Dogo Argentino Overview
- Dog Breed:
- Dogo Argentino
- Breed Group:
- Working Group
- Characteristics:
- Tenacious, courageous, faithful, intelligent and athletic
- Height:
- 24-26.5 inches
- Weight:
- 88-100 pounds
- Life Span:
- Up to 15 years
- Coat Colors:
- White
- Area of Origin:
- Argentina
- Best For:
- Experienced owners/Access to secure exercise area/Strong interest in training
- Adult Food:
- Best Dog Food for Dogo Argentinos
- Puppy Food:
- Best Puppy Food for Dogo Argentinos
Dogo Argentino Characteristics
Dogo Argentino Gallery
About The Dogo Argentino
Bred to hunt big-game
Strong intelligent and tenacious
Fiercely loyal to their family
The Dogo Argentino is a hunting dog that was specifically designed and bred to hunt big-game. Their strength and intelligence are combined with a speed of response of a serious athlete to be an intimidating hunter. Despite this tenacity, the Dogo Argentino generally has a happy and calm disposition, but it is fiercely loyal towards their family.
Careful consideration is needed before a Dogo Argentino joins your home, this is not a breed for a novice owner nor one who is not prepared to provide exercise and the essential training. In the right home, they can become a courageous and dedicated family companion, as well as an excellent watchdog.
Dogo Argentino Breed History
Descended from the Fighting Dog of Cordoba
Hunted wild boar and puma
Introduced to the US in 1970
Dr. Antontio Nores Martinez of the Cordoba region of Argentina developed the Dogo Argentina back in 1928. He wanted to create a breed of dog that would be suitable for big game hunting against animals such as the wild boar and puma. Their job was to track the game and then hold it in place until the hunters arrived.
He started his work with the Fighting Dog of Cordoba, a breed that is now extinct and which itself was developed from Bulldogs, Bull Terriers, Boxers, and Mastiffs. Martinez then crossbred with other breeds, including the Dogue de Bordeaux, the Great Dane, and the Spanish Mastiff before he perfected the Dogo Argentino.
The breed was introduced to the US in 1970 and is recognized by the United Kennel Club. For the American Kennel Club, they are currently categorized within the Miscellaneous Class, which is considered to be a stepping stone to achieving full recognition in the future.
Dogo Argentino Size & Weight
Males 24-26.5 inches and females 24-25.5 inches
Males 88-100 pounds and females 88-95 pounds
Muscular and strong breed
Males should measure between 24-26.5 inches and weigh 88-100 pounds. Females should measure 24-25.5 inches and weigh 88-95 pounds.
This is a large and powerful dog who should be very muscular. Careful consideration needs to be made as to whether this is a breed that you can safely handle in all situations.
Dogo Argentino Personality & Temperament
Devoted and loyal
Strongly independent
Banned in many countries
With their own family, the Dogo Argentino is a devoted and loyal pet. Highly intelligent but with a strongly independent nature, they will need a carefully considered and planned training and socialization program from a young age.
Dogo Argentinos’ are very loyal to their families, so they can become accustomed to the presence of children. However, visiting children may prove to be a different situation, as this is not a breed that naturally takes to strangers.
Careful consideration is needed as to the temperament of any existing pets before adding a Dogo Argentino to the family. This is not a breed that will generally back down when confronted, and it is suggested that they are not homed with another dog of the same sex.
The breed is banned in many countries, including the UK, Australia, and Denmark. While this does not necessarily mean that they are not an option as a pet, they are not a suitable choice for the majority of families.
They do prefer the heat, and their lack of undercoat means that they quickly get cold when the temperature drops.
Dogo Argentino Health & Grooming
Generally healthy breed
Deafness is a problem
Minimal grooming needs
The Dog Argentino is generally considered to be a healthy breed with few genetically based problems.
Deafness can be a problem, and it’s been estimated that around 10 percent of all dogs are deaf in either one or both ears. This is called pigment-related deafness and is found in dogs who are mostly white in color, such as the Dalmatians and the white Boxer.
Puppies can be tested for their hearing ability once they are at least 6 weeks of age through the Brainstem Auditory Evoked Response (BAER) test.
Grooming is a quick task for this breed, a brush through once a week to remove any dirt, and that’s it other than perhaps an occasional bath as needed. You’re likely to see an annual shed each spring, and then it’s suggested to brush every couple of days to remove the dead coat and speed up the process.
The Dog Argentino can be a bit of a drooler but not excessively so.
Dogo Argentino Training
Training is essential
Requires mental stimulation
Strong prey drive
Socialization and early training are essential for the Dogo Argentino to become a well-mannered part of the family. This is a dog who is not only physically strong but is also strong-willed, so they need an experienced and skilled trainer who can achieve results without resorting to physical and punishing methods.
Dogo Argentinos need mental stimulation to keep them out of trouble, and so training should start as a young puppy and continue through the dog’s life.
A strong prey drive is characteristic and considered an asset for the dog trained to hunt. However, for a dog who is kept as a pet, it means ensuring that off-leash exercise is in a securely fenced area. Bred as a silent hunter, Dog Argentinos to do not tend to be a particularly noisy breed of dog.
Dogo Argentino Exercise Requirements
Training is essential
Requires mental stimulation
Strong prey drive
This is not a breed that will be content with an on-leash walk around the block. They need exercise, which has some intensity, so the opportunity to really stretch their legs and run. You should plan on allowing at least two hours of exercise every day.
As mentioned before, you will need to find a securely fenced area for this to be provided to ensure the safety of other dogs and people and to prevent them from going hunting.
The Dog Argentino will enjoy a game and can be quite playful, but owners report that they don’t have that ‘play all day’ type temperament that some other breeds have.
Dogo Argentino Diet & Feeding
Look for foods with good quality protein
Avoid unnecessary colorings and additives
Select food appropriate for age, size and exercise intensity
It’s recommended that you chat with your vet or pet nutritionist about the feeding requirements for your individual dog. However, as more general advice, a fast-growing dog such as this will need food with a good quality source of protein. So that means avoiding foods that list ‘meat by-products’ or fail to tell you what the source of the protein is. Also, look out for unnecessary colorings that have been connected to behavioral and skin problems in some dogs.
Most dog food manufacturers now offer a range of foods to suit the lifestyle, size, and age of your dog, so make sure you select the right one to ensure that your dog has all their nutritional requirements met.
You may also be interested in:
Dogo Argentino Rescue Groups
Because of their unique needs and the requirement for an experienced owner, families can sometimes find that they’re not able to offer their Dogo Argentino the home that they need. There are just a few specialized rescue organizations in the US for this breed including –
DC Dogos – https://dcdogos.org/adopt/
For further information on the breed have a look at the website of the Dogo Argentino Club of America – http://www.dogousa.org/.
