People have been breeding working dogs for a long time to help them hunt, farm, herd, and do other hard jobs. These types of dogs are strong and hardy, and they are smart and tough enough to do the job.
Many strong dogs are chosen to work with people as police and military dogs, guards, search and rescue dogs, or for herding or hunting. They have natural talent and work hard to improve it.
Most of these dogs are in the Working or Herding group of the American Kennel Club, but not all of them are. Some breeds may surprise you with how strong they are.
Here are the 10 biggest dog breeds that are used for hunting, herding, and other jobs that require a lot of stamina.
- 10 Most Sociable Dog Breeds
- 7 Types of Yorkie Breeds
- 10 Happiest Dog Breeds
- Dogs That Look Like Wolves
Top 10 Strongest Dog Breeds in the World
English Mastiff
This one shouldn’t come as a big surprise, because English Mastiffs are, well, huge. Males can easily weigh up to 250 pounds (and the largest one ever was 343 pounds!), so it’s totally reasonable to think that they can pack a considerable amount of strength inside their massive bodies.
Just how strong are they? Their ancestors were used to fight lions, tigers, and bears in Roman stadiums. That’s some heavy-duty company right there.
Fortunately, most aggression has been bred out of them at this point, and they’re much more likely to be afraid of a housecat than to take on a tiger. They make great family pets, yet they’re also effective guard dogs based on their size alone.
Of course, it should go without saying that you need to leash train them early on because once they’re full-grown, you’re going to end up going where they decide to go.
Rottweiler
Unlike Mastiffs, Rottweilers will not hesitate to tell you of their physical dominance when the circumstances calls for it. That is one of the main reasons they are frequently utilized as guard and police dogs.
They’re roughly half the size of Mastiffs, which doesn’t sound spectacular until you consider that you’re talking about a dog that may weigh up to 130 pounds. Rottweilers, like those larger dogs, have an ancient lineage, as their forefathers were used by Roman troops to guard cattle on long marches.
Rotties can be really sweet and devoted pets, but they require extensive training and socializing since they are unpleasant to be around when they lose their temper.
German Shepherd
German Shepherds are the pound-for-pound strength champions. They typically weigh around 100 pounds, which is very light in comparison to some of the other giants on our list.
They are, nevertheless, extremely muscular and athletic, and they can be fearless when the occasion demands it. That’s why you’ll frequently see them running after fleeing suspects when even their police handlers are hesitant to go too close — and why you’ll frequently see those same suspects promptly surrender if it means the cops will call off their dog.
This breed, like Rottweilers, requires a lot of training and socialization, but if you raise them correctly, you’ll have a terrific addition to the family.
Kangal
The 140-pound Kangal, often known as the Anatolian Shepherd, is the strongest dog in the world in one crucial area: bite force. Their chomp has been tested at 743 PSI, which is more than enough to break bone.
Fortunately, these dogs, like their Mastiff cousins, are quite sweet-natured. They were trained to guard sheep herds in their Turkish homeland, where they had to battle off wolves, lions, cheetahs, and other predators – yet when they’re not working, they’re exceedingly loving and protective of their human owners.
Even yet, if you saw one of these loitering about, you’d probably reconsider stealing any lambs. If you actually intend to steal their livestock, you’d better bring something bigger than a lion, so…um….good luck.
Siberian Husky
Have you ever heard someone suggest that a powerlifter is the strongest person in the world, only to be corrected by someone else who claims that the actual strongest person is a regular-looking 150-pound guy who can do 1,000 pull-ups in a row?
Huskies are like that unremarkable person. They’re not particularly large, weighing only 60 pounds, but they can outwork just about any other dog on the earth. They were bred to pull sleds and can go for miles through deep snow without tiring.
They make wonderful pets, but all that sled-pulling energy needs to be directed someplace, so don’t expect a couch potato (but consider how much gas money you could save by sledding to work…)
Great Dane
While we’re comparing dogs to humans, have you ever met someone who was naturally bigger and stronger than everyone else but couldn’t bring themselves to get off the couch to prove it? If so, you’ve encountered a human Great Dane.
These giant mutts may weigh nearly 200 pounds, and if you’ve ever had one as a pet, you know how destructive they can be without even trying. They were bred to hunt bears and boars, but they soon learned that hunting for Cheetos on the couch was far more civilized.
These canines, known as gentle giants, are exceptionally affectionate and sociable. However, owning one might put your life in risk on a regular basis since they have the terrible impression that they are lapdogs.
Newfoundland
Newfoundlands are enormous, imposing creatures weighing 175 pounds, but these pups were designed to hunt very little game: fish.
They’re extraordinarily strong swimmers, thanks in part to their webbed paws, and can pull a human out of turbulent seas. Today, they’re frequently deployed in search-and-rescue missions, and stories of their bravery abound.
Newfies are extremely sweet and easy to teach, making them ideal for households with children. After all, “Nana” from Peter Pan was a Newfoundland, yet Captain Hook never messed with her.
St. Bernard
Monks bred St. Bernards to conduct Alps rescues, and they performed well despite receiving no particular instruction from the monks; instead, puppies learnt by watching older dogs.
Although they are no longer utilized for Alpine rescues, their powerful noses and enthusiasm to please keep them in high demand for search-and-rescue missions. When they are not working, they are frequently seen competing in (and winning) strength competitions.
St. Bernards, like many of the other large dogs on our list of the strongest dog breeds, make excellent pets, but they may also accidentally wreck your house (not to mention drown you in drool).
Rhodesian Ridgeback
Hmm…yet another dog developed to combat lions. There appears to be some link between taking on gigantic jungle cats and being far too intimidating for the ordinary dog walker.
Despite weighing only about 90 pounds, these pups are as hardy as nails. They’re extremely slender and muscular and make excellent guard dogs because they’re fiercely protective of their house and humans.
Even so, they’re normally calm, and while they’re not particularly fond of strangers, they’re also unlikely to assault them. Unless, of course, the visitor is a lion in disguise.
Irish Wolfhound
This is the dog for you if you’ve ever wanted a dog that can place its elbows on your shoulders and look you in the eyes. These mutts are the tallest of all dog breeds, standing over six feet from snout to tail.
They were designed to kill wolves, but they also dabbled in hunting bears and lions. Modern Wolfhounds, on the other hand, make terrible guard dogs because they are far too sociable and welcoming.
This makes them excellent with children as well as with pets. Best of all, they’re great for getting goods off of high shelves.
- World’s Most Obedient Dog Breeds
- World’s Least Obedient Dog Breeds
- Top 10 High-Jumping Hounds
- Meet the Fastest Dog Breeds in the World
- The 5 Different Types of Pit Bull Dog Breeds