Tibetan Mastiff

How Strong Is The Tibetan Mastiff Bite? Force in PSI

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Tibetan Mastiffs are big dogs that hide their fierce nature behind their cute lion-like appearance. But these dogs can bite hard and hurt anyone trying to hurt them or their family.

The Tibetan Mastiff bite force psi is counted at 550 PSI. This is a very high bite force compared to the other dog breeds. Some may even say that this dog can defeat a lion with its sheer force. However, there are a few more things to know about this dog.

Introduction To The Tibetan Mastiff

The Tibetan Mastiff is an ancient dog breed originating in Tibet. There are records of this dog existing from 1100 B.C. in China. These dogs hung around Buddhist monks and were used as guard dogs for the temples. These days, you can still find a Tibetan Mastiff tied to the gates of these temples. The American Tibetan Mastiff Association says that:

Today in Tibet, Nepal, and other Himalayan regions, a pure Tibetan Mastiff is hard to find. Traveling with the caravans of the Tibetan sheepherders and traders, the dogs are expected to defend the tents of their masters against predators such as wolves and snow leopards. Others are used as homestead guardians, chained to gates and rooftops.

Appearance

Tibetan Mastiffs are an impressively large dog breed. Male Tibetan Mastiffs grow up to 26 inches at a minimum and weigh around 90-150 pounds. Female Tibetan Mastiffs are at least 24 inches tall and 70-120 pounds heavy.

The Tibetan Mastiff masticatory strength results from its large and muscular body with a high animal physical strength. Their body is covered in a thick medium-length double coat. This coat can come in black, blue, red, brown, and more, usually accompanied by white markings.

Temperament

Being raised as guarding dogs for so long, these dogs developed traits of territorial and protective dogs. Their high vigilance and reserved nature make them amazing guard dogs. Any intruder would turn back at the sight of this massive scary dog.

That said, these dogs are loyal, compassionate, and affectionate with their family. That makes the Tibetan Mastiff a good family dog. They are intelligent dogs with a strong will and a sense of respect.

What Is The Tibetan Mastiff Biting Force?

Tibetan Mastiffs have an approximate bite force of 550 PSI. According to the dog bite pressure distribution, this means that the bite of this dog applies a pressure of 550 pounds of pressure to every square inch. This is such a big force that can cause destructive damage to anyone. For scale, the Poodle bite force is around 200-400 PSI and is considered strong.

Besides this enormously strong bite force, Tibetan Mastiffs have an equally high pull force due to their carnivore jaw strength. These dogs can pull an average of 390 pounds, while some larger ones can pull over 7000 pounds, which is amazing. There is no question about the damage this dog can do to someone invading its territory.

Why Do Tibetan Mastiff Dogs Bite?

Tibetan Mastiffs are calm and calculated dogs due to living in Buddhist temples for so long. That said, once they feel threatened, they will not think before acting out protectively against an intruder. Three things will cause the dog to start biting.

Aggression

The Tibetan Mastiff jaw strength is scary once it becomes aggressive. These dogs can get provoked easily by strangers if not trained well.

Other than that, Tibetan Mastiffs can become aggressive toward abusive and violent owners. Any dog will become angry and start biting to protect itself. In fact, a study done by Dr. Franklin D McMillan, et al. regarding the abuse of dogs states that:

When compared with a convenience sample of 5,239 companion dogs, abused dogs were reported as displaying significantly higher rates of aggression and fear directed toward unfamiliar humans and dogs, excitability, hyperactivity, attachment and attention-seeking behaviors, persistent barking, and miscellaneous strange or repetitive behaviors.

Protectiveness

Being guard dogs for such a long period made these dogs very protective of their family. They are loyal to their owners and will do anything to protect them.

If a situation arises when someone enters the dog’s home and starts attacking its owners, be sure that it will jump to protect them in a second.

Boredom

Tibetan Mastiffs are intelligent dogs and need to spend their built-up energy. You, as the owner, can provide this by doing mental stimulation. “Most dogs should have at least 20 minutes of active stimulation each day along with 1-2 walks.” according to the Petcetera Animal Clinic.

If they don’t get to spend their energy, expect the dog to start biting and chewing the furniture around the house.

Photo by @tibetan_mastiff

What Is The Evolutionary Reason For The Tibetan Mastiff’s Powerful Bite?

The Tibetan Mastiff bite power is so high due to its place of origin. Living in the Tibetan Plateau for so long, this working dog had to develop certain skills to protect itself. The area this dog lives in is filled with predators like wolves and snow leopards that pose a huge threat to livestock. 

Because it’s a guard dog, the Tibetan Mastiff is tasked to protect this livestock. So owners selectively bred the dogs that offer more protection to their livestock. The harsh environment of the Tibetan Plateau expressed by extreme cold and rugged terrain also helped to mold this powerful dog.

Comparing The Tibetan Mastiff Bite Strength To Other Breeds

The high bite force of the Tibetan Mastiff puts it in the top 10 highest compared to other dog breeds. It actually takes the place of the 7th dog breed with the highest bite force. This is very impressive considering it’s the strongest dog among many other dog breeds out there. A mixed breed between two dogs with high bite strength, like the Cane Corso Bullmastiff mix can also pack a strong bite force.

If we look at the dog bite strength ranking, the top 15 dogs with the highest dog bite force include the:

  • Kangal – 743 PSI
  • Cane Corso (Italian Mastiff) – 700 PSI
  • Caucasian Shepherd – 550 – 700 PSI
  • Tosa Inu – 556 PSI
  • Dogue de Bordeaux (French Mastiff) – 556 PSI
  • English Mastiff – 552 PSI
  • Tibetan Mastiff – 550 PSI
  • Dogo Canario (Presa Canario) – 540 PSI
  • Dogo Argentino – 500 PSI
  • Wolfdog – 406 PSI
  • Akita Inu – 350-400 PSI
  • Irish Wolfhound – 350 PSI
  • Rottweiler – 328 PSI
  • Siberian Husky – 320 PSI
  • Doberman Pinscher – 305 PSI

If we compare it to a more popular dog, like the Belgian Malinois with a bite force of 195 PSI, you can see the glaring difference between the dogs.

Photo by @tibetan_mastiff

Levels Of A Canine Bite

The Tibetan Mastiff bite power is very high, but dogs won’t always use their full strength to bite. To better explain this situation, the levels of a canine bite were created.

Level 1

The first level of a bite is a non-contact one. Here, the dog only bites the air and shows its intentions if you cross its borders. The point is to scare the intruder instead of harming them.

Level 2

The second level of the bite is when the dog achieves contact with the intruder. Here, the skin gets slightly hurt, but no bite marks are left due to there being no puncture.

Level 3

At the point of level three, the first puncture of the skin is achieved. You can notice one or more marks on the skin bitten by the dog. These wounds are shallow, yet they require treatment.

Level 4

The fourth level of a bite is described as a single but deep wound on the skin. This can be accompanied by bruising and damaged skin from the dog shaking its heat while biting.

Level 5

Because the Tibetan Mastiff bite pressure is so high, it can cause multiple bites with the same damage at level 4. This is described as a level 5 bite wound. It can lead to the victim losing a limb.

Level 6

The final level of a dog bite is one which results fatally. The victim of these bites can be instantly attacked and killed by the dog if not careful. You should never allow a dog to get to this level according to dog bite law regulations. Knowing how strong is a Tibetan Mastiff, you can imagine that its bite can get to this level.

How To Stop The Tibetan Mastiff From Biting

To prevent the Tibetan Mastiff from biting and harming anyone by accident, there are things you can do to help.

Training And Socialization

Due to the high Tibetan Mastiff bite intensity, these dogs should be taught how not to use their full force when play fighting. That’s where a process called “bite inhibition” finds its place. Bite inhibition is something the parent of the dog teaches while it’s still a puppy. When playing together with the parents and siblings, the dog will bite, but its bite should not be too high so it hurts the other dog.

You should also do this. Every time you play with your dog and it bites too hard, say “ouch” and pause. The point is to let the dog realize that it hurts you and know how to prevent that in the future. Socialization is also key when preventing a dog from hurting other people and dogs.

Exercise And Chew Toys

Even though they are very big dogs, with strong canine anatomy, Tibetan Mastiffs have a lot of energy they need to spend during the day. On average, a Tibetan Mastiff will need around 1 hour of exercise every day. This can be split into more sessions in the morning and evening. You can take the dog on a walk, run, hike, or play some games to bond even more.

You can also buy some chew toys that can withstand the Tibetan Mastiff teeth pressure. These toys will also help the dog cope with boredom when you are too busy to play. They also help with canine dental cleaning. Just don’t buy any rope toys as dogs can choke on the string from the rope toy and experience digestive problems.

Professional Help And Supplements

When you can’t deal with the dog yourself, the best thing to do is to ask for professional help. Search for an animal behavior specialist to deal with all the canine behavioral issues. Veterinarians can also help with dog aggression management and give you tips on how to train your dog. If the dog’s aggressive behavior can not be dealt with, the animal control department should be called. 

The aggressive and biting behavior of the Tibetan Mastiff can also be dealt with by using supplements. Some supplements like valerian root help dogs relax in stressful situations thus reducing aggressive behavior. A proper diet is also essential in keeping the dog healthy and happy.

Does This Dog Bite A Lot According To Statistics?

Knowing the PSI of Tibetan Mastiff bite force, you can relax because this big dog is not often seen biting innocent people with its big jaws. The dog most notorious dog for biting people is the American Pit Bull Terrier. Besides the American Pitbull Terrier, another surprisingly common aggressive breed in these statistics is the German Shepherd. The German Shepherd bite force is also high, going around 238-291 PSI. This high number of bites is mostly due to the German Shepherd being used as a police dog.

Some dogs that look scary like the Tibetan Mastiff dog but don’t attack people include the Chow Chow, English Mastiff, Cane Corso, and Dutch Shepherd. The American Bulldog and English Bulldog are also quite calm dogs despite their appearance.

Photo by @tibetan_mastiff

Final Thoughts About The Tibetan Mastiff Bite Force Psi

Tibetan Mastiffs are massive dogs with an ancient history. For hundreds of years, they were used as guard dogs in Buddhist temples. This helped them develop a very territorial and protective nature. Being loyal and affectionate dogs, they will do anything to protect their family and territory from an intruder.

The Tibetan Mastiff bite PSI measures around 550. This puts it in the 7th place by bite force out of all known dog breeds. By biting with full force, this dog can cause a lot of damage and even death.

To stop the dog from biting and preventing any problems, there are a few things you can do. Proper training, socialization, exercise, and professional help are all part of dealing with the strong bite force of this dog.

FAQ

In Which Countries are Tibetan Mastiff Banned?

The ownership and import of these dogs are banned in some countries or parts of countries. Such are Shanghai and Hangzhou in China, Malaysia, Maldives, and Germany among others. Some US states also have restrictions on the breed.

Can Tibetan Mastiff Kill A Wolf?

Tibetan Mastiffs are protective dogs and will try to protect their family from a wolf attack. But it is not certain if this dog can kill a wolf. Some wolves are larger and have more fighting experience.

Can Tibetan Mastiff Kill A Lion?

Even though the Tibetan Mastiff bite force psi is very high, it would be hard for it to defeat a lion. Lions are bigger, stronger, and have a bite force higher than the Tibetan Mastiff.

Can Tibetan Mastiff Kill A Pitbull?

Pitbulls are big dogs with a muscular stature and tough temperament. But they have a lower bite force than the Tibetan Mastiff. Knowing how strong is a Tibetan Mastiff, we can say yes, a Tibetan Mastiff can defeat a Pitbull.

More dog breed resources

Here are a few other resources that introduce other dog breeds you may be interested in or haven’t heard of yet.

You can find a lot more information on other dog breeds on our site Dogisa!

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