Basics of Dog Breed: Dogo Argentino

Posted on December 10 2018

Basics of Dog Breed: Dogo Argentino

The Dogo Argentino, also called Argentina Dogo, is a very popular dog in France since its importation in the 1970s. Hunting dog, he is especially a great companion for families. He is gentle, affectionate, asks for tenderness and presence. He is faithful, loyal, and above all, a little barker. He is an excellent protection dog. Moreover, it requires no particular maintenance, except to be often at his side, because he can not stand loneliness.

Race history

The Dogo Argentino comes straight from the region of Cordoba, Argentina. It is thanks to the doctor  Antonio Nores Martinez  that this breed of dog is born. He was a surgeon in the first half of the 20th century.

He decided to meet an old Cordoba fighting dog (perro de pelea cordobès) from a cross between Mastiffs, Bulldogs and Bull Terriers. The dogs used for breeding were all totally white. This drastic and precise selection allowed the doctor to create different lines. Thus, the fighting dog of Cordoba was himself crossed with a German mastiff to sublimate the head, a mastiff of Bordeaux, a Pointer and a Boxer.

The standard of the Dogo Argentino was established in 1928. At first, it served as a fighting dog. The doctor was convinced that it could be used during hunting parties. Thus, in 1947, he led his best male to the club hunters of Buenos Aires for a demonstration. A fine sense of smell, impressive musculature and very good endurance have convinced the most skeptical.

He arrived in Europe in the 1970s, first in Italy and then in France, where he became very popular. The  Federation Cynologique Internationale  recognized the breed on July 31, 1973.

Physical characteristics

Its hair : short and smooth.
Its color : entirely white with sometimes some black spots around the eye.
Its head : he has a convex skull, with jaws muscles extremely developed, which gives him a powerful bite.
Its ears : high and drooping, they were once cut, which is now forbidden.
Its eyes : dark, they oscillate between very dark black and brown hazel. They are very apart and almond shaped.
Its body : massive and powerfully muscular, but harmonious;
Its cock : long, it falls to the hock: it becomes thinner as you approach the end.

Behavior with others

The product of a careful cross, the Argentinean Dogue has a rare psychological balance. He's very smart. He is very  loyal  and  loyal  to his  master  and will defend him from all possible dangers. He is  calm  and  barking . It is perfect for a family with  children , if he has been used to rub shoulders with it in his youth. He will be a  perfect playmate . He is brave, pugnacious and will always be on the  alert .

Thus, he is excellent in the role of  protective dog . He is endearing and needs  tenderness  and attention  to be fulfilled. What's more, he loves the presence of other animals. He tends to want to dominate his congeners. Beware, his  imposing physique  and the  power of his bite  can make him a dangerous dog if he is placed in the wrong hands. It is an excellent watchdog and defense.


Perfectly adapted to family life , the Dogo Argentino needs a careful and strict education . He easily complies with the rules imposed on him. They must be coherent and inculcated with firmness, but without brutality. It is inadvisable to stimulate aggression. On the contrary, it is necessary to restrain his enthusiasm. He can be more distant with strangers . If he has been socialized from an early age, he cohabits more easily with other animals.

Puppies tend to be  shy  when they arrive in their new family. It is important to  socialize  as quickly as possible, especially with  children . He must learn to play with them and feel their presence. The Dogo is a molosse and, as such, he can be  stubborn .

He must feel completely  safe  to apply his master's orders to the letter. Getting help from a dog club professional can be a great idea so you do not make a mistake and make sure you train a dog that loves to learn as long as you are  educated with love

Living conditions

The Dogo Argentino adapts very easily to his environment , but he can not live in an urban environment without a large garden and very frequent outings. He supports loneliness if he has been used to it, even if it is contrary to his temperament. He needs a lot of physical activity. He lives as calmly in a house as outside, except in winter in very cold and snowy weather where he needs shelter. The  apartment living  is not necessarily recommended, unless it can be released several times a day.


The Dogo Argentino is a hard-working, carefully selected dog that is cross-bred to avoid consanguinity . The puppy should be carefully monitored until adulthood to prevent potential developmental problems . Adapted to harsh conditions, robust and with excellent genetic diversity , this breed presents few health problems.

As with other breeds of dogs, the white color is due to a gene responsible for a predisposition to deafness, neither rare nor frequent, normally detected at the age of 3 months (inquire with the breeder). He lives on average 12 years. Finally, because of a rather thin hair, too long exposure to a burning sun can cause him a blow of hot.

Maintenance and hygiene

Its maintenance is very easy . It is an outdoor dog that has few needs, except a food intake demanding in times of growth. His energetic and playful temperament then couples with exceptional muscular development.

A weekly brushing is enough, possibly a bath every 4 to 6 months . The length of the hair may vary depending on the climate. In temperate zone, it is longer, with a possible undercoat that requires more frequent brushing.


The feeding  of the Dogo Argentino is to be watched scrupulously, especially at the beginning of his life. He grows up quickly and must have a  diet  adapted to his morphological change. Indeed, a poor diet has repercussions on joint or muscular concerns of the Dogo Argentino. Of  kibble specially appropriate  to the weight of Dogo Argentino are found in specialty stores. Do not hesitate to ask for advice on the rations to give him.

Physical activity

Although the physical activity of the Dogo Argentino must be controlled, especially at the beginning of his life, he is nonetheless an  active and sporty dog . He enjoys  long walks  with his master, but also accompany him in his  jogging  or  bike rides . It is also possible to register for a  dog sport  such as Canicross.

Price and budget

The purchase price of a Dogo Argentino is between 800 € and 1400 €.
The annual maintenance cost of a Dogo Argentino is between 1750 € and 1800 €.

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