Q: Is Dogo Argentino a good dog to have with kids?
We live now close to Argentina and are wondering if Dogo Argentino is a good family dog to stay with children.
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Answers and Views:
Answer by iluvmyfrenchbulldogs
If raised with children Dogos are fine, but they do have a slight tendency to be aggressive. Just be sure to socialize the dog as much as you possibly can.
Answer by Ed
Based on my limited experience of only one Dogo - yes absolutely, you can have it with kids!
I own a Dogo - I grew up with nice friendly spaniels, but when I grew up and moved to the countryside (Dogos are legal in my country), there was a little white puppy being really mistreated and we took her in - a matter of the heart, not the head. I'm really not into the fighting dog/ protective/ guard dog thing and was really nervous. She's one year old now and is a hotel dog. My wife and I run a countryside hotel and our Dogo lives in the bar, licking children's faces, begging for titbits and farting by the fire.
She's incredibly friendly and loving towards children, old people, strangers, and friends. She doesn't bark when people come into the hotel. She licks everything that moves and is happiest with a gang of kids around her rubbing her belly. She's incredibly clumsy (broken a door, one of my vertebrae - no joke, untold number of glasses), needy and whiny and we can't really leave her alone. She's greedy as hell and an accomplished thief. She's also like a cat in terms of seeking out sunshine and comfy warm spots. She craps like a dump truck. I genuinely never knew a dog could produce like this.
Her prey drive for ducks, chickens, snakes etc. is very much there, although she's petrified of sheep. She's essentially a white, funny looking Labrador. I see none of that 'dignified grace' people write about Dogos online. She crashes into things, including children - that would be my one big warning. We don't let her run free around toddlers, because her energy levels, size, and strength mean she's sent a few flying in the restaurant.
She had a lot of early socialization which obviously helped. I know there are nastier Dogos out there, but our one is gold.
Answer by Rodney Wickersham
I would say they are not the kind of people who should own a Dogo. A Dogo is a full-time dog and I do mean full time. If you do not have the time to work with them you do not want one. If you do have the time its the greatest dog you will ever bond with. We keep a pack of them at the ranch and they were with our kids and now our grandchildren. Each kid gets a personal Dogo at the ranch a bonded dog so to speak and they are inseparable. Dogo’s are a super-smart athletic breed that the casual dog owner should avoid. If you do have the time and need a personal companion this is your dog. If you hunt hogs this is definitely your dog. WE hunt hogs at the ranch down in the river bottoms where we grow Alfalfa. You can take them hunting, rinse off the blood then toss them right back in with the kids without a problem.
Answer by Mallory
I use to have one and he was so sweet with my little siblings
Answer by Judy
Having said that they are very protective of the children and the family. I know because I had a Dogo and he was the best guard dog ever and yet the most affectionate ever.
Answer by texelgirl2
Dogos Argentino were bred for aggression, and unless you socialize them and train them from puppyhood up, the dog is very hard to handle. They are extremely strong and strong-willed. You need the upper hand on them every time. The dog is commonly used as Drug Cartel Guardians. Most dogs came into the United States without regard to the breed. You need to first find a very reputable breeder, one that will work with you hand in hand, then you need to have an understanding of the breed and type of dog, you should not be a first time dog owner, you need to be a strong, dedicated, and observant owner especially around your kids. After that, the dog is and can be a stable wonderful addition to a family.
I have a Cane Corso/Pitbull mix who had a rough start in life, but with good training and handling, he is adjusted and wonderful. He has been around children with no problems but I NEVER let him alone with them, or not observe them.
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Answer by Stephanie S
If you want a dog who…
Is a large, muscular, mastiff-type dog
Has a short easy-care white coat
Thrives on vigorous exercise and athletic activities
Looks imposing, so makes an effective deterrent, yet is usually non-aggressive with people
Carries himself with a steady, dignified, impressive presence
A Dogo Argentino may be right for you.
If you don't want to deal with…
A large dog who takes up a lot of space in your house and car
A heavy dog who wants to sit on your feet, lie on your lap, and lean his weight against your leg
Vigorous exercise requirements
Rowdiness and exuberant jumping, especially when young
Destructiveness when bored or not exercised enough
Aggression or fearfulness in some lines, or when not socialized enough
Aggression toward other animals
Strong-willed mind of his own, requiring a confident owner who can take charge
Shedding
Slobbering or drooling...
An Argentine Dogo may not be right for you.
Answer by Jenn
No. Dogo Argentino is not a good family dog. A guard dog, yes. This is my experience…we had a Dogo when I was little. We had him since he was a puppy and was always nice to him. He gradually became more aggressive. It got to the point one day that my mom came home to find me, my sister and the baby sitter trapped on the couch because our dog wouldn’t allow us off the couch. Growling and stuff. It was very scary. It’s a very strong breed and I think only a dog trainer should raise this breed because of their high aggression. It’s a very dangerous dog to have around kids in my opinion. I’m lucky I wasn’t killed when I was a kid. Or my sister.
Know better? Give your own answer to this question!
Rodney Wickersham says
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Lisa Rankin says
My son-in-law’s Dogo(male) keeps attacking their french bulldog. He is never doing anything to cause it! He has bitten my daughter, and orher people. They now have a 7 month old baby and this attack occured around the baby while in his walker. My daughter said he has to go! They even had him trrained prior to this. What should they do?
Mark says
In most cases, “has to go” means “has to be killed”. Are they ready for that? What for did they take such a dog?
It’s not easy to find a new owner for an adult Dogo. If the only problem is in attacking the French bulldog why not try to settle it?
Try to understand what’s happening between the two dogs. Are they both males, are they fighting for leadership, which of them is older. It could be just a game.
The most important is that Dogo itself needs a leader, a master, a strong hand to obey. If your daughter or your son-in-law manage to become a leader for their Dogo then all the behavior problems will be settled. The dog won’t dare to do something against its master’s will.
Jenn says
The comment has been moved into the body of the post.
Ed says
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sauceygirl74 says
They can be great dogs, if properly trained and socialized. If not, they can be dangerous dogs who cannot be trusted.
I've seem both wonderful Dogo's and horrible ones here in the USA as in the USA they are bred to be more aggressive.
If you buy from a good breeder in Argentina, you should end up with a wonderful, loyal pet.
The base of the Argentine Dogo breed was the Fighting Dog of Cordoba – now an extinct mastiff-type breed. Throughout its development, several bloodlines were added namely: the Pointer for the keen sense of smell; the Boxer for vivacity and gentleness; the Great Dane for its size; the Bull Terrier for its fearlessness, the Bulldog for ample chest and boldness; the Irish Wolfhound for its hunter’s instinct for wild game; the Dogue de Bordeaux for its powerful jaws; the Great Pyrenees for its white coat and the Spanish Mastiff for its power. The result was a powerful and confident dog that is loyal, playful, intelligent and even aggressive especially if it perceives any threat to any member of its family. However, it is best to provide early socialization with other animals and early obedience training.
scarlet_nightshade says
A Dogo is not bred for aggression. They were bred as boar hunters as well as a family dog. Intact males can have issues with same-sex aggression with other dogs but actually tend to be very docile.
A Dogo is very well rounded but be prepared for lots of exercising and a high prey drive. Make sure to go through a good breeder as they are prone to hip dysplasia.
Dogos are very protective but not overly so. They'll definately alert you of an intruder and protect you if need be.
motomouth_1965 says
From what I have been able to research about this dog, it has been very well developed. As with any large dog, carefully research your breeder to make sure that your puppy was bred with the original plan in mind. The have been specifically bred to avoid agression issues and are said to be great with kids.
Keep in mind that many muscular dogs (I have an American Bulldog), although they love children, they are not aware of their size or strengh. If your children are smaller (I would say under the age of 6 or 7) you may want to wait until they are older. I know my pup thinks she's a lap dog and has been known to knock over a couple of my grandchildren without meaning to.
trannyboy says
Have you ever handled a Dogo before?
Have you handled multiple giant breed dogs before?
Are you capable of training properly?
Are your children older and been raised around dogs?
If your answers are all yes. Then do some more research. The dogo is powerful and extremely unpredictable. They are smarter then you. They are probably stronger then you. Think carefully before you choose this dog.
I refuse to handle any dogo that is over 1 year old with aggression. I won't handle a dogo without it's owner present. I have recommended that a dogo be put to sleep when the handler didn't train it properly and the dog was too strong to be controlled.
Dogo need a certain type of owner. Someone capable of being the leader without any doubt and without any cruelty. They need to work and to be trained and socialized continuously throughout their lives.