Argentinean Dogo

Description:
The Argentinean Dogo is a very large dog; very muscular and has a completely white coat. It has short hair and does not have an undercoat. The profile of this dog should be clean and clear and run fluidly from the nose down to the tail. This dog weighs between forty and fifty kilograms and the male's height is around sixty-one to sixty eight centimeters. Females are around fifty nine centimeters in height. The skull of this dog is pretty massive and the muzzle has the same length as the skull. It should not have inferior or superior prognathism. The eyes should be dark brown or dark hazel. The nose should be black and its ears should be well inserted and nipped short. Make sure to find out about the laws in your country to see if this procedure is allowed. The neck is thick and slightly arched; make sure the skin does not stretch too much. This dog's chest its long and the wichers are high and strong and descend toward the trunk. The front legs are muscular. The tail should be long and thick and should fall naturally, make sure it doesn't look curled. Make sure the lips aren't' loose or hanging. The nose should always be black, not pink.

Ideal owner:
This dog was originally bred to be a hunter and guard dog and it is great to use as a guardian work dog. Although this dog has been described as a giant Pit Bull, its temperament is actually more like that of a boxer. These dogs are absolutely great with children and they like being taken care of by them. The Argentinean Dogo is a very intelligent dog and training it can be quite a challenge. Training must begin once this dog has turned twelve weeks to be able to canalize its natural enthusiasm and energetic personality the right way. In general the females are a little easier to educate and train, but this does not mean that the males are any more aggressive with other dogs than any other breed. The Argentinean Dogo can adapt very well to home life and they are excellent companions.

Growth:
At around seven to eight weeks of age a puppy should weigh around seven and a half kilograms. It reaches its full maturity at the age of two or three yeas. If you are looking into getting one, make sure the puppy has a proportioned and moderate aspect. If the puppy looks disproportionate or too big it will probably continue to be so as it grows. Males grow a little slower mentally then the females and are a little more immature. This dog is very appreciated because of its extremely balanced character and because of its wonderful versatility as a companion and protector. During adolescence the males tend to become very attached to their owners, more so than the females that are less demanding. Sometimes the younger ones turn into "lap dogs" and they absolutely love showing their emotion when their owner comes back home after having gone out. It has been said they dance tango… hey they are Argentinean after all.

General health:
As is the case of many white dogs, these dogs have a tendency to becoming deaf. At around six weeks of age the owner or breeder can take it to get a check up. Puppies that are deaf in one ear are used as companion dogs. However it is important to only breed those that hear well with both ears. The only other problem that can affect this breed is hip dysphasia, although is not exactly known how it begins in this breed. All reputable breeders will get X rays on the dog's hips just to make sure. The coat of this dog is very clean and does not have the typical doggie smell to it. The amount of care this dog requires is very minimal. Some people have informed this dog can live up to seventeen years; however the average life span of this dog is between ten to twelve years.