Your Dogo Argentino is generally not a dangerous breed. They’re affectionate, friendly, and capable of learning how to be well-mannered. It all boils down to how they’re raised and what type of owner they have.
Since your Dogo was primarily bred to become a hunting dog and they’re a descendant of the Fighting Dog of Cordoba, proper training is essential. This prevents your dog from becoming a threat to your family and a liability to your society.
Are There Any Cases of Dogo Argentino Attacks?
There have been several cases of Dogo Argentino attacks in various places. In one instance, Kyle Dyer, a news anchor, has been bitten on the face by a dog. She was seen petting and showing affection, but suddenly, the dog reacted. It’s to be noted that her face was near the dog’s face, which wasn’t ideal.
A 2-year-old girl also became a victim of another attack. The Dogo was a trusted family companion and has never shown any aggression. When the child began drinking milk from the bottle, the Dogo suddenly became violent toward her.
This resulted in them putting down the dog.
Another case involves a 4-year-old Dogo Argentino that has brutally mauled a jogger in a Northridge community.
Do Dogo Argentinos Turn To Their Owners?
Dogo Argentinos don’t usually turn to their owners, but that remains a possibility. These dogs have the potential to harm anybody, no matter what their relationship is with that person. This is why it’s best to be prepared when you welcome a powerful dog like this.
The size, build, and instinct of the Dogo should never be underestimated. Vast knowledge regarding their history, plus knowing what the dog needs, would help you get to know them better, identify behavioral problems, and craft rules for your family to follow when dealing with your dog.
While enjoying every bonding moment with your Dogo Argentino is nice, it’s always better to be cautious and alert to what may happen.
5 Reasons Why Dogo Argentinos Become Dangerous
How the Dogo Argentino becomes mostly depends on how they were raised and partly how their parents are when it comes to temperament. According to a study, your dog’s behavior is most likely 40% genetics and 60% environment or the other way around in differing percentages.
It can be pretty messy to determine precisely, but both nurture and nature are factors that mold the Dogo’s overall temperament.
The Dogo becoming dangerous can be explained by these 5 reasons listed below:
1. Irresponsible Dog Ownership
Dog fanciers would say that the larger and stronger the dog is, the more responsibility the owner will bear. It’s far different from owning a Dogo Argentino than owning a Beagle. This Argentinian Mastiff has unique needs making it clear that not everyone is suitable to have them.
Irresponsible dog ownership often includes subjecting the dog to constant abuse and trauma. Since this is a strong-willed canine, getting them to obey your commands is certainly not easy. Without enough patience, frustration may pave the way for an owner to resort to harsh punishments.
Bad ownership could also mean failure to eliminate the Dogo’s bad manners early on. Letting them go away from their misbehaviors will make them end up repeating the same act.
2. Genetic Temperament
Dogo Argentino parents that are untrained, aggressive, and unpredictable will most likely have a litter that would exhibit the same dominant personality traits.
Be extremely cautious concerning the origin of the puppy you’re about to get. I advise you to meet their dog parents, so you’ll know the probable disposition of the Dogo Argentino puppy.
If both parents show red flags in personality, it’s best to rethink your decision about getting a puppy from their litter.
3. Intimidation
Dogo Argentinos are competent guard dogs. With their muscular build, they can certainly protect their home and family from threatening strangers and intruders.
When the dog is provoked, they are less likely to back away. Often, intimidation pushes the dog to exhibit their defense mechanism, which is to get belligerent.
Trained Dogos shouldn’t be aggressive for no reason. They have to be able to know when and how to respond in situations.
4. Resource Aggression
Food aggression is common, especially in puppies. The good thing is that this is natural and can be eliminated, more so during the dog’s early weeks at your home.
The instinct of a Dogo is to secure their resources. This isn’t limited to food but as well the following:
- Treats.
- Feeding bowls.
- And even their favorite toys.
5. Fear
Fear aggression also sparks a defensive mode in any dog, the Dogo Argentino included. Sometimes, they won’t show off their teeth or growl, so it may surprise anyone if the dog suddenly nips or bites them. There can be no warning at all, as stated by the ASPCA.
Often, fear aggression is caused by:
- Anxiety.
- Environment.
- Life experiences.
- And breed tendencies.
7 Effective Tips to Make Your Dogo Argentino Friendly
A newly published study posted in Science suggests that the breed isn’t an accurate way to predict a dog’s personality. This means it’s unfair for Dogos to be subjected to stereotypes as each dog is an individual.
There remains the potential for them to snap at anybody, certainly, but you can resort to these 7 tips to keep them maintain a friendly demeanor toward everyone.
1. Train them young. Dogo Argentinos are intelligent. Take advantage of this while they’re still puppies and teach them how to respect you and be obedient when it comes to your rules.
2. Evaluate their hearing. As reported by a research study, US Dogo Argentinos are deaf by 1/4 of their population. Get your dog’s ears checked as severe deafness can make training more difficult.
3. Keep them preoccupied. Boredom can lead to unwanted behaviors, as stated by the AKC. Considering the nature of history the Dogo has, this breed is no couch potato and would need constant physical and mental stimulation.
4. Go for a puppy instead of an adult. Sometimes, it’s ideal for some to raise a puppy more than an adult as the latter may not have a complete background of their history, especially on how they were raised.
5. Always monitor interactions. Interactions should be supervised. Be quick to discourage bad behavior, so it doesn’t get repeated in the future. Never compromise if your kids and your Dogo are socializing or playing with each other.
As much as possible, create boundaries right away to avoid mishaps and unwanted injuries.
6. Socialize. As a puppy, it’s important to keep socializing with them. Expose your Dogo to different faces and scents as well. This will help lower their high protective instinct. You can bring them to doggy parks, provided you follow the public protocols regarding this large breed.
7. Keep them healthy. Some medical conditions can cause your Dogo to become aggressive. Bring them to your local vet if any concerning signs and symptoms show. Don’t wait for them to snap on you before you find out that you’ve unintentionally touched them in a painful area.
