Have you ever wondered how hard german shepherds bite? This article is going to tell you exactly what a german shepherds biting force is, as well as more information you NEED to know to remain a responsible german shepherd owner!
So keep reading to find out what a german shepherds bite force is, how damaging a german shepherds bite force is, where german shepherds rank amongst other dogs, where they rank amongst other animals and much more!
Table of Contents
What Is Bite Force?
Before anything, it’s important for you to know exactly what bite force is! Obviously, bite force is a way of measuring just how hard something bites. And it’s measured in PSI (or pounds per square inch).
While we never know the exact bite force of animal, we can get a pretty good idea of where it should be roughly.
What Is A German Shepherds Biting Force?
A german shepherd’s biting force is roughly 238 psi. To put that into perspective a human’s is 162 psi and a gorilla’s is 1300 psi. It’s estimated that having a german shepherd bite you would exert the same amount of pressure per inch as a refrigerator.
How Damaging Is A German Shepherds Bite Force?
As you’ve probably seen in the news, a german shepherds bite force can be extremely damaging. In fact, german shepherds are able to bite so hard that it’s quite possible for them to break human bones.
When an untrained german shepherd has this amount of bite force it’s no wonder that they’re one of the dogs with the highest fatalities. (But this shouldn’t put you off. When they’re trained right they’re excellent family pets, great with children, cats, other dogs, and even make great guard dogs!)
It’s important to know the level of which a german shepherd can bite is split up into 6 different categories.
The 6 Different Biting Force Levels Of German Shepherds
Knowing the different levels of biting force is going to give a clearer picture of how dangerous a particular german shepherd is. On the lower end of the spectrum your german shepherd will only require some basic levels of training, whereas as you go further down they may require a specialist, a muzzle, and in the worst cases euthanasia.
Here are the 6 different levels of biting force in german shepherds.
Level 1 – Warning Bite
This is the bites dogs often display when they’re feeling threatened or they’re trying to scare you away. It isn’t going to land, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t worry. Once your german shepherd lets off a warning bite they’re very clearly showing you they’re not afraid to bite. And as situations escalate, it’s going to be much more likely they’ll bite again, and the bites are going to become more aggressive.
So if you’ve noticed your german shepherd has been giving warning bites, you should begin training them immediately.
Level 2 – Skin Contact
As you can guess, this stage is where your german shepherd’s bite actually makes skin contact. However, the bite is still going to be incredibly superficial. While the bite has occurred, typically the skin won’t be broken. However, if your pup was a little bit too rough you may notice scrapes as well as tiny nicks and a small amount of bleeding.
If you notice punctures not scrapes then the bite is much more serious.
These two steps are the most common types of bite you can expect from your german shepherd. And fortunately, with understanding, time and training, you can better socialize your german shepherd to stop them from happening again.
Level 3 – Penetrative Bite
At this level, your german shepherds bite has fully penetrated the skin and the bite can be up to half their canine teeth deep. You’ll notice between 1-4 punctures on the skin, however, there should just be punctures and no lacerations.
If laceration have occurred it should be due to the victim pulling away or the dog being pulled away.
At level 3, you’re going to have to train your german shepherd and teach them bite inhibition. While level 3 is incredibly serious, fortunately a lot of german shepherds are able to overcome their instincts and become happy pets.
Level 4 – Serious Bite
While a penetrative bite is serious the next level of a bit is much more serious. At least one of the puncture wounds should be over half the dogs tooth deep, and you’ll also notice lots of bruising and cuts.
At this point, your german shepherd will have held on after biting as well as possibly shaken their head from side to side to inflict more damage. Your dog will need immediate attention from a specialist at this point, and you should avoid bringing them into contact with anyone until this has happened.
It will often be recommended to keep yoru german shepherd inside away from everyone else, and if you do take them out, then they’ll need to be muzzled.
Level 5 – Multiple Bites
Level 5 goes from being a bite to being a full-on attack. Your german shepherd will be biting as much as possible and they’re probably looking to kill. At this point, no one is going to be safe around your dog, and they may not even be able to be treated.
Sadly, if a german shepherd is at this point it’s often recommended that they are euthanized. This is one of the reasons it’s so important to socialize your German shepherd as early as possible and throughout their lives, as well as making sure that you’ve trained them correctly.
Level 6 – A Fatal Interaction
At this level your german shepherd has killed another dog or even a person. If this has happened then your german shepherd will be euthanised immediately.
Once again, understanding your german shepherd, socialising them and training them is vital to make sure that this never happens. It’s your responsibility to ensure that your german shepherd is safe and secure as well as happy with their environment to make sure this never happens.
There are a few things that can affect how hard your german shepherd can bite. And in fact, if you somehow notice that your german shepherd isn’t biting as hard as they should be, then there may be a problem.
Here are the most common things that can affect your german shepherds biting force.
The Size Of Their Head
This is the same for all dogs. The bigger their head, the harder the biting force is going to be. If you’ve got a boy german shepherd then they’ll typically be able to bite harder than female.
Body Weight
Another big indicator of a german shepherds overall bite force is their body weight. Generally the more muscular they are, the heavier they’ll be and the harder they’ll be able to bite.
Dental Problems
If your german shepherds biting force doesn’t seem as powerful as it should be, then there may be a problem with their mouths. It could either be caused by tooth pain, injury, jaw pain and in some cases even masticatory muscle deterioration.
If you think your german shepherd is suffering from any of these, it’s essential you take them to the vets to be checked out. (If you notice that your german shepherd has bad breath, then you should check out this article.)
What Should You Do If Your German Shepherd Bites?
If your german shepherd has bitten, no matter what level the bite is, the first thing you should do is consult a professional. Even if it’s a level 1 bite, your german shepherd has already shown they are willing to bite, and you should take this seriously.
When it’s not taken seriously often the behavior can become worse and worse and in some cases, they can even become fatal. If you speak to a professional then they’ll probably offer you the following advice.
In mild cases, they’ll often recommend training and socialization. Both of these are more easily done the younger your german shepherd is, however, they can be successfully done at any age.
When it’s more serious they may say that they’ll require 1 to 1 training with a professional to make sure that they’re getting the exact attention they need.
And in some cases, they may recommend that you always keep your german shepherd muzzled when they’re around people, other dogs, or outside.
Interested In Training Your German Shepherd The Right Way?
If you haven’t trained your German Shepherd properly, then this is the perfect time to start. Whatever bad behavior your shepherd has, whether it’s barking at night or other bad behaviors, using the right training program is the key to having an obedient and happy pup.
With Brain Training For Dogs you’ll save yourself a ton of time and effort. Instead of banging your head against the wall trying to figure out why your dog won’t listen, you’ll follow a path that has been tried, tested, and most importantly, that’s given proven results. Not to mention the fact, you’ll be able to fit the course around your schedule, not fit your schedule around a trainer or obedience class.
So instead of worrying about whether they’re going to be well-behaved or not, you’ll only have to worry about how much fun you’ll have with them!
And in most cases it’s still going to be:
Cheaper than hiring a professional.
Cheaper than replacing everything they might break.
And definitely cheaper than a lawsuit against you, if they decide to bite someone.
Just imagine how great it will feel to finally be able to trust your German Shepherd completely and never worry whether they’ll be naughty or not. Instead, you’ll have the peace of mind that you have a well-behaved pup, and the boundaries you set for them, will always be there, EVEN IF YOU’RE NOT.
And the best part is it also has a 60-day money-back guarantee! So there’s no reason not to give Brain Training For Dogs a try!
So if you’re tired of your dog’s bad behavior, or how they react around other people and pooches, then give it a try! You’ll be amazed by the results!
(You can also check out a full review here, to learn exactly what the course has to offer!)
German Shepherd Biting Force Comparison Chart
If you wanted to know just how hard your german shepherd bites compared to other animals and even you. Then this handy comparison chart will give you a rough idea!
How Does A German Shepherds Bite Compare To Other Dogs?
You may think that German shepherds would have one of the strongest bites due to their power and size. But this simply isn’t the case. In fact, a german shepherds bite pales in comparison to a lot of other dogs.
For example a kangal’s biting force is 734 psi, almost 3 times as powerful as a german shepherds. Bandogs are close behind with a biting force of 730 psi. English mastiffs have a biting force of 556 psi, and wolf dog hybrids have a biting force of 406 psi. A rottweilers bite is 328 psi and an American bulldogs psi is 305. Finally comes a german shepherd with a biting force of 238 psi. So as you can see, there are a lot more dogs with a much more powerful bite.
(Have you ever wondered how hard german shepherds are to train?)
Recap
Now you know just how powerful a german shepherds biting force is, as well as how it compares to wild animals, other dogs, and even you!
And remember, there are also different levels of severity when your german shepherd bites, and you should be very cautious whenever your german shepherd bites.
If they do bite you should take them to a specialist straight away to get the proper training they need!
Lastly, if you liked this article make sure you check out the rest of the website. Otherwise have a great day!
