Overview
The Dogo Argentino was created in the 1920s by Antonio Nores Martinez from the old Cordoba fighting dog with Mastiff, Boxer, Pointer and other blood, to hunt wild boar and puma in packs. It is a large, muscular, all-white dog with a broad head and immense strength.
In Britain the breed is banned under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991. Any dog legally kept here is on the Index of Exempted Dogs, which requires it to be muzzled and on a lead in public, neutered, insured and microchipped. A walker must know these conditions and keep to them without exception.
Exercise and walking needs
A healthy adult wants around ninety minutes a day. All of it in public will be on a lead and muzzled, so the exercise comes from long, brisk walks and structured activity rather than free running.
Hot weather and a white coat go badly together: sunburn on the ears and nose is a real concern, and the dog overheats faster than it looks.
On the walk
- Legal: Muzzle on and lead attached before leaving the property, every time. Check the exemption certificate exists and that you are covered by the insurance.
- Strength: Forty-five kilos of muscle. Use a strong harness or a collar and lead the owner has approved, and never a flexi.
- Other dogs: The breed was bred to fight boar and to work alongside other Dogos only. Many are intolerant of other dogs. Keep distance and avoid all greetings.
- Sun: White coat, pink skin. Shade and sun protection on the ears and nose in summer, as directed by the owner.
Tips for professional walkers
- Decline the job if the exemption, muzzle and lead requirements are not in place; the legal risk is yours too.
- Choose quiet routes and times and keep the dog beside you rather than ahead.
- Carry water and keep summer walks early or late.
What to ask the owner
- Is the dog on the Index of Exempted Dogs, and does the insurance cover another handler?
- How does it react to other dogs, cats and strangers, and has it ever shown aggression?
- Any deafness, since white dogs of this type can be affected, and which signals does it know?