Dogo Argentino

Search Dogo Argentino Info by Google® Dogo Argentino And Argentine Dogo: The Dogo Argentino, sometimes called the Argentine Dogo is an incredible & powerful breed. From puppies & how to find the best Dogo Argentino for sale, bringing your friend home, the adult Dogo- this guide covers it all!

Dogo Argentino Description
Often referred to as the canine equivalent of an armored tank, the Dogo Argentino has majestic, massive and muscular body with rectangular shape. The head is broad and convex, with short sturdy and square muzzle, strong jaws and high, wide-set ears. The tail is long, thick and reaches to the hocks. In a nutshell, the Dogo Argentino's looks combine power and elegance. He moves with a feline grace and has intelligent facial expression.

Dogo Argentionos have short, thick, smooth, glossy and pure white coats. The hairs are stiff and relatively coarse. Although not preferable, darker skin pigmentation through the coat can be accepted. Dark black marking around one of the eyes, is also an acceptable trait.
.
Breed History

The Dogo Argentino is a dog that was specifically bred for hunting, specifically for things like puma and wild boar. They are strong, intelligent animals that respond quickly with athletic prowess and lighting reflexes. Dogos are short-haired and have smooth coats. They are usually completely white, but some may have a dark patch near the eye that usually covers 5-10% of the face.

The Dogo Argentino, sometimes called the Argentinian Mastiff, was bred by a physician and professor in Argentina named Antonio Nores Martinez in 1928. He wanted to create a breed that was not only a great hunting dog, but would be a loyal pet as well. The base breed that the Dogo was based upon was an extinct animal called the Cordoba Fighting Dog.

The Cordoba was crossed with the Boxer, Spanish Mastiff, Old English Bulldog, Bull Terrier, Great Pyrenees, Pointer, Irish Wolfhound and Great Dane among others, with a great deal of selective breeding to bring out the traits that Martinez desired.

It is believed that the Dogo originated in the late 1920s, as a result of the efforts of two Argentinean brothers, Antonio and Agustin Martinez, who wanted a dog that would be brave and strong enough to hunt big game, but also manageable and fiercely protective of its owner. They crossed the now extinct, native dog, Cordoba, with nine breeds including Spanish Mastiff, Irish Wolfhound, Bulldog, Great Pyrenees, Great Dane, Dogue de Bordeaux, Bull Terrier, Boxer and Pointer.

Dogo Argentino Personality

Despite his intimidating appearance and toughness, the Dogo Argentino has a friendly personality and loves to be petted. He craves human affection, physical contact and a closely-bonded relationship with its people.

Dogos are at their best behavior when treated as part of the family but they must always know their exact place in the pack. He makes excellent watch and guard dog. His thunderous bark is enough to scare potential intruders. Although he is not likely to start a fight, if challenged he will not back down.

When in action, on the field, Dogos are brave, determined and tireless hunters. They are intelligent, alert and athletic to their core. The Dogo Argentino is very responsive to training efforts. However if not properly handled from an early age, he can be a handful mess.

The Dogo Argentino breed is a very friendly one, as long as they know you and trust you.

They are very trustworthy dogs and will usually obey well. They are usually fine with children, but you may want to supervise them. This goes the same with your other pets.

These are very courageous animals and will protect you in a crisis. The Dogo will bark, but usually only when necessary.

Food, Height & Weight

The Dogo Argentino is a voracious eater, especially during puppyhood. If not supervised and controlled, his eating habits can easily lead to obesity. The Dogo Argentino needs a high quality diet that supports his intense growth without promoting obesity. It is advisable to enrich his diet with eggs, yoghurt, canola oils and vitamin C supplements.

Generally, the Dogo Argentino male stands between 24 to 27 inches while the female stands between 24 to 26 inches. The dog weighs 88 to 99 pounds, putting it on the heavy scale among American canines. The bitch weighs 77 to 88 pounds.

You should feed your Dogo Argentino fresh food whenever possible. These should be balanced meals made of fresh meats like chicken, fish, venison, bison, lamb and turkey. Beef is also okay. Also, you should mix eggs, yogurt, fruits and vegetables in their meat in small amounts.

Health & Life Expectancy

There are a few health concerns to be aware of when it comes to the Dogo Argentino. They can suffer from deafness, dysplasia, autoimmune disease like thyroiditis and they are particularly prone to skin allergies.

The Dogo Argentino is a voracious eater, especially during puppyhood. If not supervised and controlled, his eating habits can easily lead to obesity. The Dogo Argentino needs a high quality diet that supports his intense growth without promoting obesity. It is advisable to enrich his diet with eggs, yoghurt, canola oils and vitamin C supplements.

The Dogo will live between 9 and 15 years when taken care of and without any major health problems.

Fun Facts

The Dogo Argentino was bred from the Cordoba Fighting Dog, but all of the overly aggressive traits were bred out of the Dogo. The Cordoba would fight with other dogs and was hard to manage, but Dogos are mostly friendly.

However, they are banned in some countries including Australia, Ukraine, Denmark, Iceland, Singapore and the Cayman Islands. They are also banned in the U.K. unless you have a special license.

The Dogo is often used by the military and police, and can be an excellent guide or therapy dog. In addition, the Dogo Argentino drools a great deal. Despite being a ferocious and extremely effective hunter, the Dogo Argentino enjoys cuddling.

Because of their loyal personalities and tremendous skills, today Dogo Argentinos are used for military and police work, in search and rescue missions and as guide dogs for the blind. To honor their contribution to humanity, in their native Argentina there is a statue of a Dogo Argentino.