German Shepherds are intelligent dog breeds that have served as herding dogs since the early ages. In addition to this, they are often used by the military, police, and other law enforcement agencies to examine crime scenes, trail criminals, and inspect patrol areas. This earned them the name ‘Police dogs.
German Shepherds also serve as good pet dogs because of their intelligence and loyalty to their owners. They always make sure to serve and protect their owners to the best ability.
Unfortunately, they are considered one of the most dangerous dog breeds because of how powerful their jaws are said to be. So if you’re planning on getting a German Shepherd or you already own one, you should be aware of all its potential behaviors. Ranging from how friendly it can be to how quickly it can change to a dangerous dog.
Can German Shepherds Bite Break Bones?
Yes, a German shepherd’s bite is powerful enough to break bones.
This ability is however owing to their strong jaws that make even the average German Shepherd able to create around 200 to 600 pounds of pressure from a single bite. The pressure is capable of breaking bones and even inflicting other injuries. German shepherd bites are so powerful that they can easily cause the following injuries;
- Facial injuries
- Hemorrhage
- Puncture wounds
- Muscular and nervous tissue damage
- Tendons tear
- Lacerations
- Scarring
- Disfigurement
Depending on the type and makeup of the bone, a human bone can break when 25 psi of force is applied, it, therefore, makes sense that a German Shepherd can easily break a human bone. In some instances, the wounds they cause are fatal and can cause emotional distress or even death to the victim.
Read more about German Shepherd bites in this article where we explained whether a German shepherd is ferocious enough to kill a pitbull.
What is a German Shepherd Bite Force?
A German Shepherd has a bite force of 238 Pounds per Square Inch (PSI).
On average, a German shepherd can create anything from 200 to 600 pounds of pressure from a single bite depending on the reason for biting.
When you compare the strength of a German shepherd’s bite to that of a human, a German shepherd can create a minimum of 200 PSI which is way more than just 80 from a human. This level of force is more than capable of breaking even a strong adult human bone.
What are the Levels of a German Shepherd’s Bite,
The German Shepherd’s bite can be classified into 6 different levels. They are;
- Level one bite- teeth coming in contact with the skin without penetration.
- Level two bite- teeth penetrate but leave no puncture wounds
- Level three bite- there are about one to four puncture wounds
- Level four bite- there is at least one puncture wound where more than half the teeth penetrate the skin, signifying that the dog’s mouth was wide open during the attack
- Level five bite- there are at least four different bites and incursions
- Level six bites- it is very fatal and leads to death. However, this happens only on very rare occasions.
Conclusion
It is true that your German shepherd is capable of breaking a bone with a bite. However, most German Shepherds that have gone through proper training are not aggressive and they rarely attack or inflict injuries on others. . Regardless, if a German shepherd has continuously observed the situations around it and it seems like there is potential harm or attack coming to it or its owner, it won’t hesitate to put up a fight.
With that being said, it will be difficult to stop a German Shepherd from attacking whatsoever or whoever they perceive as a threat capable of making or killing them and their owners.
Also, most experts agree that dangerous German shepherds are rare and are usually the result of poor training and inadequate socialization by their owners. Therefore, adequate socialization, training, repetition, and patience will keep your German shepherd from inflicting injuries on others when they are not doing it in self-defense.
