Being from Argentina, the Dogo Argentino is a strong and powerful dog that was mixed with the Cordoban Fighting Dog. This dog first appeared around the 1920’s to early 1930’s and is used for hunting larger game like deer and wild boars. Although that description doesn’t sound like its best dog for a family, they do indeed enjoy human comfort but are most suitable for handlers who know how to train a dog that is stubborn and has a blood that comes down from a line of hunting wild dogs.
Appearance
Dogo Argentinos have soft and silky short fur due to their warm climate of origin, almost always full on white, although sometimes they can have a big black spot around their eye, their chest, or their hind leg. This large dog is massive in muscle and can weigh up to one hundred to one hundred twenty pounds. Their legs are long and well adapted with their tail being just a small nub. Their facial features are broad and wide almost looking like an American Bulldog in that respect. Their wide mouths and two close together eyes give them a cutely comical look, and their ears are short and pulled back.
Temperament
Not the best dog for a family unless trained into being one since they are born, that’s pretty much the only way this dog will be less stubborn. If this dog was bred to be a hunter, they are not the best choice with people unless it is their one sole human hunter. They can be incredibly ferocious and have been known as great attack dogs for the police in Argentina. Dogos will even fight other dogs off their territory is they haven’t been properly introduced or been around a breed since birth. If this dog is going to be a family pet, and if appropriately trained, they do indeed like human contact and will even be perceptive and careful around young children.
Grooming
Due to their incredibly short coat they need to be brushed as often as one would like, they can even go a month without brushing since they shed so lightly. Trimming their nails and giving them bath time should be once a month however.
Health
Due to their coloring, they may get hard of hearing at an early age or even full on deafness. This can usually occur in one ear but it is not common enough to have a demographic, less than ten percent of dogos can fall under total deafness. They enjoy jogs with their owner and need it to keep up with their strong weight, as well as a hearty protein induced meal. Dogos live up to ten to thirteen years.
Dogo Argentinos may sound dangerous to someone who isn’t sure of the breed, and yes they can be aggressive if used for fighting and hunting, but a trained dogo can make an astonishing pet and a close friend.
Sources
Dogo Argentino , Dog Breed Info Center
History of the Breed , Las Pampas Kennels
