5 Interesting Dogo Argentino Facts

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There aren’t many dog breeds as impressive as the mighty Dogo Argentino. Even though it is placed on several “dangerous dogs” list, this breed makes fantastic pets to those that know how to handle it. Such an impressive breed needs to be appropriately handled, socialized, and trained from the earliest age.

Despite being a fairly tricky breed to handle, after its full registration, Dogo became a bit more popular. The Dogo Argentino Club of America did a fantastic job with this breed. 

Because we love Mastiff-type dogs, we decided to bring you our favorite Dogo Argentino fun facts. Enjoy!

1. Descendant of the fighting dog

The first fascinating thing you should know about this breed is that it comes from a fighting dog. Dogo Argentino comes from Argentina, more precisely, Cordoba. That area was the home of one of the best fighting dogs in the world - Cordoba Fighting Dog. This was one of the most impressive and dangerous dogs in the world.

The Cordoba Fighting Dog is now extinct. It can be said these dogs outlived their purpose. Dog fighting became illegal, and criminals still involved in this illegal activity used smaller dogs that wouldn’t be so noticeable. This now-extinct breed was used as the base when Dogo was created.

2. Dogo Argentino comes from 10 different breeds

The Cordoba Fighting Dog was used as the base, but that is not the only breed used for creating Dog Argentino. Mixing different breeds and creating something entirely new is not uncommon in the canine kingdom, and many dog breeds came to life exactly like that. Humans have used selective breeding since early domestication to promote and eliminate traits from specific dogs. This is exactly what happened to Dogo Argentino.

The father of the Dogo Argentino breed used 10 different dog breeds to create this breed. He used some for their size and some for their character. The breeds used were; Boxer, Spanish Mastiff, Great Dane, Bull Terrier, English Pointer, Pyrenean Mastiff, Dogue de Bordeaux, Old English Bulldog, Irish Wolfhound, and the Cordoba Fighting Dog.

3. Family protectors

Those unfamiliar with the breed might think these dogs and kids are not a great combination. However, kids from their families are considered a part of their pack, and they will do anything they can to protect them. Dogos are stubborn, but if they are adequately trained, they can make fantastic pets.

These dogs are scary, and in most cases, anyone with bad intentions will be turned away just by looking at the powerful animal guarding your home. As soon as these dogs become a part of your family, you can be sure they will do anything they can to protect everyone. They are fearless and will never back down from a challenge.

4. Dogo Argentino was created by one man

New dog breeds were often a project of a hunting club, a family, or a few interested individuals. However, the Dogo Argentino breed was created by one man - Dr. Antonio Nores Martinez. He was a renowned doctor and an avid dog lover. This loves comes from his family, and in 1928, he wrote a standard for the newly-created breed he named Dogo Argentino.

Dr. Nores Martinez used Cordoba Fighting Dog and crossbred it with other dogs to create a breed with characteristics he deemed crucial. He wanted to create a powerful, fearless protector of those he loved. After his death, the road to international recognition of the breed was continued by his brother, Dr. Augustin Nores Martinez. To this day, Dogo Argentino is the first, and only registered Argentinian dog breed.

5. Dogo is a hunting dog

Most of those that encountered this breed in the 1930s thought of it as a fighting breed. While that might be true initially, the primary use for Dogo Argentino shifted because the breed’s creator had a passion. Dr. Antonio Nores Martinez was a passionate hunter. When one of his dogs fully developed and grew up, he took him on a hunting trip.

The first time Dogo Argentino was taken hunting, they showed impressive skills. The breed’s keen sense of smell and instincts quickly earned them a status of a constant hunting partner to Dr. Nores Martinez. Argentinians soon started using these dogs to hunt wild boars, peccaries, pumas, leopards, and other large and dangerous predators from Argentina. Even today, Dogos are used for hunting in their native country.

World Dog Finder team