INTRODUCTION

The Dogo Argentino is a breed of dog of prey used for big game hunting originating in the Province of Cordoba, Argentina.
Together with the Argentinian pila dog, the Patagonian galgo barbucho and the new Argentinian pampas dog, they are the only breeds of dog developed in the Argentine Republic which still exist.

THE HISTORY OF THE DOGO ARGENTINO

It was developed by the Argentinean physician Dr. Antonio Nores Martinez, born in Cordoba in 1907 and died in 1956, an eminent and active surgeon, who was looking for a suitable animal for hunting big game species common in Argentina, such as wild boar, peccaries, pumas and red foxes. In the 1920s, Nores Martinez (assisted by his brother Agustin, his father Antonio and uncles) decided to create a breed of prey that would combine the best qualities of the Cordovan fighting dog, but with superior dimensions and physical strength. In addition, he was looking for a dog which had the aptitude for hunting in packs, but which was capable of beating or stopping the prey in combat on its own until the arrival of its master or the rest of its companions.

The Cordovan fighting dog, a breed now extinct, was used as the founding basis, which was a mixture of breeds introduced into Argentina by the English emigrants, the bull terrier and bulldog, with breeds brought over by the Spaniards, the Spanish alano and the Spanish mastiff. To these crosses, which were used in dog fighting, were added bull terrier and Pyrenean mastiff bloodlines. Thus, in the thirteenth generation, they obtained fighting dogs.

These white dogs attracted attention, as it was difficult for any other breed to beat them in fighting circles. Thus the Araucana breed was created. Later Nores Martinez set out to legalise the dog he had bred, and as fighting began to be banned in many parts of the world, he was inclined to develop a hunting dog that would lift, follow and capture the prey. The Araucana breed was unsuitable for hunting because they were too aggressive towards each other, too heavy in relation to their height and lacked scent. Therefore, pointer lines were introduced, creating the Guarani breed. These dogs kept the fighting spirit of the Araucana breed, but were more resistant to chase the prey, had a better sense of smell and it was possible to make them not fight each other.

Several years of crossbreeding, selections and proper functional gymnastics meant that by the end of the 1940's, the present day Dogo Argentino, recognised as a big game hunting dog, was consolidated.

The breed was established around 1928 and the standard was published in 1947. Official recognition came in 1964 in Argentina by the FCA. The letter Nores sent to the Federación Cinológica Argentina,7 in which he requested the opening of genealogical records of the breed, giving a detailed account of the characteristics of the Dogo Argentino, is documented. In 1973 it was recognised at international level. Initially classified as a bloodhound and blood-tracking dog, it was later placed in group 2 (mastiffs) by the Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI).

In recent decades the Argentine Dogo has been introduced in the USA and some European countries. Nowadays it is one of the standard dogs for the police in Lebanon.

WHAT IS THE DOGO ARGENTINO LIKE?

GENERAL APPEARANCE: He is an athletic dog, meso morph, normo type, of harmonious proportions. Powerfully muscled, agile, his outward appearance gives the impression of power, energy and strength, contrasting with his expression of friendliness and gentleness. Entirely white, may have a single dark spot on the skull.

IMPORTANT PROPORTIONS: Mesocephalic, the muzzle should be the same length as the skull. Height at withers should be slightly higher than height at croup. The height of the chest should be at least fifty percent of the height at the withers. The length of the body should exceed the height at the withers by up to ten percent (no more).

BEHAVIOUR / TEMPERAMENT: He should be quiet, never barking on the trail, with a good nose, keen, agile, strong, hardy and above all courageous. He should never be aggressive towards humans, a characteristic which will be severely observed. He should give himself unconditionally and unreservedly to his master.

HEAD: Of the meso-cephalic type with a strong and powerful appearance. Its cranial-facial axes are convergent.

CRANIAL REGION:

CRANIAL: Solid, convex in the anterior-posterior direction and transverse by the relief of the chewing muscles and the nape of the neck.

OCCIPUCIUM: Its relief is not visible because it is completely obliterated by the powerful muscles of the nape of the neck.

STOP: Defined, neither deep nor forming right angles.

FACIAL REGION: Of equal length to the cranial region, i.e. the line joining the two orbital processes of the frontal bone is at equal distance from the occiput and the alveolar rim of the upper jaw.

TRUFFLE: Strongly pigmented black, nostrils very broad.

HOCIO: Of the same length as the skull, with a concave topline.

BELPHOS: Taut, free-rimmed, pigmented black, never pendulous.

JAWS / TEETH: Composed of well developed, strong, correctly positioned jaws, neither prognathism nor enognathism, with healthy, large and normally set teeth. A complete set of teeth is recommended. The bite is scissor bite, pincer bite acceptable.

CHEEKS: Broad, marked, covered by strong skin, without folds. Cheeks well developed.

EYES: Medium size, almond shaped, dark or hazel coloured, with eyelids preferably pigmented black. Eyes : Sub-frontal position, set wide apart, lively and intelligent but at the same time markedly hard.

EARS: Set on high on the side, well separated by the width of the skull. Functionally, they should be cropped and erect, triangular in shape and of a length not exceeding 50% of the front edge of the natural ear pinna.
Undocked, of medium length, broad, thick, flat and rounded at the apex. Smooth coat, somewhat shorter than on the rest of the body, where small, non penalisable patches may appear. Carried naturally hanging, covering the back region of the cheeks. On alert, it is capable of semi-erectness.

NECK: Thick, arched, the skin of the throat very thick, forming wrinkles, with soft folds, without forming dewlap. The elasticity of the skin of the neck is due to the fact that the cellular tissue is very lax.

BODY: Rectangular. The length of the body (measured from point of shoulder to point of buttock) may exceed only up to ten percent of the height at withers, not more.

TOWL : Higher at withers and sloping gently towards the croup. Adult specimens show a median channel along the spine, given by the relief of the spinal muscles. Seen from the side, it should not be seen as yielding.

Withers: Strong, well defined and high. Back : Very strong and well muscled.

LOIN: Short, broad, well muscled.

Croup: Broad and strong. Of medium slope. Chest: Broad and deep. Seen from the front and in profile, the sternum should extend downwards beyond the line of the elbows, thus giving maximum breathing capacity. Chest long with moderately sprung ribs.

BOTTOM LINE AND BELLY: Slightly tucked up above the lower line of the ribcage, never tucked up, strong and with good muscular tension.

TAIL: Long, not exceeding the hocks, thick, medium set. In repose naturally drooping; at attention or in movement, raised in arc, broadly curved upwards.

LIMBS

FOREQUARTERS:

GENERAL APPEARANCE: Straight, well plumb, with short, well knit toes.

Shoulders: Oblique scapulae, with great muscular relief, without exaggeration.

Upperarm: Humerus of equal length to the shoulder blade, well laid back.

ELBOWS: Robust, covered with a somewhat thicker and more elastic skin, without folds or wrinkles. Set naturally against the costal wall.

FOREARM: Of equal length to the upper arm and perpendicular to the ground, of strong bone and straight with good muscular development.

HINDQUARTERS : Long and in line with the forearms, free from bony relief and roughness.

Pasterns: Somewhat flat, of good bone, seen from the profile, with a slight slope, never bent.

HANDS: With short, well knit toes. With strong, thick and rustic pads, preferably black pigmented.

HINDQUARTERS:

GENERAL APPEARANCE: Muscular, with short toes and well closed toes without dewclaws. Medium angulation.

THIGH: Proportionate to the whole. Strong, with considerable muscular development visible.

KNEE: With good bend ofstifle.

LEG: Slightly shorter than the thighs, strong and muscular.

Hock: The tarsometatarsus metatarsus is short, strong and firm, ensuring the propulsive power of the hind leg. Tarsus robust, with the point of the hock evident. Metatarsus strong, almost cylindrical and plumb, without dewclaws.

FEET: Similar to the fore feet, but slightly smaller and slightly longer, maintaining the same characteristics.

GAIT / MOVEMENT: Agile and firm, with noticeable changes when showing interest in something, when he becomes upright and quick of reflexes, typical of the breed. Pace slow. Broad trot, good front suspension and powerful rear drive. In gallop he shows all his energy and develops all the power he possesses. His movement is agile, sure, at walk, trot or canter. It must be harmonious and balanced, showing a solid body construction. No ambladura (pasuqueo) is accepted, which is considered a serious fault.

SKIN: Homogeneous, thick but elastic. Adhered to the body by a semi-layered subcutaneous tissue, elastic, without forming wrinkles, except at the throat, where the subcutaneous cellular tissue is more lax. Specimens with black pigmented lips and eyelids are preferred. Black pigmented skin is not penalized.

COAT: Uniform, short, smooth, approximately 1.5 to 2 cm long. Varies in density and thickness according to the climate. Colour: Entirely white. Only one black or dark patch on the skull is permissible. It may also be located on one of the ears or around one of the eyes. The size of the spot should be in proper proportion, not exceeding ten percent of the size of the head. Between two specimens of equal condition, the whiter of the two should be chosen.

SIZE AND WEIGHT:

HEIGHT AT WITHERS:

MALES: 60 to 68 cm.

FEMALES: 60 to 65 cm.

WEIGHT:

MALES: 40 to 45 kg.

FEMALES: 40 to 43 kg.

FAULTS: Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree and its effect upon the health and welfare of the dog and its ability to perform its traditional work.

SERIOUS FAULTS:

• Lack of muscular bone development (weakness).
• Partially pigmented nose in adult dogs.
• Small, weak or diseased teeth.
• Presence of ectropion or entropion in the eyelids.
• Eyes round in appearance due to the shape of the eyelids, bulging, light or yellow eyes.
• Barrel chest.
• Keel chest.
• Very flat ribs.
• Lack of depth of chest, not reaching the line of the elbows.
• Lack of angulation of any of the power trains.
• Croup higher than withers.
• Movement in ambling.
• Males and females whose weight is not in accordance with the present rules and is not in relation to their size.
  
  

DISQUALIFYING FAULTS:

• Aggressiveness or extreme shyness.
• Any dog showing clear signs of physical or behavioural abnormalities.
• Undershot or overshot mouth.
• Deafness.
• Lack of typicality.
• Long hair.
• Total lack of nose pigmentation in dogs over two years of age.
• Brown nose.
• Pendulous lip.
• Hair patches on the body.
• More than one spot on the head.
• Undersized or oversized.
• Eyes of different colour or wattles.
• Lack of sexual dimorphism.
  
  

N.B.:

• Male dogs should have two apparently normal appearing testicles fully descended into the scrotum.
• Only functionally and clinically healthy dogs with typical breed conformation should be used for breeding.
  
  

HEALTH OF THE DOGO ARGENTINO

As in the Dalmatian, the white Boxer, and the white Bull Terrier, the Dogo can experience pigment-related deafness (or lack thereof). There is about a 10% chance of the pug being deaf, with some animals being affected unilaterally (one ear deaf) and others bilaterally (both ears deaf). Studies have shown that the incidence of deafness is drastically reduced when the breeding stock used has normal bilateral hearing.111213 Hip dysplasia is also a common health problem. Skin problems are quite frequent, particularly a disease called demodexia, which tends to occur mainly in immunosuppressed young dogs.

THE DOGO ARGENTINO AS A WORKING DOG

It is a dog mainly used for big game hunting. Dogos work in packs, usually of four members. When a wild boar is spotted, it chases it until it reaches it and grabs it by the muzzle, ears, neck or paws, without letting it go, despite the punishment it may receive from the other animal. It has a very strong bite, great endurance and a lot of courage, which allows it to hold its prey until the other dogs in the pack or the hunter arrives.

CONCLUSION

The Dogo Argentino is an extremely loyal and affectionate dog, who greatly enjoys the company of his family. His devotion to his own is manifested through his protective instinct and his willingness to provide unconditional love and care.
In case you didn't know, the Dogo Argentino is one of the best guard dogs in the world, as well as possessing a great memory and an intelligence that more than one would want for themselves. Therefore, it is a relatively easy animal to train, but you will have to be firm and constant in your intentions.