Dogo Argentino

Temperament

With its own people, the Dogo Argentino is usually affectionate, even clingy; the AKC gives it top marks for affection toward family. At the same time, it scores the maximum for protective instinct and energy. The FCI standard calls for a dog that is silent on the trail, agile and above all courageous, and that should never be aggressive toward people; judges are told to penalize this severely. In practice, many Dogos have low tolerance for unfamiliar dogs, especially of the same sex, and they view cats and small animals as quarry. The dog is intelligent and learns willingly, but it tests boundaries and needs a calm, confident leader. Handled badly, whether isolated, bored or trained for aggression, it can become dangerous because of its strength.

Energy

calmvery energetic

Affection

independentvelcro pet

With children

not idealgreat

With other pets

difficultgreat

Trainability

stubborneager to learn

For first-time owners

for experienced ownersyes

With strangers

waryoutgoing

Playfulness

dignifiedeternal puppy

Shedding

minimalheavy

Grooming

easydemanding

Being left alone

strugglescopes well

Apartment living

needs a house and yardgreat in a flat

Barking

quietvocal

With other dogs

difficultgreat

Protectiveness

lowhigh

Drooling

hardly anya lot

Cold tolerance

feels the coldexcellent

Heat tolerance

strugglescopes well

Scores of 1–5 compare the breed with other breeds of the same species, based on the sources at the bottom of the page. Every animal is different. How we score traits

Who is the Dogo Argentino for?

The Dogo Argentino is for experienced owners of large dogs who have a house with a yard and a solid fence, time for daily work with the dog and willingness to go through the municipal permit process. It does well in an active family with older children. It's not for first-time owners, people with cats or other small pets at home, or anyone who can't physically control a 45-kilogram dog.

Size and looks

Care and exercise

A Dogo needs an hour and a half to two hours of exercise a day, some of it intense: running beside a bike for an adult dog, fetch, pulling, nose work. Keep it on a leash in public areas and save off-leash running for secure, fenced ground. The short coat needs a wipe once a week, though the dog sheds quite a bit. The white skin burns and gets irritated easily, so in summer provide shade and use sunscreen on the nose and belly. Obedience training and socialization with people should continue throughout the dog's life, not just in puppyhood. The dog should live indoors with the family, not in a kennel run. It's worth getting a well-fitted muzzle and introducing it from puppyhood so that wearing it becomes routine.

Health and breed-related conditions

The AKC describes the Dogo Argentino as a healthy breed with few genetic problems and recommends hip and heart evaluations plus a BAER hearing test. That last one is especially important: in a 2021 study by Strain and colleagues of 811 dogs, about 26% were deaf in one or both ears, with dogs that had a dark head patch affected less often and blue-eyed dogs more often. Dogs deaf in one ear can live normal lives but should not be bred. The white coat also means a greater tendency toward sunburn and skin irritation. The AKC gives a wide range for life expectancy: 9–15 years.

• congenital sensorineural deafnessIn a study of 811 dogs in the US, about 26% were deaf in one or both ears; dogs with a dark head patch are affected less often.
• hip dysplasiaThe AKC recommends a hip evaluation for breeding dogs.
• heart diseaseOn the AKC's list of recommended tests.
• sun-sensitive skinThe white coat and pale skin sunburn easily.

This is general breed information, not a diagnosis. If something worries you, talk to your veterinarian.

Breed history

The breed was created by Antonio Nores Martínez (1907–1956), a surgeon from the province of Córdoba. According to the AKC, he laid the foundations and wrote the first standard for the new breed in 1928. His starting point was the old fighting dog of Córdoba, which he crossed in turn with the English Bulldog, Great Dane, Pyrenean Mastiff, Bull Terrier, Boxer, Pointer, Dogue de Bordeaux and Irish Wolfhound. Nores Martínez chose only white dogs and carefully selected for temperament. By 1947 the breed was established, and its standard was presented at the Hunters' Club in Buenos Aires. The Dogo was meant to hunt in packs for wild boar, peccaries and pumas. The Argentine kennel federation recognized it in 1964.

Fun facts

• The Dogo Argentino is one of the 11 breeds on Poland's 2003 list of breeds considered aggressive.
• The FCI standard allows only a white coat with a single dark patch on the head covering no more than 10% of it.
• Antonio Nores Martínez wrote the first breed standard in 1928.
• Deafness is a disqualifying fault in the FCI standard.

Frequently asked questions

This breed also appears in

• Large dog breeds
• Guard dog breeds
• Dog breeds restricted in Poland

Sources

1. 1FCI standard nr 292 – Dogo Argentinofci.be
2. 2AKC – Dogo Argentinoakc.org
3. 3Rozporządzenie MSWiA z 28 kwietnia 2003 r. w sprawie wykazu ras psów uznawanych za agresywneisap.sejm.gov.pl
4. 4Strain i in. 2021, Congenital sensorineural deafness in Dogo Argentino dogs: prevalence and phenotype associations (Veterinary Record)pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Last reviewed: November 12, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.