What Type of Breed of Dogs Is the Strongest?

Dogs have been bred for thousands of years for desirable traits such as intelligence, temperament and strength. This breeding has produced some massive dog breeds with immense power that have been used historically for various tasks. They have pulled carts and sleds, and some of the strongest breeds were also designed for war.

  1. English Mastiff

    • The English mastiff is an ancient breed dating back to the Roman conquest of Britain. It is a massive dog, growing to 30 inches at the shoulder and weighing around 160 lbs. Historically, the breed was used as a war dog to fight wild animals such as bears and lions and as a family protector against wolves. In more modern times, it is used as a guard dog, search and rescue animal and in weight pulling competitions.

    Great Dane

    • The Great Dane, or dogs much like it, are thought to date back to at least 33 B.C. It is a massive breed, growing to 34 inches at the shoulder and weighing more than 200 lbs. Thought to be descended from the tall slender Irish wolf hounds and the broad muscular English mastiffs, it is a strong animal. Historically prized for its ability to bring down bears and wild boars, the breed was also used as a household protector. Today it is seen as a good tracker, watchdog and is even used to pull carts in competition.

    Bullmastiffs

    • The bullmastiff is a more recent blending of the powerful English mastiff and the tenacious bulldog which dates back to around 1860. Smaller in size than the English mastiff, it grows to 27 inches at the shoulder and weighs up to 133 lbs. It has much of the natural power of its mastiff ancestor with its docile gentle nature, along with the tenacity and greater speed of the bulldog. Early on, the breed was used by games keepers to catch poachers, using its power to pin them down until the gamekeeper arrived.

    Great Pyrenees

    • The great Pyrenees is a large, powerful, cold-region breed which originated in central Asia and Siberia. Growing to 32 inches at the shoulder and weighing up to 100 lbs., the breed has a thick, white all-weather coat. Historically, it is a herd dog, used to protect against wild animals such as wolves and bears. The breed has also been used as a pack-carrying animal, cart and sled puller, and a war dog.