Chihuahua Bite Force

Have you ever wondered about how much force is behind a Chihuahua’s bite? You may already know the answer, at least by feeling if you’ve been bitten by one of these small dogs! However, how strong is the bite of a Chihuahua?

If you’ve been asking this question, then you’ve come to the right place. In this article, we’ll take a look at what science has said about the force of a Chihuahua’s bite and other Chihuahua bite statistics! Let’s get started!

What is a Chihuahua?

Chihuahuas are known for being very small dogs that have very large personalities! They’re one of the smallest dogs in the world, but you’d never know it. That’s because a Chihuahua tends to have a very large personality, and he thinks he’s as big as a Rottweiler!

These small dogs are very loving and busy. And they love to be next to their special person most of the time. They’ll follow their favorite pet parent around, almost like a shadow. They form a very close bond with a single person. And when their wants are not indulged, you can expect the Chihuahua will let you know, as they can become very demanding.

Chihuahuas are very affectionate dogs, and they’re highly intelligent. However, if they’re not socialized from a young age, these dogs can become a menace to visitors, children, and more. Chihuahuas are extremely distrustful of strangers and can become very aggressive with people they don’t know. They have been known to bite when they’re not friendly!

How Strong is a Chihuahua’s Bite Force?

There’s a lot of misleading information online. For instance, there are research papers and articles that say a Chihuahua’s bite force is 3,900 PSI (Per Square Inch). However, that simply doesn’t measure up, especially when you compare the bite force of larger dogs and animals with a tiny Chihuahua.

First, consider the average bite force for a human is 126 PSI. The bite force of a tiger is 1,050 PSI. How on earth could a Chihuahua have a higher bite force than a tiger? It just doesn’t make sense.

Consider the bite force of these dog breeds:

When you look at the bite force of these dogs, it just doesn’t seem possible that a Chihuahua, which is much smaller, could have a bite force of 3,900 PSI.

According to some other sources, the average Chihuahua’s bite force is probably more like 100 PSI. That makes sense! If not, then who would want to be the pet parent of a Chihuahua and run the risk that the tiny dog could do so much damage with one bite?

While it’s true that a Chihuahua can have a fierce personality, they are tiny dogs. Their jaws and heads are also very small. There’s no question a Chihuahua can be aggressive; however, there’s simply no way a tiny dog could have a bite force that’s so strong.

Having said that, you will definitely notice it if a Chihuahua happens to bite you. There’s no question you’ll feel the bite and that a Chihuahua can do some damage.

Chihuahua Bite Statistics

There are plenty of statistics available about Chihuahua bites! In 2009, the Colorado Veterinary Medical Association and the Coalition for Living Safely with Dogs did a study of 188 dogs and their bites. Chihuahua were included in the study.

The study showed some interesting statistics about Chihuahua’s and biting:

• Chihuahuas are most likely to bite the vet during a visit.
• They are ranked the 4^th dog breed when it comes to biting children. (This is why these tiny dogs are not recommended for families that have babies, toddlers, or young children).

In 2016, the Dognition company canvassed 4,000 dog owners to see which dog breeds were the most aggressive. The result? Chihuahuas were chosen as the most aggressive dog breed when compared with other dogs.

This study also found that Chihuahuas confronted by a larger dog will bite to defend/protect themselves. In other words, depending on the dog, it might be a case of bite first and ask questions later!

Wow! Who would have thought these tiny dogs could be such terrors?

Could a Chihuahua Bite Kill?

That’s a good question! It is conceivable that one of these tiny dogs could kill a human. Consider the dogs do have very sharp teeth and a bite force that could easily take off fingers or toes. It’s possible a bite (or bites) of this kind could result in excessive blood loss and death.

This would be a highly rare occurrence, but it’s good to know that a Chihuahua could cause enough damage to cause death.

We were able to find only two cases where a Chihuahua has killed a human between 2005 and 2020. In one case, the pet parent also had Pit Bulls, so it was difficult to tell whether or not the Chihuahua was truly responsible.

Is a Chihuahua Bite Worse than a Bite from a Pit Bull?

That’s another great question! There’s no question of whether or not a Pit Bull can kill a human. There are, unfortunately, statistics that prove this happens.

However, between 2005 and 2020, there were 284 Pit Bulls that killed humans, while only one death due to a Chihuahua. So, it’s probably safe to say that a bite from a Pit Bull is worse than that of a Chihuahua.

Summing It Up

The whole point of our article is to point out that Chihuahua’s can and do use their teeth. The dog may be scared, being protective of their pet parent, or defending itself. However, these tiny dogs will not hunt you down. They only bite when they feel provoked (or feel it’s necessary).

While Chihuahua’s have small mouths and teeth, their teeth are sharp and can do a lot of damage. However, they won’t do as much damage as the bite of a Pit Bull, which is quite comforting to know!