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Dogo Argentino Dog Breed Introduction
Dogo Argentino is a large muscular dog originally from Argentina bred in 1928 for hunting big games such as puma, wild boar, mountain lions, and feral pigs. It is popular for its short white coat, strength, intelligence, power, great lung capacity, and a muscular build. This makes Dogos Argentinos suitable for other jobs such as police work, service dogs, search and rescue, and guide for the blind. It is also social, friendly, and loyal making a great pet for the right owners.
A Dogo Argentino also wants to be included in all family activities. However, this breed is protective of its people. Early socialization and training are extremely important. A Dogo Argentino is not a dog for a novice owner or one who is unwilling to take charge. This breed first came to the United States in 1970. However, it was recognized by AKC in 2020.
Dogo Argentino History | Origin
Dogos Argentinos were created in 1928 by Antonio Nores Martinez ( a professor, medical doctor, and surgeon) through crossbreeding. He created the breed with aim of breeding a big game hunting dog that was capable of being a guard dog and a loyal pet. Therefore, he picked the now extinct Cordoba fighting dog to be the base for the breed. It was a large ferocious dog that was also great in hunting. Therefore, he crossed Cordoba Fighting Dog with Dogue de Bordeaux, English Pointer, Bull Terrier, Great Dane, Old English Bulldog, Boxer, Pyrenean Mastiff, Old English Bulldog, Spanish Mastiff, and Irish Wolfhound.
Antonio continued to introduce the desired traits in the breed through selective breeding. The first six specimens of Dogo Argentino came to the United States in 1970 after they were brought by Dr. Raul Zeballos. Unfortunately, due to the strength and fearless temperament of this breed, it has been used in fighting rings. Therefore, Dogos Argentinos have been banned or have ownership restrictions in certain countries such as Denmark, Cayman Islands, Singapore, Hong Kong, Australia, Turkey, and New Zealand. Under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991, it is illegal to own a Dogo Argentino in the United Kingdom without lawful authority.
Dogo Argentino Lifespan
According to the American Kennel Club, Dogos Argentinos have a lifespan of 9 to 15 years.
Dogo Argentino Grooming
A Dogo Argentino sheds all-year round at moderate levels. It has a short smooth coat that require weekly brushing using a bristle or mitt brush to remove loose hair and dirt. Regular brushing keeps the coat looking glossy and healthy. Occasional baths will do when the dog is visibly dirty using a mild shampoo bubble bath.
Remember to thoroughly rinse off the grooming products from the coat after a bath to prevent skin irritation. Wipe the face with a clean damp wash cloth or canine wipes instead of using soapy water that irritates the eyes. If not daily, brush the teeth of a Dogo Argentino at least twice a week using a canine tasty toothpaste and finger toothbrush to remove excess plaque buildup.
Clean the ears weekly using cotton balls that have been soaked in an ear cleanser solution. While grooming the ears, look out for redness, odor, and dark discharge since they are symptoms of dog ear’s infection. Dogos Argentinos have fast growing nails. Trim the nails twice a month with a grinder or nail clipper to prevent overly grown nails, cracking, and splitting.
Dogo Argentino Shedding
A Dogo Argentino has a short, smooth, and straight coat that sheds all-year round at moderate levels.
Dogo Argentino Hypoallergenic
Dogos Argentinos shed all-year round at moderate levels. They are not hypoallergenic dogs. Shedding spreads dander and hair around the house triggering allergic reactions in people who suffer from dog allergies. Apart from dander and hair, a pooch’s urine, saliva, and mucus also have a protein allergen that causes allergic reactions. According to AKC, there are no 100% hypoallergenic breeds and crossbreeds. However, a dog that is considered nearly-hypoallergenic has a non-shedding coat that produces less dander.
Dogo Argentino Training | Obedience Training
A Dogo Argentino is a courageous and intelligent dog with a strong natural instinct to protect its home and family. It also has a strong distinction between familiar people, and strangers. Therefore, it is essential that it is well socialized and trained. Dogos Argentinos are independent dogs that are not always eager to please which may make training a bit difficult. However, they thrive and respond well to positive reinforcements methods such as petting, treats, verbal praise, toys, and playtime.
To reinforce good behaviors, immediately reward the dog before 10 seconds are over. This also goes to discouraging unwanted behaviors. A Dogo Argentino is also a sensitive breed and should not be corrected using negative methods such as yelling or beating. Training should start immediately a pup comes home. This is because these dogs can be strong-willed. Therefore, it is up to the owners to establish a caring and consistent training routine. Socialization training begins when a pup is 3 weeks old until the age of 16 weeks. Therefore, this training will start when the pup is with the breeder until it joins the new home from the age of 8 weeks.
Socialization ensures that a Dogo Argentina develops into a well-mannered and well-adjusted companion. To socialize your dog, expose it to a wide range of people, animals, experiences, situations, surfaces, sight, smell, and sounds such as baby crying sounds, sirens, vacuum cleaners, washing machines, lawn mowers, and whistles. A well-socialized Dogo Argentino has great social skills and will be able to decipher when strangers become a threat. Enrolling your dog to puppy classes also comes in handy in socialization training. A pet is able to interact with other dogs in a controlled setting. Puppy classes also help the pet parents to identify and correct bad habits such as growling due to resource guarding.
Keep the train sessions short, challrnging, and fun for a period of 5 to 10 minutes especially for puppies since they easily get distracted. Teach basic commands words such as come, sit, down, heel, stay, leave it, etc. one at a time until the dog understands before proceeding to the next command word. Clicker training may be used as a form of reward for this training. It uses a clicking sound immediately a Dogo Argentino completes the issued command. This reward is followed with a treat. Pet parents should not utter the command words while too excited or frustrated since the issued commands may not sound the same for your dog.
Dogo Argentinos are social dogs that may develop behavior issues if left alone. Crate training is recommended to teach this breed to stay alone for a few hours. It also makes a pet confident in staying alone. A Crate is also a safe place where a Dogo Argentino can retreat to. This device is also indispensable when potty training a pup. It allows the owner to closely monitor the dog for signs that it wants to eliminate such as whining, circling, and squatting. For effective housebreaking, creating a feeding schedule, crate training, and potty training is a must do.
Consistency, patience, and being firm are also key in house breaking. While potty training, take a Dogo Argentino pup to the designated toilet area immediately it wakes up , 20 minutes after meals and drinks, following naps, after an exciting activity such as car ride and playtime, every 2 to 3 hours, and before bedtime. The potty breaks may increase up to the period of every 6 hours after the age of 6 to 8 moths when the bladder and bowel muscles strengthen. As will all large breeds, obedience training is a must. It teaches a Dogo Argentino not to steal food from the table, knock into small children, and otherwise take advantage of their big size.
Dogo Argentino Temperament
- Independent.
- Intelligent.
- Social.
- Loyal.
- Friendly.
- Courageous.
- Protective.
- Powerful.
- Athletic.
- Playful.
- Affectionate.
Dogo Argentino Exercise
A Dogo Argentino is an athletic dog that has a strong prey drive. While off-leash, it should exercise in a secured yard. Forms of exercise for this breed include brisk walks several times a day, playtime in a secured backyard, teaching new tricks, chasing a ball rolled along the floor, hiking, flying discs, hiking, and swimming which provides a great outlet for pent-up energy. For physical and mental stimulation of your pet, it can participate in sports like rally, obedience, and agility.
Dogo Argentino Barking
Dogos Argentinos are likely to bark to alert of an intruder. This breed will also bark due to separation anxiety and pent-up energy if not exercised properly.
Dogo Argentino Growling
Growling is a form of communication for pooches. A Dogo Argentino may growl while resource guarding things like food and toys, while playing, and when in pain.
Dogo Argentino Height
According to AKC, a female Dogo Argentino should have a height of 24 to 25.5 inches ( approx. 61 to 65 cm) while the male counterpart should have a height of 24 to 26.5 inches ( approx. 61 to 67 cm).
Dogo Argentino Weight
Both Male and Female Dogos Argentinos may have a weight range of 80 to 100 pounds ( approx.36 to 45 kg ).
Dogo Argentino Size
A Male and female Dogo Argentino are muscular and large-sized dogs that have a weight of 80 to 100 pounds ( approx.36 to 45 kg ). However, Male Dogos Argentinos are slightly taller than their female counterparts with a height of 24 to 26.5 inches ( approx. 61 to 67 cm). A Female Dogo Argentino has a height of 24 to 25.5 inches ( approx. 61 to 65 cm).
Dogo Argentino Aggressive
Naturally, Dogos Argentinos are protective of their owners. Also, they make a strong distinction between strangers and familiar people. Therefore, they should be socialized extensively from an early age to avoid manifesting aggressive behaviors towards strangers without a good reason.
Dogo Argentino Bite Force
A Dogo Argentino has a bite force of 500 PSI.
Dogo Argentino Health Issues
It is a generally healthy breed that is predisposed to pigmented related deafness. The rate of one deaf ear and both deaf ears is 10%. Fortunately, studies have shown that the incidences of deafness is drastically reduced if the breeding stock used only has bilaterally normal hearing. Other health issues that Dogos Argentinos are predisposed to include hypothyroidism, gastric torsion, hip dysplasia, glaucoma, allergies, and laryngeal paralysis.
Dogo Argentino Names
A Dogo Argentino parent may decide to find a name for the pet before it comes home from the shelter or after staying in the new home for a few days to understand better the personality of the dog in question. Names of this breed may be inspired by their Argentina origin, characteristics, coat color and markings, nature, historical figures, celebrity Dogo Argentinos, food, movies, and books.
Regardless of where the owner gets the inspiration, he or she should ensure the name chosen freely rolls off his or her tongue without causing embarrassment when uttered out loud in the public places. If a pet parent settles with a long, he or she should find a cute nick name for the pet. Dogos Argentinos and other dog breeds better understand a name that has vowels. Avoid giving your pup a name that rhymes with a command word since it will be confusing. Owners should not give their dogs a name that is used by other family members or guests who frequent their households to avoid confusion.
Female Dogo Argentino Names
- Edith.
- Maddie.
- Ellie.
- Bella.
- Clara.
- Darla.
- Betsy.
- Zara.
- Ramona.
- Mara.
- Luz.
- Paloma, etc.
Dogo Argentino Speed
An adult and health Dogo Argentino may run up to a speed of 25 miles per hour ( approx. 40 km/h ).
Dogo Argentino Names Male
- Rolo.
- Rocco.
- Leo.
- Gus.
- Damian.
- Lucas.
- Thian.
- Nicolas.
- Zeus.
- Oscar.
- Will.
- Mason, etc.
Dogo Argentino Litter Size
After conception, a Dogo Argentino dam has a gestation period of 63 days before whelping a litter size of 8 to 10 puppies.
Dogo Argentino Collar | Harness
Dogos Argentinos have a very high prey drive and are likely to pull when they spot a quarry such as rabbits, birds, squirrels, etc. while on a leash. The pressure will be exerted on the neck and the throat. After the walk, a pet may have coughing fits due to pulling. A Harness is a better option for walking a dog that is likely to pull while on a leash. It also allows a pet parent to have better control over the pet.
Apart from Dogos Argentinos, other breeds of dogs include:
Pug.
Dogo Argentino Muzzle
A Dogo Argentino is considered a dangerous dog due to its bite force of 500 PSI. It has also be banned in some countries. However, a well-socialized and trained dog makes a great loyal pet. Such a dog may be muzzled in certain situations when the owner is not sure how it will react to a new stimulus. A pooch that is in pain should also be muzzled since it is likely to bite or nip.
AKC encourages pet parents to create positive associations with the device through the use of treats and verbal praise. This will reduce the chances of the dog reacting aggressively when it is muzzled. However, this accessory should not be used to correct bad habits such as chewing, barking, and biting.
Dogo Argentino Food
The amount of food that a Dogo Argentino feeds on depends on its age, metabolism, activity level, size, and body build. Puppies have high metabolism rate as compared to large-sized dogs. Therefore, a Dogo Argentino puppy should be fed 3 or 4 times a day when it starts weaning until the age of 6 months. From the age of 6 months, puppies should feed twice a day for the rest of their lives.
A Dogo Argentino is a large-sized dog that has a rapid growth rate. Pet owners should ensure that the puppies are fed with the right amount of food to avoid damage to the growth plates in the joints. Consult with the Vet on the proper amount of food that your pooch should feed on depending on its weight.
This is also a large-sized breed that has a deep chest. Therefore, Dogos Argentinos are prone to bloat or gastric torsion. They should not feed one large meal a day, drink large amounts of water after eating, and exercise vigorously an hour before or after a meal. Bloat is a life threatening condition that can claim the life of your pooch. AKC recommends owners to familiarize with signs of bloat and what to do in such circumstances.
A Dogo Argentino may feed on dry food, wet food, home made, or a raw diet depending on the budget and time of the pet parent. Regardless of the food type, parents should ensure that the pet feeds on a balanced diet to maintain a good health and to allow it to develop cognitively and physically. If the pooch parent decides to feed a pet on the commercial dry or wet food, he or she should ensure the first three ingredients are proteins from a known source.
The commercial dog food should not contain preservatives, chemicals, additives, and fillers. The same goes to the snacks. Dry or wet food should also be formulated for large-sized puppies, adults, and senior depending on the age of your Dogo Argentino. The best way to know whether you are overfeeding or underfeeding your pooch is to take it to the vet to be informed about its weight and health. However, you can also tell by checking the physique of your Dogo Argentino. If you can see a Dogo Argentino’s ribs, chances are they are being underfed. If the parent cannot feel the ribs of the pet under the coat, then chances are that it is being overfeed.
When you get a puppy from a responsible breeder, chances are that you will want to switch to another quality of food than the one it was previous feeding on. Gradually do this by mixing 3/4 old food with a 1/4 new food for the first week. During the second week, feed your Dogo Argentino pup with the same amount of the new food and old food. On the third week feed your pet with 3/4 of the new food and 1/4 of old food. Totally switch to new food during the fourth week.
Dogo Argentino Colors
A Dogo Argentino has an entirely white coat. This dog may have dark colored patch or one black spot on the skull, around one eye, and one ear.
Dogo Argentino Allergies
A Dogo Argentino is predisposed to various forms of allergies as discussed below:
Environmental allergies – Dogos Argentinos have a smooth and short coat that is susceptible to environmental and contact allergies. Some of the environmental allergens that affect this breed include pollen, trees, ragweed, grass, fleas, mites, house molds, and dust & dust mites. Flea’s saliva cause flea allergy dermatitis that normally affect the back legs and underneath the tail. This allergy causes excessive scratching and biting until the skin around the bite area is raw. If left unattended, it may result to secondary skin infections. Symptoms of environmental allergies include congestion, nasal discharge, and itchiness on various body parts of a Dogo Argentino including paws, feet, underarms, groin, muzzle, tail, ears, belly sides, between the toes, and around the eyes.
Food Allergies – Rarely, Dogos Argentinos are affected by a true food allergy that causes an immune response and is accompanied by skin issues and gastrointestinal stress. Apart from food allergies, this breed is also affected by food sensitivity.
Skin allergies – This breed is prone to skin allergies due to certain skin conditions as well as various forms of allergies that affect the skin including contact, environmental, and food allergies.
Contact allergies – This inflammation occurs once the skin of a Dogo Argentino comes in contact with the allergen. Some of the contact allergens that affect this breed include plastics, bed linens, grooming products, carpet cleaning detergents, lawn chemicals, latex, medication, and some of the fabrics. Affected body parts include paws, belly sides, around the muzzle, and feet.
Dogo Argentino Skin Allergies
A Dogo Argentino is vulnerable to skin allergies due to skin conditions, food allergies, and environmental allergies. A True food allergy is accompanied by skin issues symptoms such as hives, sores, crusting lesions, pruritus, and dermatitis.
Environmental allergies affect the skin by causing atopic dermatitis. This is a condition that results in an irritating and itchy skin that makes the Dogo Argentinos to lick, chew, scratch, and bite the affected body parts leading to worsened symptoms. One of the environmental allergens, fleas also cause flea allergy dermatitis that may result to secondary skin infections if left unattended.
Pyoderma(skin infections) is a skin condition that mostly affects Dogos Argentinos. It is caused by fungal or bacterial organisms. Signs of Pyoderma include lesions, itchiness, hair loss, and dry or flaky skin patches. Symptoms of skin infections include bloodshot eyes, itchiness, excessive scratching, licking, and biting, dry flaky skin, hot spots, lesions, hair loss, and ear infections. Commonly affected body parts by skin allergies include paws, feet, muzzle, belly sides, ears, face, and groin.
Dogo Argentino Food Allergies
A Dogos Argentino may suffer from food allergies, although rare. A True food allergy cause an immune response that is accompanied by a wide range of symptoms ranging from gastrointestinal stress to skin issues signs. Gastrointestinal stress includes acute vomiting and diarrhea as well as weight loss. Whereas skin issues symptoms include sores, hives, crusting lesions, facial swelling, itchiness, pruritus, and dermatitis.
Apart from food allergies, a Dogo Argentino may also suffer from food sensitivity. This is a gradual response to an offending ingredient in the diet and snacks of the dog. Some of the ingredients that may affect Dogos Argentinos include fillers, wheat, corn, soy, lamb, chicken, fish, eggs, milk, turkey, beef, preservatives, additives, chemicals, etc. Pet parents should closely work with the vet to manage the symptoms exhibited by a Dogo Argentino as well as find the offending ingredient in the diet of the pet.
Dogo Argentino Eyes
Dogos Argentinos have almond-shaped eyes that are either hazelnut or dark in color.
Dogo Argentino Ears | Ears Cropped
Natural ears of a Dogo Argentino are thick, broad, flat, of medium length, and have rounded tips. Customary, the ears of this breed are cropped either semi-erect or erect. Cropped ears are triangular in shape.
Dogo Argentino Teeth
At birth, Dogos Argentinos puppies are whelped born with no teeth. However, deciduous teeth starts growing from the age of 2 to 3 weeks until the pup has a total of 28 milk teeth at the age of 6 to 8 weeks. From the age of 12 weeks, deciduous teeth start falling out as the adult permanent teeth erupt underneath the milk teeth. At the age of 6 to 8 months, this breed should have a total of 42 teeth. Owners are should create a routine of cleaning the teeth at least twice a week if not daily once the permanent teeth starts growing. They should use a tasty canine toothpaste and toothbrush.
Are Dogo Argentino Aggressive
Dogos Argentinos have a bite force of 500 PSI hence categorized among the most dangerous dogs. They also have a strong distinction between familiar people and strangers. Therefore, they should be socialized properly to be able to access a situation better before attacking a person.
Are Dogo Argentino Good Guard Dogs
Yes. Dogo Argentinos are extremely protective of the owners. They were also bred to be loyal pets and guard dogs.
Are Dogo Argentino Hypoallergenic
No. Dogos Argentinos shed all-year round at moderate levels. Shedding allows dander and hair to spread around the house which triggers allergic reactions. Apart from dog’s dander, and hair, saliva, urine, and mucus also contain a protein allergen that triggers an allergic reaction.
Are Dogo Argentino Easy To Train
No. Even though they are intelligent dogs, Dogo Argentinos are independent and strong-willed which may make training a bit difficult. Use of positive reinforcement methods, consistency, and patience is key.
Dogos Argentinos Quick Facts
- This breed was accepted as the first and only Argentinean dog breed by Fédération Cynologique Internationale(FCI) in 1973.
- Dogos Argentinos have been described to look similar to American Bulldog and American Pit Bull Terrier.
- This is a newcomer breed in AKC. Dogos Argentinos were recognized as a breed in 2020.
