What is actually Chihuahua bite force and why you need to know more about it? For many people out there, owning a dog is not only a matter of personal obligation but also one of concern about compatibility. After all, every dog doesn’t fit every owner.
Smaller breeds usually get picked out due to their perceived ease of upkeep, which includes the potential amount of damage they can produce before being properly trained.
That’s why one of the important bits of information is the breed’s bite strength. This article will specifically look into the bite strength of a Chihuahua due to this breed’s popularity.
Chihuahua bite force
One of the most important measures of a dog’s overall potential to either injure you or cause damage to household items is its bite force. The bite force is an important thing to take into account when getting a dog because it can heavily inform what accessories you’ll be purchasing for your furry best friend. Be it toys or training gear, bite power may change the prerequisites and strength of these items.Meaning of bite force. [1]
The bite power of an animal is measured by the amount of force it can exert on the surface of its bite. This means that the power of the bite is equally powerful on each part of the creature’s jaw. That’s why the bite force is measured in pounds per square inch, or psi for short. It is an imperial unit utilized for the measurement of pressure which in turn gives the calculation of force applied to an area. [2]
Chihuahua’s bite
So how high is a Chihuahua’s bite force? Well, it is firmly being placed in the ballpark of 100 to 180 psi. Keep in mind that this is merely estimated bite strength so it’s not a flat number but rather a theoretical range that’s possible with the shape and size of the Chihuahua’s head. The estimate puts the power of this breed lower than a number of other breeds but the power of said bite shouldn’t be underestimated still.
Chihuahua bite wound
As with every measurement, the numbers are good for comparisons and theoretical speak but the actual harm that can be done is something completely different to evaluate. While a Chihuahua’s bite isn’t exceptionally powerful, it’s on the lower end of dog breeds, it can still cause harm.
However, even though their bite force is nothing exceptional their aggression is higher than that of most other breeds. Chihuahuas are notorious for being very feisty despite their size, although they are still in the medium range when bite frequency is concerned. [3]
The actual wound can often be quite unremarkable. We are naturally afraid of dog bites because even the smaller ones can give you a nasty cut when they clench their jaws. As far as Chihuahuas go, the low bite force really mitigates a lot of the potential damage. [4]
While other breeds may end up accidentally cutting your hand open while being playful, these small dogs have to really try to cause harm. They will probably end up drawing blood with a really good grip but it shouldn’t be too serious of an injury. However, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t treat the wound properly.
- Cleanse it
The first step when treating a wound is to use mild soap and warm water to wash out the wound. Don’t be hasty, let it sit under the water for half a dozen minutes or even longer depending on how you are feeling.
- Stop the bleeding
After that, check if the wound is still bleeding. Wrap a piece of clean cloth or other applicable materials on top of the wound. This will stop the bleeding and protect the wound from outside bacteria. [5]
- Go to a doctor if complications occur
If the wound seems serious or if you start feeling worse, a visit to the doctor may be in order but considering the rarity of dangerous wounds inflicted by Chihuahuas, which we will cover below, you’ll probably just need to sit and calm down.
- Prevent potential infections
However, you should definitely keep an eye out for any signs of infection and switch the dressing of your wound semi-frequently. While the severity of the wound may not be huge it could lead to a worse situation without treatment. [6]
- Dangerous areas to get bit on
Now for the dangerous situation, you may end up in. While most Chihuahua bites lead to a quick bit of pain and hurt feelings afterward, there are some places where the Chihuahua could cause serious harm.
Any of the arteries on our bodies provide a very concerning location to get wounded on. These wounds can lead to excessive bleeding, which can become fatal if not treated in time.
If you happen to suffer such a wound the best course of action would be getting to the nearest hospital as soon as possible. Quickly rinse it out and bandage it to slow the bleeding before leaving to prevent the situation from worsening.
Chihuahua bite fatality
That leads us to another question. Are Chihuahua bites deadly? Well, if we look into the database of dog attacks and fatalities and revise the information there, the answer should show itself. This database tells us of the frequency and fatality of attacks.
When it comes to frequency, Chihuahuas are known to bite vets and get nips in often. The aforementioned aggression of the breed probably contributes to that although bite frequency ,in general, isn’t too extreme.
As far as actual fatalities go, Chihuahuas have very few to speak of. In fact, judging by the information present, the breed was only responsible for one fatal bite since 2005. While the bite is considered fatal here, the surrounding factors may have contributed to the deadliness of it as well.
As we’ve said, the only dangerous spots Chihuahuas could cause dangerous injuries with are arteries. Of course, there’s always a possibility that the bite itself wasn’t fatal but it might’ve led to an unfortunate situation where it either made a person trip or get into another further dangerous situation.
Chihuahua bite force vs Pitbull bite force
It can be tough to imagine the bite force of a Chihuahua especially in comparison to other dog breeds that may have an actually formidable bite. That’s why we’ll do an outright comparison to help visualize that difference. We will take Pitbull as an example because it’s a dog most frequently associated with powerful bites.
Chihuahua bite force
As we’ve noted before, the bite force Chihuahua has is somewhere between 100 and 180 psi so an average would be about 150 psi. This is still a rough estimate but one drawn out through specific professional calculations. With that, Chihuahua can still draw blood and cut skin. Let’s start with some general wounds and then look into the highest possible damage one such wound can make.
Chihuahua is capable of causing bruising and punctures in the skin, you may have experienced a similar impact if you’ve ever had encounters with bigger rose thorns or similar plant life. The true danger comes after the bite and it is here where just about any dog bite can turn serious or at least more so than it initially was.
Moving while the dog is still clamping down on you can cause tears down the body part being bit. This can increase bleeding and worsen the situation. You should be very careful when trying to separate the dog from the person being bit. On top of that, make sure to apply proper treatment afterward.
Apart from arteries being a vulnerable spot to be bit in and a potentially fatal place to get just about any bite, Chihuahua can inflict some other considerable wounds and issues. Most of these problematic injuries are those that stem from Chihuahuas biting the person somewhere in the area of their head.
Ears, eyes, lips, and nose being the obvious vulnerable targets that can easily be cut as well as permanently damaged even by a Chihuahua. There have been cases of Chihuahua biting the person’s eyelid, which can further complicate things if the wound isn’t correctly cleaned.
Pitbull bite force
Pitbulls are a well-known breed when it comes to dog bite accidents. In fact, they are the deadliest breed by the numbers. With over 200 fatal attacks since 2005, Pitbulls are a frequently feared breed. The overall danger of their bites comes partially due to them being bred as dog fighting breeds. This breed won’t let go once their bite, meaning that the injury itself can become quite catastrophic.
It should go without saying that previous and following information isn’t meant to demonize Pitbulls as a breed. A lot of the accidents happen because the owners themselves are terrible at training and caring for their dogs. Underground fighting rings are still a thing so it’s not impossible for a number of attacks and fatalities to come from dogs who are still being used in this repulsive sport. As far as breed’s aggression goes, there are plenty of ways in which you can correctly train them to make them as kind as any other house dog.
Pitbull bite force isn’t too high when compared to most dogs, reaching 235 psi of bite force. As we’ve mentioned before, Pitbulls do not let go once they bite. This makes it hard to get the dog away from the person they bit and makes it more likely that the state of the injury will worsen the longer the dog holds on.
This tight grip also endangers the person being bit due to the increased amount of blood loss they are enduring while the attack lasts. Even after the dog has been separated from the wound, a quick reaction is required to make sure no excessive damage has been done and potential infections are prevented.
How do Chihuahua bites compare to other breeds?
While the comparison between Pitbull and Chihuahua may be extreme when it comes to fatalities, they aren’t extremely far apart in values. However, it gives you a rough idea of how different the bite of the dog breeds can be especially when unique traits of breed’s upbringing are taken into account. Even though the numbers of their bite force aren’t too far apart, the results of the bites are. To further reinforce and give insight into Chihuahua’s bite we’ve compiled a table of some breeds and their bite force in comparison to a Chihuahua.
Bite Force Table
| Breed | Breed Group | Bite Force |
| Chihuahua | Toy breed | 100-180 psi |
| Pomeranian | Toy breed | 100-200 psi |
| Malinois dog | Herding | 195 psi |
| English Bulldog | Non-sporting | 210 psi |
| Great Dane | Working | 238 psi |
| German Shepherd | Herding | 238 psi |
| American Bulldog | None | 305 psi |
| Dogo Argentino | Working | 500 psi |
| English Mastiff | Working | 552 psi |
| Cane Corso | Working | 700 psi |
| Kangal | Herding | 743 psi |
Role of intelligence in Chihuahua’s behavior
The cleverness and intelligence of a dog can aid it during everyday life as well as high-stress situations. Those dogs who are better at handling themselves mentally usually end up being much different in behavior to their less capable counterparts. Just like humans, dogs have multiple types of intelligence to consider.
Depending on the type of intelligence we are dealing with, the dog may have a different response to short and long-term stimuli as well as training in general.
The intelligence of a dog can alter the way it approaches other dogs too. For Chihuahuas, you’ll find they excel at certain types of intelligence. One of these ties to their long-form memory which can leave them aggressive to factors that may remind them of old traumas.
Common misconception around Chihuahua’s bite
The most common misconception about Chihuahua’s bite is its power. As we’ve listed above, it can barely get near 200 psi even by the highest estimate. However, there is a frequent and debunked rumor that Chihuahuas have a bite strength of 3900 psi.
This is false as plentiful sources will inform you. To give a quick comparison that supports it, the strongest bite force out of any dog breed goes to Kangal. Even that force is far lower than the estimated 3900 psi, coming in at 743 psi. That means Chihuahua would have bite force that’s more than five times higher than the most powerful dog bite. [1]
Not only that, with the value of 3900 psi, Chihuahua would surpass animals such as grizzly bears who have 1160 psi of bite force or even saltwater crocodiles whose bite force is around 3700 psi. Keep in mind, saltwater crocodiles are capable of killing buffalos with their powerful bite. Gauging that a Chihuahua’s bite higher than that of a creature that can slay such a large prey is not only unrealistic, it’s very silly.
Advice to keep your Chihuahua from biting
By properly treating your dog, chances of them becoming aggressive go down. This applies to every breed but with Chihuahuas and their tendency towards being ferocious little dogs, it will be even more noticeable.
- Feed them good
The first step to a satisfied and calm dog is a good diet. Your dog needs to eat a nice mix of nutrients the same way that you do. However, it’s not rare that people end up feeding their dogs a very bland diet. It’s also not suggested to feed Chihuahuas with leftovers from your table. Their size and somewhat delicate digestive system can have problems dealing with food you may be preparing for yourself.
The focus of a Chihuahua’s diet should be vitamins and nutrients. While there are brands of dog food that afford both in decent capacity, it’s always nice to mix it up. Dogs like special treats as much as we do so giving them something unusual to eat can be a nice way to add interesting diversity into their diet.
- Keep them active
Chihuahuas are exceptionally energetic dogs. They can get bored easily and need constant entertainment to keep satisfied. Make sure to engage them as often as possible through any fun methods you have on hand. This can include teaching them new tricks or simply going for a long walk with them. It can also be healthy to take them for a swim but before that you should get educated on their swimming capabilities.
Keeping these energetic little dogs moving also improves their behavior so you can expect a lot less ruined furniture from a Chihuahua who has frequent and fun exercise.
- Train them
This is a bit of a no-brainer but some of our dog’s behavior will need to be changed through training. For dogs who have some behavioral quirks knowing how to train them is mandatory. When it comes to breeds like Chihuahua who can easily slip into bad behavior, it’s important to afford enough attention to them from a young age. [2]
Consistent and good training can do wonders. By simply learning how to reward good behavior, you can start giving your best friend what they deserve. However, eventually the complexity of training will become higher so be prepared to do some reading.
Read Next: Chihuahua Mate With A Large Dog
Conclusion
As we’ve seen, Chihuahua’s bite force is nothing impressive. After all, its small skull size wouldn’t really allow for too powerful of a bite anyway. When compared to other breeds we can see how that bite force gets quickly outclassed.
Even then, Chihuahuas aren’t incapable of causing harm if they get you on vulnerable spots. Proper treatment after a bite is still advised.
What we advise more is a good treatment of your Chihuahua which will reinforce good behavior and dissuade them from biting as often. That should assist with ones who are exceptionally feisty and keep your hands lacking bite marks.
