How Strong Is a Doberman’s Bite? The Incredible Answer!

The Doberman Pinscher has a reputation for being an “evil, aggressive dog,” which is unfortunate considering what wonderful companions they make. But part of being a dog bred for protection is answering the question about how strong of a bite the dog has.

While formal studies have not been done on this particular breed, it’s estimated that an average Doberman has a bite force of 240 to 300 Newtons. 

Here, we explain what Newtons are, animals with a strong bite force, and more about Dobermans.

What Is a Newton?

Time for a math and physics lesson! A Newton is a unit of force; it gives a mass of 1 kilogram an acceleration of 1 meter per second squared. Confused? Not to worry. This is why calculating bite force can be tricky. It requires quite a lot of equipment.

A study measured dogs’ bite force using a transducer, which is a hollow steel rod with a strain gauge wrapped in rubber tubing. The scientists also coated it in beef-flavored rawhide to encourage the dogs to bite. However, the issue with the transducer centered around the dogs’ willingness to bite it. This led to varying results, making it challenging to provide precise numbers. Additionally, not all dog breeds were tested, further limiting the study’s scope and generalizability.

How many Newtons is applied depends on several factors:

Unsurprisingly, breeds with the largest jaws and heads tend to have the strongest bite force among dogs.

The Doberman’s Bite Strength

As we mentioned before, no verified scientific studies focused on Dobermans. However, studies focused on German Shepherds and Belgian Malinois. These dogs were used because these breeds are commonly used as police dogs.

These breeds are close in size to a Doberman, and their head shapes are similar but not identical. Based on their median bite force (the German Shepherd has the stronger bite force at 360.4 N, and the Malinois’ was 247.0 N), the Doberman’s bite force is likely around 240 to 300 N. 

Remember that this is a guess based the Doberman’s physical features and the study done on those police dogs.

Are Dobermans Aggressive?

Dobermans are not dangerous dogs, but their reputation as vicious guard dogs isn’t far off the mark if they are raised to be that way. But the same can be said for almost every breed.

Dobermans were initially bred in Germany to protect tax collector Karl Friedrich Louis Doberman in the 1890s. He didn’t have the safest job, and he wanted a breed that would be devoted, dependable, and his protector.

No one knows precisely what breeds went into the making of the Doberman, but it’s thought the German Pinscher, the Rottweiler, the Black and Tan Terrier (an extinct early terrier), and several smooth-coated herding dogs were all used to create the Doberman.

Dobermans were eventually recognized for their skills as working dogs and have been used as guard dogs and have worked with the police and military, in search and rescue, and as service and therapy dogs.

Much of the aggression that the Doberman had back in the late 19th century was eventually bred out. Modern Doberman breeders wanted companion dogs and bred out their more aggressive traits.

Today, Dobermans will still fearlessly protect their family, but they are loving and affectionate dogs. If you meet an overly aggressive Doberman, it is because they were raised to be that way, not because it’s natural for them to be aggressive.

Conclusion!!

No matter how hard a dog can bite, the most vital thing for them is to receive the proper training, with stress on socialization, and to be brought up with love and respect. Any dog can be dangerous if they don’t receive these basics, but any dog can be a loving companion when they do.

Featured Image Credit: elis aksenova, Shutterstock