Dogo Argentino

Dogo Argentino

About

Dogo Argentino, the perfect balance of power and grace, is a power-packed athletic dog that is both a fierce hunter and a gentle protector of its human companion. He is big, powerful, intelligent, energetic, and headstrong. They have immense energy which makes them a perfect playful dog. With strong willpower, they have a good nose making them alert and intelligent. His short and completely white coat is unique makes them easy to identify. If you want the courageous, yet kind dog, Argentino Dogo can be a perfect choice.

History

Dogo Argentino has its roots from Argentina. The Dogos, primarily developed for the purpose of big-game hunting, is the result of the crossing of nine breeds (Bulldog, Great Dane, Spanish Mastiff, Bull Terrier, Great Pyrenees, Irish wolfhound, Boxer, Dogue de Bordeaux, and Pointer) with the Cordoba Fighting Dog as the base for the breed. Breeder, Antonio Nores Martinez, wanted a loyal and brave dog, willing to protect its human companion; and here’s the result, the Argentine Dogo, a fine hunter, a watchful guard dog, a great working dog, and a loyal and social companion.

Appearance

Argentino Dogo is a large, well-muscled dog. The length of the body is more than the height. The Dogo has large, broad, convex, round head, tapering to the lower side. They have almond shaped medium sized dark or hazel colored eyes with an unwavering, intelligent expression. Eyes are set well apart. The rims of the eyes are either pink or black. Ears are short, erect and triangular in shape; set high on the outside edges of the top skull, and may be cropped or natural. They naturally hang down over the dog’s cheeks and are broad, thick, flat and rounded at the bottom. The muzzle of the Dogo concaves upwards slightly and is almost as long as the skull; one can accept only a slight shortening. The Dogo has large, evenly spaced set of teeth. It has strong sharp canine teeth capable of tearing the fresh and even hard skin. The neck is thick with a lot of skin at the throat area, forming smooth folds. The thighs are very muscular with a short hock. There are usually no dewclaws. The thick tail is long and carried naturally low reaching the hock. When the dog moves, its tail is held out slightly over its topline and typically moves back and forth in a natural wagging rhythm.

The coat of Argentina Dogo is glossy, smooth and all-white, though there is sometimes a black spot on the head. No other markings are allowed under the breed standard, except for some light ticking. The density of coat depends on the climate. In warmer locations, the coat may be thin enough for the skin to be visible, but in colder areas, the coat may become thick enough to develop an undercoat.

Personality of the Dogo Aregentino

The Dogo is a pleasant, loving dog with a steady personality. They are determined and fearless outside yet calm and sensitive indoors. They are known to be highly intelligent, loyal, faithful, obedient, patient and docile. As a guardian, it is prepared to fight any intruder to the death, regardless of injury to itself. Though they have fighting tendency they should not be aggressive without any good reason. Because of his hound heritage, the Dogo is constantly intrigued by the exciting smells around him, so you must work to keep his attention during training sessions. Dogo is conscious of its power and moves around with a lot of confidence creating an atmosphere of being relied on for protection and attacking predators. If proper attention and love are given they are very calm. They are a great family pet, always ready to play or cuddle or console. The Dogo should not be left alone. Giving little or no attention is not only cruel, but it can also lead to aggression and destructive behavior. They love spending plenty of quality time with family. They crave close physical contact, leaning against you and lying on your feet.

Grooming of your Argentino

The Dogo Argentino doesn’t ask for much grooming, however, proper care is necessary. Though the coat being short is fairly easy to maintain but the large built of the Dogo make lit a difficult task.

Brush his sleek coat with a rubber comb or a natural bristle brush few times a week to remove dirt, loose dead hairs, and dandruff to keep its pure white coat healthy. Use coat conditioner or polish for brightening effect. Though not quite noticeable as the length of the coat is not much, but they shed a good amount. So, you’d do well to have a lint roller on hand.

sKeep their teeth clean with vet-approved doggie toothpaste and nails should be clipped monthly as they grow fast. His ears need to be checked every week and cleaned if needed. Frequent baths are not required. Bath your Dogo once every three months or sooner if it gets dirty. When they are bathed, you should use shampoos formulated for sensitive skin. It is essential to introduce grooming to the Dogo Argentino puppies when he is very young so he learns to accept the handling and fuss peacefully.

Health

A healthy Dogo Argentino can live as long as 12 years. Health issues seen in the breed include deafness, hip dysplasia. They may also be prone to glaucoma, and hypothyroidism. It can sometimes be sensitive to extreme temperatures, especially cold ones. Because of its light coat, the Dogo can sunburn easily and should be provided shade or coat protection when exposed to the sun for prolonged periods of time.

Diet

Excellent-quality dry food ensures balanced nutrition for adult Argentinos and can be mixed with broth, water, or canned food. Your Dogo may have a taste for cooked eggs, cottage cheese, and fruits and vegetables, but these should be in moderation. Provide homemade meals balanced between chicken, fish, lamb, venison, bison, turkey and beef along with fresh fruits and vegetables and mix in eggs and yogurt on occasion. Try to limit “table food”, though, because it can result in vitamin and mineral imbalances, bone and teeth problems, and may cause some very finicky eating habits as well as obesity.

Training and Exercise

To be a proud Dogo owner, you yourself should be equally active and energetic. Strong-willed and independent, the Argentine Dogo will respect an owner who is equally confident and consistent. Being a Dogo owner you need to commit to a lot of homework including its training, vigorous exercise and socializing throughout its life. They are highly responsive to training efforts, provided that they are handled with firm but loving leadership. It should be noted that Dogo Argentino’s aren’t for meek or beginner dog owners as they can be a handful if not given proper leadership. They are highly energetic, hence needs to be active to vent their energy in doing interesting things. They should be given plenty to explore in the course of a day. They are able to navigate various types of terrain and make excellent jogging partners. As a working breed of dog, they are also at their happiest when given a ‘meaningful’ task which they can devote themselves to. Boring lifestyle can make him aggressive which they usually express by barking and destructive chewing on a massive scale. When scolded, yelled at or punished harshly, Dogos tend to withdraw and become stubborn or unresponsive. They can also become unruly with rough treatment, and sometimes turn dangerous.

Socialization should be a vital part of their training. Without careful socialization, they may be suspicious of everyone, which could lead to biting. Some Dogos go in the opposite direction — without enough socialization, they become fearful of strangers.

Things to know about Dogo Argentino

• With his dog-fighting ancestry, dog aggression can be a problem. The Dogo Argentino puppies should be thoroughly socialized with other dogs from an early age. He should not be kept with another dog of the same sex and also with cats unless raised with them. Take him to puppy kindergarten class, with visits to friends and neighbors, and on outings to local shops and businesses. If not socialized properly, its aggression can problematic. However, they should not be kept with a dog of the same sex.

• Dogo loves to chew. So their owners should provide them with sturdy chewable toys in order to prevent unwanted chewing.

• Don’t give them the run of the house until they’ve reached trustworthy maturity as they can do a lot of damage because of their size.

• Because they are used in dog fighting rings, the Dogo’s have been deemed dangerous and banned in several countries, including Australia, the Cayman Islands, Denmark, Fiji, Iceland, Singapore, and Ukraine. In the United Kingdom, it is illegal to own one without lawful authority.