Argentine Dogo

Breed overview

The Dogo Argentino (plural Dogos Argentinos) is an Argentine breed of large dog of mastiff type. It was bred in the early twentieth century in Córdoba in central Argentina, primarily for hunting large game such as peccaries, wild boar, and pumas. The foundation stock included the now extinct Córdoba fighting dog, a fighting dog of bulldog type, a Bull Terrier and a Mastín del Pirineo.

• Breed type: dog breedBreed reference breed kind.
• Country of origin: ArgentinaBreed reference country of origin.

Breed facts

• In the 1920s Antonio Nores Martinez, a young student of Córdoba in central Argentina, set out with his brother Augustin Nores Martinez to create a new breed of big game hunting dog, especially wild boar.
• He wanted it to have the fighting qualities of the Old Cordoba Fighting Dog, but with greater size and strength.
• He started with a Bull Terrier bitch with considerable fighting ability, which he bred to a spotted fighting dog of bulldog type.
• He selected and inter-bred their offspring, selecting for white coat colour and rejecting any animal that was retrognathous (undershot).
• In the eighth generation he introduced a Pyrenean mastiff bitch; by the twelfth generation his dogs were breeding true.

Size and appearance

The Dogo Argentino is a large dog: weights for dogs are some 40 - 45 kg, for bitches slightly less; heights at the withers are in the range 60 - 65 cm for bitches and 60 - 68 cm for dogs. The length of the body is slightly greater than the height at the withers, up to a maximum of one tenth more. The coat is short and always white. A single black or dark-coloured spot on the head is tolerated as long as it is no larger than one tenth of the size of the head. The muzzle is of about the same length as the skull.

• Body mass reference: 40 - 43 kgAdult breed reference quantity from the article infobox. Original value 40 - 43 kg. Unit conversion where applicable: 1 inch = 2.54 cm; 1 pound = 0.45359237 kg. Original field and references are retained in the revision-pinned article evidence.
• Body mass reference: 40 kg or moreBreed reference body mass. female, minimum.
• Body mass reference: Up to 43 kgBreed reference body mass. female, maximum.
• Body mass reference: 40 - 48.5 kgAdult breed reference quantity from the article infobox. Original value 40 - 48.5 kg. Unit conversion where applicable: 1 inch = 2.54 cm; 1 pound = 0.45359237 kg. Original field and references are retained in the revision-pinned article evidence.
• Body mass reference: 40 kg or moreBreed reference body mass. male, minimum.
• Body mass reference: Up to 45 kgBreed reference body mass. male, maximum.
• Height reference: 60 - 65 cmAdult breed reference quantity from the article infobox. Original value 60 - 65 cm. Unit conversion where applicable: 1 inch = 2.54 cm; 1 pound = 0.45359237 kg. Original field and references are retained in the revision-pinned article evidence.
• Height reference: Up to 65 cmBreed reference height. female, maximum.
• Height reference: 60 cm or moreBreed reference height. female, minimum.
• Height reference: 60 - 68 cmAdult breed reference quantity from the article infobox. Original value 60 - 68 cm. Unit conversion where applicable: 1 inch = 2.54 cm; 1 pound = 0.45359237 kg. Original field and references are retained in the revision-pinned article evidence.
• Height reference: 60 cm or moreBreed reference height. male, minimum.
• Height reference: Up to 68 cmBreed reference height. male, maximum.

• Coat length: short
• Height category: tall
• Weight category: large
• Weight category: giant

Personality and behavior

Care planning: record what your dog enjoys, how they greet visitors, and how they respond to new places. Add notes after walks and training so you can see their habits over time. Where this profile includes behavior research, use the same named measures when comparing your shortlist.

Exercise and activities

The Dogo is kept principally for hunting large game such as peccaries, wild boar, and pumas. It has a good nose, good speed, and good stamina; it may occasionally be trained for police or military work.

Training and enrichment

Care planning: choose one everyday skill to practice and keep a record of each session. Note the cue, the reward your dog enjoys and what went well. Rotate familiar games and new activities, and use your notes to choose the next small step.

Coat and grooming

Care planning: use the coat details above to discuss a grooming routine with your groomer. Record brushing sessions, baths and appointments in the app. Add the tools you use and your preferred schedule so the whole household can follow the same routine.

• Coat length: short

Health and lifespan

Care planning: keep your dog's veterinary records, health-check dates and agreed care plan together. Add reminders for appointments and record changes you want to discuss at the next visit. Use the linked breed organizations and original references to explore their current health resources.

Living with this breed

Care planning: compare this profile's adult dimensions, coat care and available activity information with your household's routine. Make a shortlist, plan who will handle daily care and save the questions you want to ask a breed club, rescue or breeder.

Compare breeds

Compare supported adult height and weight ranges, matching research measures and sourced coat and care categories.

Breed history

In the 1920s Antonio Nores Martinez, a young student of Córdoba in central Argentina, set out with his brother Augustin Nores Martinez to create a new breed of big game hunting dog, especially wild boar. He wanted it to have the fighting qualities of the Old Cordoba Fighting Dog, but with greater size and strength. He started with a Bull Terrier bitch with considerable fighting ability, which he bred to a spotted fighting dog of bulldog type. He selected and inter-bred their offspring, selecting for white coat colour and rejecting any animal that was retrognathous (undershot). In the eighth generation he introduced a Pyrenean mastiff bitch; by the twelfth generation his dogs were breeding true. They became well known for their success in the ring. Nores Martinez later introduced crosses with a variety of other dogs including the Irish Wolfhound, Boxer, Great Dane, Bull Terrier, Dogue de Bordeaux, and Spanish Mastiff.

Clubs and further reading

• Dogo Argentino Club of America
• Dogo Argentino - article and references

Sources

1. Dogo Argentino - WikipediaWikipedia contributors Retrieved 2026-10-14.License: CC BY-SA 4.0. Adapted excerpts from Wikipedia contributors, Dogo Argentino, revision 1377098121. CC BY-SA 4.0. Formatting, citations and selection changed. Source history: https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Dogo_Argentino&action=history
2. Wikidata structured breed dataWikimedia contributors Retrieved 2026-10-14.License: CC0 1.0. Wikidata contributors (CC0).
3. National C-BARQ breed and all-breed means from USA.PLOS ONE / Figshare Retrieved 2026-10-14.License: CC BY 4.0. Bohland, Kyle R.; Lilly, Meghan Leanne; Herron, Meghan E.; Arruda, Andréia G.; O’Quin, Jeanette M. (2023). National C-BARQ breed and all-breed means from USA.. PLOS ONE. Dataset. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0289356.s003 CC BY 4.0. Selected rows and field names adapted; values unchanged.
4. File:Argentine Dogo (535032632) (cropped).jpgWikimedia Commons Retrieved 2026-10-14.License: CC BY 2.0. Argentine Dogo (535032632) (cropped).jpg - Ricardo Martins from Gent, Belgium. CC BY 2.0. Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Argentine_Dogo_(535032632)_(cropped).jpg. License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0.
5. Palipaws everyday care planningPalipaws Retrieved 2026-10-14.License: Palipaws original factual summaries. Palipaws. Original care-planning text, separate from breed measurements and licensed article summaries.
6. AKC national parent club directoryAmerican Kennel Club Retrieved 2026-10-14.License: Factual reference only. Names and verified external links only. No source descriptions, logos or endorsement reused.