All About the Breed: Argentine Dogo

Also known as the Dogo Argentino and the Argentinean Mastiff, the Argentine Dogo is an extremely loyal and affectionate breed. But how do you know whether you are ready to purchase a pet and if this breed is right for you? This information is absolutely necessary in making the decision to purchase a pet.

History

The origin of the Argentine Dogo can be traced back to 1920’s Argentina, when a breeder named Dr. Antonio Nores Martinez began experimenting with dog breeds. Martinez studied and obtained various unnamed fighting dog breeds from Cordoba, and the Argentine Dogo was finally born.

The Argentine Dogo was originally created as a fighting breed, but Martinez decided to take the breed in another direction, thus earning these dogs a reputation as an amazing large game hunter.

While the introduction of the Argentine Dogo to the United States has not been well documented, the breed was recognized by the American Kennel Club’s Foundation Stock Service in 1996.

Today, while the Argentine Dogo has attained an underground popularity as a hunting and companion dog, the breed remains rather rare outside of its native Argentina.

Personality Traits

Best known for its loyal nature towards its owner, the Argentine Dogo thrives on strong and dependable human relationships. These dogs are very protective of their owner and territory. This breed is highly intelligent and easily trainable. As a pet, the Argentine Dogo is obedient, loyal, loving, and affectionate. These large and active dogs enjoy time spent outdoors, swimming, and playing games such as tug-of-war and fetch.

Train-ability

Due to its need for human relationships and eagerness to please and impress its owner, the Argentine Dogo generally responds well to basic training and commands. This intelligent breed has the ability to learn to perform most any task its trainer is willing to take the time to teach.

Establishing immediate dominance, trust, and respect is key to successfully training the Argentine Dogo. These dogs respond best to a stern yet gentle approach by an experienced, confident, and strong handler.

Benefits and Disadvantages of the Breed

There are many benefits to owning an Argentine Dogo, such as its no hassle, low maintenance coat. This breed is highly intelligent, easily trainable, and capable of learning to perform many impressive tricks and tasks. When properly socialized from a young age, the Argentine Dogo gets along well with children and other pets, known for its gentle and loving approach to small children. These dogs are protective and territorial, making excellent guard dogs and deterrents to would-be intruders. The Argentine Dogo is obedient, loyal, loving, and affectionate, making an amazing family pet and companion alike.

Unfortunately, there are also disadvantages to owning an Argentine Dogo. These energetic and athletic dogs require large amounts of daily exercise and room to run and play. Anyone wishing to purchase this breed lacking the adequate amount of time and space to dedicate to the dog is strongly advised against doing so. An Argentine Dogo not receiving the proper amount of exercise and space will often act out by destroying property, chewing, barking, whining, and ignoring basic training such as housebreaking.

The Argentine Dogo has a strong instinct to hunt and will occasionally indulge in a good chase. When on the run, this large breed is surprisingly quick, and may pose a threat to other animals, neighborhood pets, and small woodland creatures. The Argentine Dogo must be leashed or properly secured at all times when outdoors.

Sadly, the public opinion of the Argentine Dogo is that of a blood thirsty killer, and this breed often comes with various pains such as the requirement of additional insurance policies and breed bans. It is advised to check state and local laws before purchasing an Argentine Dogo.

As previously mentioned, the Argentine Dogo remains rather rare outside of its native Argentina and can prove difficult to obtain. Individuals seeking to purchase this breed often encounter such challenges as inability to locate a breeder, high prices, and being placed on long waiting lists.

Common Health Concerns

While the Argentine Dogo is typically known as a healthy and hearty breed, they do suffer from a few health problems, including: hip dysplasia, patellar luxation – dislocation of the knee, elbow dysplasia, entropian – folding inward of the eye lashes, ectropian – folding outward of the eye lashes, obesity, and bloat.

Now that you know all about the breed, do you think you are ready to own an Argentine Dogo? Remember, purchasing a pet is a big decision and should be discussed thoroughly and seriously with your entire family.

Sources:

http://www.akc.org/breeds/argentine_dogo

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/argentine_dogo