Thursday, January 12, 2012

Native Dog of Argentina


In 1925, two ambitious young brothers in Argentina set out to create a new dog breed.

Antonio Nores Martinez and Agustin Martinez envisioned a dog that was fast with an excellent sense of smell to hunt big game like wild boar and mountain lions. They desired a dog that was fearless and tireless on the hunt, but a friendly family dog at home. More than anything else, the brothers wanted their breed to get along well with other dogs.

The brothers used 10 breeds to design their new hunting dog, starting with the now-extinct Fighting Dog of Cordoba. They then added the Boxer, Bulldog, Bull Terrier, the Dogue de Bordeauz, Great Dane, Great Pyrenees, Irish Wolfhound, Pointer, and Spanish Mastiff. Breed development took decades. Finally, in 1973, the Argentina Kennel Club recognized Argentina's first and only native breed: the Dogo Argentino.

Today the Dogo Argentino is rare in the United States.

In 2011,the American Kennel Club (AKC) accepted the breed into its Miscellaneous Class, the final step before full recognition.

The hallmark of the breed is its pure white coat - one dark-colored patch around the eye is allowed - which requires little care. Simply groomed once a week with a rubber curry brush. Dogos are prone to sunburn and must have access to shade during the summer.

Dogos are 23 to 27 inches tall and weight 80-100 pounds. These large, muscular dogs might look intimidating, but Dogos are friendly, affectionate, and devoted to their families, especially children.

5 comments:

  1. As with all large breeds, potential owners must know what they are doing. Dog ownership is a privilege which comes with duties & responsibilities. Socialization & training are of paramount importance so the animal knows how to behave & what is expected of it. That said, dogs should not be unsupervised around children or new people. After all it IS still a dog & we don't know everything about their minds & emotions. Do your homework & only buy from a reputable breeder. I have a wonderful Dogo girl who loves people & other dogs. She's affectionate & loyal & doesn't have a mean bone in her body, but I'm sure there's a horror story out ther too.

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  2. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

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  3. Hi,

    Appreciate your visit to our site and for leaving an important comment.

    Thanks,
    Joanne

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  4. dear Joanne... Argentina has two native breeds.. the other is the Argentina Pila which I have one from Argentina..

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Argentine_Pila_Dog

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  5. Hi Sr Paulina,

    Thanks for letting us know!

    Joanne

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