Dogo Argentino

Dogo Argentino

Other names	Argentine Dogo Argentinian Mastiff
Nicknames	Dogo
Country of origin	Argentina
Traits
Classification and standards FCI Group 2 Section 2.1 lele #292 standard AKC Foundation Stock Service standard UKC Guardian Dogs standard
Dog (Canis lupus familiaris)

The Dogo Argentino (also known as the Argentine Dogo) is a large, white, muscular dog that was developed in Argentina primarily for the purpose of big-game hunting, including wild boar and puma; the breeder, Antonio Nores Martinez, also wanted a dog that would exhibit steadfast bravery and willingly protect its human companion to the death. It was first bred in 1928, from the Cordoba Fighting Dog along with a wide array of other breeds including, but not limited to, the Great Pyrenees, Irish Wolfhound, Boxer, Great Dane, and Pointer.

Appearance

The Dogo Argentino is a large white short-coated dog with a smooth muscular body that rarely has any markings (any type of marking or spot on the coat is considered a flaw).^[1]

Height: From 23 ½ to 26 inches inches (females) or 24 to 27 inches (males), measured at the withers. Weight: From 80 to 100 pounds. The length of the body is just slightly longer than the height, but female dogs may be somewhat longer in body than male dogs. The length of the front leg (measured from point of elbow to the ground) is approximately equal to one-half of the dog's height at the withers. The head has a broad, slightly domed skull and the muzzle is slightly higher at the nose than the stop, when viewed in profile. The tail is set low, thick at the base and tapers to a point. It has been described as looking similar to an American Bulldog or a tall, solid white American Pit Bull Terrier.^[2]

Health

As in the Dalmatian, white Boxer, and the white Bull Terrier, the dogo may experience pigment-related deafness. There is possibility of an approximate 10% deafness rate overall with some dogos afflicted unilaterally (one deaf ear) and some bilaterally (deaf in both ears). Studies have shown that the incidence of deafness is drastically reduced when the only breeding stock used is that with bilaterally normal hearing.^[3][4][5] Hip dysplasia is also a possibility in this breed.

Temperament

A Dogo Argentino with uncropped ears.

Dogos are big-game hunters and are sometimes trained for search and rescue, police assistance, and military work.^[1]

The Dogo Argentino was specifically bred to be fierce hunters, but then to go home to the hunters families and be gentle with the family.

Dogo Argentinos are protective of what they perceive as their territory and will guard it against any intruder. They get along with other dogs as long as they have been properly socialized, but will usually not tolerate another dog trying to assert dominance over them, therefore they might not coexist peacefully with another dominant breed of dog. The dogo has a life expectancy of nine (9) to fifteen (15) years.

Fighting and legality

While the Dogo Argentino was bred primarily from the extinct Cordoba Fighting Dog, it was bred to be a cooperative hunter; to accompany other catch dogs and bay dogs on the hunt without fighting with the other dogs. Aggressive traits inherent in the Cordoban Dog were specifically bred out; to enable a stable cooperative nature in a pack. However, in particular areas where dog fighting continues, Dogos Argentinos have been used for fighting although rarely due to their non-aggresive nature.

In the United Kingdom, it is illegal to own Dogos Argentinos without specific exemption from a court per the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991,^[6] and dogs of the breed may be seized by the police.^[7] The maximum fine for illegal possession of a Dogo Argentino is £5,000 and/or up to six months' imprisonment.^[6] Breed-specific legislation varies in the United States, with bans on the breed enacted in Aurora, Colorado and New York City public housing.^[8][9] The Australian government has banned the importation of this dog.^[10] The dog is also illegal in New Zealand,^[11] Norway,^[12] Denmark,^[13] Iceland, Portugal,^[14] Romania,^[15] Singapore,^[16] and Ukraine.^[17] The ban in the UK has received criticism with a spokesperson from the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals stating that the law must "focus back on the real problem... the owner".^[18]

History

In the 1928, Antonio Nores Martinez. a medical doctor, professor and surgeon, set out to breed a big game hunting dog that was also capable of being a loyal pet and guard dog. Antonio Martinez picked the Cordoba Fighting Dog to be the base for the breed.^[19] This breed is extinct today but was described as a large and ferocious dog that was a great hunter. He crossed it with the Great Dane, Boxer, Spanish Mastiff, Old English Bulldog, Bull Terrier, Great Pyrenees, Pointer, Irish Wolfhound and Dogue de Bordeaux.^[20] Nores Martinez continued to develop the breed via selective breeding to introduce the desired traits.

See also

• Bombon (film) Carlos Sorín's 2005 movie starring a Dogo Argentino named Gregorio.

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Rice, Dan (1 March 2001). Big Dog Breeds. Barron's Educational Series. pp. 152–153. ISBN 9780764116490. http://books.google.com/books?id=SEefckvpnbUC&pg=PT172&dq=Dogo+Argentino&cd=4#v=onepage&q=Dogo%20Argentino&f=false. Retrieved 2010-02-15. 
2. ^ Stahlkuppe, Joe (1 April 2000). American Pit Bull Terrier Handbook. Barron's Educational Series. pp. 19. ISBN 978-0764112331. http://books.google.com/books?id=sYLARINQPkUC&pg=PA19&dq=dogo+argentino&lr=&cd=19#v=onepage&q=dogo%20argentino&f=false. Retrieved 11 February 2010. 
3. ^ Deafness assessment services by means of the brainstem auditory-evoked response. Strain GM. J Vet Intern Med. 1993 Mar-Apr;7(2):104-5.
4. ^ Heritability and segregation analysis of deafness in U.S. Dalmatians. Cargill EJ, Famula TR, Strain GM, Murphy KE. Genetics. 2004 Mar;166(3):1385-93.
5. ^ Brainstem auditory evoked potentials in veterinary medicine. Strain GM. Br Vet J. 1992 Jul-Aug;148(4):275-8.
6. ^ ^{a b} "Inside Out: North West: Dangerous dogs". BBC.co.uk. http://www.bbc.co.uk/insideout/content/articles/2008/08/29/north_west_dangerous_dogs_s14_w1_feature.shtml. Retrieved 11 February 2010. 
7. ^ "Dogo Argentino puppy seized in Bradford under Dangerous Dogs Act". Halifax Evening Courier. 20 January 2010. http://www.halifaxcourier.co.uk/news/Dogo-Argentino-puppy-seized-in.5996415.jp. Retrieved 11 February 2010. 
8. ^ "City Code of the City of Aurora, Colorado". City of Aurora, Colorado. 2009-01-12. http://www.municode.com/resources/gateway.asp?pid=10331&sid=6. Retrieved 2009-08-01. 
9. ^ "Changes to NYCHA's Pet Policy". New York City Housing Authority Journal 39 (4). April 2009. http://www.nyc.gov/html/nycha/downloads/pdf/j09apre.pdf. 
10. ^ "Customs (Prohibited Imports) Regulations 1956 No. 90, as amended - Schedule 1". Commonwealth of Australia. 2009-07-06. http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/cth/consol_reg/cir1956432/sch1.html. Retrieved 2009-07-18. 
11. ^ "Dog Control Amendment Act of 2003". New Zealand Department of Internal Affairs. 2009-07-02. http://www.dia.govt.nz/diawebsite.nsf/wpg_URL/Resource-material-Dog-Control-Dog-Control-Amendment-Act-2003?OpenDocument&ExpandView. Retrieved 2009-08-02. 
12. ^ "FOR 2004-08-20 nr 1204: Forskrift om hunder." (in Norwegian). Government of Norway. http://www.lovdata.no/for/sf/jd/xd-20040820-1204.html#map0. Retrieved 2009-10-02. 
13. ^ "Vejledning om hundelovens forbudsordning" (in Danish). Justitsministeriet. http://www.justitsministeriet.dk/hunde.html. Retrieved 2011-07-20. 
14. ^ Straka, Alena (January 31, 2005). "Dangerous Dogs: Protection Strategy". City of Vancouver, B.C., Canada. http://vancouver.ca/ctyclerk/cclerk/20050217/pe2.htm. Retrieved 2009-08-10. 
15. ^ "Cainii din rasa Pitbull vor fi interzisi in Romania" (in Romanian). Adevǎrul (Bucharest, Romania). 2002-04-26. http://www.adevarul.ro/articole/2002/cainii-din-rasa-pitbull-vor-fi-interzisi-in-romania.html. Retrieved 2009-11-16. 
16. ^ "Veterinary Conditions for the importation of dogs/cats for countries under Category A (1/4)". Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority of Singapore. 2008-08-04. http://www.ava.gov.sg/NR/rdonlyres/A17F6A0D-7A46-497E-B0CB-CDBD8C325B52/24663/VetConditionsCatA.pdf. Retrieved 2009-08-04. 
17. ^ "Justice had be blind". Mir Sobak. 2006-03. http://ms.petsinform.com/ms3-06/zakon.html. Retrieved 2009-11-14. 
18. ^ "RSPCA urges dog fight law change". BBC News. 3 October 2009. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8288182.stm. Retrieved 11 February 2010. 
19. ^ Marien-de Luca, Catherine. "Dogo Argentino blood lines". http://www.bulldoginformation.com/dogo-argentino-bloodlines.html. 
20. ^ Marien-de Luca, Catherine. "Dogo Argentino blood lines". http://www.bulldoginformation.com/dogo-argentino-bloodlines.html. 

External links

• Dogo Argentino Club of America