Dogo Argentino: the affectionate athlete dog

Few dogs manage to combine such a muscular and athletic body with such a friendly and affectionate attitude as the Dogo Argentino. The statuesque physique, with its powerful muscles, is enhanced by powerful muscles, but at the same time the Dogo Argentino, like the labrador, He is very sweet, loves company, being indoors and playing, as well as long walks in the open air.

Origins

Il Argentine Dogo It was born in Argentina at the beginning of the 20th century with a very specific objective: to create a dog capable of hunting large prey (such as wild boars and pumas) in a pack, but that was also balanced and reliable with people.

The creator of the breed was Antonio Nores Martínez, an Argentine doctor from Córdoba. Around the 1925, together with his brother Agustín Nores Martínez, began a selection program to obtain a dog that combined strength and courage; physical endurance; an excellent sense of smell; the ability to work in a pack; and a stable temperament towards humans.

Physical aspect

• Size: great.
• Height at the withers:
  • Males: 60–68 cm.
  • Females: 60–65 cm.
• Weight:
  • Generally between 35 and 45 kg, with some males being able to exceed this weight while maintaining an athletic build. 
• Body: muscular, powerful and well proportioned.
• Head: Powerful, massive, with a defined stop. The nose is heavily pigmented black, and the nostrils are wide. 
• Cloak: short, smooth and thick.
• Color: pure white; the standard allows only one dark spot on the head (near an eye or an ear). 
• Eyes: brown or hazel, medium sized, almond-shaped, with black pigmented eyelids. 
• Ears: naturally pendant and triangular (in many countries ear cropping is prohibited), broad, with rounded tips and possible dark spots. 
• Hind legs: muscular, with short hocks and close-knit toes.
• Forelegs: straight and perfectly plumb, with short, well-knit toes. 

Temperament

The Dogo Argentino is known for being very loyal to its family, courageous, self-confident, intelligent, balanced if well-trained, and protective without being aggressive towards people. The breed standard emphasizes that must not be aggressive towards humansAny aggressive behavior is considered a serious fault. It also has a very high energy level, requiring at least 1–2 hours of physical activity a day, with long walks and games that stimulate its powerful body and lively mind. It is not a dog suited to a sedentary lifestyle. 

Health

The life expectancy of the Argentine Dongo is approximately 9–15 years.

Its most common health problems are:

• congenital deafness (more common in completely white dogs);
• hip dysplasia;
• elbow dysplasia;
• skin problems and sunburn due to white coat;
• occasional eye problems. 

How to adopt

You can search for an available Dogo Argentino at shelters or specialized associations. Many publish detailed profiles of the dog's personality, age, and needs. For example, the Milan City Kennel periodically hosts Dogo Argentinos looking for a new home. There are also gruppi Facebook dedicated to the Dogo Argentino: there are several, such as “Dogo Argentino Italia”, “Dogo Argentino Lovers” and regional groups. These spaces share advice, experiences, requests for help, and occasionally, adoption or foster placement announcements. El Alma del Dogo Argentino, finally, It is a volunteer association that deals with the recovery, rehabilitation and adoption of Dogo Argentini in difficulty. 

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