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Dogo Argentino - Bred To Be A Hunting Machine
The Dogo Argentino is the product of an intensive breeding program, aimed at producing the perfect hunting dog, able to tackle and kill mountain lions single-handed.
There was a need in Argentina for a hunting and working dog, which could hunt and kill wild boar, pumas and other native predators, as well as guarding the owner, his flocks and his property. In the 1920’s no such dog existed, but the two Martinez brothers took up the challenge, and set out to breed a dog - the Dogo Argentino - with the required attributes.
They started with the then most valued hunting dog in their native Argentina, the Cordoba, which was bred from the fighting bulldog and the Spanish mastiff. The brothers identified which characteristics they wanted in their dog, and then over two decades bred in these attributes from 10 different breeds.
These breeds included the wolfhound, the boxer, the British bulldog and bullterrier, the pointer, the Spanish mastiff, the Great Pyrenees and others, and each was chosen for a particular attribute - strength, power, powerful jaws, scenting ability, speed, white coat, endurance etc etc.
The Dogo is a natural hunter. It has the inbred instinct to hunt down and kill wild boar and mountain lions single-handedly. It resembles the wolf in that they both consider other animals food, and will kill and eat them. In their native Argentina, many owners will simply allow the Dogo to share the prey they catch.
These dogs have a fierce loyalty to their owners and his family, and will defend them even to the death. This can obviously be a problem when the dog is owned by an undesirable or unscrupulous person.
Training such a strong and potentially fierce animal can present particular problems. The Dogo needs a master who will treat it firmly and in a consistent manner, avoiding any heavy-handed approach.
If the Dogo is to be a working dog, or a hunting or guard dog, then the puppy should be imprinted at a very early stage to regard humans, and other animals, as natural prey.
Even if they are not imprinted, they will still show natural aggression towards humans as towards any other animal when they perceive a potential threat to their dominance,territory or food. So if you own a Dogo, never let him run free in public, or you could have real problems with other animals - or humans!
A wonderful animal, bred to perfection to hunt and kill wild and dangerous prey. So next time you come across a Dogo Argentino, before you get too close, remember that he probably sees you as prey.