Dogo argentino

History of origin

Dogo Argentino is a fairly young breed, formed only in the XNUMXth century, and is the national pride of its homeland. Before that, there were many breeds brought from the Old World in Argentina, but the breeder and breeder Dr. Antonio Nores Martinez set out to develop a versatile dog that could successfully cope with a variety of functions – from hunting to protection. The experiment was bold, because Martinez crossed dogs of various breed groups: fighting (Bull Terriers, Cordoba dogs, bulldogs, etc.), service (various mastiffs, Great Danes), shepherds (Pyrenean mountain sheepdog), hunting (English pointers) and security ( Irish wolfhound). And the result of such an explosive mixture exceeded all expectations – the breeder turned out to be a large hardy snow-white dog with a fairly balanced temperament and excellent working qualities in various fields.

The breed received the official name Dogo Argentino or Dogo Argentino and quickly fell in love with the inhabitants of the country. Great Danes were also used for hunting (they turned out to be the only ones who could cope with such a large and strong predator as a cougar), and for guarding the house, and sometimes in dog fights. However, in Europe, these dogs were not known for a long time, and only in the 70s of the last century, the Dogo Argentino was taken to the Old World, where it also quickly gained popularity.

Today, cougars are listed in the Red Book, so they hunt less and less with Dogo Argentino (although there are still those who prefer this breed to all others, both in Argentina and in Europe), and dog fights are prohibited, so snow-white athletes are increasingly becoming just companions and friends of the family, and in addition, they are happy to take part in various dog sports: canicross, coursing, agility and others.

Breed description

Dogo Argentino is a proportionally built large and powerful, but without friability, dog. There is no big difference in height and weight between females and males. The muzzle is of medium length, the nose is slightly upturned, the nose is black. The eyes are small, the look is attentive and calm. The ears are medium in size, hanging, often cropped quite shortly, but this is not necessary. The body is very muscular, the musculature is clearly visible under the skin, while the silhouette is always taut. The dog always gives the impression of a trained athlete. The tail is long and thick, carried parallel to the back.

The coat is short, dense, no longer than 2 cm, however, dogs living in the south of the country, where the climate is quite cold, have a thicker coat with a warm undercoat. The color is always completely white, but one black spot on the muzzle around the eye is allowed. And although it looks funny, preference is given to all-white dogs.

Photos

Character

There are many legends about Dogo Argentino, describing these dogs as ferocious fighters. However, it is not. Possessing a rather formidable appearance, Dogo Argentino is most often calm and affectionate. He adores his master and all other family members, he can be an excellent nanny for children whom he will never, even by chance, offend. However, if there are other animals in the family, it is better not to get this dog, because by nature he is a hunter and may regard your cat or guinea pig as game.

Dogo Argentino are very active, so they are always happy to go for walks, and even more so, if the owners decide to go in for sports with them, they will gladly run next to you in the park or behind a bicycle, and they have more than enough strength.

These white athletes often remain puppies into old age and are ready to play all day long. But if they do not have enough physical activity and communication, they can do the destruction of an apartment or house.

As for their mythical viciousness, it can only develop if the dog is unlucky with the owner, because an evil dog is always a product of improper upbringing. Therefore, when taking a lop-eared white puppy into the house, remember that its character is still soft clay, from which you can mold anything you want.

Care and maintenance

Despite its size, the Dogo Argentino gets along well in an apartment. Moreover, because of his short coat, he cannot live permanently on the street, but he will lie on the couch with pleasure. His short coat is no problem – it does not need to be combed out, only wiped if the dog gets dirty.

But what these dogs really need is long active walks. Dogo Argentino are incredibly strong and agile, they need constant exercise, so if you can’t devote several hours a day to this, it’s better to choose another, less mobile breed.

Education and training

Dogo Argentinos are very smart, but be prepared for the fact that you will have to face a real leader who, even as a child, will try to impose his will on you by all means. So, if you are not sure of the strength of your character and that you will be able to insist on your own, it is better not to take on the upbringing of the Dogo Argentino on your own.

In working with him, in no case should one go over to screaming and violence, which weak natures tend to do, feeling that they cannot control the situation. Calmness, firmness and confidence – this is what will make you an authority for your friend. Remember that gaining a dog’s love is much easier than gaining respect, and ideally it should be both. And in order not to awaken aggression in a white dog, never show it yourself. But do not indulge. Indulging all the “I want” a puppy will eventually turn him into an uncontrollable and insecure creature.

Health and disease

Being quite unpretentious, Dogo Argentino is still prone to some disease. In particular, approximately 10% of them are born deaf, which is a consequence of their white color. It is also not uncommon for them to have allergies, which is also characteristic of white animals, so eliminate all potential allergens from the diet.

An active lifestyle can also lead to various injuries of the musculoskeletal system, as, in fact, in human athletes: sprains and dislocations.

If the dog does not have enough physical activity, he may begin to recover, which will entail a whole bunch of diseases, so make sure that the dog walks as much as possible.

Word to the breeder

Anastasia Chelysheva, owner Moscow kennel of the Dogo Argentino breed “Fortuna Nix”, 1996 RKF-FCI shares:

The Dogo Argentino is one of the youngest dogs in the world. It was started by two brothers in the early 20s. The breed was finally formed after the Second World War. This is the athlete of the dog world.

“He is the best guard, the best hunter, the best companion and in general … he is the BEST” – these are the words of Dr. Fernando Moreno.

All owners of Argentinean dogs agree with his words. This is a wonderful babysitter for your children, the best friend! As they say in Argentina, if there are two Argentines on the ranch, one in the house, one on the plot, your family is reliably protected from uninvited guests, both from bipeds and predators.