Where the Dogo Argentino came from
The Dogo Argentino was created in Argentina in the 1920s by Antonio Nores Martinez, a young student from Cordoba, and his brother Agustin. Antonio wanted a big white dog that could hunt wild boar and other big game in the country. He began with the Old Cordoba Fighting Dog, a breed that had the bite and toughness he wanted but not the size.
He crossed it with other breeds over many years, and later added dogs such as the Great Dane, Boxer, Irish Wolfhound and Pyrenean mastiff type dogs to build size, speed and nose. In 1947 he showed his breed to a hunters' club in Buenos Aires, and in 1948 a breed standard was published. Antonio died in 1956, and his brother kept promoting the breed.
The FCI accepted the Dogo Argentino in 1973. The AKC recognized the breed in 2020. They are still hunting dogs in Argentina, and some countries restrict or ban ownership.
- 1920s Antonio Nores Martinez begins creating the breed in Cordoba, Argentina
- 1947 He presents the breed to a hunters' club in Buenos Aires
- 1948 The first breed standard is published
- 1973 The FCI accepts the Dogo Argentino
- 2020 AKC recognizes the Dogo Argentino
The job a Dogo Argentino was bred for
Dogos hunt big, dangerous game like wild boar and puma in packs, so they need speed, a strong grip, a good nose and the stamina to work for hours. At home that means a very athletic dog with high prey drive, strong opinions about other animals, and a need for a job and a secure yard.
What you may see at home
Athletic, strong prey drive, intense with other dogs, needs a job.
Give them: Fast CAT, scent work, tracking, and careful management with other animals.
Sports that fit a Dogo Argentino
- Fast CAT. A safe way to let them sprint after a lure
- Scent work. Uses their good nose and gives a focused job
- Tracking. A natural fit for a hunting dog
- Obedience. Builds the impulse control a strong dog needs
- Weight pull. A strength outlet when done with a good harness
Training tips for a Dogo Argentino
- Socialize early with calm dogs and people, and keep greetings controlled and rewarded.
- Never leave a Dogo unsupervised with small animals or other dogs. Management is part of training.
- Teach a rock solid recall on a long line before any off leash trust, and reward leaving things alone.
- Use structured play like tug with rules, and teach a clear drop and out.
Body and health
White coated dogs can be born deaf in one or both ears, so ask breeders about hearing testing. White skin also burns in the sun. Big, deep chested dogs can get bloat, so feed smaller meals.
Fun fact. The Dogo Argentino has a short coat that is always white, and the standard allows only one dark spot on the head.
Breed is where we start
A study of more than 18,000 dogs found breed explains only about 9 percent of the differences in behavior between dogs (Morrill and others, Science, 2022). So your Dogo Argentino is a starting guess, not a label. We find the drive your dog actually runs on, give it a job, and teach you to read them.
Free tools for your dog
- Breed drive calculatorMixed breed? Add the other breeds and see the drives your dog was bred with.
- Dog breed quizTen photos, four names each. The same quiz our trainers take.
- Dog drive testAnswer everyday moments and find the job your dog runs on.
Looking for a different breed? See what 137 breeds were bred to do, and download any of their guides.