How Strong Is The Boerboel Bite Force PSI & Biting Statistics

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The Boerboel is a large dog breed known for its size and guarding instinct. It originated in South Africa and was bred for the purpose of guarding farms and homes.

The Boerboel has a bite force of up to 450 pounds per square inch (PSI), giving it the 9th strongest dog bite in the world! However, it’s crucial to note that not all Boerboels have the same biting strength. A dog’s bite force is influenced by various factors like size, age, and jaw structure.

To fully understand the Boerboels bite force, this article will explore the PSI, its meaning, how it is measured, and why there seems to be a discrepancy in the numbers.

We will also examine Boerboel’s biting statistics, aggression, and compare their bite force with 15 other dog breeds.

Let’s dive in.

Table of Contents

About The Boerboel Dog Breed

The Boerboel is a large, mastiff-type dog breed that originated in South Africa. Also called the South African Mastiff, these dogs were bred as guardian dogs to protect against predators such as lions, leopards, and other large animals.

The Boerboel can weigh anywhere from 110 to 200 pounds and stand 24 to 28 inches tall at the shoulder. They have a short, thick coat that can be brown, black, brindle, or fawn colored.

The Boerboel’s lifespan is typically between 11 and 12 years.

These dogs are powerful and athletic. They need plenty of exercise and love to play.

Boerboels are also very intelligent and trainable, but they can sometimes be stubborn.

The Boerboel is not an aggressive dog, but they are very protective of their families. They make great guard dogs and will bark to warn you of strangers.

What’s The Boerboel Bite Force PSI?

The Boerboel has a powerful bite that can deliver 450 pounds per square inch of force.

This is one of the strongest bite forces out of all dog breeds. In fact, they rank in the 9th spot for dogs with the strongest bite force.

It’s crucial to understand that not all Boerboels have the same bite force. A dog’s bite force can be influenced by various factors, including age, weight, size, and health.

A Boerboel youngster, for example, would have a weaker bite force than an adult since it is still growing and developing.

And an adult Boerboel who is in good health and condition will have a stronger bite force than one who is unhealthy or overweight.

Lastly, the object the dog is biting will also affect the power a dog can put into their bite. For example, a Boerboel’s bite force will be different when biting a small object versus a big one.

A smaller object will be easier to bite down on with full force. On the flip side, force output can decrease if an object is too large for its mouth.

What Does PSI Mean?

PSI means pounds per square inch and is a unit of measurement that indicates how much force can be applied to an area.

In a nutshell, it decides how much pressure can be applied to an object. This is the measurement used to determine a Boerboel’s bite force.

How Is A Boerboel Bite Force Measured?

As mentioned, a dog’s bite force is usually measured in PSI. But how does this actually work?

There are a few ways, but the most common is the bite sleeve test.

A padded sleeve is placed over the Boerbowl’s muzzle, and they’re encouraged to bite down with all of their power.

In this scenario, the force per square inch (PSI) is measured on the sleeve where the dog bites. The sleeve contains a force meter device to accurately calculate this.

In addition, some researchers will also use a digital bite meter to determine bite force.

This is where a Boerboel would be fitted with a special mouthguard connected to a digital meter.

The Boerboel would then be asked to bite down on objects, and the digital meter gives a reading of force output.

The researchers will usually take a few readings with dogs biting different-sized objects. However, it’s important to know that dogs may not even be biting at their maximum force during these experiments.

This is why we can see conflicting information on the proper PSI of a dog’s bite.

Boerboel Bite Force Compared To Other Animals

While a bite force of 450 PSI is impressive, let’s compare it to other animals in the wild.

Here is a list of some other animals and their bite forces in PSI:

American alligator – 2980 PSI
Great white shark – 4000 PSI
Human – 150 PSI
Domestic Cat – 75 PSI
Crocodile – 3000 PSI
Grizzly Bear – 975 PSI
Wolf – 1200 PSI
Lion – 650 PSI
Tiger – 1050 PSI

In addition, we can also compare the Boerboel to other dog breeds.

To give you an idea of where the Boerboel lies regarding dog bite force, I’ve compiled a list of17 other dogs with the strongest bite forces.

Top 17 Dog Breeds With The Strongest Bite Forces

Now that we’ve looked at the Boerboels bite force in more detail let’s compare it to other dog breeds.

While a Boerboel’s bite force of 450 PSI is impressive, it’s not the strongest bite force amongst all dog breeds.

In fact, the top 5 dog breeds with the strongest bite force are all strains of Mastiff breeds.

Here is a list of the top 17 dog breed bite forces:

17. Doberman Pinschers have a bite force PSI of 245 to 305

16. German Shepherds have a bite force PSI of 238-280

15. American Bulldogs have a bite force PSI of 305

14. Huskies have a bite force PSI of 320

13. Rottweilers have a bite force PSI of 328

12. American Pit Bull Terriers have a bite force PSI of 330

11. Leonbergers have a bite force PSI of 399

10. Akita Inus have a bite force PSI of 400

9. Boerboels have a bite force PSI of 450

8. Dogo Argentinos have a bite force PSI of 500

7. Presa Canarios / Dogo Canarios have a bite force PSI of 540

6. English Mastiffs have a bite force PSI of 550

5. French Mastiff / Dogue de Bordeauxs have a bite force PSI of 556

4. Tosa Inus have a bite force PSI of 556

3. Cane Corsos have a bite force PSI of 650-700

2. Bandogs have a bite force PSI of 730 PSI

1. Kangals have the strongest bite force PSI of 743 PSI

The Boerboel Dog Breeds Biting Frequency & Statistics

Dog owners should be aware of the risk of having a dog with a powerful bite.

Let’s explore their biting statistics.

Looking through dog bite stats and fatal dog attacks in the US, the Boerboel does not appear on any lists. In fact, they’re not even in the top 20 dog breeds that bite humans frequently.

In addition, when we look at fatal dog attacks by Boerboel, there are also little to no reports. However, this is likely due to the Boerboel’s rarity in the US. They are popular in South Africa but not so much elsewhere.

Are Boerboels Dangerous?

No, Boerboels are not dangerous dogs by nature. However, dogs can be dangerous if they are not properly trained and socialized.

There have been some reports of these dogs mauling people in South Africa, but this is likely due to them being used as guard dogs and improperly trained.

Overall, this dog is known to be gentle, loving, and devoted to its family. They are not known to be dangerous dogs, but they can be.

Can Boerboels Be Aggressive?

According to the American Temperament Test Society, the Boerboel has a passing rate of 94.7%.

This means that out of the dogs tested, only 5.3% failed.

The test includes several temperament evaluations such as stranger-directed aggression, owner-directed aggression, and trainability.