Dogo Argentino: Your Complete Guide

The Dogo Argentino is a well-known dog breed, sometimes for the wrong reasons. With the hunting and fighting breeds in their lineage, the Dogo Argentino stands out as a courageous guard dog breed with impressive physical capabilities.

One of the few Argentinian dog breeds, the Dogo Argentino is a dog of muscle and strength with high drive. When socialized and trained appropriately, Dogo Argentinos can be ideal pets for experienced individuals and families.

This article will guide you through the breed characteristics of the Dogo Argentino. Read on to discover the Dogo Argentino’s size, temperament, intelligence, trainability, care needs, and more.

Quick Look at the Dogo Argentino

Below is a quick look at the Dogo Argentino. We’ll cover each point comprehensively in the coming parts of the article.

What Is the History of Dogo Argentinos?

The Dogo Argentino is an Argentinian dog. Developed by Dr. Antonio Nores Martinez in the 1920s, Dogo Argentino is a fairly new dog breed. Dr. Antonio Nores Martinez’s ambitions to create the Dogo Argentino were motivated by having a reliable hunting companion for big game, particularly wild boar.

In the breed’s early development, Dr. Antonio Nores Martinez crossed the old Cordoba fighting dog with the bull terrier. He introduced a Pyrenean mastiff in the coming generations, with crosses of Great Dane, dogue de Bordeaux, and Spanish mastiff becoming a part of the foundation stock later.

By the 1950s, the breed standard for the Dogo Argentino was published. The Argentine Kennel Club recognized the breed in 1964, with Fédération Cynologique Internationale accepting the Dogo Argentino in 1973.

Dogo Argentinos were first imported to the United States in the 1970s and were mainly utilized as hunting dogs. The American Kennel Club fully accepted the Dogo Argentino recently in 2020.

What Do Dogo Argentinos Look Like?

The Dogo Argentino has a white coat without markings. The body of the Dogo Argentino is full of muscle, making them one of the most muscular dog breeds. The Dogo Argentino has a broad head and a large mouth with a powerful bite force measuring 500 PSI. With all these, Dogo Argentinos are intimidating dogs that deter intruders just by their appearance alone.

What Size Is a Dogo Argentino?

The Dogo Argentino is a large dog breed. Females stand 24 to 26 inches tall, and males are slightly taller at 24 to 27 inches. Both females and males weigh between 80 and 100 pounds.

What Is a Dogo Argentino’s Coat Type and Length?

The Dogo Argentino has a short, smooth coat with a uniform and straight texture. The length is between half an inch and three-quarters of an inch. According to the breed standard, long hair is a disqualification in any part of the body.

What Is a Dogo Argentino’s Temperament?

The fighting and hunting background of the Dogo Argentino makes this breed only for the most experienced dog owners. Dogo Argentinos are courageous dogs dedicated to protecting their territory and every member of their family. They bond closely with their owners and keep a vigilant eye over their territory.

With these traits, the Dogo Argentino is a breed with immense socialization and training needs when young to ensure they can differentiate an actual threat from something harmless. Otherwise, their capability to cause great harm can lead both the dog and the owner in trouble.

Below, you’ll learn more about the temperament of the Dogo Argentino. We’ll cover how they are with kids and other animals, aggression levels, barking habits, and more.

Are Dogo Argentinos Good With Kids?

Dogo Argentinos generally act gently around kids in the family. Some can be aware of their size and avoid acting rambunctious, while others get excited when playing with children.

Regardless of the individual temperament of the Dogo Argentino, an adult’s supervision is a must. Dogo Argentinos are large, powerful dogs. With their muscular frame, accidental knocks can cause injuries in children.

Are Dogo Argentinos Good With Other Animals?

The hunting heritage of the breed equips the Dogo Argentino with a strong prey drive that may make them chase smaller animals. Unless a Dogo Argentino is raised with cats, rabbits, Guinea pigs, and other small (or prey) animals, they typically want nothing but to run after small animals.

With dogs, it more or less depends on the amount of socialization and training they receive. Dogo Argentinos are prone to dog aggression, especially towards dogs of the same sex.

Dogo Argentinos may view unfamiliar dogs as competition if they aren’t properly socialized at a young age and given opportunities to meet and play with friendly dogs. This can lead to dominant behavior that can quickly turn into aggression.

Through proper socialization and early training, you can ensure that a Dogo Argentino gets along well with dogs they meet during walks.

Are Dogo Argentinos Aggressive?

Dogo Argentinos have natural aggression coming from their fighting and hunting backgrounds.

While owners of this breed can manage it with proper socialization, neglect may bring disorderly aggression. This led to many countries banning or restricting this breed’s ownership. Namely, some of these countries are Australia, Hong Kong, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and Turkey.

However, Dogo Argentinos don’t have more aggression than dogs with similar backgrounds. They are much like livestock guardians with an inherent desire to protect everyone they know and their territory.

Problems arise when a Dogo Argentino is undersocialized. Coupled with their physical capabilities, Dogo Argentinos can cause much harm to their surroundings if the owner overlooks socialization and training. That said, it’s not that these dogs are inherently evil or aggressive – the owner’s neglect may turn them into dangerous dogs.

Do Dogo Argentinos Bark?

Dogo Argentinos are moderate barkers. These dogs usually bark to alert or express their emotions, whether excited, anxious, or protective. While some might be less prone to barking than others, all Dogo Argentinos have a powerful, intimidating voice.

Their voice doesn’t make the breed an ideal companion for those living in apartments with noise restrictions. Although teaching a Dogo Argentino not to bark isn’t a challenge, their powerful bark may cause conflict with neighbors.

Are Dogo Argentinos Affectionate?

When with the family, Dogo Argentinos are loving dogs that particularly enjoy being at the center of attention. They love receiving praising words from their owner and show their love through physical touch. Dogo Argentinos are the lovey-dovey type of guard dogs that glance at their family with a big smile and strangers with suspicion.

Despite their inherent drive to guard, properly socialized Dogo Argentinos can be rather friendly towards new people. If the stranger knows how to approach dogs and doesn’t do anything they shouldn’t, a Dogo Argentino may act as usual in the presence of strangers.

Are Dogo Argentinos Intelligent?

Dogo Argentinos are intelligent dogs. Next to the athletic body, the intelligence of the Dogo Argentino is what enabled this breed to be such a reliable guardian. They can understand what is an actual threat and act accordingly rather than going all in at anything moving in their territory.

The intelligence of Dogo Argentinos also makes training these dogs easier. However, this much intelligence also means they need a lot of mental stimulation.

A Dogo Argentino can get bored fast if they don’t get enough opportunities to engage their mind. Training, dog puzzles, scent work, and exploring new sights and smells are effective ways to satisfy a Dogo Argentino.

Are Dogo Argentinos Energetic?

Dogo Argentinos have boundless energy. These dogs don’t get tired with casual walks. Dogo Argentinos require intense exercise to stay healthy and happy. Dogo Argentino owners should enable their dogs to use their explosiveness and intelligence in daily activities to ensure they are sufficiently exercised.

Weight pulling, scent work, dog puzzles, obedience training, and hiking are excellent activities to provide a Dogo Argentino with enough physical and mental engagement. When tired, Dogo Argentinos become cuddly dogs that lounge with their family members for the rest of the day.

Are Dogo Argentinos Easy to Train?

Dogo Argentinos are intelligent and eager to please. They are working dogs with an inherent desire to do what their owner asks. These traits make training a Dogo Argentino easier than other dog breeds.

The trainability of the Dogo Argentino leaves no excuse for the owners of this breed to socialize their dogs. Dogo Argentinos are naturally obedient dogs that can learn new skills quickly. If a Dogo Argentino exhibits aggression or acts disorderly in inappropriate situations, it’s the owner’s fault, not the dog’s.

With high trainability, Dogo Argentino owners should start basic obedience training to leave room for advanced training. Since they are large, muscular dogs, focusing on leash manners and recall is important early on to ensure every walk is as enjoyable as the last.

Are Dogo Argentinos Good Watchdogs?

Dogo Argentinos are naturally good watchdogs. They are wary of strangers and typically don’t allow anyone to enter their territory without their owner’s permission. If a Dogo Argentino spots a stranger at a distance approaching their territory, they will assert their presence by barking.

These dogs are also good at guarding with their courageous and protective temperament. A Dogo Argentino won’t hesitate to cross paths with an intruder and will do anything necessary to protect their territory.

Are Dogo Argentinos Good Service Dogs?

Dogo Argentinos aren’t a common breed utilized for service animal work. The socialization and training needed early on, with the temperament towards strangers, don’t make the Dogo Argentino a good candidate for service animal training.

However, there are always exceptions. Dogo Argentinos are robustly built dogs that can become excelling mobility assistance dogs with the right training and approach.

Besides service animal work, Dogo Argentinos can be amazing emotional support animals that comfort their owner through companionship.

How to Care for a Dogo Argentino?

The Dogo Argentino is a breed with demanding exercise, socialization, and training needs. Depending on how well socialized and trained at an early age, a Dogo Argentino can become a low or high-maintenance dog. The time and effort spent during puppyhood is an investment that will pay back by raising a calm, easy to handle dog.

While socialization and training are essential, Dogo Argentinos have other care needs. You’ll discover what it takes to care for this breed, particularly their grooming, health, and feeding needs.

Do You Need to Groom a Dogo Argentino?

Dogo Argentinos don’t have intense grooming needs. Brushing with a rubber mitten once a week is enough to maintain the coat and manage shedding. The short coat of the Dogo Argentino requires bathing only when necessary, typically every other month. Frequent bathing isn’t recommended to prevent drying out the coat.

Additionally, Dogo Argentinos have other general grooming needs. Nail trimming as needed, monthly ear cleaning, and daily dental care should be an essential part of the grooming routine of a Dogo Argentino.

Do Dogo Argentinos Shed?

Dogo Argentinos shed moderately. When the coat prepares for the summer and winter, shedding becomes more noticeable, but it doesn’t become anything major with regular brushing with a rubber mitten. If shedding becomes bothersome, a quick bath can aid in managing shedding around the home.

What Health Problems Do Dogo Argentinos Have?

Dogo Argentinos are healthy dogs with very few genetic problems. As with other large breeds, hip dysplasia is a common health condition that may affect a Dogo Argentino. Also, this breed is susceptible to bloat. Dogo Argentino owners must educate themselves about this life-threatening condition.

Another common health problem associated with the Dogo Argentino is pigment-related deafness. Breeders must screen their breeding stock for conditions that may lead to deafness. Lastly, Dogo Argentinos benefit from annual cardiac exams to check their hearts.

How Long Do Dogo Argentinos Live?

The Dogo Argentino has a lifespan of 9 to 15 years. Adopting a Dogo Argentino from a  responsible that screens their breeding stock is essential to not only have a healthy dog but also avoid contributing to irresponsible breeding practices.

What Should a Dogo Argentino Eat?

A Dogo Argentino should eat high-quality dog food appropriate for their adult weight and age. Dogo Argentino owners can also opt for a homemade or raw diet, especially if their dog is a working dog.

However, any type of homemade diet must be carefully balanced and formulated by a licensed vet to ensure your Dogo Argentino gets all the nutrients they need to live a healthy life.

As for how much to feed, the muscular frame of the Dogo Argentino, coupled with their high energy, requires these dogs to eat a little more than similarly-sized dog breeds. They should eat between four and five cups of dog food or three to five percent of their body weight as raw food per day.

Is a Dogo Argentino the Right Dog for Me?

The Dogo Argentino is a powerful dog breed with incredible loyalty. They are naturally protective dogs that make excellent guardians with minimal training. With high exercise and mental stimulation needs, the Dogo Argentino is a breed for active individuals and families.

However, above all else, the Dogo Argentino is a dog breed for experienced dog owners. The socialization and training needs of Dogo Argentinos require a confident handler to guide them through life and channel their instincts in the right direction.

If you’re an experienced dog owner, preferably with dogs this big and powerful, the Dogo Argentino can be an ideal dog breed. Once properly socialized and trained, Dogo Argentinos don’t require their owners to do a lot with minimal grooming needs.

As long as they are sufficiently exercised and receive the love they deserve, Dogo Argentinos become the most loving, happiest dogs that thrive in spacious homes with yard access.