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Argentine Dogo History

In the 1930s in Argentina, Antonio Nores Martinez set out to breed the ultimate big game hunting dog, a dog not only capable of taking on dangerous game such as wild boar and cougars, but a dog also capable of being a loyal pet and family guardian. Martinez picked the Cordoba Fighting Dog to be the base for the breed. This breed is extinct today but was described as a large and ferocious dog that was both a great hunter and fighter. He crossed it with Great Dane, Boxer, Spanish Mastiff, Old English Bulldog, Bull Terrier, Great Pyrenees, Pointer, Irish Wolfhound and Dogue de Bordeaux. Martinez kept improving the resulting breed via selective breeding to introduce the desired traits. The first standard for the Dogo Argentino was written in 1928. The Dogo Argentino was introduced to the United States by Dr. Raúl Zeballos and family in the early 1970s. In 1996, the Argentine Dogo was accepted in the Foundation Stock Services of the AKC.

Argentine Dogo Temperament

Argentine Dogos are a loyal and courageous breed and make good family pets for the right person. They have very high prey/hunting drives, so they have a tendence to chase anything that moves. Care must be taken with small household pets, because they dog may view them as prey. They are a very intelligent breed that known for being very stubborn, so training may take some time. Dogos are a socially dominant breed and may not do well with same sex dogs, it is strongly suggested that your Dogo be spayed or netuered to reduce dog aggression. Dogos are also a high energy breed that needs frequent opportunities to blow off steam, chasing sticks and running are a favorite activity. They also make excellent watchdogs and make an effective deterrent in thier appearance alone.This breed is NOT recommended for a novice dog owner and is better left to a skilled dog owner that is capable of caring for this large dog.

Argentine Dogo Appearance

Argentine Dogos are a very large, powerful breed that usually weighs between 80 to 100 pounds and usually stand 23 to 27 inches at the withers. They have a large, blocky head and a short, smooth coat that is always white.

Argentine Dogo Grooming

Dogos are a fairly easy dog to keep. They are considered a constant medium shedding dog and must be brushed once or twice a week to loosen dead hair. Since they do loose hair on a constant basis, they are not a good choice for an individual suffering from dog allergies.

Argentine Dogo Life Expectancy and Health Problems

Dogos are a robust healthy breed that suffers from few health problems. Some of the more common concerns are Deafness, Hip Dysplasia, Sun Burn and skin allergies. The average lifespan of this breed is 10 to 12 years.

Argentine Dogo Pros and Cons

This simplified list may help you decide if an Argentine Dogo might be a good fit for your lifestyle.

Do You Want

• a big dog?
• an atheletic dog?
• a dog that makes a good watchdog in appearance alone?

Do You NOT Want

• a big dog?
• a dog that needs a confident owner?
• a dog that is notoriously stubborn and might be hard to train?
• a dog that can be dog aggressive?
• a dog that might frighten some people by appearance alone?