Argentine Dogo

Whether by its protective demeanor or simply its fearsome appearance, the Argentine Dogo is one of the most effective of guard dogs. It was developed in the 20th century in Argentina to be a guard dog and for hunting mountain lion and bear, from ten other breeds. Also known as the Argentine Mastiff, the Dogo is well-known in its own country as a fearless guardian. It is very versatile, excelling in a variety of venues, from police work to search and rescue, to therapy work. This dog stands from 24 to 27 inches, and weighs from 80 to 100 pounds on average although some males can weigh much more. It is a sturdy, compact, muscular dog, with a wide, deep-set chest. It is slightly longer than it is tall, and the female is longer than the male on average. The Argentine Dogo has a massive Mastiff-type head, with a muzzle that concaves upward slightly. Its small eyes are wide-set and may be brown or hazel, with pink or black rims. Its ears are usually cropped and stand upright. The back and thighs are very muscular. The tail is left natural, and carried low. The coat of this dog is a single coat, smooth and glossy. The color is always white. In some registries, such as the Argentine Kennel Club, there may be a black spot on the top of the head, called a "pirata."� The Argentine Dogo was developed in the 1920's by Dr. Antonio Nores Martinez and his brother Agustin Martinez. They wanted to develop a dog that would be a good large game pack hunter. They also wanted to breed a good guardian dog. After much research they used the Dog of Cordoba (which is now extinct), also called the Cordoba Fighting Dog, as the foundation for their new breed. The Cordoba Fighting Dog was a large, Mastiff-type dog that was considered a ferocious, fearless fighter, and was a good game hunter too. Over time, the brothers added the Great Pyrenees, Irish Wolfhound, Pointer, Great Dane, Dogue de Bordeaux, Boxer, Spanish Mastiff, Bulldog, and Bull Terrier to their experiment, carefully pulling desired traits from each breed. Finally, they arrived at a fearless, medium-sized Mastiff type dog, that was athletic, fearless, and a good pack hunter. This dog had excellent powers of endurance, and its white coat deflected the sun to keep it cool.The first standard for the Argentine Dogo was written in 1928, and the breed received full recognition by the Argentine Kennel Club in 1964. Dr. Raúl Zeballos, of Las Pampas Kennels, introduced the breed into the United States in 1970. It has been listed in the American Kennel Club's Foundation Stock Service since 1996.The Argentine Dogo was bred to hunt cooperatively in a pack. Unfortunately, through the years the breed has fallen victim to the dog fighting industry, which is still largely socially accepted in South America. It has resulted in the breeding of lines that are particularly aggressive toward other dogs and humans. This is ironic, since this violates the very intent that the dog was originally bred for. The Argentine Dogo is banned in Norway and New Zealand. In Great Britain this breed falls under the Dangerous Dogs Act of 1991, and cannot be owned without special permission, and then with restrictions. It is important for the prospective owner to be aware of these issues and to take care that a dog is procured from a source that has bred the dog for the original intent, so that any aggressive tendencies are kept in check.Although the Argentine Dogo requires little grooming, daily vigilance to its health is important. This breed does not display pain, but will hide it in times of injury; the dog should often be examined for any injuries that are not readily visible. Dirt and bacteria can hide within the many deep wrinkles over its body, and the wise owner frequently wipes these areas clean to prevent pyoderma (skin inflammations). This breed is prone to treatable eye disorders such as entropion, ectropion and "cherry eye"�, in which the inner lid protrudes excessively and becomes inflamed. These can usually all be corrected with minor surgery. Given good breeding, adequate exercise and watchful care, the Argentine Dogo is very healthy in general. When diseases do occur, they are generally those common to large breeds: cardiomyopathy and hip dysplasia. Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) occasionally occurs in this breed, as does hypothyroidism and bloat. The biggest health issue that the owner must watch for in the Argentine Dogo is pano-osteosis, commonly known as "growing pains"�. This is a condition in which the young dog, still in the process of growing bone and muscle, is allowed to over-exercise to its detriment. It occurs from the ages of 4 months to 18 months and disappears as the dog ages. But ignoring the issue will sometimes cause poor development of bone and muscle tissue, and the young Argentine Dogo should not be allowed to exercise too long and hard, or to engage in activities that involve jumping over, on or off furniture and other objects. It must be stressed that the Argentine Dogo requires an experienced owner with leadership skills; this is not a dog for the novice dog handler. The breed is naturally suspicious, strong-willed and dominant. Although it is peaceful, calm, steady and quiet, it is capable of great bursts of powerful energy when excited or provoked. The owner must be willing to spend time and effort when the dog is very young to socialize it properly to other dogs and strangers, and to teach physical restraint. The Argentine Dogo is not recommended for households with young children, for when provoked it can be reactive and unaware of its own strength. While puppies should never be over-exercised, the adult requires a great deal of exercise. The Argentine Dogo does not bark excessively, and is calm indoors; it can make a fine apartment dog. However, it must have two longs walks daily. During these walks, the owner should constantly reinforce the heeling command and make certain the dog is walking at the owner's side or behind, never in front. These small tasks, when performed consistently, maintain a dog that is well-mannered and well under control at all times. With some education, common sense, and a commitment to providing strong, consistent leadership, the owner will find that the Argentine Dogo can be both an excellent guard dog and a pleasant house pet.The Dogo Argenino is excellent in competitive obedience, Schutzhund, hunting and tracking, police work and narcotics work.

Back to iAnimals.com home page Copyright Notice: This website is © . All Rights Reserved.  Click Here to contact us. Link Partners: Animals Go to Heaven | Adopt Me | Salt And Pepper | Singing Animals | Animal Noises