Argentinean Mastiff AKA the Dogo Argentino

History and Origin of the Dogo Argentino

The Argentinean Mastiff, also known as the Dogo Argentino, was created in Argentina in 1928 by Antonio Nores Martinez and his brother Agustin. They used ten different breeds including the Boxer, Irish Wolfhound, Dog of Cordoba (a now extinct breed), Great Dane, Old English Bulldog, Dogue de Bordeaux, Great Pyrenees, Bull Terrier, Pointer, and the Spanish Mastiff. The dogs were developed to act as big-game hunters; hunting wild boar, puma, and mountain lions. The second reason the brothers felt intrigued to create this breed was because they wanted a dog that remained loyal and protective over the owner until death.

Today, the breed has been known to work in many industries including: police work, narcotic detection, guide dogs, Schutzhund, tracking, and military work. Unfortunately the breed developed a bad reputation in some countries such as Great Britain due to people using the Dogo Argentinos for dog fighting purposes. Therefore, the government passed legislation called the “Dangerous Dog Act” in 1991, this bill banned the importation, ownership, and breeding of three breeds. The three breeds the bill banned were the Dogo Argentino, Japanese Tosa, and the Fila Bazileiro.

Appearance

The Dogo Argentino, or Argentinean Mastiff is a large, powerful dog that has a very muscular build. The breed comes in one coat color and that is solid white. The dogs are allowed to have a small patch of black around their eye but not covering more than 10% of the dog’s head; any other color variation is considered a flaw. The actual coat of the dog is short, and although the coat is thick the dog does not have an undercoat. These dogs have square-type heads and very powerful jaws. Their ears are set high, and commonly cropped by owners. The dogs are large in size; ranging from about 23 to 27 inches tall at the shoulder and weighing anywhere from 80 to 100 pounds.

Dogo Argentino Temperament and Personality

This breed tends to make a good watchdog; known for being very protective of both the home and family. If socialized properly from a young age, this breed will make an excellent companion for children. They tend to be very playful and full of kisses. This breed should not show constant aggression, as that is considered a serious fault in the breed. Instead, Dogos should be humble, friendly, and cheerful. The dogs are not big barkers, but they will alert when something is out of the ordinary. Obedience training is recommended for this breed because they are strong, powerful dogs that will try to achieve the status of pack leader if given the opportunity. Dogos are known for becoming aggressive with animals of the same sex; this is especially true for males.

Health of the Breed

One of the most common ailments found in Dogos is pigment-related deafness; also common among Boxers, Dalmatians, and white Bull Terriers. The breed faces a 10% chance of deafness with some only being affected in one ear, while others lose hearing in both ears. The other common disease found in the Dogo Argentino breed is hip dysplasia, as with most large dog breeds.

Exercise and Other Care Requirements

This breed, like many Mastiff breeds, does not require a lot of care. The dogs can do well in most living conditions, even in an apartment, if the dog is given the proper amount of exercise. These dogs do the best when either taken on a long, daily walk or given time to run around in a small fenced-in area. The dog’s short coat does not require much attention; a good brushing about once per week should do fine. Dogos are average shedders and do not carry a ‘doggy odor’; they require baths only as needed.

Something you may not know about the breed…

There are many legalities surrounding the ownership of Dogo Argentinos, so it is very important that you do your research to determine if the breed is legal in your area before purchasing one. United States cities and foreign countries alike have placed bans and other restrictions on Dogos. Some countries where the breed is banned are: Australia, New Zealand, Portugal, Singapore, Denmark, Ukraine, Romania, Iceland, Norway, and the UK. In the United States, cities such as Aurora, Colorado and New York City have banned the breed from public housing.

Argentinean Mastiff AKA the Dogo Argentino