How does a dog become so strong if they can’t lift weights Simple biomechanics. Did you know dogs muscles are actually 3–8x denser then human muscle.

Add the fact they have a low center of gravity and can displace the weight on four points instead of two, you can have a powerhouse depending on the breed.

Some of the strongest dog breeds in the world have been bred as working dogs to help hunt, farm, herd and protect.

We’ve compiled a list of the 10 the strongest dog breeds in the world—from hunting dogs, to herding dogs, and a few breeds whose brute strength may surprise you.

10

Bulldog

A Bulldog stature may be smaller but don’t not let that fool you, Bulldogs are very powerful and strong. Over 800 years ago in England the Bulldog was unfortunately used as bull baiting.

Bull baiting or dog fighting led the Bulldog to become fierce and aggressive. Eventually bull baiting was banned, and the Bulldog eventually softened their aggressive personalities. Their strength, protection, loyalty makes the Bulldog a lovable companion as we know today.

9

Chow Chow

They may be fluffy and cute but don’t be fooled, the Chow Chow is actually a very powerful guard dog. Over 2000 years ago the breed was employed to guard temples in China and other parts of Asia.

The Chow Chow also was used a working dog and hunter as well in the ancient era. Make no mistake the modern-day Chow Chow has retained their ancestors behaviors. Although the breed can still be aggressive, with the right training they can make gentle, sweet family dogs.

8

Siberian Husky

Although not the biggest breed on the list, the Siberian Husky makes up for it with its sheer strength. The Siberian Husky are known to to pull heavy sleds across the roughest known snow terrain in the world.

These dogs are incredibly strong and have a ton of endurance. The breed is able to pull heavy sleds in the roughest snow terrains for dozens of miles with minimal food. The Siberian Husky has adapted to the rough terrains over thousands of years. Their distant relative is the Chukchi Dog which was originally bred to help nomadic tribes hunt wild game and pull sleds across vast distances.

7

Doberman Pinscher

Karl Friedrich Louis Dobermann created this strong breed in Germany in the early 1900s. He aimed to produce a medium-sized companion canine that also bolds well to being a strong guard dog.

The end result was a athletic, muscular, good personality guard dog which is now known as the Doberman. Fun fact: The Doberman became the Marine Corps’ official dog during World War II, and are still used as security, military, and police dogs today.

6

Rhodesian Ridgeback

The Rhodesian Ridgeback was originally bred in South Africa to hunt large game, like lions and boars! The breed is known for their distinctive “ridge” along their back and can be aggressive by nature.

Almost 300 years ago the breed migrated to Europe to become excellent guard and working dogs. The modern day Rhodesian Ridgeback still retains their ancestors’ strength and endurance but are know usually kept as companion dogs.

5

Alaskan Malamute

The Siberian Husky may seem similar to the extremely large Alaskan Malamute, but they were first bred for different purposes. The Husky was bred for endurance and speed while the Alaskan Malamute was bred for strength.

The breed is known for pulling sleds but it’s well-known for being a great hunter. Alaskan Malamutes are known to hunt seals, elk and even polar bears! The breed is a wolf-dog hybrid but has been domesticated throughout the years.

4

German Shepherd

The German Shepherd was originally bred in Germany for the purpose of hunting and herding animals. The German Shepherd is a very intelligent, athletic and extremely strong dog.

Over the years the German Shepherd has served as excellent guide dog for the blind, service dog, as well as, military and police dogs. Their strength has been proven on the battle field and in the line of duty.

3

Great Dane

Considered the “Gentle Giant” the Great Dane’s massive size can be intimidating to some but their sweet and calm personalities will open your heart to them. Interesting fact, the Great Dane was originally bred as powerful boar hunting dogs.

The Great Dane’s job was to hold down their prey until the hunter was able to catch up. Over the next few centuries the breed was domesticated to become an excellent watch dog and companion to families across Europe.

2

Saint Bernard

The Saint Bernard is a massively hairy and very strong dog breed that originated over 1,000 years ago in the Swiss Alps. The breed was often employed to rescue lost travelers in the snowy Alps.

The Saint Bernard phenomenal strength and keen sense of smell made it an excellent rescuer. In fact, the breed is known to have saved thousands of lost travelers over the years. Today, the breed is domesticated and considered an excellent companion dog.

1

Rottweiler

Like numerous other strong breeds, the Rottweiler was originally bred to herd large animals, pull food carts and guard villages. Originating out of Germany the Rottweiler is an extremely powerful and muscular dog breed.

The breed is known to be highly temperamental, will see strangers as a threat and will do anything to grab your attention. Due to these characteristics the media has labeled the Rottweiler as a dangerous dog breed. This couldn’t be further from the truth, the breed can make great family dogs and is one of the most popular dog breeds in the USA.