How Strong Is a Boerboel’s Bite Force? PSI Estimates & Vet-Verified Facts
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View 2 More +The Boerboel, or South African Mastiff, is a giant dog breed with a lot of power. Weighing as much as 200 pounds, as one would imagine, this breed is known for its strength and powerful jaws. While Boerboels are known for having strong jaws, with some websites estimating a Boerboel’s bite force to be somewhere between 250 and 350 PSI, no reliable scientific studies confirm the exact bite force of the breed.
Fortunately, although originally bred as a guardian dog, the Boerboel can be a loyal family companion when properly trained and socialized, though supervision around children is still important due to the breed’s size and strength. It is also intelligent and relatively easy to train.
About the Boerboel
The Boerboel is a mastiff-type dog, which means it is large and powerful. It was bred in South Africa to protect farms and homes. It can grow to nearly 200 pounds in weight, with the male typically outgrowing the female. Because of the large size of the dog, it won’t reach full maturity until at least 18 months of age and has an average lifespan of around 10 years.
Although it was bred as a guardian dog, the Boerboel also makes a great family pet that will form a close bond with all family members. It can be gentle with children when properly socialized and supervised.
The Boerboel can be a lazy dog, so owners need to ensure that the breed gets enough exercise and does not put on too much weight. Although many Boerboels can be well-behaved family pets when properly raised, early socialization, effective training, and love and affection can further ensure a sociable and caring pet.
Boerboel Bite Force
One characteristic of Mastiff breeds is that they are very powerful. In addition to being able to pull, push, and carry heavy loads, this power extends to their jaws and mouths.
Unfortunately, there have been very few scientific studies on the PSI bite force of specific dog breeds, and the one official study that focused on police dogs was measured in Newtons, not PSI. The study was focused specifically on German Shepherds and Belgian Malinois Dogs, with trained police dogs. The dogs ran 25 meters and bit down on their trainers' sleeves, which were fitted with force sensors. The German Shepherds’ median bite force was recorded as 360.4 N, and the Malinois’ was 247.0 N.
National Geographic’s Dr. Brady Barr has studied animal bites and tested humans, domestic dogs, and wild animals alike. According to research by Dr. Barr, the Pit Bull has a jaw power of around 242 PSI, while a wolf has a bite force of roughly 398 PSI and a shark around 600 PSI.
With this in mind, we could guess a Boerboel’s bite force may be a bit more than a Pit Bull’s due to its larger size. While Boerboels are known for strong jaws, there is no scientifically verified bite-force measurement for the breed, and any PSI figures commonly cited online are speculative.
How Does the Boerboel Compare to Other Animals?
Below are some of the bite forces of wild animals, including the most powerful, as well as some that are comparable to that of the Boerboel. Take a look at some more measurements taken by Dr. Brady Barr for some added context, but keep in mind that the bite force numbers listed above are estimates from different sources, including studies, expert observations, and commonly cited figures. They are not exact measurements, and results may vary depending on how and where the bite force was tested.
Because testing methods are not always the same, and some values are not scientifically standardized, these figures should be treated as general comparisons rather than precise or official data.
Final Thoughts
A dog’s bite force is not an indicator of aggression and does not mean that a dog of that breed will pose a threat to its owners or strangers. However, it does mean that if the dog is not trained and socialized properly or, worse still, is trained to be aggressive, it can cause serious damage if it does bite.
The Boerboel, or South African Mastiff, is a mastiff-type breed known for its strong jaw and powerful bite, although there are no scientifically verified measurements for its exact bite force.
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Featured Image Credit: Asonia, Shutterstock
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Nicole has loved animals of all sizes her whole life so it's no wonder she has dedicated her career to helping them through what she loves best: learning, writing, and sharing knowledge with others. She’s the proud mom of two dogs, a cat, and a human. With a degree in Education and 15+ years of writing experience, Nicole wants to help pet parents and pets around the planet to live happy, safe, and healthy lives.
