How Strong Is a French Bulldog’s Bite Force? Vet-Reviewed Facts
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Brachycephalic breeds like the French Bulldog have shorter facial bones and tend to pack a lot more biting power in their small frames than dogs with longer muzzles. However, the Frenchie seems to be an outlier in this equation. While there are no scientific studies recording a French Bulldog’s bite force, we can guess that it hovers around 140 to 180 PSI. Read on to learn more about the physical features that make a dog breed’s bite force strong.
How Is Bite Force Measured?
Bite force is calculated according to pounds per square inch (PSI). There are various methods of figuring out bite force, and researchers tend to use a combination in their data because each way has its flaws. Here are some of the ways it can be done:
- In vivo
- In vitro
- In silico
In vivo involves anesthetizing dogs and electrically stimulating jaw adductor muscles. This method did not show the bite force in a natural setting.
Next, in vitro bite force is calculated using mechanical equations for the mandible, skull structure, and jaw muscles.
The third method, in silicon, uses a computed model of the skull to estimate the bite force. This is usually done for extinct species.
Remember that these studies are slightly flawed because of the dogs’ willingness to bite. However, it still gives us an idea of bite force strength.
Are French Bulldogs Aggressive?
Although Frenchies are closely related to their strong cousins, they tend to be weaker than other brachycephalic breeds and are unlikely to be aggressive. Of course, this depends more on the dog than the breed itself since any animal can be trained to be mean.
How to Prevent Your Dog From Biting
It’s common for puppies to want to bite you, but you should discourage this behavior as soon as it happens. You can allow mouthing, but you should teach them bite inhibition so that they learn not to bite down. Puppy nibbles can quickly turn into painful chomps, and your Frenchie needs to know that’s not okay. If your dog tries to bite you for fun, firmly say, “No bite,” and redirect their attention to a durable chew toy that they enjoy. Give them praise once they start to play with the toy.
Some dogs respond better to a “game over” mentality. For these dogs, they need to know that biting will cause them to be temporarily ignored. If that’s the case, tuck your hands in your pockets so your dog can’t continue to bite you, and don’t look at them for 20 to 60 seconds.
When you discipline your puppy, try to keep your voice calm and level. Too much excitement can lead your dog to think biting you is a game, but aggressively scolding them may make them feel afraid. Frenchies, especially, tend to be sensitive animals, so it’s important to be direct but not overly harsh.
Summary
While Frenchies are not the strongest dogs in their close relations, any dog bite can be painful. Start teaching them bite inhibition when they’re puppies so they know that mouthing is okay, but chomping down isn’t an accepted form of play. The good news is that Frenchies don’t tend to be aggressive, so with the proper training, they’ll be friendly dogs who love to chew and play.
Featured Image Credit: Tienuskin, Shutterstock
