(Argentinian Mastiff) (Argentine Dogo)
History
Temperament
Fighting
The Argentine Dogo (also known as the Dogo Argentino or Argentinian Mastiff) is a large, white, game-bred, muscular dog that was developed in Argentina for the protection of families against Puma attacks, and very well suited for big-game hunting.
History
The Argentine Dogo was developed in Argentina by Dr. Antonio Nores Martinez in the 1920's.
He wanted a dog that was a good pack hunter and guardian, but could also be trusted with the family. He started with a now extinct mastiff-type breed called the Dog of Cordoba.
He added Great Dane, Boxer, Spanish Mastiff, Bulldog, Bull Terrier, Great Pyrenees, Pointer, Irish Wolfhound and Dogue de Bordeaux.
The resulting breed, not only met Martinez,' original expectations as a big game hunter and family guardian, but has also been successful as a guide dog and in military and police work.
He created a bullish and fearless hunter with great stamina and a light coat capable of deflecting, rather than absorbing, heat.
The breed instantly appealed to people who organize and enjoy dogfights, an activity still popular in many parts of South America and elsewhere. Unfortunately this gave the dog a bad reputation in Britain.
Britain has national legislation to control dogs in public. The Dangerous Dogs Act (1991) specifies that three breeds, the Fila Brazileiro, Dogo Argentino and Japanese Tosa, are totally banned.
A fourth breed, the American Pit Bull Terrier, is allowed only under severe restrictions.
It must be registered, neutered, tattooed, microchipped and has to carry insurance.
It cannot be bred or imported and when in public it must be muzzled, leashed and handled by a person over 16 years of age at all times.
This is a real shame.
When properly raised these are all great dogs. A dog is what the master makes of it. Not all breeds are for everyone.
People teach these dogs to fight giving them a bad name.
Banning the breed is not the way to solve the problem.
Some of the Argentine Dogo's talents are hunting, tracking, watchdog, guarding, police work, narcotics detection, military, work, competitive obedience, and schutzhund.
AppearanceHe wanted a dog that was a good pack hunter and guardian, but could also be trusted with the family. He started with a now extinct mastiff-type breed called the Dog of Cordoba.
He added Great Dane, Boxer, Spanish Mastiff, Bulldog, Bull Terrier, Great Pyrenees, Pointer, Irish Wolfhound and Dogue de Bordeaux.
The resulting breed, not only met Martinez,' original expectations as a big game hunter and family guardian, but has also been successful as a guide dog and in military and police work.
He created a bullish and fearless hunter with great stamina and a light coat capable of deflecting, rather than absorbing, heat.
The breed instantly appealed to people who organize and enjoy dogfights, an activity still popular in many parts of South America and elsewhere. Unfortunately this gave the dog a bad reputation in Britain.
Britain has national legislation to control dogs in public. The Dangerous Dogs Act (1991) specifies that three breeds, the Fila Brazileiro, Dogo Argentino and Japanese Tosa, are totally banned.
A fourth breed, the American Pit Bull Terrier, is allowed only under severe restrictions.
It must be registered, neutered, tattooed, microchipped and has to carry insurance.
It cannot be bred or imported and when in public it must be muzzled, leashed and handled by a person over 16 years of age at all times.
This is a real shame.
When properly raised these are all great dogs. A dog is what the master makes of it. Not all breeds are for everyone.
People teach these dogs to fight giving them a bad name.
Banning the breed is not the way to solve the problem.
Some of the Argentine Dogo's talents are hunting, tracking, watchdog, guarding, police work, narcotics detection, military, work, competitive obedience, and schutzhund.
The Dogo Argentino is a large, white, short-coated dog with a smooth, muscular body, displaying both power and athletic ability.
The minimum height for the male is 62 cm (24.3 inches) at the withers, for the female 60 cm (23.5 inches). Maximum height is 68.5 cm (27 inches). The length of body is just slightly longer than tall, but female dogs may be somewhat longer in body than male dogs. The length of the front leg (measured from point of elbow to the ground) is approximately equal to one-half of the dog's height at the withers. The head is powerful with a broad, slightly domed skull and a powerful muzzle that is slightly higher at the nose than the stop, when viewed in profile.
Ears may be cropped, never to hang naturally, close to the skull. The relatively short tail is set low, thick at the base and tapers to a point.
The minimum height for the male is 62 cm (24.3 inches) at the withers, for the female 60 cm (23.5 inches). Maximum height is 68.5 cm (27 inches). The length of body is just slightly longer than tall, but female dogs may be somewhat longer in body than male dogs. The length of the front leg (measured from point of elbow to the ground) is approximately equal to one-half of the dog's height at the withers. The head is powerful with a broad, slightly domed skull and a powerful muzzle that is slightly higher at the nose than the stop, when viewed in profile.
Ears may be cropped, never to hang naturally, close to the skull. The relatively short tail is set low, thick at the base and tapers to a point.
Temperament
The Argentine Dogo is an excellent guardian of the home. Loyal to the family, playful and intelligent. It is good with children and loves to kiss and cuddle with those the family accepts.
Dogos are easy to train. This is a highly intelligent, powerful dog who needs a firm and consistent, but loving hand. The Argentine Dogo is not a breed for everyone.
All dogs are individuals and some are more dominant or possess a stronger prey drive than others. With the right owners even the more dominant dogs can be submissive towards all humans and other animals.
This breed needs someone who understands how to display leadership. Humans who are firm, confident, and consistent, this breed needs rules he must follow and limits to what he is and is not allowed to do. The objective in training this dog is to achieve a pack leader status.
It is a natural instinct for a dog to have an order in their pack. When we humans live with dogs, we become their pack. The entire pack cooperates under a single leader. Lines are clearly defined.
You and all other humans MUST be higher up in the order than the dog. That is the only way your relationship can be a success.
When you put this breed with a meek or passive owner, problems may arise as the dog will feel he needs to, "save his pack" and run the show. Adult Dogos can be aggressive with other dogs however, the Dogo does not usually provoke the confrontation but may if he senses another dog who is unstable. The breed needs an owner who can tell the Dogo it is not his job to put another dog in his place. Breeders should work with prospective owners to match the dog with the right type of person. They are good with other pets if they are raised with them from puppyhood. This white mastiff needs early socialization with other animals. It also requires early obedience training.
Dogos are easy to train. This is a highly intelligent, powerful dog who needs a firm and consistent, but loving hand. The Argentine Dogo is not a breed for everyone.
All dogs are individuals and some are more dominant or possess a stronger prey drive than others. With the right owners even the more dominant dogs can be submissive towards all humans and other animals.
This breed needs someone who understands how to display leadership. Humans who are firm, confident, and consistent, this breed needs rules he must follow and limits to what he is and is not allowed to do. The objective in training this dog is to achieve a pack leader status.
It is a natural instinct for a dog to have an order in their pack. When we humans live with dogs, we become their pack. The entire pack cooperates under a single leader. Lines are clearly defined.
You and all other humans MUST be higher up in the order than the dog. That is the only way your relationship can be a success.
When you put this breed with a meek or passive owner, problems may arise as the dog will feel he needs to, "save his pack" and run the show. Adult Dogos can be aggressive with other dogs however, the Dogo does not usually provoke the confrontation but may if he senses another dog who is unstable. The breed needs an owner who can tell the Dogo it is not his job to put another dog in his place. Breeders should work with prospective owners to match the dog with the right type of person. They are good with other pets if they are raised with them from puppyhood. This white mastiff needs early socialization with other animals. It also requires early obedience training.
Fighting
The Dogo Argentino was bred specifically to avoid the dog aggression problems inherent in the Cordoba Fighting Dog when applied to hunting, specifically its lack of ability to hunt in a pack. The creators of the breed took great care to prevent this undesirable trait from manifesting in the Dogo Argentino, as the breed was always intended to be a pack hunter.
Dogos can develop an aggressive or dominant temperament if not socialized with other dogs at an early age, particularly with other dogs of the same sex, but can be trained by an experienced handler.
However, some Dogos are bred for dog fighting. Dogos of these lines are extremely aggressive and not suited for big game hunting, unlike the original Dogo Argentino. These Dogos are somewhat smaller than the ones used for big-game hunting weighting between 75 and 90 lb. In some rare cases, they are cross-bred with the American Pit Bull Terrier.
In the United Kingdom it is illegal to own Argentine Dogos without specific exemption from a court per the 1991 Dangerous Dogs Act. The Australian government has banned the importation of this dog. This breed will do okay in an apartment if it is sufficiently exercised and does best with at least an average-sized yard. Be sure to bring the Dogo inside when temperatures drop below freezing.
Dogos can develop an aggressive or dominant temperament if not socialized with other dogs at an early age, particularly with other dogs of the same sex, but can be trained by an experienced handler.
However, some Dogos are bred for dog fighting. Dogos of these lines are extremely aggressive and not suited for big game hunting, unlike the original Dogo Argentino. These Dogos are somewhat smaller than the ones used for big-game hunting weighting between 75 and 90 lb. In some rare cases, they are cross-bred with the American Pit Bull Terrier.
In the United Kingdom it is illegal to own Argentine Dogos without specific exemption from a court per the 1991 Dangerous Dogs Act. The Australian government has banned the importation of this dog. This breed will do okay in an apartment if it is sufficiently exercised and does best with at least an average-sized yard. Be sure to bring the Dogo inside when temperatures drop below freezing.
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