Dogo Argentino

The Dogo Argentino was born in the distant lands of Argentina at the beginning of the 20th century. A big game hunter (wild boars, etc.) accustomed to roaming the woods in scorching heat, the Dogo Argentino is endowed with surprising resistance and a courage that has become legendary in the Sierra de Córdoba. An elegant, robust dog, the Dogo Argentino inherited a remarkable psychic balance and a very keen intelligence which made it very easy to educate. The Dogo Argentino is a very affectionate dog towards its masters and other family members but it knows how to deter intruders. However, given its power and its strong character, this dog is not to be put in all hands and requires excellent training.

The original name is Dogo Argentino. The main motivation that led Antonio Nores Martinez, creator of the breed, to the modeling of the Dogo Argentino in 1928 was to combine the qualities of the Perro de pelea, a renowned fighting dog breed in Córdoba, by improving size and physical strength. This dog must have had qualities for hunting wild boar and puma (in pairs or in packs) of the fauna that inhabit the Sierra de Córdoba. The selection work begins with a male spotted bulldog, himself descended from a perro de pelea (boxer + Mastiff) and a boston terrier, crossed with a female purebred bull terrier. After a selection over 8 generations, the most beautiful male is crossed with a pure Pyrenean Mastiff female. It is only at the 12th generation that "Toño" obtains a litter of six mastiffs considered purebred. This was recognized by the Canine Central of Argentina in 1964. In Argentina, at the beginning of the 20th century, hunting was very popular: It was a hobby for the rich, and a means of subsistence for the poor. However, the European hunting dogs used are far from up to par: The country is huge, the woods impenetrable, the mountains are dangerous and the wildlife is too violent for these dogs! This is how the Nores Martinez brothers, passionate about genetics, decided to embark on the creation of a new breed. They will be based on Pelea's dog and 9 other breeds will be used: Each breed corresponds to a very specific objective: - The Great Dane: often used to obtain high-legged subjects, thus ensuring a good size and it contributed largely to improve the appearance of the head. - The Pointer: hunting dogs already present in Argentina. The subjects used were selected according to very specific criteria: Excellent sense of smell, great physical resistance to bad weather and good character (with man as with his congeners). The advantage of the Pointer is that it does not sniff on the ground but on the wind: the Puma jumping from tree to tree, it is a major asset not to lose track of the prey. - The Irish Wolfhound: This wolf hunter brought to the Dogo two essential qualities to catch up with a wild boar or a fleeing puma, then attack it: speed and courage. - The Pyrenean Mastiff: allowed to keep the desired high size, as well as a good size because the Mastiff is a tall and imposing dog. But he was also chosen for his white dress, an essential characteristic for hunting wild boars! - The English Bulldog: This breed was used with great caution not only because it had already largely contributed to the creation of the pelea dog, but also because it reduced the size of the subjects obtained and gave them a marked prognathism. However, the Bulldog allowed the Dogo to have a very strong grip, a powerful jaw and great tenacity during fights. - The Dogue de Bordeaux: The Nores brothers used a dog resulting from the crossing of a Dogue de Bordeaux and a pelea dog. This dog made it possible to strengthen the mandible and to obtain a more imposing head. But he also transmitted a yellow robe which forced the 2 brothers to use it only with extreme caution. - The Bull Terrier: In the same way as the English Bulldog, it made it possible to strengthen the jaw of the Dogo and brought him, in addition to his tenacity in combat and a strong hold, his white coat. - The Mastiff: The selected subjects were light in color, they served to ensure a good size and great robustness, while bringing calm and obedience. - The Boxer: The Boxer was used to make the Mastiff more obedient and sociable, with humans as with his congeners, and helped to strengthen essential qualities: agility and endurance. This dog was "wanted" to be white in color to differentiate it from game. Unfortunately, this causes deafness problems. Indeed, as in the Dalmatian or the Bull Terrier for example, the undercoat is white and the genetic selection of this trait is correlated with defects in the inner ear, causing the possibility of congenital deafness. These cases are not frequent but they are not rare.

This dog can be used as a guard dog. Courage, balance and intelligence are the qualities that predominate in the Dogo Argentino. Selected to fight the big Argentine game (pumas, wild boars), he takes from his ascendancy, the perro de pelea cordobès, the indomitable courage and the predisposition to fight to the death. From the bull dog, the bull terrier and the Pyrenean mastiff, the Argentinian Mastiff inherited a remarkable psychic balance and a very lively intelligence, without however losing the fighting side of its Spanish ancestor. It coexists pleasantly with the horse, the cow and all the domestic animals. He only goes wild with wild animals. The Dogo Argentino is a very affectionate dog towards its master and other family members. He is friendly with the friends of the house, but knows how to make an approaching stranger tremble with a simple look. Nevertheless, given its power and its firmness of character, it requires excellent training to give full satisfaction. It is a dog that can be very dangerous to other animals and humans if placed in the hands of irresponsible owners.