Dogo Argentino: A Great Guardian and Family Dog

Dogs are many: some are extremely beautiful and adorable, like Schnoodles, and some are so strong that they can even hunt big animals.

One such big game hunter is Dogo Argentino, which is known for its extra ordinary strength and aggression.

It has elegance, drive, and great temperament.

But how useful is this dog? Or why is Dogo Argentina classified among the powerful dogs?

Does it make a good family dog?

Hold your breath!

As we’re going to answer all these and other questions.

1. They Originated in Argentino

Dogo Argentino’s history is a century-old when a doctor named Dr. Antonio Nores Martinez in Argentina decided purposefully to produce a big game hunting dog that can be a family dog as well.

For this mission, he chose the Cordoba dog as the base breed. After successive attempts, he was finally able to create a breed known as Dogo Argentino today.

It proved to be a very loyal and insurmountable companion of those who adopted it over time.

In 1973 it was accepted as the first and only Argentinian breed by Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI), thanks to the effort of Dr. Augustin, the younger brother of Dr. Antonio.

In 2020, finally, American Kennel Club (AKC) accepted Dogo Argentino as its 195^th breed: the first-ever from Argentina.

2. They are Big White Large Breed Dogs

What is cachorro Dogo Argentino?

Dogo Argentino is a big white hunting guardian and a family dog with quick, athletic body and great intelligence.

What does Dogo Argentino look like?

They are pure white-colored muscular dogs having a short white coat and a dark patch on one of the eyes, ear, or face that does not exceed 10% of the whole face area.

The average lifespan is 10-15 years.

The muzzle is big, with a black nose, open nostrils, and almond eyes. The ears are floppy, which are often cropped.

Standard height and weight of male Dogos are 24 – 26.5 inches and 88 – 100 lbs, respectively, whereas a Dogo Argentino females have a standard height of 24.5 – 25 inches and weight from 88 to 95 lbs.

The neck is thick, strong, and slightly wrinkled like oxen.

Legs are straight and vertical, with the upper arm having the same length as the shoulder.

The toes on the front feet are tight-fitting with strong, thick, and black pads. The front feet also have dewclaws.

Its hindquarters reveal, it has got very muscular thighs, short pasterns, and slightly smaller feet than the front feet, but no dewclaws.

3. They are Strong, Muscular, and Big Game Hunters

Since initially created for hunting big games like red nose pitbull, they are strong enough to pull heavy loads even.

That’s the reason it’s one of the most preferred dogs used by:

• Police, for foot pursuits, drug busts, and cadaver searches
• Military, for search and rescue
• Families, as watchdog and housepet
• Hunters, for hunting cougars and wild boars

Do you Know?

Massillon police mourned the loss of K-9 Inca, a Dogo Argentino, who had been helping the department for 11 years in hundreds of cases.

They are tough dogs that do well outdoors.

Dogo Argentino is a muscular breed of dogs that can pull heavy loads, including cars and trucks.

They have got one of the strongest jaws that help them prey and hold wild boars and puma.

Talking about the bite force, again, they are the strongest, with a bite force of 500 PSI.

To know their strength, ability to catch the prey, like a boar, and a guide on hunting with Dogos, watch the following video.

4. They are Extremely Aggressive

Is Dogo Argentino dangerous?

Yes, it can be dangerous for other animals, so much so that it can kill or, in other circumstances, fight to the death even.

Dogo Argentino’s temperament can be summed in three words: humble, friendly, and extremely aggressive towards other dogs.

Do you Know?

In the UK, under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991, Dogo Argentino and its cross-breeds are banned.

The obvious reason is that they were bred from fighting dogs, and even today, their primary use is hunting and guarding.

Therefore,  owners need to train them at an early age; otherwise, they may have a hard time pulling them back each time they encounter other dogs.

Often people ask if Dogos are banned or not.

Not all, but in certain countries, including New Zealand, Australia, certain Nordic and Scandinavian countries, and Turkey, Ukraine, Dogos are either banned or have ownership restrictions.

In the US, Dogo Argentinos are banned in certain states or cities like Aurora, Colorado, and New York City.

But surprisingly, despite their aggressive nature, they make a perfect family dog, as defined by AKC as ‘Cheerful, humble, and friendly.’

They are intelligent and affectionate, making them the best protectors of their families.

Most people confuse Dogo Argentino Vs. Pitbulls. But there’s a difference between the both, explained below.

Characteristics	Pitbull	Dogo Argentino
Coat Color	Any solid color or patched	Completely white
Aggressiveness	Much lesser. Friendly with its family and strangers.	Aggressive with strangers, people, and other dogs.
Muscularity	Very strong. It can pull even cars. Have more muscles than Dogo Argentino. Owners should regularly train their dogs to maintain muscle development.	But Dogo Argentino has more muscle-mass than Argentino. Owners should regularly train their dogs to maintain muscle development.
Jaws Strength	They do not have any mechanism or enzyme to lock their jaws when they catch prey. Still, they don’t release easily when they bite.	On the other hand, Dogo Argentino has very strong jaws, making it easier for him to hunt pumas and big boars.
Athletic	Most pit bulls are athletic, but primarily they are house dogs.	Dogos are big athletic dogs and stronger than Pitbulls. They don’t feel the pain so easily.   They are so faithful that they even take the death risk for the owner.
Energy Level	High-energy.	You need to make sure your dog is getting proper physical and mental exercise
Bite Force	235 PSI	500 PSI
Ear Cropping	Not normal	Pretty normal with them

 

5. They need to be Socialized and Trained Earlier

If anything goes wrong in breeding, socializing, or proper training, you can be held liable for owning a dog that has seriously injured or even killed another dog.

Luckily, these dogs are quite easy to train, as unlike others, you need not repeat an instruction many times before they can understand.

In other words, they are mentally and physically strong, requiring an experienced and firm trainer who does not resort to punishing him when he does not obey the commands.

6. They Have High Energy Level, So Need Daily Exercise 

Do you know how high can a Dogo Argentino jump?

You will be amazed. It’s as high as six feet with a sprint of 40 km per hour. They are high energy dogs who are ready for any action, any time.

Since they were meant to hunt large animals, they can do activities full day, thanks to their great lung capacities.

The aggressive nature and strong muscle mass require a lot of exercises and mental stimulation.

There are several options available in this regard, including playtime in your backyard or taking him for a long walk (twice a day, at least).

Certain outdoor activities like hiking, swimming, long chase are the best to strengthen his muscles.

While outdoors, don’t forget to take your dog’s essentials, like a dog water bottle, because you never know when your dog loses energy in a short time-span.

Like other dogs, he loves to play fetch, hide-and-seek, and chasing a rolling ball.

In addition to this, dog sports like agility, obedience, and rally can be much more fun for both of you.

To know about the rally, watch the following video. You’ll love it and immediately plan to train your dog for it, for sure. Have a look:

7. They are Healthy Dogs with Few Genetic Problems

One of the issues they have is the breed deafness. It can be either in one ear or both. The probable reason might be the pigment-related deafness, which whites often have.

The recommended health test for Dogo Argentinos is the BAER test to evaluate the hearing of dogs.

Due to poor breeding practices, not all but some breeds have more chances of getting infected with common issues, including:

• Hip Dysplasia (medium chances)
• Deafness (high stakes)
• Autoimmune Thyroiditis

and some skin allergies due to their white coat.

8. Their Feeding Needs Are According to Large Breed dogs

The diet of Dogos needs to be formulated according to the large breeds.

Feeding is your personal choice,

But, it’s always recommended to consult your vet or breeder after adoption to determine the ideal food for your Dogo Argentino.

Among other things, they need a lot of fresh, cleaned water to drink while moving out or sitting in.

9. They Need Occasional Grooming

Grooming a Dogo is easier because of the thin and non-furry coat, but at the same time, the big size makes the job big.

But the good news is, this dog does not need much grooming as cavoodles and bernedoodles do. Occasional bathing is just fine when they look dirty.

• Brushing

How much a dog shed is a matter of concern for every dog-owner, especially those living in flats or apartments.

Because Dogo Argentino is a hairless breed, it needs to be taken to a pet groomer just occasionally.

All that’s needed is timely nail trimming, teeth cleaning, and so on.

• Nail Trimming

This dog’s nails are strong and grow much faster than usual, which needs to be trimmed to prevent cracking.

Among other things, like trimming nails of your Dogo with a painless nail clipper, there’s one aspect that needs your attention – ear cropping.

• Ear Cropping

Ear cropping is not common among the majority of dogs. Like, for example, you won’t hear a coydog’s ears being trimmed.

So, is it ok to crop Dogo Argentino’s ears? Let’s look at what one of the biggest dog association says on it.

According to American Kennel Club (AKC), cropping your dog’s ear is one of the:

“…acceptable practices integral to defining and preserving breed character and/or enhancing good health.” – AKC

But why do we need to crop Dogo’s ears? It’s because it’s the original Dogo Argentino standard practiced and adopted by its creator, Dr. Antonia Nores.

The most obvious reason might be the fact that the short ears prevent the prey from grabbing and biting them.

In some countries, people prefer to crop the males’ ears and let the females as it is.

Whichever practice you follow, it’s totally up to you how you want your dog to look.

• Teeth Cleaning

The Dogo Argentino has 42-44 teeth.

Teeth should be cleaned regularly to prevent the build-up of the plague.

• Ear Cleaning

If you get your Dogo’s ear cropped, as mentioned above, it means it’s more prone to dust, in which case you need to check them for any build-up wax or debris frequently.

10. They are Expensive: both Dogo Pups and Adults

If you’re going to buy Dogo Argentino puppies, don’t think you can get it for cheap. It’s an expensive breed rather.

How much is a Dogo Argentino puppy?

Dogo Argentino breeders sell Dogo pups between $1000 – $2500, which may go as high as $5000 if it’s purebred and belong to a championed bloodline.

You may buy Dogo puppies online as well, provided the breeder is trustworthy so that you don’t end up getting a knock-off just.

Here are 5 tips to consider while buying a Dogos Argentino pup or adult.

1. Go to the breeder who abides by the rules set by AKC and Dogo Argentino Club of America, for example, the one who does not sell to pet stores, etc.
2. Prefer adult Dogos over young ones because certain diseases aren’t noticeable in pups
3. Do not buy from a non-trusted source, or you will end up purchasing an unhealthy and difficult-to-socialize dog.
4. Don’t hesitate to ask for a puppy’s parents’ OFA or PennHIP certificate for hip dysplasia and OFA BAER clearance certificate for hearing.
5. The seller must be willing to co-operate later and not sell under the Caveat Emptor phrase only.

Conclusion

We would go as far as saying that Dogo is the ultimate dog. It has the capability of doing anything that you can expect a dog to do.

Like, if you want it to hunt, it will hunt. If you want it to be a family dog, it gladly will become, provided you train him well.

The best thing about them is they adapt to any situation. You may find them in apartments, in the snow, in the scorching heat of the deserts.

Do you want Dogo Argentino to be a part of your family? What do you like the most in this dog? Let us know in the comments section below.