Bending strength of upper canine tooth in domestic dogs.

The bending strength of the upper canine tooth is analyzed on 51 domestic dogs of various breeds. Data show that canine tooth length is greater among small domestic dogs when compared to small wild dogs, and large wild dogs when compared among large domestic dogs. Tooth strength is also greater among small domestic dogs and large wild dogs. The greater tooth strength of the small domestic dogs may be attributed to the idea that small domestic dogs are closer in ancestry to the grey wolf (Canis lupus) than are small wild canids. Skull foreshortening and tooth strength appear to be correlated in the canidae.