How to Identify a Dogo Argentino

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Last Updated: March 26, 2021

The Dogo Argentino is a pack-hunting dog bred in Argentina and a member of the working group.^{[1]
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American Kennel Club
The American Kennel Club (AKC) is a purebred dog pedigree registry in the United States. The AKC advocates for the responsible ownership of dogs and promotes purebred dog events, such as the Westminster Dog Show.

Go to source} In its native country, the Dogo has been used to hunt big game, such as boars and mountain lions.^{[2]
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American Kennel Club
The American Kennel Club (AKC) is a purebred dog pedigree registry in the United States. The AKC advocates for the responsible ownership of dogs and promotes purebred dog events, such as the Westminster Dog Show.

Go to source} Dogos are fairly identifiable by their coat alone, but they share structural and temperamental traits with other mastiff-like breeds. This wikiHow will assist you in identifying a Dogo Argentino by recognizing key traits of the breed.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Looking at the Structure

Dogo Argentinos are fairly large dogs. Males stand at 24–26.5 inches (61–67 cm) in height and weigh 88–100 pounds (40–45 kg), while females are slightly smaller, with a height of 24–25.5 inches (61–65 cm) and a weight of 88–95 pounds (40–43 kg).^{[3]
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American Kennel Club
The American Kennel Club (AKC) is a purebred dog pedigree registry in the United States. The AKC advocates for the responsible ownership of dogs and promotes purebred dog events, such as the Westminster Dog Show.

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A Dogo's head is balanced and powerful, with the cranial length roughly equaling the cranial width. It is solid and convex in both length and width with well-defined cheeks and a slightly defined stop between the convex skull and slightly concave foreface.^{[4]
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The ears of a Dogo Argentino may be either cropped or natural. Cropped ears stand erect or semi-erect and resemble triangles in shape, while natural ears are more broad, flat, thick, and of medium size with rounded tips, hanging down so that they cover the backs of the cheeks. The hair on the ears is slightly shorter than the hair on the rest of the body, and the ears may have small dark spots.^{[5]
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Dogos have medium-sized and almond-shaped eyes that are set wide apart. They are a dark or hazelnut color with thick eyelids and black or flesh-colored rims. The eyes help give the dog an expression of intelligence, alertness, and hardness.^{[6]
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A Dogo Argentino has a strong muzzle that is well-developed in width and a bit longer than it is deep. The sides of the muzzle slightly converge, and when viewed in profile, the top appears slightly concave. The nose is solid black with large nostrils, and the lips are very tight-fitting without being pendulous. A Dogo's jaw is strong and well-developed with large teeth that meet in a scissors or pincher bite.^{[7]
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Did you know? Dogo Argentinos have very short lips so that the dog can still breathe out of the back corners of the mouth while holding prey.^{[8]
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Dogos have cat feet, meaning their paws are rounded. The toes are short and tight-fitting with thick, strong pads that are typically black in color. The back paws are slightly smaller than the front paws. Any dewclaws are typically removed.^{[9]
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The tail of a Dogo Argentino is thick at the base and tapers to the hock. It is straight, medium-set, and appears as a continuation of the spine. When the dog is at rest, the tail naturally hangs down, but when the dog is moving, it may be carried with an ample curve raised approximately 45 degrees to the topline.^{[10]
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The Dogo is a powerful, sturdy, and athletic dog giving off a strong impression of energy and power. They are muscular in build and have an arched neck, a broad chest, straight and vertical legs, a strong back, and broad, muscular hindquarters. They walk with a firm, agile, and balanced gait.^{[11]
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Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Analyzing the Coat

A Dogo Argentino's coat is short, straight, and smooth. It is uniform, with an average length of about 0.5–0.75 inches (1.3–1.9 cm).^{[12]
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Dogo Argentinos are purely and entirely white in color. They can have one small spot of black or a dark color somewhere on the head, such as on an ear or around one eye. Other than one potential spot on the head, or several small spots on one ear, a Dogo is completely white.^{[13]
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Dogos only require weekly grooming and occasional baths for their coats to stay clean. They are also infrequent shedders.^{[14]
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American Kennel Club
The American Kennel Club (AKC) is a purebred dog pedigree registry in the United States. The AKC advocates for the responsible ownership of dogs and promotes purebred dog events, such as the Westminster Dog Show.

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Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Identifying Temperament

The Dogo Argentino is a very hard-working breed with highly athletic abilities. Lots of physical exercise is a necessity to meet their needs.^{[15]
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Dogos are remarkably loyal dogs, forming close bonds with their families. Their loyalty can make them great family pets.^{[16]
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Because of their heritage as hunting dogs, Dogo Argentinos may exhibit some aggression toward other dogs, especially of the same sex. They also have strong instincts to chase other small animals such as cats.^{[17]
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Dogos are an intelligent breed and are capable of learning things quickly. If trained from a young age, this can help them develop positive behaviors.^{[18]
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Despite their fearlessness, when placed in certain situations, Dogos may appear sensitive. Though they should be trained with confidence and consistency, it's best to refrain from scolding them to prevent anxiety.^{[19]
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Dogo Argentinos are also independent and strong-willed. Their strong will may complicate training if given the opportunity to act dominant but allows them to respect a confident owner or trainer.^{[20]
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Tips

Consider DNA testing if you wish to identify your own dog's breed. This will confirm if your dog is a Dogo Argentino.

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Warnings

Note that for their heritage and "pitbull" resemblance, Dogo Argentinos may be banned in certain countries.^{[21]
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