The Siberian Husky hails from an ancient breed of tough pups, originally from Russia. Meant to withstand hellish cold and miles of open tundra, the Husky is an astute small-game hunter by blood, able to detect and snuff out prey with precision. In lieu of fresh meat he has the capacity to tear into frozen carrion because of his Husky bite force capacity. Missing a meal in such a critical situation could spell certain death, and the Husky is well equipped to capitalize on every opportunity.
So, what is the Husky bite force? An adult male Husky’s bite force rings in at around 320 PSI, or Pounds per Square Inch. A German Shepherd is capable of snapping a bone at 238psi. Considering a Husky’s force is higher than both a German Shepherd and Pit Bull, it’s fair to call it a pretty solid bite.
If considering your new companion for security forces it may not be necessary to acquire the beast with the highest bite force. The heaviest bite belongs to the Kangal at 743psi, but this is ludicrous for the everyday pet fan or unseasoned owner. There are many different factors to consider when comparing dog breeds and bite forces, so let’s check some out.
Why is Husky Bite Force Important?
For the typical dog owner bite force may not be supremely important or could be a complete non-factor.
If you’re in the market for a Min-Pin you can stuff in your handbag then a severe bite force probably matters to you very little.
If you happen to be a farmer and have flocks of animals to protect from natural predators however, it’s a good idea to procure a pup with a heavy-duty jaw capable of subduing and dispatching wolves, bears, and other desperate carnivores.
If you already have a sled dog, chances are he probably sleeps inside on the couch or a dog bed and eats the best food you can afford, runs around the yard and plays with toy ropes.
Due to human growth and technological advancements over millennia, domesticated dogs – other than those who are classically trained – no longer have a need to use their jaw strength for its intended, primal purpose.
If you’re reading this article, you likely either have a Husky or are considering getting one and are wondering something like,
“I hear they’re awesome but I wonder if they can hold down the fort?”
In the scenario of no longer needing bite force for hunting the question of bite force importance really becomes, can a Husky:
- Protect my family and property?
- Defend me against other dogs or animals?
- Physically stop or harm intruders if necessary?
An average dog has a bite force of about 270 pounds which puts Huskies just a noteworthy bit above standard.
At only 60lbs less than a Rottweiler’s bite a Husky is nothing to sneeze at.
Sitting handsomely at 320psi the Husky’s bite force is more than adequate as a defense dog as long as it’s trained accordingly.
Protection
Though they certainly have more than capable mandibles for destroying human targets, the loving nature of the Siberian Husky means that they’re not likely to be using them on people.
Although they possess a formidable bite strength, Huskies’ cool demeanor and laid back attitudes allow them to keep a cool head in the face of trouble. Some might even say too cool.
Their indifference towards strangers doesn’t lend to an outstanding guardian animal.
Huskies can indeed be trained to serve as a guard dog for your household, but they have to be trained from the time they’re a puppy right on through.
An accordingly-trained Husky would have no problem latching onto and holding a perpetrator in place, or even doing worse should it feel the need.
What Determines Dog Bite Force?
A dog’s skull has been finely tailored to suit its intended role in life over hundreds or thousands of years of purpose-oriented breeding.
As a side effect of this stringent crossbreeding, graded pedigrees have culminated at nigh-unreachable standards and measurements they must attain to be considered the ‘cream of the crop’ in their category.
Job roles have had a lot to do with the evolution of bite forces over the years but the rest of the body factors in largely as well.
Obviously, the overall size and shape of the dog are a big one.
No matter how you spin it a Teacup Chihuahua is not going to out-bite a Chow Chow.
Other items that heavily factor a dog’s bite force are variable measurements like:
- Length of the skull
- Width of the skull
- Basicranial length
- Specific skull ratios i.e.; length compared to width, etc.
The different sizes and shapes of canine skulls have fancy, scientific names for their groups but for the sake of brevity let’s not get into those here.
Just know that they mean; short, medium, and long-skulled, and that the way the skulls are constructed is very specific to creating a breed’s bite signature.
Big Biters
If the primary job of your dog is going to be protecting the household or farm, a Husky is not the dog you want.
When looking for defensive, no-foolin’ guardian dogs, options from the Asian, Turkish, and Russian livestock guardian breeds are your best bet.
These ancient pedigrees are enormous, stolid, and trustworthy, and other breeds don’t compare in brute strength and presence.
Livestock guardians are bred to protect whatever flock they have including their human families and will do so fiercely, and loyally.
Huskies definitely have their benefits and spot in your home though, so don’t worry!
They are fun-loving, inquisitive creatures that thrive on pack life.
Huskies are perfect for homes with children and other dogs, but be careful with smaller pets as (remember) they will always have that innate hunting sense we talked about earlier.
Related Questions
Due to their innate lovingness, it is exceedingly rare that a human contract a Husky bite. If it were to happen it would be likely because the dog was cornered and felt threatened, was abused or poorly trained, or was just an apple that fell way off the tree.
Huskies make fantastic family pets so much that historically the Chukchi and Inuit peoples used to snuggle in with the sled dogs to keep them warm at night, and modern mushers still do it to this day. This is where the term “cold as a three-dog night” comes from, though there is some debate whether the phrase was originally coined up north or in the Australian outback.
No matter how cuddly and polite your Siberian seems it is still never a good idea to leave a sleeping baby with a dog. Accidents do occur when both parties are not properly supervised, so keep a good eye.
Though many people believe this is true, the jaws of the American Pit Bull Terrier do not lock shut. If this were true, the dog wouldn’t be able to get its mouth open again post-attack. Though non-locking, Pit Bulls are committed biters that will reportedly hold onto their mark until past their own demise.
Another interesting note is they provide a lower bite force than many other dog breeds, which miffs another tall tale about the Pit Bull. Descended from Molossus genes, the Pit Bull comes in with a bite force of about 235psi. This may sound a bit low but don’t be fooled, they are experts in effective administration of their bite.
