Among the characteristics of the Argentine Dogo stands out its totally white, large, robust and elegant body. It stands out for having an affectionate, loyal and cheerful character . It is one of the best guard dogs in the world. At Petlifey, we explain everything about the Dogo Argentino dog breed .
Character of the Argentine Dogo breed
The Argentine Dogo is an animal with a very affectionate and loyal character with its family, but its fighting and sometimes quarrelsome temperament has earned it an undeserved reputation as an aggressive or dangerous dog.
Its demeanour is cordial and affectionate, it is cheerful, frank, humble and friendly. Very dominant, it always shows that it is aware of its power, which it tries to impose above all on the specimens of the same sex.
It is not very barking and its possible aggressive outbreaks must be completely eliminated. This breed, despite being possessed of many virtues, has unfortunately become more known for its negative aspects.
It has earned an undeserved reputation for being a rowdy and bloody one that has led to them being included in almost every existing list of dangerous breeds. In many of the countries that have legislated in this regard, their possession has even been prohibited.
Actually the Argentine Dogo is an animal of extremely faithful and affectionate temperament with its family. It likes to spend its time with them and loves to play with children.
It accompanies them on all their adventures and protects them from any danger. Even so, even if your relationship with the little ones is excellent, it should always be under the supervision of a responsible adult to avoid unpleasant incidents.
One of the best watchdogs in the world, this breed is highly intelligent and has a prodigious memory, making it easy to train. To do this, you must always be very firm, constant and consistent, and know very well what type of dog you are working with.
It is not, in any case, an animal suitable for all types of owners, since it needs a firm and sure hand to guide it during its training and learning in order to enhance its many virtues and not to encourage the most negative characteristics to emerge. of its temperament.
Due to the personality of the Dogo de Argentina, its owner must have some experience in handling dogs and know enough about canine behaviour, in addition to knowing how to exercise natural and solid leadership,
For example, with other dogs, their treatment may be one of tolerance if they are used to it from a puppy, since as an adult there can be confrontations.
Something similar happens with strangers, whom it receives with great suspicion and under constant surveillance, since it must not be forgotten that it is a genetically selected guard dog to defend the house and its family. You have to be very careful, therefore, so that there are no violent and dangerous aggressions or situations.
This dog can live in an urban environment surrounded by neighbours, since it is clean and not very noisy, but it appreciates having a rural environment, with large open spaces and easy access to nature where it can exercise freely.
- Energy: high level. Because of its size and its fighting and hunting nature, it needs to exercise its muscles on a daily basis.
- Temperament: cordial, affectionate and cheerful, it is brave, self-confident, dominant and active.
- Adaptability: it is quiet and very clean, but despite this the city is not the ideal environment, since it needs a lot of exercise and open spaces.
- Sociability: shows affection to its family, but is very aggressive and combative with other animals and with strangers.
- Health: suffers from the typical conditions of large white dogs.
- Longevity: live about 10 or 12 years.
- Utility: very versatile. It was born as a fighting dog and later specialized in hunting dog, but today the most common is to find it as a guard and defence animal or as a companion dog.
- Use: big game (hunting), guard and protection, and company.
Characteristics of the Argentine Dogo
One of the characteristics of the Argentine Dogo is its general appearance of harmonious and balanced appearance, none of its parts stand out from the general set of the body. It is robust and a true athlete, with powerful muscles well visible under the skin.
It is a robust dog, with a large body, strong bones and highly developed muscles, worthy of a great athlete. It has a balanced and harmonious body structure, it is rather rectangular.
Its head is robust and compact, it has rounded shapes, with a broad skull at the top, a poorly defined stop and a strong muzzle whose upper line is somewhat concave.
Its gaze is attentive and lively, but, especially in males, it is harsh. The eyes are dark in color, widely spaced from each other, and oval in shape.
The ears are traditionally docked almost in half to give them a characteristic erect and triangular shape. Today, however, many countries prohibit the practice.
Under very robust and strong legs , the Argentine Dogo has round and compact feet , with strong toes and robust and resistant pads.
Its tail is thick at the base, has a saber shape and is inserted at medium height. At rest it hangs down and reaches the level of the hocks, but when moving it goes horizontally or higher than the back.
Its hair is short, smooth and soft, it is always white. Thick and bushy in specimens that live in cold regions, in those that live in warm areas it becomes thinner and less dense.
Let’s now see in more detail what the Dogo Argentino is like and the breed standard:
Dogo Argentino breed standard
- General appearance: robust, strong, imposing and very muscular, it has a harmonious appearance and keeps a good proportion between all its parts. It is a very good athlete.
- Size: very large.
- Height at the withers: between 62 and 68 cm for males and between 60 and 65 cm for females.
- Weight: between 40 and 45 kg for males and between 38 and 43 kg for females.
- Origin: Argentina.
- Other names: Dogue argentin / Argentinische Dogge.
- Body: the length of the body slightly exceeds the height at the withers.
- Head: strong and powerful, it has a convex profile in the area of the skull, without abrupt angles or marked chiselings, and with strong musculature.
- Skull: solid and convex, it has a fairly prominent frontal furrow.
- Muzzle: strong and somewhat longer than high, it has slightly converging sides and a slightly concave top line. The lips, somewhat thick, short and taut, have free edges and pigmented black.
- Nose: with wide nostrils, it is pigmented black and rises slightly forwards. Seen in profile, the anterior line is perpendicular and straight, coinciding with or slightly in front of the maxillary edge.
- Eyes: dark or hazel-colored, protected by black-bordered eyelids. They are oval and well separated from each other.
- Ears: set high and widely separated from each other, they are of medium size, wide, thick, flat and with a rounded tip. Normally they are falls covering the back region of the cheeks, but on alert they can be semi-erect. In many countries they are amputated.
- Nose-frontal depression (stop): barely marked, in profile it is defined.
- Jaws: strong and well adapted, without prognathism, they ensure a maximum pincer bite, or sometimes a scissor bite. The teeth, firmly implanted and well aligned, are large, healthy and clean.
- Neck: of moderate length, strong and erect, it has very good muscular development and the upper part draws a slightly convex line. It is covered by thick, elastic fur that forms soft, but not hanging, folds at the throat, and by slightly longer hair.
- Chest: broad and deep, the point of the sternum is located level with the point of the shoulder and with the lower line of the thorax, at the level of the elbow line. The ribs are long and moderately arched.
- Back: broad and strong, it has a great muscular development that determines a gentle slope towards the loins, strong and short. The croup, broad and developed, descends slightly to the insertion of the tail.
- Forelimbs: as a whole they are strong and have a robust bone and muscular conformation. The legs, both in front and in profile, are perpendicular. The shoulders are high and proportionate, they are very strong, with large muscular reliefs but without being exuberant. The forearms and arms are of medium length and perpendicular, they are strong, with robust and straight bones, and good muscular development.
- HINDQUARTERS: Moderate angulation are strong, sturdy and parallel, so they give the image of strength and power. If there are spurs, they are usually removed. The legs of long proportionate to the set, are strong and with an important muscular development. Its knees are at an open angle, about 110 °. The hocks are short, strong and firm, ensuring good propulsion force.
- Feet: they are round and have short, robust toes and close together. Those on the hind legs are slightly smaller and somewhat longer. The thick and hard pads are covered in black leather that is rough to the touch.
- Tail: medium set, saber-shaped, thick and reaches the height of the hocks, without exceeding them. At rest the dog carries it down, but in action it lifts it a little above the top line and carries it in continuous lateral movement. In the trot it can carry it horizontally.
- Color: entirely white, sometimes showing a black spot on the eye.
- Hair: the coat is uniform, smooth and soft to the touch, it is short, between 1.5 and 2 cm.
- Skin: homogeneous, thick, but soft, consistent and elastic, and adhered to the body thanks to a semi-loose subcutaneous tissue that allows it to slide easily without forming relevant wrinkles, except on the neck. It has very little pigmentation, although it increases over the years.
- Movement: calm and confident walking, it shows permanent joy in its movements and is quick with reflexes. The gait is slow but agile and firm, and in the trot it has good suspension and powerful rear propulsion. Also, in the gallop it shows great energy and develops all the power of which it is capable.
- FCI Classification: FCI No. 292 Group 2 – Pinscher and Schnauzer, Molossian, and Swiss Mountain and Cattle Dogs. Section 2 – Molossian.
Dogo Argentino puppies
If you are looking for information about the Dogo the Arentina dog breed, it may be because you want to adopt or buy a Dogo Argentino puppy.
If this is the case, we believe that there are a number of aspects that you should know before making the big decision. This way you will know if it is the right pet for you.
The puppies Dogo Argentino are very active and need to be constantly playing and doing activities. This can cause minor “accidents” to happen in your home. Just have a little patience with the little one.
Like almost all breeds destined to fight with dogs, formerly the Argentine Dogo used to have its ears amputated, a practice that is still done in some countries whose legislation allows it. Our recommendation is that you do not amputate its ears.
Although this breed of dog is white, sometimes there is a curious black or dark spot around one of the eyes. This gives them a mischievous image similar to cartoon dogs.
The Argentine Dogo needs to go out into the open to meet its demands for exercise and daily expansion, especially if it lives in the city, which is not its natural habitat. Therefore, if you are a sedentary person, it is not the best choice.
If the Argentine Dogo gets used to interacting with other dogs since it is a puppy, the coexistence between them can be good, because it is a dog that has no problems in relating if it is done properly.
On the other hand, if you choose to buy, be sure to do it from a serious and responsible breeder. Visit their facilities if possible, ask all your questions, consult opinions on the Internet or consult clubs or associations of this breed.
Education and training of the Argentine Dogo
Regarding how to educate an Argentine Dogo, like all pack dogs or that work in groups, it likes and needs to be inserted in a hierarchical and stable social organization in order to feel safe and happy.
It never dares to transgress the established order, but if it perceives weakness or lack of initiative on the part of its master then it does develop altered behaviour patterns, with episodes of rebellion and confrontations that can be very unpleasant.
It is important, therefore, that the whole family intervenes, to a greater or lesser extent, in the education of the animal so that it assumes its position and position within the group and does not try to impose itself on the weakest individuals.
What is proven is that in the hands of the right owner, even the most dominant of bulldogs becomes an obedient and submissive animal, always ready to obey and surrender to the wishes of its master.
The intense socialization is one of the most important tasks that the owner of an Argentine dogo must undertake, for the more varied the situations to which the animal since it is a puppy a few weeks, is greater in the future be exposed adaptation their temperament and more stable are their reactions to stressful situations.
Due to its temperamental aptitudes, it can be used in guard and defence dog sports and it can even be used for public utility jobs as a police or army auxiliary, but it is less common to see it participating in sports obedience or agility competitions. although due to its physique it is well trained for it
Food of the Argentine Dogo breed
As for how to feed a Dogo Argentino, obesity also has a special incidence in the specimens that live like family dogs, so you have to take care of their diet and their exercise guidelines.
They are dogs used to exercising and being quite active, so their appetite is quite good. But if the animal has little activity or has a sedentary life, it is easy for it to gain weight quickly.
It is advisable to divide the daily food intake in two and not to feed them just before or after making a great effort.
The Dogo Argentino breed needs a high quality dog food, rich in protein and healthy fats for the perfect functioning of its bodies. Fortunately, you can find food for this breed in specialized pet stores or online.
Health and diseases of the Argentine Dogo breed
The specimens of this breed have an average longevity that exceeds what is usual in other dogs of their size. Its health is generally good, despite the fact that it can suffer from some typical diseases of the breed.
For example, as with other breeds in which white is predominant, it is predisposed to suffer from congenital deafness and to suffer some skin problems, and related to its size and body structure there are also other conditions such as hip and elbow dysplasia. and also stomach twisting.
Specific care of the Argentine Dogo breed
As for how to care for a Dogo Argentino, aesthetic care is very simple. Despite its pristine white color it is a very clean animal that rarely gets dirty and only needs occasional brushing. Thus, there is little care that this breed requires, and it is highly recommended to give it to them, because with an adequate training and socialization work a beautiful specimen is obtained. Temperate and sober, it functions as the best of guardians and defenders to be had.