Group: Mastiff

Weight: 80 - 100 pounds

Height: 24 - 27 inches

Life Expectancy: Around 10 - 12 years

Size of Litters: Average 6 - 9 puppies



History

This breed is one of only a handful originating in South America. It was first developed in the 1920's by a breeder striving to produce a big-game hunting dog that was able to work in packs. The foundation stock for the Argentine Dogo was the now-extinct Dog of Cordoba. This breed, often used for fighting, was extremely aggressive. So, it was cross-bred with Boxers, Great Dane, Bulldogs and a few other breeds to ensure a more stable and reliable temperament. The result was the Argentine Dogo, designed to be a dog capable of taking down a jaguar and then going home and curling up with the family.

Characteristics

The Argentine Dogo is a powerful, massive dog in the mastiff family. It has an enormous head and impressive, strong jaws. The most striking feature of the Argentine Dogo is its short, pure white coat, which gives it a unique, elegant appearance. It features closely cropped ears, a jet black nose and eyes either dark brown or hazel.

Temperament

This breed has the dubious distinction of being one of only three breeds banned in Australia and Great Britain. The other breeds include the Fila Braziliero and the Japanese Tosa. The American Pit Bull Terrier, although not banned outright, is subject to extremely limited regulations in these two countries as well. The reason for the breed ban is concern over the Argentine Dogo's temperament. Ironically, this dog was originally bred to be a large, big-game hunter that was also even-tempered and non-aggressive. When bred and socialized properly, the Dogo Argentino is a wonderful family dog, extremely loyal and affectionate. Oftentimes, this dog craves attention from its master. Its high pain tolerance makes it great with children. Unfortunately, unscrupulous individuals involved in the illegal activity of dog fighting have gotten their hands on this breed. The Argentine Dogos bred for fighting are much, much more aggressive, making them unsafe and giving this fine dog a bad name. Dogs bred in fighting lines of this breed are often smaller than the typical Argentine Dogo, typically weighing only 75 - 90 pounds.

Care

The Dogo Argentino's lovely, pure white coat is said to be odorless. The coat itself requires little care, however this breed suffers from many of the same skin cancer risks as other light-coated breeds. Time spent outdoors should be monitored, keeping the dog in the shade whenever possible. The Argentine Dogo's head is particularly vulnerable to the sun, since the hair on the head is shorter than the rest of the body. An hour or so in the sun should be the limit. This breed does not do well outdoors in extremely cold weather, either. The Argentine Dogo's toenails tend to grow at a faster than average rate, so special care should be given to clip the nails on a very regular basis. It is common for this dog to have its ears cropped close to the head as a puppy, giving it an aggressive appearance. For more detailed info, take a look at the Argentine Dogo Grooming page.

Training

This is a powerful, muscular dog capable of hunting big game such as puma. The sheer physicality of this breed gives it the potential to be a dangerous animal. Therefore, obedience training is absolutely mandatory. The earlier the training starts in the pup's life, the better. Since the possibility for dog aggression exists, your Argentine Dogo should be socialized thoroughly around people and other dogs as a youngster. Special training should also be carried out to avoid food guarding. Training should be firm and consistent, but not cruel. The Argentine Dogo is a loving dog and needs the same loving attention from its owner. However, this is not a dog for the faint of heart. Only experienced dog handlers should consider adding this breed to the household.

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