A beautiful, majestic, snow-white dog, calmly and dignifiedly looking at the world and loving his family with all his heart – this is the Dogo Argentino.
The Dogo Argentino combines the qualities of different breeds. He has a severe and impregnable appearance, is a reliable protector for his owner. With such a dog, going out late at night or going out of the house is not scary. At the same time, he is a wonderful companion dog with boundless friendliness who will become a true friend and family member.
In this ‘ Pets Feed ‘ breed sheet, we will explain everything you need to know about the Dogo Argentino, whether it is related to its character, to the lifestyle that suits you or to some of the diseases that can affect it.
Dogo Argentino photos
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Physical characteristics
The Dogo Argentino is among the large dog breeds. These animals are very proportionally built and are distinguished by a well-turned physique. The muscles have clear outlines that are visible even under the dog’s skin.
According to the FCI standard, males should reach a height of approximately 62-68 cm. For females 60 to 65 cm. If we talk about the body weight of the dog, then it is 40-50 kg for males and 40-45 kg for females.
Distinctive features
- Head: The head is large, powerful, proportional to the body. The muzzle is moderately long, slightly concave at the top.
- Eyes: The eyes are set apart and oval in shape. Brown color. The gaze is suspicious.
- Ears: The ears are set apart, triangular, usually docked.
- Frame: The chest is deep, rather broad. There is a curve in the rib area which allows the dog to breathe deeply while running. The belly is turned up. The back is muscular, there is a slight slope in the kidney area.
- Limbs: The front legs are straight, the shoulders are developed and powerful. The working legs are parallel to each other. The hip muscles are well developed. The pads are black, the skin is rough. Walking is confident.
- Coat: White coat. Black spots are allowed around the eyes and ears, but no more than 1/10 of the head.
Dogo Argentino bite
The strength of the Dogo Argentino bite has been measured around 500 PSI, which places it among the dogs with the strongest bite of its kind. Like the rest of his strengths, his instincts predominate, so this quality like any other must be trained because his nature leads him to bite and not to let go for any reason, not even the pain.
Character and behavior
Despite its past as a fighting dog and a hunting dog, the Dogo Argentino is another proof that the education we offer our dog will greatly contribute to giving a proper character to family life. The Dogo Argentino is an affectionate and loyal dog, certainly protective but tolerant towards other dogs and other pets if he is offered the appropriate socialization.
It is a smart and dedicated dog, very sensitive, who will create a very strong bond with those who consider its family. It’s perfect for those who have older children at home because they like to play and offer loving kisses, which surprises and captivates many people. It is very patient and kind, very reliable if it had the opportunity to educate it from its young age.
However, the Dogo Argentino is not a suitable dog for everyone. its great intelligence drives it to be bored with a certain ease. That’s why it needs an experienced person in responsible pet ownership, education and training and the dog’s correct motivation to offer it new experiences and positive activities. It also needs a dynamic family that understands the needs of this dog and adapts to a proactive lifestyle.
Finally, we will add that it is very important to monitor all the interactions that a Dogo Argentino adopts in its adult stage. As with any dog, abuse and lack of socialization can harm this noble breed ce by making it nervous, shy or responsive, depending on the case. This is a recommendation we would make with any breed, regardless of its morphology, but in this case, it is more important because of the demonstrated physical ability and strength.
Health
The Dogo Argentino dog breed is healthy and generally does not need frequent visits to the vet. But there is always a tendency for certain diseases, including:
- Deafness – about 10% of dogs of this breed are deaf in one or both ears. This is called pigmentary deafness and occurs in other predominantly white dogs, including Dalmatians, White Boxers, and White Bull Terriers;
- Hypothyroidism;
- Glaucoma;
- Paralysis of the larynx;
- Hip dysplasia.
Life expectancy
The life expectancy of the Dogo Argentino is greater than 10 or 12 years, but this figure can be exceeded if you take care of it properly
Care
The Dogo Argentino dog breed has a short coat and does not require special care and frequent combing – once a week is enough. Clean your pet’s eyes daily, clean the ears 2-3 times a week, and trim the nails once every 10 days. Bathe the dog once a week or more.
Exercise
The Dogo Argentino will need 2 to 3 walks a day, during which it will be able to sniff, investigate and interact with other animals. It will also be helpful to encourage it to moderate exercise, through games and toys or various activities such as performing a circuit of agility. The Dogo Argentino will benefit from the mental stimulation that this type of activity will give.
Fun facts
- This breed is one of the four developed in Argentina, although only the Argentinian mastiff and the Argentinian dog Pila still exist today. The other two, the Argentinean polar dog and the Cordoba fighting dog, disappeared a long time ago.
- The laws of many countries set specific rules for the possession of these animals, and even some countries prohibit having these animals as pets.
- The Dogo Argentino is prohibited in the following countries: Spain, Italy, Great Britain, Romania, Norway, Turkey, USA, Bermuda, Portugal, Singapore, New Zealand, Australia, Ukraine,
History of the breed
The Dogo Argentino is the only Argentine breed not to have disappeared. It was developed in the Argentine province of Córdoba in the 1920s by Dr. Antonio Nores Martínez, looking for an exceptionally strong and resistant dog, who was a real fighter. At that time, dog fighting was very common in Argentine fields and elsewhere in the world. In Cordoba, the “fighting dogs of Cordoba” were used for these activities. Nores Martínez used these dogs as parents of the Dogo Argentino, but he sought more stability of character and better control of aggression.
When dogfights began to be frowned upon by society, Nores Martínez led the Dogo Argentino to the climb and big game. The result was as expected and the Dogo Argentino became a hunter of wild boars, pumas, peccaries and foxes.
To reach the standard we know today, many other breeds of dogs have been crossed. In addition to the Cordovan fighting dogs, the Dogo Argentino has ancestors such as the bull terrier, the English bulldog, the Great Dane, the Great Pyrenees Dog, the boxer, the Spanish mastiff, the mastiff, the Irish wolfhound and pointers. The breed was officially recognized by the Argentine Cynological Federation in 1964 and by the International Cynological Federation (FCI) in 1973.