Dogo Argentino
OVERVIEW OF THE DOGO ARGENTINO
Back in the early twentieth century, the streets and fighting rings of Argentina were dominated by the Córdoba fighting dog breed. Their lean and muscular bodies were extremely tolerant to pain. But the medical doctor, Antonio Nores Martinez, wanted more. He desired a dog whose prowess in the fighting ring could be matched by its skill at big-game hunting and protecting humans.
With the hopes of creating such a breed, Antonio and his brother, Agustin, started crossbreeding the Córdoba fighting dog with the bulldog and terrier strands of the Great Dane, Bull-and-Terrier, Pointer, Irish Wolfhound and the Dogue de Bordeaux. As a result, the Dogo Argentino came into existence.
Standing at 24 to 25.5 inches in the case of females and 24 to 26.5 inches in the case of males, the Dogo Argentino is very much a large breed. This height is equally distributed with the legs warranting half of the dog’s stature. These legs, along with the dog’s torso, neck and tail, are extremely muscular.
Sitting atop this graceful neck is a strong, and rather domed, head which features a high muzzle, a black nose and a pair of almond-shaped eyes that are either dark or hazelnut in color. These dark features produce a stunning contrast against the woofer’s lush white coat. This coat is smooth and doesn’t contain any spots. Although, a black spot on the head is acceptable, provided it only covers about 10% of the pooch’s face.
Equal parts graceful, strong, and loyal, the Argentine Dogo was a big hit when it landed on the shores of the United States in 1970 as part of the six specimens of Dr. Raul Zeballos. Here, this breed was primarily used for hunting and maintaining law and order with the police. The canine was also used in search and rescue missions conducted by the military.
Its loyal, protective and astute personality meant the everyday American also started to adopt the breed for companionship and watchdog duties. Sadly, the dog’s strength and courage were also used for nasty purposes. Soon, the Argentine Dogo found itself in the fighting pits. It is for this very reason this dog is banned in certain countries.
Although the Dogo Argentino is great with the humans who own it, it can get a little aggressive with strangers and other animals, particularly those smaller in size. So, if you’ve got a cat or small dog at your place, it’ll be best to avoid getting the Argentine Dogo.
It’ll also be best to supervise the doggo’s interactions with the children of the home to prevent any accidents. We also recommend enrolling your Dogo Argentino in a puppy academy to increase their exposure to different people and animals and make them a little more approachable.
The canine’s early years should also be spent in obedience training, a task which won’t exactly be easy since Dogos Argentinos were bred to be independent thinkers. This is why only the strongest of humans — both in terms of strength and willpower, will be able to train this marvel of a dog breed.
DOGO ARGENTINO FOOD AND HEALTH
It’s not surprising the Dogo Argentino weighs 80 to 100 pounds — what with all the muscle it packs in its torso and legs. Although, this muscular dog can easily turn into a couch potato if you don’t keep its calorie intake in check.
This means you should take it easy on the treats and biscuits. Think about investing in a low-calorie treat option for the pup’s training years. The Fruitables Baked Dog Treats is a great option in this regard. It tastes and smells amazing, and packs only eight calories per treat.
On the other hand, these early years should also feature protein and calorie-rich diets to help the pup grow and build muscle. Consider something like the Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula for this purpose. With protein sourced from deboned chicken, this dog food also contains a whole host of grains and antioxidants to boost your pup’s digestive and immune systems.
The ideal decision here would be to consult your vet who can help create a tailored dietary plan for your Dogo Argentino, according to its age, gender, and levels of activity. This will help prevent obesity which may lead to hip dysplasia, a common bone condition found in large dog breeds like the Argentine Dogo.
In this condition, the canine’s hip joint gets deformed. This causes pain when the dog walks. If untreated, hip dysplasia can cause lameness or arthritis. This treatment isn’t exactly cheap. The dollar signs for surgery can go all the way to $7000, while medication bills can set you back close to $20,000 over the pooch’s lifetime. You can invest in a good pet insurance scheme to foot these bills.
Other than hip dysplasia, your Dogo Argentino is also prone to pigment-related deafness since it’s predominantly white-colored. In this condition, your dog can be affected uniaurally (deafness in one ear) or binaurally (deafness in both ears).
You can prevent your furry friend from experiencing this by getting it from a responsible breeder. Make sure this breeder can provide the required health clearances for the dog’s parents and prove they had bilaterally normal hearing.
Speaking of your dog’s parents, if they’re alive, try meeting at least one of them. This will help you judge the temperament that your Dogo Argentino will possess as it grows.
LEASHES AND COLLARS FOR YOUR DOGO ARGENTINO
The intimidating appearance of Dogos Argentinos can make passersby feel threatened. So, you must leash it when taking it out for a walk. The prey instinct of this doggo can also kick in when in front of small animals. So, make sure you keep it on a short leash.
This will limit its movements and offer you more control. Trust us, you’ll need all the extra control since this breed packs a lot of strength, and a simple tug at the leash can lurch you to the other side of the street.
As far as the material of the leash goes, leather would be ideal since it’s comfortable to hold and super sturdy. The FAIRWIN Leather Short Dog Leash is a great option worth checking out. You may also go for something metallic if your Dogo Argentino is extra aggressive.
Regardless of the material you opt for, make sure you hook the leash to your dog’s harness. This will prevent any sort of neck strain and distribute the force throughout the pup’s body. Your Argentine Dogo’s harness must be breathable and contain plenty of hooks and handles.
The Big Dog Harness from BABYLTRL is worth checking out in this regard. Comfortable and easy to use, this dog harness also boasts a reflective design so you’ll be visible to passing motorists during low-light conditions. This is essential if you’re planning to take your Dogo Argentino on late-night strolls.
Finally, you should also think about getting a collar for your Dogo Argentino. Granted, you won’t be using it to attach the leash, a dog collar serves many other functions. Primarily, it is used for identification purposes. Also, dog collars come in a variety of colors and designs. So, you can get one that matches your outfit to create an Instagrammable moment.
BEST CRATES, BEDS, AND DOG HOUSES FOR DOGO ARGENTINOS
Dogos Argentinos possess a highly territorial personality. While that helps them in their watchdog duties, their distrust of strangers can scare any guests and their pets. This is why you should utilize a crate for household training.
If you’re in the market for a crate for your Dogo Argentino, make sure it’s big enough to accommodate them. Ideally, your dog should be able to fully turn when inside the crate. Since the exact area required for this would vary according to your doggo’s age, think about getting a crate with a divider.
The iCrate from MidWest Homes is a great option in this regard. The divider the crate comes with can be used to size up the crate as your woofer grows up. This option is also super durable and easy to install.
Since the large size of your Dogo Argentino makes it prone to bone-related issues in old age, consider getting them a bed with orthopedic foam. The BarksBar Snuggly Sleeper is a dog bed worth checking out. Along with offering adequate support, this orthopedic sleeping space is also breathable and easy to clean.
Finally, you should also think about getting a dog house for your Argentinian Mastiff. Here, the pooch can spend some alone time or take a break during backyard play sessions. Speaking of backyard playtimes, make sure your yard is covered with tall fences. This will ensure your furry friend doesn’t escape the property.
By the way, getting an underground electric fence is kind of useless with this breed. You see, once this breed’s prey drive kicks in and it starts chasing an animal, the shock from the fence would be nothing but a minor inconvenience for its muscular neck.
DOGO ARGENTINO TOYS
While Dogo Argentinos aren’t the most playful of breeds they do have a high requirement for physical and mental stimulation. This means the toys you get for them should challenge their little brains and burn their energies at the same time.
An automatic dog ball launcher should be the ideal choice here. Once loaded with a tennis ball, this toy automatically shoots it at high speeds. This means you don’t have to tire yourself when playing with your pup. Many options also let your dog feed the ball in it once fetched. This keeps things interactive and automates the entire playtime for you.
If you’re looking for an automatic ball launcher for your Dogo Argentino, make sure it comes with big tennis balls to match their large jaws. The IDOGMATE Automatic Dog Ball Launcher is a great option in this regard.
On the other hand, if you’re looking for something a bit more challenging than fetch, consider a puzzle dog toy. An Outward Hound is an option worth checking out. It forces your dog to combine different steps to get the hidden treat. It is also big enough for their large paws.
GROOMING INSIGHTS FOR DOGO ARGENTINO OWNERS
You should brush your Dogo Argentino’s coat every week. This will limit shedding and keep the coat shiny and smooth. Speaking of shedding, the Dogo Argentino does shed quite a lot but since their coat is short, it’s a little less noticeable.
You might think that grooming this short coat would be easy, but it isn’t exactly so. We’ve got the dog’s large size to thank for that! But instead of getting agitated and considering this a chore, you should think about coat grooming as a chance to bond with your furry friend.
During brushing, you should also check their skin for any red spots or potential symptoms of allergy. A look should also be given to the pooch’s ears to check for any wax buildup or foreign matter. Baths should be arranged every three months or so.
Other than that, you must also regularly brush your furball’s teeth. This will prevent any bad breath or dental issues. Dogo Argentinos usually have fast-growing nails. You must also trim them using a trimmer or grinder. Long nails can hurt the dog when they walk. Let’s not forget the awful noise they create when your pup walks on hardwood floors.
If you’re looking for a dog nail grinder, look no further than this option from Casfuy. It offers adjustable grind options and is super quiet, which is great if your doggo gets freaked out by loud noises.
DOGO ARGENTINO ACCESSORIES
Whether your Dogo Argentino is playing in the yard or standing guard for you, it’ll need lots of water to get through the day. So, consider a high-quality dog water bottle for them. Make sure the bottle’s drinking cup is big enough for your pooch. The PupFlask Large Dog Water Bottle is an option worth checking out.
If you’re planning to take your Argentine Dogo on car rides, make sure you also get a seat belt for them. One end of this belt will go into the seat belt’s buckle. The other end will have a hook that you can attach to your pup’s harness. Your dog will then be secured on the seat with a little room to move around. Something like the Active Pets Dog Car Harness would be great if you’re in the market for a dog seat belt.