All Catch Dog Breeds

Ever since dogs began being bred and selected based on their abilities for different tasks, catch dogs have existed. In ancient times they were used as watchdogs and defense dogs, as well as for big-game hunting.

Today, though, they've also become companion dogs, showing their friendlier, more affectionate side while keeping their watchdog and protective qualities.

At SoyUnPerro, we're going to talk about the existing catch dog breeds and their different qualities. You'll be surprised to learn how many breeds fall into this category.

All Catch Dog Breeds

This is a complete guide to every breed defined as a catch dog. Depending on the country you live in, they may or may not also be classified as dangerous, requiring a special license to own.

And although this is meant to be a universal guide, some countries may have a breed not included here that's also called a catch dog. Let's not forget that with the sheer number of breeders out there, new breeds emerge practically every day.

English Bull Terrier

We all know this small Terrier with the elongated muzzle, which, though not classified as dangerous in many countries, is still a great catch dog. The English Bull Terrier is native to England, medium-sized, reaching about thirty kilos as an adult.

The English Bull Terrier's temperament is calm and friendly, a bit of a clown at times since it loves being funny. That said, it's a bit rough with other breeds, sometimes not very sociable.

American Pit Bull Terrier

Continuing with the Terrier line, we come to the famous APBT, a dog known not just for its powerful jaws, but also for being an excellent companion. It's also earned a great reputation looking after children, having been dubbed the "nanny dog."

The Pit Bull Terrier is a strong, powerful dog, medium-to-large in size, reaching thirty-five kilos as an adult. With a friendly, affectionate temperament, it's also an excellent guard dog, brave and fierce.

American Staffordshire Terrier

Continuing with the Terrier line that seems to hold most catch dog breeds, the American Staffordshire Terrier, better known as the American Stanford, is a medium-to-large dog with a very muscular build.

Weighing up to forty kilos as an adult, it becomes one of the largest in the Pit Bull family line. Its temperament is very balanced, being a loyal, affectionate dog with its family, very attentive to watchdog duties.

Staffordshire Bull Terrier

This cross between an English Bulldog and a Terrier is also one of the most internationally known catch dog breeds. Native to England, it stands out for being smaller than the rest of its Terrier companions.

Weighing seventeen kilos as an adult, it has a brave, loyal, fearless temperament. That said, it doesn't usually get along with other dog breeds, being not very sociable and sometimes temperamental.

Presa Canario

Native to the Canary Islands, off Spain's southern coast, this dog breed simply commands attention with its presence. The Presa Canario is a large catch dog, reaching nearly sixty kilos as an adult.

Its temperament is calm and courteous, but it's also wary and quite dominant, requiring strict, intensive training. It was originally used as a guard dog, though today it's also being adopted as a companion dog.

Doberman

The Doberman also belongs among the breeds classified as catch dogs, despite not currently being classified as a dangerous dog in most countries. It's a large, muscular breed reaching up to forty-five kilos as an adult.

The Doberman's temperament is very friendly and affectionate, extremely intelligent, and an excellent guard dog. Anyone who knows this breed knows it's faithful and loyal to family, but alert and watchful with strangers.

Rottweiler

This is the catch dog with the strongest known bite, reaching up to 150 kilos of pressure per square centimeter — without a doubt, the strongest dog in the world.

Large-sized, it can weigh up to sixty kilos as an adult. Its temperament is friendly, kind, and extremely affectionate and playful with its family. That said, the Rottweiler is also an excellent guard dog, very wary of strangers.

Akita Inu

This is a large catch dog of Japanese origin, reaching sixty kilos as an adult. Originally used as a hunting dog for large game, today it's also become a companion dog.

Known worldwide thanks to the Hachikō movie based on true events, the Akita Inu has a temperament very attached to its owner, though it can be somewhat unstable with other breeds, which is why it's recommended to train and socialize it a lot from puppyhood.

Neapolitan Mastiff

The Neapolitan Mastiff is one of the largest catch dogs around, reaching nearly seventy kilos as an adult. It's a very affectionate, playful breed with its family, but very wary and possessive with strangers.

It's not a good idea to let the Neapolitan Mastiff have free rein, since it tends to try to become the alpha male, so it needs intensive training from puppyhood. Socializing it with other breeds is also necessary to prevent it from becoming an unfriendly dog.

Tosa Inu

The Tosa Inu is possibly one of the most powerful catch dogs around, due to its great build and muscle mass. Purebred Japanese individuals reach sixty kilos as adults, while mixed individuals can even reach a hundred kilos.

The Tosa Inu's temperament is friendly and playful, but only with its family, even excessively affectionate. With people it doesn't know, though, it becomes dominant and fierce, which can make it genuinely dangerous.

Fila Brasileiro

Among catch dog breeds, the Fila Brasileiro is considered one of the largest and potentially most dangerous around. Weighing eighty kilos as an adult, with a powerful jaw, it can be a serious danger in inexperienced hands.

Its temperament is temperamental and somewhat dominant, requiring proper training from puppyhood. It's not friendly with strangers, which is why it's considered one of the best guard dogs around.

Dogue de Bordeaux

The Dogue de Bordeaux is a large catch dog reaching sixty-six kilos as an adult. Despite its friendly appearance, it's not at all playful with strangers, since one of its main qualities is being a guard dog.

With a loyal, gentle temperament, it's very protective of its family. If something gets in its way, it's best to step aside, since it becomes a real beast. It's not recommended for people with a weak character or no experience in the canine world.

Bullmastiff

The Bullmastiff breed is native to the United Kingdom, a catch dog originally created to guard livestock, protecting it from wolves and other dangers. It's a large breed reaching sixty kilos in weight.

Its temperament is friendly, loving, and calm, but also brave, powerful, and watchful. It's an excellent watchdog and also a great companion for the family setting. Many countries require a PPP license to own one.

Dogo Argentino

The Dogo Argentino is a medium-to-large catch dog reaching fifty kilos as an adult. With a muscular, powerful build, it has one of the strongest jaws on the planet.

Its temperament is social and friendly with its family, cheerful and fun most of the time. But it's also a great protector and watchdog, capable of deterring any threat.

These are all the catch dog breeds in the world, known for their bite strength and jaw power. Remember that catch dogs aren't bad unless they receive poor training — so never blame the dog, blame the owner.

Are Catch Dog Breeds Dangerous?

Catch dogs are, as their name suggests, dogs that clamp down firmly on their catch with their bite, which is why they were used for big-game hunting. This means that during breeding selection, individuals that stood out for their sturdy jaw and strong bite were sought and used.

So catch dogs are, in fact, potentially dangerous dogs, given their characteristic bite strength and jaw development. Most of them require a PPP license to own.

But let's not fool ourselves — a dog being classified as potentially dangerous doesn't mean it's a killer or antisocial dog. Many catch dog breeds are classified as potentially dangerous, but there are also catch dogs that don't fall into this classification.

The difference between a dangerous, aggressive dog and a friendly, sociable one doesn't lie in its breed, but in the training it received from its owner. If you're thinking about adopting a catch dog, keep in mind that you'll need to train it properly.

Do Catch Dogs Need Specific Training?

Training a catch dog will take time, since it's not enough to just teach it basic commands like "sit" or "shake." A catch dog needs to obey us blindly at all times, given its potential.

The first thing we need to teach a catch dog puppy is bite inhibition, so it understands it can't use its jaw on humans or other animals.

The second thing we need to do with our catch dog puppy is socialize it properly. This is something we should do daily, taking it to a dog park so it can interact with dogs of all breeds and ages, as well as other people.

Needless to say, we should never teach our dog to be aggressive or to bite, since it'll most likely end up hurting someone and being reported and euthanized because of us.