Top 10 Strongest Dog Breeds

Mary Simpson
by Mary Simpson
These dogs have a mighty woof – and the strength to back it up. When you want a dog that’s got your back, consider the pooches on this list of strongest dog breeds.


If you’ve always wondered which breeds lead the way when it comes to brawn, look no further because we’ve come up with 10 of the strongest dog breeds around… and you might be surprised! You see in order to compare apples to apples, we defer to the rules and regulations as set out by the United Kennel Club (UKC). It seems the Brits have identified the true measure of dog strength (as used in most weight pulling competitions) and it all boils down to how much of the dog’s own body weight, he can pull. In competition, Rover dons a padded harness and is challenged to pull weights a short distance over a short period of time – meaning both strength and stamina are measured.


So, while a larger dog might drag a heavier payload, a smaller dog may be considered stronger if he’s able to drag a larger percentage of his body weight. Got it? Great, let’s look at our list of the top 10 strongest dog breeds (in no particular order).


  1. English Bulldog

While we all consider this grumpy looking waddler to be more comical than physical, this dog was originally bred to not just fight, but take down bulls. Today that stocky strut shows this pooch means business and is def more than just another pretty face. Is it just me or do you also think “kibbles and bits” each time you see one? (Photo credit: Ammit Jack/Shutterstock)


  1. Saint Bernard

Slow and steady wins the race, right? While these cumbersome looking dogs are not built for agility, they have the tenacity and brute strength to locate and dig through heavy snow to pull out avalanche victims, then drag them to safety. And they’ve been doing this since the 17th century! Dang tourists just never learn! (Photo credit: Grigorita Ko/Shutterstock)


  1. Irish Wolfhound

This ancient breed of sighthound combines speed, agility and strength for a dog that in his day, was superb at hunting wolves! Yes, this super-strong yet incredibly gentle boy was not only powerful in the hunt but today is one of the largest breeds around and, as noted by the American Kennel Club, can stand close to 3 feet at the shoulder. (Photo credit: DragoNika/Shutterstock)


  1. Rottweiler

This powerhouse of a dog was bred for herding herd cattle to market and pulling butcher’s carts… wanna bet no one stole from this big boy’s cart when he wasn’t looking! Yes, this multi-talented pooch still is a working dog and needs a job to do to keep him from getting bored and into naughty dog stuff. (Photo credit: Sarit Richerson/Shutterstock)


  1. American Pit Bull Terrier

Can’t you just tell this stocky looking pooch with the muscular neck, broad stance and determined look is built for working and thrives on having a job to do. Truth be told, this powerful pooch is not only one of the strongest breeds but can be one of the gentlest when he’s indulging in his favorite pastime – hanging out with his human pack. (Photo credit: David Robert Perez/Shutterstock)


  1. Tibetan Mastiff

This beautiful boy proves that bigger is better… and brawnier. This massive mutt was bred for performing guard duty in Central Asia where he protected temples as well as flocks from the likes of wolves and leopards. So methinks that a weight-pulling competition where he has to drag a percentage of his 150-pound body weight around would be a cake-walk. (Photo credit: David Tadevosian/Shutterstock)


  1. Dogo Argentino

Want to see 90 pounds of pure muscle? This super lean, ultra-white pooch was bred almost 100 years ago for use in hunting big game. Yes, the big, big game in Africa. The breeder sought to create a powerful dog that would be effective in the hunt yet also make a great family pet. Sadly, his strength has been abused by dog fighting rings and he is banned in multiple countries. (Photo credit: Eve Photography/Shutterstock)


  1. Great Dane

This large, dignified looking gent with the droopy jowls and lanky legs was originally bred to hunt deer and bear over 500 years ago so this is one powerful pooch. While his strength and stature hasn’t changed much over the centuries, today these gentle over-sized pooches are simply great family pets that take up a lot of sofa real estate. (Photo credit: BIGANDT.COM/Shutterstock)


  1. Siberian Husky

If a dog’s strength is measured on what percentage of his bodyweight he can pull for a short period of time, then these mush mutts have to be the quintessential champion of strength and stamina. Built for pulling sleds loaded with people and supplies for hours on end (and loving it), these handsome boys are in it for the long-haul. (Photo credit: Kaiser_Dmitry/Shutterstock)


  1. German Shepherd Dog

Brains, beauty and brawn make these oft-seen K-9 officers one of the most popular working breeds when it comes to guard-duty, search-and-rescue and policing. Their ability to pickup commands, loyalty to handlers and the speed, agility and strength with which they can take out the bad guys makes him a pooch you want on your side. (Photo credit: Dmitry Kalinovsky/Shutterstock)

Mary Simpson
Mary Simpson

Sharing space with three seriously judgy Schnoodles and two felines who prefer to be left alone. #LivingMyBestLife

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