Living with a Dogo Argentino
Family Dog: Dogos are very tolerant of children but as always should be supervised when around small children. They typically get along well with other dogs provided they were properly socialized as a pup.
Exercise: The Dogo Argentino requires lots of daily exercise and should be provided with an outlet for their hunting drive including activities such as tracking, trailing, or sport work.
Living Conditions: The Dogo Argentino has a high prey drive and is not typically well suited to be suburban backyard pets without a dedicated owner. They are strong-tempered animals not suitable for a beginning dog owner.
Dogo Argentino Appearance
Appearance: The Dogo Argentino is a large dog with a short white or sometime spotted coat. They have a smooth, muscular body, displaying both power and athletic ability.
Size: A male Dog Argentino should stand at least 24.3 inches tall at the withers while a female should be over 23.5 inches tall. The maximum allowed height is 27 inches.
Companionship: Dogo Argentinos are extremely loyal and affectionate dogs.
Head: The head of the Dogo Argentino is broad and powerful with a slightly domed skull.
Ears: The ears of the Dogo Argentino may be cropped, never to hang naturally, close to the skull.
Muzzle: The muzzle of the Dogo Argentino is powerful muzzle and slightly higher at the nose than the stop, when viewed in profile.
Body: The body of the Dogo Argentino should be just slightly longer than it is tall, but female dogs may be somewhat longer in body than male dogs.
Forequarters: The length of the Dog Argentino's front legs when measured from point of elbow to the ground should be approximately equal to one-half of the dog's overall height at the withers.
Tail: The tail of the Dogo Argentino is low-set with a thick base that tapers to a point.
Color: The Dogo Argentino has a white or sometimes spotted coat.
Dogo Argentino Facts
Characteristics: Dogos Argentinos are big-game hunters and also excel in tracking, search and rescue, general police work including narcotics detection, military and family dogs. They are sometimes used as guide dogs or as service animals. The Dogo Argentino is very protective of their territory and makes a great guard dog.
Dogo Argentino Health
Health: The Dogo Argentino commonly suffers from unilateral (one ear) or bilateral (both ears) deafness. Technology has improved testing to help breeders actively select against pigment-related congenital deafness. They also have a tendency to develop hip dysplasia like many large breeds.
Dogo Argentino History
History: The Dogo Argentina was developed in Argentina during the 1930 by Antonio Nores Martinez who set out to create the ultimate big game hunting dog. He wanted a dog that was not only capable of taking on dangerous game but one who could also be a loyal pet and family guardian.
The Cordoba Fighting Dog was selected by Martinez to be the base for his new breed. The Cordoba is extinct today but was said to be a large and ferocious dog that was both a great hunter and fighter. He the Cordoba with the Great Dane, Boxer, Spanish Mastiff, Old English Bulldog, Bull Terrier, Great Pyrenees, Pointer, Irish Wolfhound and Dogue de Bordeaux. He worked on improving the resulting dog by using selective breeding to introduce the new desired traits. The first standard for the Dogo Argentino was written in 1928. They were first brought to the United States by Dr. Raúl Zeballos, of Las Pampas Kennels, in 1970. Las Pampas Kennels continues breed Dogo Argentinos today.
