Mastiffs such as English mastiffs can weigh up to 104 KG or 230 Pounds. They are the biggest dogs.
But can they defeat an animal that is almost double in size? Yes, I’m talking about the Lions.
Can Mastiffs give a strong fight to lions, or can they defeat them? Well, you are at the right place because this post will tell you the answer.
So make sure to stick to this post.
Let’s dive right into it!
Can A Mastiff Kill A Lion?
Sadly, there is no mastiff breed that can kill a lion; in fact, Mastiffs won’t even present a strong fight to a lion.
Even though Mastiffs are one of the heaviest and tallest dogs, they are still dogs, and most importantly, most mastiffs live inside a house as pets.
They don’t have any experience in the wild, and because of that, they can’t match up with wild animals such as lions, tigers, bears, or hyenas.
Mastiffs are great for guarding. They were bred as guard dogs, and they used to go to war as well, but now, Mastiffs have turned themselves into loving, cuddling, Teddy-like dogs who look dangerous but have a heart of gold.
So can a mastiff defeat an adult lion? No, they can’t!
How Long Can A Mastiff Stand A Lion In A Fight?
They can stand up for a few minutes only if the Mastiff is brave.
As soon as the fight starts, the lion will waste no time, he will attack the throat of the Mastiff, leaving the mastiff in a critical condition, and then the lion will take the mastiff with him.
If the mastiff is fearless, he may scare a lion for some time, but once the Lion realizes that the mastiff can’t do anything to him, he will just use his very strong claws, bite the mastiff, and attack the neck.
There is literally no chance for any dog breed against a tiger in a one-on-one fight.
Mastiffs Who Have Higher Bite Force Than Lion
Surprisingly there are some mastiffs who have higher PSI (Pounds per square inch) or bite force than lions.
Lions have a bite force (PSI) of 650, which is insane. With this much pressure, you literally crush someone’s bone. Now, some mastiff breeds have higher PSI than 650, imagine what they can do to a human.
Cane Corso
The Cane Corso is an amazing dog. In my opinion, they are one of the most beautiful dogs. Apart from being loyal, friendly, and caring, Cane Corsos are very brave dogs.
If you have a pet Cane Corso and the lion attacks you, the Cane Corso will not leave you alone or run; instead, he will fight, and it doesn’t matter if he loses the battle. He’ll still give his best to save you.
Cane Corso can give some damage to lions as they have a bite force of 700 PSI.
Kangal
They are not very friendly dogs, but they are surely brave and powerful. They were bred to work as livestock guardians. Like Cane Corso, they can too fight for their owners.
Kanagl can’t defeat a lion or a tiger, but because of their brave mentality and insane bite force, they can certainly give some hard times to big cats.
Kanagl has a bite force of mindblowing 743 PSI.
Bandog
Bandog is another breed that is known for its aggression and crazy PSI. They have a PSI of 730, they are just below Kangal.
Bandogs are not suggested for first-time owners, and people who already have another pet dog with them.
Bandogs are not very friendly, in fact, they can even attack their owners if their owners provoked them.
Mastiffs Who Can Give A Fight To Lions
Mastiffs won’t win against a lion, but some mastiff breeds can surely give a fight. Here is the list of warrior mastiff breeds.
- Boerboel
- Neapolitan Mastiff
- Kangal
- Tibetan Mastiff
Why Bite Force Isn’t Really Important In A Fight
Hyenas have a bite force of 1,100 PSI which is higher than lions, but if a Hynea fights a lion one on one, he will get killed easily.
It’s because better PSI doesn’t guarantee success in the fight. Lions are stronger than hyenas because they have more weight, better skills, stronger bones, better speed, and taller stature.
Higher PSI can help animals in eating hard bones and meat.
To understand even more, let’s take the example of an Elephant.
An elephant can kill a lion, not because elephants have higher PSI, it’s because they have more weight, more height, and more overall strength or power.
That’s why, even if a dog has a higher PSI, he doesn’t stand a chance against a Lion or a Tiger.
I hope this was helpful to you.
Thanks for reading!
