Argentine Dogo

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN Argentina.

MOST SUITED AS Hunting dog.

SIZE
The shoulder-height is 60 - 65cm (231/2 251/2in).

COAT
The Argentinian Dogo has a short-haired coat which is always white, sometimes with pigment flecks in the skin. A small black patch between the ears is permissible. There is also an extremely rare version with a long-haired coat.

CARE REQUIRED
The coat of the Argentinian Dogo is very easy to keep in condition. Remove dead and loose hairs during moulting with a rubber brush. Keep the claws short and, as is necessary with all other dogs, make sure the ear passages are kept clean.

CHARACTER
This brave, temperamental dog is loyal to its handler and family, barks little, is demanding of itself, has considerable stamina, and a strongly developed hunting instinct. The dogs in par­ticular can be very dominant towards their own kind.

TRAINING
This is definitely not a breed for beginners. It requires a well-balanced, loving, but very con­sistent upbringing. Try to reward it when things go well and when they go wrong punish the dog solely with your voice. A combination of isolation in a kennel, and a tough training re­gime can lead to unpredictable behaviour.

SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR
They usually get on with children although some of them can be rather boisterous. It is possible to socialize them to tolerate cats and other pets but it is not advisable to expect an Argentinian Dogo to share a house with them. Remember that this is a hunting dog which will regard a cat or sheep as prey. They are not an ideal choice as watchdogs because of their hunting instincts although they are likely to frighten away most wrong-doers.

EXERCISE
A daily turn around the block is definitely not enough for this breed. To really please this dog, take it regularly for long walks. In a large enough fenced garden it will burn-off its energy itself. Because of the strong hunting instincts and dominant behaviour towards other dogs, an Argentinian Dogo must be firmly controlled when walked on the lead.

NOTE
This breed is banned as a dangerous breed in Great Britain ans Australia. For countries where they are permitted, they are not suitable for beginners. Deafness is common in this breed. Purchase puppies only from a trustworthy recognized breeder.