Dogo Argentino

The Dogo Argentino (plural Dogos Argentinos) is an Argentinian breed of large dog of mastiff type. It was bred in the early twentieth century in Córdoba in central Argentina, primarily for dog-fighting, but also for hunting large game such as peccaries and pumas. The foundation stock included a fighting dog of bulldog type, a Bull Terrier and a Mastín del Pirineo.

History

In the 1920s Antonio Nores Martinez, a young student of Córdoba in central Argentina, set out to create a new breed of fighting dog. He wanted it to have the fighting qualities of the Old Cordoba Fighting Dog, but with greater size and strength. He started with a Bull Terrier bitch with considerable fighting ability, which he bred to a spotted fighting dog of bulldog type. He selected and inter-bred their offspring, selecting for white coat colour and rejecting any animal that was retrognathous (undershot). In the eighth generation he introduced a Mastín del Pirineo bitch; by the twelfth generation his dogs were breeding true. They became well known for their success in the ring. Nores Martinez later introduced crosses with a variety of other dogs including the Irish Wolfhound.

In 1947 he presented his breed to the Club de Cazadores ('hunter's club') of Buenos Aires; in 1948 a breed standard was published in the magazine ''Diana''.

The Dogo was definitively accepted by the Fédération Cynologique Internationale in 1973.

Appearance

The Dogo Argentino is a large white short-coated dog with black spots on its skin and has a muscular and strong body that rarely has any markings on its coat (any type of marking or spot on the coat is considered a flaw). While it is not accepted in many of the clubs, a Dogo Argentino can have a black or brindle spot on its head known as a 'pirata' and this is accepted by the Federación Cinológica Argentina.

Breed Standard Height: for females is and for males is , measured at the withers. The length of the body is just slightly longer than the height. 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 has a broad, slightly domed skull and the muzzle is slightly higher at the nose than the stop, when viewed in profile. The tail is set low, thick at the base and tapers to a point.

It has been described as looking similar to the American Bulldog, but very tall with a solid white coat. The breed has also been described as looking similar to the American Pit Bull Terrier, even though the American Pit Bull Terrier is far smaller (13.5 to 27 kilograms).

Temperament

Dogos Argentinos are big-game hunters and are also trained for search and rescue, police assistance, service dogs, guide for the blind, competitive obedience, Schutzhund, and military work.

The Dogo Argentino is an intelligent and courageous dog with a strong, natural instinct to protect its home and family. The Dogo Argentino is a very social dog and are happiest when included in all family activities. The dog makes a strong distinction between familiar people and strangers, so it is imperative that it is well trained and socialized at an early age.

The Dogo Argentino is a hunter of great courage and endurance, and will work individually or in packs. It has also successfully been used in police protection work. An unsteady temperament is a serious fault. The Dogo Argentino has a life expectancy of 10 to 12 years.

Health

As in the Dalmatian, white Boxer, and white Bull Terrier, the Dogo Argentino may experience pigment-related deafness. There is possibility of an approximate 10% deafness rate overall with some dogs afflicted uniaurally (one deaf ear) and some binaurally (deaf in both ears). Studies have shown that the incidence of deafness is drastically reduced when the only breeding stock used is that with bilaterally normal hearing.
OFA health testing should be done on all breeding stock to ensure that there are no evident signs of hip dysplasia.

Hunting and legality

While the Dogo Argentino was bred primarily from the extinct Cordoba fighting dog, it was bred to be a cooperative hunter, i.e. to accompany other catch dogs and bay dogs on the hunt without fighting with the other dogs.

The Dogo Argentino is banned or has ownership restrictions in certain countries, including
the Cayman Islands,
Denmark,
Norway,
Fiji,
Iceland,
Australia,
New Zealand,
Singapore, Hong Kong and Turkey.
In the United Kingdom, under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991, it is illegal to own a Dogo Argentino without lawful authority.

References

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Catch dogs
Dog breeds originating in Argentina
FCI breeds
Hunting dogs