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Do or Dont Dogo

dads318is

Member
Hey people.
I'm committed to the Dogo breed on my future. I find them fascinating and a beautiful breed and I fully respect their characteristics.
I've previously owned DPs, Staffs and Rotties. Anyways I want a male dogo and am also considering an American Bulldog as a potential housemate to him.
What's your best advice about compatibility and potential aggression issues? Should I get both as pups and heavily socialize them or are the dominance issues more likely to develop during the puberty faze?

bmws jeeps tacomas
 

Hiraeth

Well-Known Member
I'd recommend first meeting some Dogos and making sure they're the right breed for you. Reading about a dog online and interacting with it are two very different things and can be really eye opening.

I'd also recommend getting one dog, training it, waiting until it hits maturity and is a well-behaved adult before adding a second dog to your household. One unruly adolescent is bad enough. Two would be difficult and would consume much of your time.

"Dominance" in that one dog will try to be the "alpha" to all other dogs is debunked and outdated theory. What people often diagnose as dominance is actually insecurity.

While "dominance" is not a personality trait, same sex aggression is common in some breeds. You'd have to ask experienced Dogo owners whether same sex aggression is an issue or not, but I'd think that, especially if you want a male American Bulldog, you should wait until your Dogo is an adult and you can better gauge whether he'd get along with another male. It would be very unpleasant if the dogs hit maturity and started trying to kill one another. Crate and rotate situations are not fun.
 

DennasMom

Well-Known Member
I agree with Hiraeth.... see if there's a dog show or Dogo group you can visit to meet some of the dogs in person.

There are a number of studies out there on raising two puppies that would make me not do it. The puppies can get too attached to each other and not bond with their humans as well. Plus, they can get so attached to each other that it's unhealthy... i.e. you can't separate them without severe anxiety attacks. Add to that you would have 2x the housetraining, 2x the cleanups, 2x the midnight pee-breaks, and 2x the training - as each would need individual training time... LOTS of work, especially if you live alone.

Also, there are some individual dogs that no matter how well socialized and trained, still will not agree to sharing a home with another canine. We had a bulldog/boxer mix that was that way (and I've since heard from multiple bulldog owners that had similar issues). I would talk with the breeders you're considering and ask how many dogs they have living in multiple-dog homes... just to make sure that's not something they recommend against with their specific breeding line.
 

fila4me

Well-Known Member
I'd get lots of hands on experience with Dogos. I've had Dogos for 23+yrs and they are a lot of dog. I mentored with my breeder for a few years before deciding to get 2, a male and female that were siblings. I also went on to show Dogos for many years and had 5-7 intact males and females in my home at any given time. I also had a couple of female Filas, a rescued female Pit Bull and a few other breeds. All at the same time. My house was crazy, but between me and my bitch of a female Fila, we had it under control. In regards to wanting a male and then adding an American bulldog....I'd be careful. Two males would not be a good idea at all, as both breeds can be very same sex aggressive. In my experience, the Dogo and AMs are not very fond of each other. We showed against them for years and I never had one, male or female, that liked the AMs that we were in the ring with or even outside the ring. Just something about them they didn't like. It happens, I have never had a Fila that liked or tolerated Weimaraners or Pugs. Regardless of sex. Crazy dogs!
 

dads318is

Member
Great advice! All experience is welcomed.
Thank yall for your input. All my pups were well socialized simply cause they've always served in a life companion role so wherever I went, so have they. None of them were animal aggressive or human for that matter simply cause I didnt raise them that way. Dont need a guard, lol they've all been quite capable of watchin out for me without my instruction. :cool:
I also have never raised two different breeds at the same time tho I've had more than one pup (2) raised and trained together so I fully get the patience and time advice and yes it'd be soo much more challenging with different breeds.

bmws jeeps tacomas
 

Laureliz

Active Member
The most challenging, but rewarding, thing we've ever done is adopt these two. They were 7 months when we got em. Couldn't stand to see them separated. They act alright when separated. Mostly want our love. But they seriously love each other too. Never owned a dogo, not even sure that they are dogo bc they are much smaller than the norm. But sometimes you do get lucky and it works out. They say its even worse with litter mates..so somehow we got a magical pair.
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nadelwald

Member
They're more easy-going than Rottweilers, although more energetic.
Besides the usual advices, I'd add:

- they're very prone to kidney diseases of all sorts, so only give them low sodium still water. For the same reason, don't feed them food high in protein. If I had a dogo as puppy again, I'd feed cooked food mixed with a small amount of high quality kibbles. They inherit the kidney sensibility from dalmatians. Also, I'd do a kidney check every year on any dogo, just in case.
- if you have a dogo, be aware that they don't do well as couch dogs, they're ment to be active. A sedentary lifestyle gives them serious health problems, like high cholesterol and heart issues. A minimum 3-4 hours of activity/day. This has to be mentained in senior dogos as well, even if sustained by joint medication later on after 7 years or so. High activity level is an absolute must, be well aware of that.
 

nadelwald

Member
Also, behavioral-wise, he is foremost a HUNTER, keep that in mind. Not safe to let him loose in forests with animals in them, cause he can get lost chasing an animal or folowing a track.
Another thing- socialize him well with children, even if you don't have any. Cause small kids, more than anything else, can look like screaming game to a hunter like dogo is.

And he needs socializing a lot and constantly. Any hunter will have an eye for everything that's different, cause that's how a hunter's mind works. Find any different details and hunt it. If a hawk sees a pigeon with a white feather in a flock of all-grey pigeons, it's the pigeon with a whote father that he will hunt.
In everyday life, many things can look different. From a new sponge you bought that will be in danger of being chewed and swallowed, to a man who is carrying a very heavy bag on the street. He will pay attention to everything and notice every little detail. Socialising is crucial. When mine was a puppy, I even took him to discos and funerals and to crowded streets, and walked thru streets with lots of dogs and along highways with big trucks, etc. Everything must be showed and thought to him.
 

nadelwald

Member
Never owned a dogo, not even sure that they are dogo bc they are much smaller than the norm.

They are dogos, I can tell by every detail. Their sizes vary... europeans tend to breed them larger, while argentinians preffer smaller sized ones. You will seee that the standard is quite permissive abt size.
 

nadelwald

Member
DO NOT GET 2 MALES of such dominant breeds. The chances of this "experiment" ending good is minimal. It sometimes happens, yes, but very rarely, I would never take such a huge risk.

And one more thing, getting 2 puppies at once, even if they were compatible (aka- one male, one female), it not a good ideea, cause they team up and tend to ignore you/ bond way less with you/ pay less attention to training.
 

dads318is

Member
Well it wouldn't seem I'd be alone with the experience. Call me an optimist cause I'm not disuaded...well...cautiously optimistic.
The feedback is enlightening here for the most part.

bmws jeeps tacomas[emoji6]
 

GaMei

Well-Known Member
Hey, i breed Dogos and unless you have the infrastructure to keep both males separate do not get two males. I got a male Dogo and male Weimaraner (his clipped) and i have a female Dogo and the only way two males work is if the other (Other breed) is very very very very submissive and still my Dogo every now and then will send Logan to the vet. Like for instance right now Logan (Weimaraner) is forced to live inside while mating season is over outside if you know what i mean. Yes is doable if again you have the infra structure to keep both males separated. 2 Males Dogo's are only able to co-exist in the brief few of Hunting at best. Male Dogo Argentino are extremely dominant, requires a firm and gentle hand to guide them. They are no like other breeds, they behave differently, they have the independence of a cat and the love of a dog, they do not need your attention as other breeds, cope better with loneliness but are not as adjustable to change as other breeds are, they stress more under those type of situations.

Shoot a follow up question, i am willing to help :)
 

Laureliz

Active Member
They are dogos, I can tell by every detail. Their sizes vary... europeans tend to breed them larger, while argentinians preffer smaller sized ones. You will seee that the standard is quite permissive abt size.
Thank you! No one could tell me otherwise at this point! I've scoured everything on the web that i could about dogos since getting them. Our vet says they're pit mixes..which makes me winder about them... Even when we went to petvalu the lady said omg dogos...yet our vet didn't. [emoji23][emoji24] in fact no vet they've seen has...

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GaMei

Well-Known Member
Thank you! No one could tell me otherwise at this point! I've scoured everything on the web that i could about dogos since getting them. Our vet says they're pit mixes..which makes me winder about them... Even when we went to petvalu the lady said omg dogos...yet our vet didn't. [emoji23][emoji24] in fact no vet they've seen has...

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Your vet is an idiot they have nothing from a pit -.- if your vet says that he has no clue about the breed and makes you wonder about his overall knowledge. He must be aware of his ignorance on the subject and still is able to provide input knowing very well that such comment is unfounded on facts but on lies and ignorance.
 

marti1357

Well-Known Member
They're more easy-going than Rottweilers, although more energetic.
Besides the usual advices, I'd add:

- they're very prone to kidney diseases of all sorts, so only give them low sodium still water. For the same reason, don't feed them food high in protein. If I had a dogo as puppy again, I'd feed cooked food mixed with a small amount of high quality kibbles. They inherit the kidney sensibility from dalmatians. Also, I'd do a kidney check every year on any dogo, just in case.
- if you have a dogo, be aware that they don't do well as couch dogs, they're ment to be active. A sedentary lifestyle gives them serious health problems, like high cholesterol and heart issues. A minimum 3-4 hours of activity/day. This has to be mentained in senior dogos as well, even if sustained by joint medication later on after 7 years or so. High activity level is an absolute must, be well aware of that.
Question: can you elaborate in what way are Dogos more easy going than Rottweilers?
 

ELRod

Member
Hey people.
I'm committed to the Dogo breed on my future. I find them fascinating and a beautiful breed and I fully respect their characteristics.
I've previously owned DPs, Staffs and Rotties. Anyways I want a male dogo and am also considering an American Bulldog as a potential housemate to him.
What's your best advice about compatibility and potential aggression issues? Should I get both as pups and heavily socialize them or are the dominance issues more likely to develop during the puberty faze?

bmws jeeps tacomas

Sounds like a risky proposal. If you are going to try it then your best chance is rasing them both as pups together from 8 to 12 weeks of age onward. Still your going to have issues and if you dont have the facilities like a ranch to let them run the issues will intensify. The lesser of the two will need a place to run and hide when he needs too. Trailers, tractors and my F-250 are favorite spots for my timid boys when the don't want to play with a dominate male and one of them will be it.

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IMG_20170511_184535_zpsjzrtsdo0.jpg
 

ELRod

Member
The most challenging, but rewarding, thing we've ever done is adopt these two. They were 7 months when we got em. Couldn't stand to see them separated. They act alright when separated. Mostly want our love. But they seriously love each other too. Never owned a dogo, not even sure that they are dogo bc they are much smaller than the norm. But sometimes you do get lucky and it works out. They say its even worse with litter mates..so somehow we got a magical pair.
57f97ae2450e9d8c6c02129193904bc9.jpg


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To funny. Below are two 3 month old Dogo puppies from the same litter. The Biggest and the runt of the litter.

IMG_20170411_053323_zps39dupmv1.jpg