Last Updated on September 24, 2021 by Marco C.
If you’ve ever played a game of tug with your French Bulldog, you’ll know what an impressive bite grip these little dogs have! Frenchies may be one of the smaller types of Bulldogs, but they certainly have a strong jaw. Let’s find out all there is to know about French Bulldog bite force.
French Bulldogs are friendly and lovable dogs and rarely bite out of nastiness. However, during play, they might accidentally give you a little nip, which can hurt! We thought it would be great to find out just how strong those Bulldog jaws really are.
What Is Bite Force?
Bite force is the measurement of how much pressure is applied when an animal bites onto something. This is the same pressure we use to chew our food.
Different species of animals all have a different bite force. The average bite force of a dog is around 240 Pounds per Square Inch (psi). Let’s compare this to some other species of animal:
- Human Bite Force – 162 psi
- Crocodile Bite Force – 3700 psi
- Polar Bear Bite Force – 1200 psi
- Shark Bite Force – 4000 psi
How Is Dog Jaw Strength Measured?
Several methods have been used to measure bite forces in dogs. However, none of these are entirely reliable, but they do give us an idea of how hard each breed of dog can bite.
One of the methods used to measure jaw strength is by doing tests with different dogs. A transducer with a sensor that measured force was given to the dogs, hidden inside a beef dog chew.
Unfortunately, the main difference in bite force seemed to be related to how much they wanted the chew and not the breed of dog!
Bite force measurements have also been taken from anesthetized dogs. An electrical stimulus was applied to the jaw muscles, and measurements were taken of the force of the bite. This gave some very useful data, but it may not be reflective of natural biting ability.
Another method to estimate bite force is by taking measurements of the size of the dog’s jaw and jaw muscles. These measurements are then used to do a mechanical calculation of the force of the dog’s bite.
So, which method is best? Researchers tend to use a combination of all the data available from these different tests, as no one test is completely accurate.
These results are used to inform medical research, such as developing new dental treatments and orthopedic implants.
How Much Is French Bulldog Bite Force?
Research has shown that the shape of a dog’s skull can affect the bite force it is able to exert. Interestingly, Bulldog-type short-nosed breeds have a stronger bite force than breeds with long muzzles. This is because these dogs, known as brachycephalic breeds, have short but wide mouths.
American Bulldogs, English Bulldogs, and Pitbulls all appear in the top 20 list of dogs with the strongest bite force. But what about our French Bulldogs? Is their jaw strength as strong as other Bulldog breeds?
Well, it seems that our little Frenchies are not just small in size, but also small when it comes to strength! It is estimated that the bite force of a French Bulldog is between180 and 230 psi. This is lower than the average dog bite force of 240 psi.
However, the figure of bite force for French Bulldogs may not be completely accurate. Researchers have not tested the bite strength of French Bulldogs. So instead, analysts used data from similar-sized dogs to estimate the bite force of a French Bulldog.
This means that the figure of 180 to 230 psi is a well-informed guess, but in reality, the bite force of a French Bulldog could be lower or higher than this. And until research has been done to test the bite force of Frenchies, we will have to be happy with this guestimate for now.
And if you’ve ever played a game of tug with a Frenchie, or tried to prise an object from its mouth, you’ll know that they can clench their jaws pretty tightly indeed!
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Luckily, this little breed is not known to be aggressive, so we don’t need to fear a bite from a Frenchie. This little dog adores humans, and most French Bulldogs would need extreme provocation to bite one of their favorite people!
Is Bulldog Lockjaw A Real Thing?
You may have heard people say that a dog will lock its jaws onto an object it doesn’t want to let go of. You might have even experienced how difficult it can be to get an unwanted object from your dog’s mouth! But can dogs lock their jaws?
Contrary to common belief, dogs are not able to lock their jaws closed. They can hold tightly onto objects by clenching their jaws together, using strong muscles to keep their mouth closed. However, the jaw is not locked shut, and it is physically possible to open it with enough strength.
The term lockjaw is a real thing, but it has nothing to do with the bite strength of a dog. Lockjaw is an old-fashioned name for a disease called tetanus. A dog can contract tetanus when bacteria enter the bloodstream through an open wound.
Tetanus, or lockjaw, causes strong muscular spasms. The muscles will become stiff and sore, particularly around the face. This causes the mouth to be held tightly closed, hence the name lockjaw.
Luckily, tetanus is very rare, particularly in dogs. However, if you suspect your dog has tetanus then you must seek veterinary advice straight away. Prompt treatment often results in a full recovery, but any delay could prove fatal.
Summary
So, as we’ve learned, the French Bulldog bite force is estimated to be lower than average for a dog. Analysts have estimated that the bite force of a Frenchie is 180 t0 230 psi. The average bite force for a dog is 240 psi.
We’d love to hear your thoughts on French Bulldog bite force! Perhaps your Frenchie is the absolute best at a game of tug of war? Or maybe you have some questions about Bulldog biting problems? Please add your comments below!
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