strong, it is.

And its unwavering devotion and single-mindedness mean that it won’t give up or give in, and will just keep on going until it achieves whatever task it’s been set.

Imbued with incredible endurance levels, Dobermans don’t know how to quit, which is probably why they’re so highly valued as security and guard dogs.

Where does the Pitbull place on the strength and endurance chart? According to most kennel clubs and veterinary lists, it barely makes the top twenty.

While that’s nothing to be sniffed at, it does cast a rather large shadow over its nonsensical mainstream reputation.

The Bigger The Better – Size Is Everything

Dogs come in all shapes and sizes, but some of them tower over the rest of their four-legged cousins, and their size and weight are a clear indication of just how strong they are.

English Mastiff

The English Mastiff is recognized by the American Kennel Club as being the biggest overall dog breed in the world.

It isn’t the tallest, but it is the heaviest, and as well as standing close to thirty inches tall, they can weigh as much as two hundred and fifty pounds.

Great Dane

They may not be as heavy as the English Mastiff, weighing on average around one hundred and ten pounds, but Great Danes are the world’s tallest dogs and can grow to be nearly forty-four inches tall.

Neapolitan Mastiff

In third place is another Mastiff, the Neapolitan, a dog that usually weighs between one hundred and twenty and one hundred thirty pounds, and can grow to be up to thirty-one inches tall.

Where does the Pitbull appear on the canine size and weight chart?

Well, as they’re usually between fifteen and twenty inches tall, and on average weigh somewhere between fifty and sixty pounds, they’re way down the list.

The Final Word

While it’s absolutely and undeniably true that Pitbulls are strong dogs, they’re not the strongest and they’re definitely not the most fearsome.

And the next time someone tells you that they are, you’ll be able to gently correct them and tell them all about the German Shepherd, the Rottweiler, and the English Mastiff.