Chomp Champions: Unleashing the Newfoundland Dog Bite Force!
The Newfie is a large dog breed known for their gentle giant nature and love of assisting their humans in different aspects of life, from water rescue to helping out with jobs around the farm.
Yet, Newfoundland dog bite force is a subject that is rarely discussed. And it’s easy to see why. The Newfie typically has a great reputation amongst the dog community as a friendly and soppy giant.
However, due to this dog’s believed Mastiff origins, its tendency to want to work, guard and protect means that biting behavior is something we need to assess.
Is the Newfie just as cuddly, fluffy and friendly as it seems?
TLDR;
🐾 Powerful Pooches! 🐾
- Newfies boast a jaw-dropping bite force of approximately 400 PSI! This fluffy, gentle giant lands in the top 10 for the most powerful bites amongst dogs, demonstrating jaw strength that’s not just bark—it’s all bite! 🦴💪
🐕 Diverse Doggos! 🐕
- Not every Newfie’s bite is created equal! The 400 PSI is an average, and factors like age, size, strength, and genetics can influence each dog’s bite force. Whether it’s a muscle-packed male or a petite female, each Newfie brings its unique chomp to the table! 🌟🦷
🚒 Helpful Heroes! 🚒
- Given their powerful bite and grip, it’s no surprise that Newfoundland dogs excel in worker roles, from guarding livestock to pulling in heavy fishing nets and performing water rescues. Their bite force is not just impressive; it’s a life-saving tool! 🌊🐶
How Strong is the Newfoundland dog bite force?
The Newfoundland dogs bite force measures at approximately 400 PSI (pounds per square inch). This means that the Newfie comfortably ranks in the top 10 for most powerful bites, demonstrating powerful jaw strength which is beyond your everyday canine, even the powerful Rottweiler.
Although the origins of the Newfoundland dog aren’t entirely clear, many believe that the Mastiff heavily influences its genetic makeup. It’s for this very reason that the anatomy of the Newfoundland dog’s head has meant that the breed has evolved to have a powerful bite and grip.
It’s therefore unsurprising that the Newfoundland dog has excelled in worker dog rolls such as livestock guarding and pulling in heavy fishing nets as well as water rescue.
The Newfoundland dog bite force should be respected and owners need to show awareness to this fact and take responsibility when training and socializing their Newfie from a young age, even though the Newfie isn’t particularly an aggressive breed.
How is bite force measured?
Typically bite force is measured in PSI (pounds per square inch) or Newtons. For the vast majority of bite force records, you’re going to see the number recorded in PSI. However, both of these measurements can sometimes produce different results.
PSI (Pounds Per Square Inch)
PSI is measured by how much biting pressure force is applied to a testing surface or object. The pound-force per square inch is a unit of pressure or of stress based on avoirdupois units. It is the pressure resulting from a force of one pound-force applied to an area of one square inch.
Newtons
1 Newton = 0.22 pounds of bite force, therefore the Newfies bite force of 400 PSI should equal around 1779.29 Newtons.
Do all Newfoundland dogs have the same bite force?
The 400 PSI is an average score attributed to the breed. This therefore means that the bite force can change per dog. There are a few factors behind this that may lead to stronger or weaker variations in bite force.
Size and Strength
Newfies can have a large difference in size and strength. Read more on our Newfoundland dog size guide here.
Males can range from 130 – 150 lbs and females from 100 – 120 lbs. Within that are differences in muscle mass and bone density which may cause variation in weight to power ratio. Some of which may be due to genetics, some of which may be down to lifestyle factors such as exercise and diet.
Add a powerful bite to a strong physique and it’s easy to see just how strong a Newfoundland dog is.
Age
A fairly obvious factor, but age can of course determine how powerful your Newfoundland can bite. An underdeveloped puppy or adolescent isn’t going to have anywhere near the power of an adult Newfoundland.
The height of their bite force is likely to be in their prime years from the age of 3 – 7. As they start to reach their senior years, the Newfie’s strength will likely start to dip.
Genetics & Anatomy
When talking to genetics and anatomy, we are speaking to things like jaw muscles, joints, teeth and more. The main muscles that control a dog’s biting force are the jaw adductor muscles. This set of muscles includes, temporal, masseter, medial and pterygoid muscles. These muscles are critical for eating and chewing. The main joint used is the temporomandibular joint (TMJ).
The inherited genetics of their hereditary line will likely influence the size and power of these muscles and joints. Huge differences can occur from dog to dog, some may also injure these muscles or suffer from a disease like Masticatory Muscle Myositis which will weaken them over time.
What is the Bite Force of the Newfoundland Dog compared to other breeds?
The Newfoundland dog makes it onto the list of top 10 dogs for biting pressure. The table below illustrates how the Newfie compares to other breeds.
| Dog Breed | Bite Force PSI |
|---|---|
| Rottweiler | 328 PSI |
| German Shepherd | 291 PSI |
| Cane Corso | 700 PSI |
| Old English Mastiff | 556 PSI |
| Pitbull | 330 PSI |
| Kangal | 734 PSI |
| Doberman | 305 PSI |
| Bullmastiff | 556 PSI |
| Newfoundland dog | 400 PSI |
Newfoundland dog biting tendencies
The biting potential of a Newfoundland dog is fairly low as they are not typically an aggressive breed. With that said, the Newfie is protective of its owners and won’t hesitate to defend them if it senses threatening behavior from strangers.
The main reasons that a Newfie may bite are down to:
- Protection
- Herding instinct (nipping)
- Provoked
- Over excitement
Some of the above reasons can be countered with consistent and effective obedience training and correct socialization from an early age.
The Newfie does have a low to moderate tendency to mouth which may materialize in behaviors such as light nipping, chewing, play biting or herding people. These are typically common during puppyhood but are fully trainable. These bites won’t usually hurt, however they still need to be nurtured out of them.
What dog has the No1 bite force?
The Kangal dog has the No1 bite force, recorded at 734 PSI. Second is the Cane Corso with a bite force of 700 PSI and in third is the Old English Mastiff with a bite force of 556 PSI.
Remarkably, some of these dogs have more powerful bites than wild animals found in the animal kingdom such as lions.