The Dogo Argentino is an exotic breed from South America, originally bred for hunting wild boars and big cats. In Argentina, the breed is now an all-around working dog with a status similar to that of the German Shepherd in the United States. Here in the profile, you’ll learn everything about the history, temperament, and care of the Dogo Argentino.

History of the Dogo Argentino

The Dogo Argentino has been kept as a working dog in Argentina for many decades. Originally from the province of Corduba in central Argentina, it was primarily bred as a fighting dog. Until the early 20th century, breeders valued courage, strength, and a low threshold for stimulation. However, they primarily focused on ensuring that the dogs showed no aggression towards humans. European dogs were too weak for hunting pumas and panthers in South America, prompting breeder Antonio Nores Martinez to start breeding a new hunting dog.

He crossed selected “Cordoba fighting dogs” with bulldogs, mastiffs, and pointers. His goal was to gradually shift the breed away from its image as a fighting dog and turn it into a guardian and hunting assistant. Nevertheless, the dog was still supposed to be resilient, enduring, and courageous. Due to its former image as a fighting dog, many Dogo Argentinos are still unfortunately cropped.

The white color made the Dogo visible during the hunt, preventing the hunter from accidentally shooting it. In 1928, the breeder’s son of the same name established the first standardized breed standard. The Dogo was first introduced to Europe in 1968. In 1973, the breed was recognized by the FCI and classified in FCI Group 2, Section 2 “Molossoids.” The breed made its way to the United States during the 1970s. It wasn’t until 2020 that the American Kennel Club officially recognized it. However, the Dogo Argentino is still very rare in the United States to this day.

Temperament and Character

The Dogo Argentino is inherently open and friendly, strongly devoted and loyal to its humans. It protects its family without becoming aggressive and is extremely fond of children. However, it tends to be dominant towards dogs of the same sex and is often not very compatible. The pronounced hunting instinct with a killing intent remains with the Dogo throughout its life and cannot be trained away. The Argentine Mastiff barks little and behaves cleverly and silently while hunting. It is also very independent and has a strong character, which complicates training somewhat. Submissive behavior is foreign to it; it prefers to maintain control of the situation itself.

Acquiring a Dogo Argentino

What should I consider when buying?

The Dogo Argentino is quite undemanding and easy to care for, but it will not be happy in a small apartment in a large city. As a family dog, the Dogo is only recommended for experienced dog owners, as it requires good socialization and a lot of activity. Generally, you should have carefully considered whether to acquire this breed, as its strong protective instinct complicates keeping it in densely populated cities and towns. Even when going for walks, you must always expect hostility and fearful reactions from your fellow human beings. In some cities, the Dogo Argentino is even listed as a dangerous breed. Keeping a listed dog is restricted or not possible at all in these places.

Dog Food Recommendations

If you’re sure that the Argentine Dogo is the right breed for you, you’ll need to find a reputable breeder. Plan on budgeting up to $1200 for a healthy and purebred puppy. Most breeders don’t just give their puppies to anyone, as owning a Dogo Argentino comes with a high level of responsibility. Due to their exclusively white coat color, there’s a risk that the puppies may be born deaf. Therefore, you should always demand a hearing test. If you don’t necessarily want a puppy, you can also visit animal shelters. Often, you’ll find friendly Dogos here who have fallen on hard times and are looking for a new home.

Development and Training of the Puppy

Training a Dogo puppy is not as easy as with some other breeds. You must be extremely consistent and not let the four-legged friend get away with anything from a young age. However, pressure and harshness are entirely out of place, as the dog may react in the same way and potentially become aggressive. To improve its compatibility with other dogs, you should attend a dog school. Due to its pronounced dominance, the Dogo Argentino tends to engage in power struggles with other dogs and people. You should also ensure that the Dogo strongly bonds with one person and only accepts that person as the pack leader. Generally, the Dogo Argentino is a late developer, only mentally maturing around three years old. You should keep this in mind during training and allow it more time when necessary.

How to Keep a Dogo Argentino?

Activities with the Dogo Argentino:

The Dogo Argentino is an athletic and active hunting dog that won’t be satisfied with just a few short walks. It has an exceptionally keen sense of smell and is excellent at tracking. It is passionate about scent games and nose work and is not easily distracted. Additionally, thanks to its agility, it enjoys all other athletic activities such as cycling, jogging, or agility. Those who under-stimulate their dog will eventually have to deal with behavioral issues. Since the dogs are very muscular and sometimes overzealous and boisterous, this can quickly become dangerous.

Health and Care

Generally, caring for the Argentine breed is not very demanding. The short, white coat can be easily freed from dirt and loose, dead hair with occasional brushing. In case of serious dirt, a pH-neutral shampoo helps remove strong stains from the white coat. The Dogo is considered a fairly robust and not very prone to illness dog. However, they can often suffer from hip dysplasia and deafness. Bad weather cannot harm them despite their short fur, and the life expectancy of 10 to 13 years is quite high for a dog of this size.

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Interesting and Worth Knowing

There are few famous representatives of the breed in the United States. However, in their home country, there are even some dogs that have become true legends. A popular Dogo Argentino named Bombón plays a significant role in the movie “El Perro.” The film is set in Patagonia and tells the story of an unemployed man who rediscovers the meaning of life through his dog.

Do you find the Dogo Argentino fascinating too or are you planning to get one soon? Tell me more in the comments!