ABOUT DOGOS
Dogos are unfailingly loyal. It is truly amazing how a dog as big and powerful as a Dogo Argentino can be so patient and loving with kids, and crave their masters attention to such a great degree. They are content to sit for hours with their heads literally resting at or even on your feet….. they want nothing more in life than a good hunt and their masters love and attention!
If you were to visit with a grown male Dogo Argentino who was an experienced hunter, or to witness him interact with children, you would never believe that this dog, (temperament wise) is capable of tackling a full grown wild boar, or mountain lion. They are THAT gentle. But the Dogo can and will handle dangerous big game and will, in an instant show this other side. Like a gladiator, the Dogo thrills at the chance for combat either at his masters defense or during the hunt.
The Dogo is a natural guardian, and will guard it’s family and what it perceives as it’s home fiercely against intruders. Care needs to be taken to introduce friends or visitors to your Dogo, and they should be warned not to approach your Dogo without you present.
There is a distinct difference between having a Dogo Argentino as a guardian and having a dog of another breed… If a thief enters your house at night and you have any other dog you know there is a thief because the dog barks.. if you have a Dogo, you know there is an intruder because you hear him yell!!!
Dogo Argentino, or Argentinian Mastiff, is the only native breed from Argentina. The breed was created by Dr. Antonio Martinez in the early 1900s when he crossed several breeds with the old fighting dogs from Cordoba. He was looking for a strong, vigorous, balanced athlete who could be both a hunting companion and a fighter. Dogo Argentino is a large dog breed, standing between 23.5 and 27 inches tall and weighing from 85 to 100 pounds or more. The head is broad, the muzzle short, and the ears either cropped or left natural. The chest is deep and broad and the body strong. The coat is white and short.
Grooming this dog breed is easy and consists of a twice weekly brushing with a soft bristled brush or curry comb. This is an active breed that needs daily exercise. Consider that on hunts, the dog may cover ten to twelve miles. Daily exercise can consist of walks plus runs alongside a bicycle, agility training, hunting, or weight pulling. All off-leash exercise must be in a fenced area, as the Argentinian Mastiff dog will forget all training if a prey animal is sighted or scented.Early socialization and training are very important for this dog breed. Training must be kept fun and gamelike, as Dogo Argentino tend to be sensitive to corrections from their owner. They usually respond well to a sharp verbal correction when needed. Because they are natural guard dogs, Dogo Argentino dogs need extensive socialization in order to develop a sense of judgment as to who is a threat and who is not.
This dog breed should never be kept just as a family pet. This is a dedicated, loyal working dog with all her hunting and working instincts still intact. Dogo Argentino dogs require experienced dog owners who will work with them on a daily basis. Some Dogo Argentino dogs are very patient with children, while others may not be. The Dogo Argentino breed is dog-aggressive, and two Dogo Argentino dogs of the same sex should never be housed together. Health concerns include deafness, hip dysplasia, immune system problems.
