Here at IndulgeYourPet, we feel that “sometimes,” as American dog owners, we put a little too much emphasis on which dogs are “officially” recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC) because while the AKC is undoubtedly a fine organization, “sometimes” they’re a bit slow in identifying a particular dog breed.
The excellent news is…
The Dogo Argentino is currently in the “process” of being “officially” recognized. Still, it hasn’t happened yet, which is probably why so many folks out there haven’t heard about this awesome dog! For this reason, we wanted to take a moment and discuss the Dogo Argentino dog breed so that if you ever get a chance to get your hands on one, you won’t hesitate to wonder if this is the right “kind” of dog for you! So, without further ado, let’s dive right in.
Dogo Argentino Dog Breed Fast Facts
Country of origin: Argentina
Original Purpose: Big game hunter
Height: 24 to 27 inches
Weight: 80 to 100 pounds
Dog Breed Classification: Currently under consideration by the AKC
Lifespan: 9 to 15 years
Origin of the Dogo Argentino Dog Breed
The Dogo Argentino dates back to approximately 1928, when Dr. Antonio Nores Martinez, a renowned Argentinian doctor with a passion for dogs and “big game” hunting, decided to systematically go about creating the “ultimate” hunting companion for himself. He accomplished this by crossbreeding various purebred dogs with old fighting dogs from Cordoba, which were solid and vigorous. After spending a long time studying and selecting the desired breeds across different generations, the doctor finally “settled” on what would eventually become the dog we know today as the Dogo Argentino.
Early on…
The Dogo Argentino was initially thought of as just a “fighting dog,” which is “understandable” given the year he was created and his apparent similarities to other dog fighting breeds developed before him. However, true to the Doctors’ original intentions, the Dogo’s strong hunting instincts set this dog apart from others, making him an ideal companion on hunting trips. Unlike many other hunting dogs, this dog’s natural size and fearless attitude made him perfect for hunting larger, more dangerous animals.
Physical Characteristics
The Dogo Argentino is a large dog with a short white coat that does very little to hide the fact that these dogs are strong and muscular, like an American Staffordshire or Pit Bull Terrier. That said, unlike other dogs that may be similar in appearance to the Dogo Argentino, the Dogo Argentiono’s coat will only be white, with no different colors whatsoever.
As far as the actual size of your typical Dogo Argentino, the current breed standard is set as follows:
- Male Dogo Argentinos weigh between 88 to 100 pounds and are 24 to 27 inches in height
- Female Dogo Argentinos weigh between 88 to 95 pounds and are 24 to 26 inches in height
Additionally, the length of the dog’s body will typically be greater than the height, combined with the Dogo’s broad chest and “domed” skull, which can create quite an intimidating presence!
Personality and Temperament
The Dogo Argentino is a powerful dog with somewhat of a dual personality. And by “dual” nature, we mean that this dog can be a loving and silent guardian of the entire family, but simultaneously, the dog is strong and bold enough to take down a wild boar! This is why we generally only recommend dogs like this to folks with a lot of experience working with powerful dogs or those who don’t have small children in the house.
You see…
Dogo Argentinos can be great dogs when socialized early and trained correctly, but when not, they are 100-pound wrecking balls living at home with you! It’s a wrecking ball that will love you to its dying day but has a bit of an independence streak, making training it challenging.
It’s also important…
To point out that these guys are natural hunters, which is why it’s probably not a good idea to introduce a full-grown Dogo Argentino into a home with other dogs and cats unless, of course, you know that they were raised with other dogs and cats from an early age. That said, with his family, the Dogo Argentino will always be a loyal and faithful companion who will enjoy being near those he will want to protect at all times. And as an intelligent breed, these guys will have an “uncanny” ability to differentiate “unwelcome” strangers from “unfamiliar” guests, which is precisely what you want in a good guard dog!
Potential Health Concerns
The Dogo Argentino isn’t prone to many significant health problems and is a relatively healthy dog breed, which is good if you’re planning to add this dog to your family. One crucial health problem affecting the Argentinian Mastiff is that approximately 10% of dogs in this breed are deaf in either one or both ears. While this “pigment-related deafness” isn’t unique in the Dogo Argentino dog breed, it is still something you’ll want to be aware of when deciding which Dogo Argentino breeder you want to work with.
Other dog breeds that suffer from this same “pigment-related deafness” include:
- Boxers,
- Dalmatians,
- and white Bull Terriers.
Other health conditions that may affect the Dogo Argentino include:
- Laryngeal paralysis,
- Hyperthyroidism,
- Glaucoma,
- And hip dysplasia.
This brings us to the last topic we wanted to mention in our article about the Dogo Argentino dog breed: the importance of purchasing a pet insurance policy. If your little buddy gets sick, you won’t be on the “hook” for 100% of their medical bills.
Check out our Best Pet Insurance Companies article for more information about who we “feel” currently offers the “best” pet insurance policies.
It’s been two years and it’s finally recognized (: