Dogo Argentino Information and Common Questions

The Dogo Argentino, also known as the Argentinean mastiff or Argentine Dogo, is the result of a dream. Two brothers were determined to develop a sociable, yet intimidating hunter, capable of hunting cougars and wild boar. After some trial and error, the brother's dream was realized and the Dogo Argentino was born.
Is a large, white, game-bred, muscular dog that was developed in Argentina for big game hunting.

What is the Dogo Argentino breed origin?
In the 1920s in Argentina, Antonio Nores Martinez started breeding a dog intended to not only be a pet and family guardian, but also a hunting dog capable of taking on big game such as wild boar and cougars.
Martinez picked the Cordoba Fighting Dog to be the base for the breed. The breed is extinct today but was described as a large and ferocious dog that was both a great hunter and fighter.
With the Cordoba Fighting Dog as the base, he then crossed in Great Dane, Boxer, Spanish Mastiff, Old English Bulldog, Bull Terrier, Great Pyrenees, Pointer, Irish Wolfhound and Dogue de Bordeaux.
Martinez kept improving the breed via selective breeding to introduce the traits that were desired. The first standard for the breed was written in 1928
Finally, after 50 years of hard work, the brothers' Martinez had developed a magnificent breed with a talent for hunting, tracking and a watchful guard dog. In 1985, the Dogo finally reached the United States.

How is the Dogo appearance and size?
HEAD: Massive, convex front to back, and transverse through the relief of the masticating muscles and the nape.

FOREFACE: The same length as the head. The line joining the two orbital projections of the forehead is at an equal distance from the occiput and the teethridge of the upper jaw.

EYES: Dark or light brown in color, eyelid rims should be black or clear; eyes set well apart. A lively, intelligent look but with a marked firmness.(Clear eyes, or red eyelids, subtract points. Unequal ness of color-bluish-grey eyes is a basis for Disqualification.)

EARS : High and laterally inserted, set well apart due to the width of the skull. Functionally, they should be cropped and erect, in triangular shape and with a length which does not exceed 50% of the front edge of the auricle of the natural ear. Without being cropped, they are of mid-length, broad, thick, flat and rounded at the tip. Covered with smooth hair which is a bit shorter than on the rest of the body; they may show small spots, not to be penalized. In natural position they hang down covering the back of the cheeks. When the dog is alert they may be half-erect.

WEIGHT: 80 - 100lbs
HEIGHT: 23.5 - 27.5 inches

(Dogs, measured at the shoulder should measure no less than 24.5 inches and no more than 27.5 inches. Bitches, measured at the shoulder, should measure no less than 23.5 inches and no more than 26 inches.. Dogs and Bitches below minimum height are disqualified. Dogs and Bitches measuring more than maximum height are faulted. Since the Dogo is a hunting dog which fights it’s prey directly, among the big hunting breeds, small size loses efficiency. All adult Dogo, whether male or female, of less that the lowest allowable size, should be disqualified. Among several good dogs, the one of greatest height is preferred. The creator of the breed has established that there should exist a harmony of proportion or normal organic correlation that for a functional point of view, translates into a greater capacity to fight its prey. Therefore, one should look for the animal of greatest size and weight.)

COAT: Completely white. Any spot of color should be disqualified as an atavistic characteristic. The small spots on the head are not cause for disqualification, but among two similar animals, the completely white one is preferable. In contrast, any spot on the body is cause for disqualification.

Temperament
Dogos are known for being extremely loyal and affectionate with their families and crave attention from their owners. They are excessively tolerant of children due to their high pain tolerance, derived from selective breeding to be a big game hunter. They are protective of what they perceive as their territory and will guard it without fear against any intruder. They get along with other dogs as long as they have been properly socialized, but will usually not tolerate another dog trying to assert dominance over them and might not coexist peacefully with another dominant breed of dog. However, dog aggression is not desirable in the Dogo Argentino breed, as it is at odds with their intended purpose as a pack hunter.
Dogo Argentinos are accomplished hunters, and are widely used today and in a variety of ways from tracking, Search and Rescue, Schutzhund training, general police work including narcotics detection, military, to family dog. They are even occasionally used as a guide dog.

Special Concerns
The Dogo Argentino was bred specifically to avoid the dog aggression problems inherent in the Cordoba Fighting Dog when applied to hunting, specifically its lack of ability to hunt in a pack. The creators of the breed intended that great care be taken to prevent this undesirable trait from manifesting in the Dogo Argentino, as the breed was always intended to be a pack hunter.
Dogos can develop an aggressive or dominant temperament if not socialized with other dogs at an early age, particularly with other dogs of the same sex, but can be trained by an experienced handler.

Special Care
The Dogo Argentino has a soft, sleek white coat that makes them more sensitive to the sun. They sunburn easily and should be kept out of the sun for extended periods. They also need regular exercise to maintain the muscle structure of the breed.

Health Concerns
Gastric torsion (bloat) is a life-threatening sudden illness associated with the stomach filling with air and twisting.
Hip dysplasia is a malformation of the hip joint that results in pain, lameness and arthritis.
In addition, the Dogo is also prone to deafness.
The life expectancy of the Dogo Argentino is between 10 and 11 years.

Famous Dogos
Bombon (film) Carlos Sorín's 2005 movie starring a Dogo

Dogo Argentino Photo Gallery

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