Dogo Argentino - Bred to be a Killer

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 took as their starting point the Cordoba fighting dog, then the most prized hunting dog in Argentina - the Cordoba was a cross between the Spanish mastiff and the fighting bulldog. 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. As a natural hunter, the Dogo regards other animals ' including humans ' as prey, just like the wolf does. In their natural habitat, the Dogo is often not offered dog food, but is expected to eat his share of whatever prey he manages to 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.

Obedience training is essential for the young puppy, and most trainers and breeders choose to imprint the young Dogo as early as 6 weeks - this is done so that the young dog will regard humans as prey, or food, essential if they are to be used as guard dogs in any capacity.

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.

Article Source: http://www.hobbyarticledirectory.com

For more information on the Dogo Argentino and advice about this wonderful dog visit the Mastiff website. Let us send you a very educational course on bringing up and caring for your dog breed mastiff - a perfect introduction for all the family.

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