Euro Puppy BLOG

There is no such thing as a dog that has 'jaws that lock'. This is a myth.

Posted by Ty Brown at Friday, February 15, 2008 10:31:40

Actually, there really is such a thing as a "Lock -Jaw". I saw it first-hand. My neighbor had a Staffordshire Bullterrier. We had a German Shepherd cross Great Dane. Across the wired fence the two males got into a fight. The Staffie grabbed the muzzle of the German Shepherd and his jaw really did lock.The muzzle was in pieces by the time the Staffie could let go.

So yes...sadly, the Lock Jaw phenomenon does indeed exist.....

Posted by Agnes - Euro Puppy at Friday, February 15, 2008 14:55:53

I'm sorry, it doesn't. What happened was that the dog bit hard. That is all, it didn't lock. Any breed could have gotten ahold of your shepherd and done damage, it doesn't mean that their jaws lock.
I have been working with guard dogs and protection dogs for years. Part of that work means that I wear the bite suit and have these dogs bite. Never once has a pit bull or American Bulldog had their 'jaws lock'. In fact, these dogs don't bite nearly as hard as German Shepherds or Belgian Malinois for example.
This myth of locking jaws just isn't anatomically possible. You don't have to take my word for it, though. Doing some online research you should be able to find the medical research that backs up what I'm saying.

Posted by Ty Brown at Saturday, February 16, 2008 19:23:31

Found a couple resources:
http://www.badrap.org/rescu...
http://answers.yahoo.com/qu...
http://www.dogwatch.net/myt...
http://www.austinlostpets.c...
http://www.pitbulllovers.co...
Check out these links. Most of them have scientifically supported data showing that their jaws do not lock.

Posted by Ty Brown at Saturday, February 16, 2008 19:31:03

fair enough. I see your point and have read your links. So physiologically, morphologically they are incapable of locking their jaws. However, the large head (and jaw) in proportion to the smaller body gives them enough brute strength to hold on for dear life that shows one heck of a determination. Thus it it safe to say that they don't easily let go. And hence the lock-jaw "effect" - as such - is created.

Posted by Agnes - Euro Puppy at Sunday, February 17, 2008 05:21:25

I don't want to argue just for the sake of arguing. I merely want to help clear up this myth that is very dangerous to certain breeds. Myths like this are part of the reason why there is so much Breed Specific Legislation.
Once and for all there is no lock-jaw effect. Any dog of any breed can have one heck of a determination. I have come across dogs with agression problems such as JRT's, Chihuahuas, Cocker Spaniels, amongst others that wont easily let go and bite and attack with a great deal of force. They also wouldn't easily let go. Would you say that they had a lock jaw effect?
I like this blog and hope to be able to continue reading and posting but I get very worried when I read about myths like these. There are so many stereotypes and prejudices about certain breeds that are causing lawmakers to ban these breeds. These myths just aren't true and are making situations worse for breeds that can be excellent dogs.

Posted by Ty Brown at Sunday, February 17, 2008 12:01:20

Very true (reguarding the lock jaw MYTH). I have owned many pitbull terriers, hounds, and working shepherds(gsd and malinois). My pitbulls were more apt to fight with other dogs, but suprisingly the mals and gsd's-as stated above, do have a harder bite. It is simply the dogs determination to "hang on". There is no locking mechanism in the jaws of any dog-just grit and determination. I can understand how one could casually say or possibly think that after seeing two dogs get into it, or a gritty mal on a sleeve, that they could lock-their jaws. The fact of the matter is-this is a myth-not a fact at all.

Posted by scott at Monday, February 18, 2008 14:03:39

thank you to everyone for the constructive criticism. It has thus been corrected in the posting.

Posted by Agnes-Euro Puppy at Tuesday, February 19, 2008 02:25:28

wealthy landowners in england used bullmastiffs for for guards against poachers.this is a ManStopping breed, not a fighting breed.

Posted by T in CHICAGO at Monday, February 25, 2008 23:39:26

dear all ...

first of all I cannot see the point why to compare figthing and guard dogs ...

second -- this article has many mistakes ...

third -- why to read an article if there is no Fila Brasileiro on the list of Guard dogs ... this dog is the best guard dog in the world ...

next time -- please study the dog breeds very well and then write an article about dog breeds ...

Posted by Somebody at Thursday, February 28, 2008 13:11:01

he is correct in what he says missed some of the key breeds for gaurd and fighting breeds, plus there would not be any contest bettween a 100 pound gaurd dog and a 50 pound fighting breed the fighting breed would win hands down couse there desire to win and there tollernce of pain gaurd dogs may bite hard but would not tollerate pain likea fighting breed. Plus many of the fighting breeds are now house hold pets i.e. staffys, bull terriers and english bull dogs but i would think all of the above would destroy most gaurd dogs this is only my appinion and you may not agree but thanks for reading my thoughts.

Posted by dayne at Thursday, April 03, 2008 11:43:19

The average american bulldogs can bite over 300lbs per square inch and malinois are a little over 200lbs per square inch so actually american bulldogs bite way harder. to: ty brown

Posted by Terry at Friday, April 04, 2008 18:52:00

I have an American Bulldog and I also have a German Shepherd the Bulldog breaks any bone i give him "any" the sheperd would have a bone for a year not even close.

Posted by Hrod at Friday, May 09, 2008 15:09:53

The American Bulldog has a square shaped & extremely powerful jaw it also possesses very muscular shoulders, neck & head.

The breed is noted for its determination & its protectiveness, so could make a guarding dog along with a fighting dog.

The German shepherd is a large muscular dog with a long muzzle not recognized as a fighting dog but definitely noted as having guardian instincts. They tend to be more aggressive if placed in certain situations, they are trained to be guard dogs by redirecting their natural ‘prey drive’ onto humans.

In regard to the ‘bone’ topic due to its jaw muscles your American Bulldog will break through a bone quickly but that’s not to say that your German shepherd does not also possess the potential to do the same, just chooses not too.

You cannot truly measure a dog’s jaw strength as it depends tremendously on how much a dog actually exercises its jaw muscles.

Dogs do not bite with the same pressure; this obviously is dependant on the situation that the dog is placed into. A dog will bite hard because it wishes to, or it has to, it really has little to do with the actual jaw strength. So the American Bulldog may simply never experience the need to bite hard, just because a dog is termed the ‘strongest’ dog does not imply that it will bite the ‘hardest.’

Posted by Sandor at Saturday, May 10, 2008 22:21:25

I agree with what you are saying because i own a american pitbull who is a loyal and loving dog who has a bad rep. because of her breed and what history said she was breed to do so they need to stop just band pitbull and look at all dog breeds because i've been biten by alaskan huski, and more lap dog than pitbulls
thanks for you time in reading this

Posted by Damon at Thursday, May 22, 2008 21:59:20

how can a boxer dog be a fighter dog thats not in there nature at all.

Posted by chris ohare at Sunday, June 08, 2008 20:06:10

I see that it is stressed that early socialization is key for these breeds to be suitable pets which I think is important for ANY breed... but just to mention my rott was tied up to a tree for four years (since a pup) with very little human interaction, only to be tossed food - she had an elderly and fairly uncaring owner. I got her when she was five years of age. She is mellow, affectionate, and trusting even still without the slightest hint of aggression toward ANYbody and her owner apparently said she was never with other animals or people.

My APBT was also neglected, but as far as I know was not tied to a tree all her previous life and she also is extremely loving and very attached to any person she just sees (I got her when she was around three). She was so easy to train and condition that I've decided all my dogs from now on will be at least 2 years old when I adopt them.

This is different from my Bichon who was obedience trained, was socialized with children and animals (at a under a year old), but who is very independent, food aggressive, and who hates kids now that she's 10 years old .

I just thought the contrast was odd from so many stories I hear, but of course my dogs could be "the exception," but just to show that generlizations are hurting breeds and people and creating so much more trouble than its worth.

Posted by Chris at Tuesday, June 17, 2008 21:52:24

So, on account of lockjaw being a myth does anyone have any advice of how to release a dogs determination from that of its victim throat?

Posted by Nathan at Friday, June 27, 2008 07:16:42

Okay smart ass. By "lock-jaw" we mean they bite and don't let go. Obviously they don't physically lock their jaw but they continuously use jaw muscles to apply pressure without letting go despite fatigue or pain. Otherwise know as "lock-jaw". ;)

Posted by Joel at Monday, June 30, 2008 00:28:29

Bullmastiffs are not fighting dogs, do some research on the breed.

Posted by Paul at Friday, July 04, 2008 07:07:58

your right boxers are very platfull and good natured. but mine at 1years old took down a full grown gsd that came out of nowhere at us on a walk. the dog was goin for me and before i knew it my boxer had it by the throat and down. i yanked so hard to get my dog off he had holes in his neck from the prong collar.i will never question his protection instints

Posted by dj at Monday, September 01, 2008 01:30:43

the boerboels will stop any fighting breed there is. The reason is they kill quick as with most mastiff breeds. There would simply be no chance for a 50 pound fighting breed to beat any of the mastiff stock type dogs. The first five minutes would overwhelm any 50 to 80 pound fighting breed. Simply to much bonecrushing power and weight to overcome. As for the boerboel with its size and ability to move like a 75 to 80 pound fighting breed it would be bad news. Presas, dogos,boerboels and corsos do not have to be game bred. The key is they are all quick killers. Gameness won't get a chance to be a factor. These dogs are trained to kill the largest and most vicious predators, including man himself.

Posted by molosser professor at Tuesday, September 02, 2008 12:07:59

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