Dogo Argentino

Breed Profile

The Dogo Argentino is a large, white, muscular dog that was given life in Argentina primarily for the purpose of big-game hunting, including wild boar. The breeder, Antonio Nores Martinez, also wanted a dog that would be brave and protect its human companion. It was first bred in 1928, from the Cordoba Fighting Dog along with a wide array of other breeds including the Great Dane.

Temperament

Dogos are big-game hunters. They are  trained for a myriad of reasons, including search and rescue, police assistance, service dogs, guide for the blind, competitive obedience, and military work. The Dogo Argentino is very obstinate and has a high threshold to pain. This combined with the breed’s natural high IQ and bossy tendencies results in this breed thriving within a very active and experienced home.

Color & Coat

Coat: Short and sleek coat.

Color: The Dogo Argentino comes in white color, though there is sometimes a black spot on the head, called “Pirata”.

Living Environment

The Dogo Argentino will fare well within an apartment if it is sufficiently exercised and has at least an average-sized yard at is disposal. Be sure to bring Dogo indoors when temperatures drop below freezing in winter. Dogos are known to be overprotective of their folks. They can be used as guards. It is recommended that owners adequately socialize their Dogos if they want them to get along with other dogs. The breed requires an experienced owner with good leadership skills. It is not ideal if assigned a pet or service dog role, though it has been successful in the latter.

Health

As in the Dalmatian, white Boxer, and the white Bull Terrier, the Dogo may experience pigment-related deafness, with an approximate 10% deafness rate overall with some dogos afflicted uniaurally (one deaf ear) and some binaurally (deaf in both ears). Studies have suggested that the incidence of deafness is drastically diminished when the only breeding stock used is that with bilaterally normal hearing.