Raising a Dogo Argentino: what to consider

Dogo Argentino is a serious dog breed for strong-willed people. It requires a responsible attitude in education.

When to start parenting?

 Good puppy manners should be addressed as soon as he arrives at your home. Babies with a good nervous system quickly adapt to new living conditions and are ready to learn new rules of behavior from the first days.

If you have a family with children, you need to understand that the Dogo Argentino is not a nurse dog. A large pet, through negligence, can hurt and drop the baby. It is impossible to leave children unattended with a puppy, and then with an adult dog. It is important to convey to the child how you can and how not to behave with a dog.

 In your “hierarchy” all family members are always several steps higher than the pet. People should be leaders for the dog, and not vice versa. Decide in advance for yourself what you will allow an adult dog and what not. From this, you need to lay the rules of etiquette at a younger age. For example, if you don’t want your adult dog to sleep on the bed with you, then you shouldn’t take a small puppy to bed either. Better give him a super-comfy high-sided couch and place it next to your bed.

 About cage-aviary

Before the appearance of a puppy in the house, I recommend purchasing an aviary cage. This will solve several issues at once. I know that many are against the cage, as they associate it with a measure of punishment and restriction of freedom. Let’s tell you in more detail what it really is for.

 The dog perceives the house, apartment, room or cage as one space. For her, it doesn’t matter where she will be naughty. In a cage, she will not feel locked and abandoned. On the contrary, the cage becomes a personal space for the pet, a house, a shelter.

Thanks to the cage, it will be easier for you to arrange life with a puppy. While you’re away, the crate will protect your furniture, shoes, and your personal belongings from the puppy’s curiosity and sharp teeth. For the baby, it will become a guarantee of safety, because puppies explore the world with their teeth and can play with wires, sockets and other dangerous objects. And the cage helps to quickly accustom the puppy to the toilet.

 The main thing is not to use the cage as a punishment. The dog must enter it at will. Use treats and toys to train your dog to crate. A great option is to put “Kong” in the cage with a treat inside, so that the puppy gets carried away with it for a long time and understands that it is very comfortable and tasty in the cage.

 If you are not at home, the puppy can stay in the cage for 2-3 hours. Not longer.

 The cage is a resting place. Put it not in the aisle or in a draft, but in a calm, cozy place. The dog must be comfortable. You can accustom a dog to a cage quite quickly, there are many detailed videos and articles on this topic.

 At a younger age, a puppy needs 4-5 meals a day, this must be taken into account.

 While the puppy is in quarantine after vaccinations, you can learn simple commands: “sit”, “come here”, “down”, “give paw”, “back” (the dog takes steps back), “wait”, etc. Snuff rugs are perfect. We always praise and give a treat for any executed command. This is a good contact with the pet and a mental load for the puppy.

 Under no circumstances should a dog beg at the table. If you allow such behavior to a puppy, then in a year 45 kg of live weight will look at you with sad eyes and abundantly fill the floor with saliva. If friends are having lunch with you, the white robber, in a completely ungentlemanly way, can raid a sandwich in your comrade’s hand. Not everyone will like this behavior.

 Under no circumstances should the puppy guard food, food aggression should not be. This should be given special attention. If you notice a manifestation of aggression, be sure to contact the dog handler and work through this moment.

About learning to walk

 Getting used to walking seems simple, but it has its own characteristics. If you live in an apartment, you should not run headlong for a walk so that the puppy has time to go to the toilet outside. It is better to leave the apartment with a calm step and take a rag with you in case the puppy does business in the entrance. Having got used to it, gradually the baby will learn to calmly leave the entrance and do his business where he is supposed to. Don’t forget to reward him with treats for success.

 Why can’t you go outside quickly? When a little puppy is in a hurry to walk and eagerly rushes through the entire entrance – it’s funny. But very soon the baby will turn into an adult dog, which, rushing for a walk, will sweep away everything in its path and scare the neighbors. Just imagine: 40-50 kg will pull you in tow. It is unlikely that anyone will find this funny.

It is better to plan a walk on an empty stomach. Be sure to take a single portion of food and water for your dog with you.

On the importance of socialization

If you live in a private house, walks outside the territory are a must. A socialized dog with a good nervous system feels confident everywhere.

Socialization is very necessary for our breed. Walking routes should change so that the puppy can explore new places. He will be interested in everything! Hiking in crowded places will do. Travel by car, public transport. Allow passers-by to stroke the puppy, this is important for him.

 As you walk, repeat the commands you learned at home. You may be surprised that your A student suddenly turned into a D student and became bad at following commands. This is normal, because there are many interesting stimuli around: people, dogs, birds. The main thing is patience and repetition.

How to walk with other dogs?

If you are planning walks with friends who also have dogs, it is better not to let the dogs go free swimming on the playground. With this format of games, dogs are left to their own devices; at an older age, this will inevitably lead to conflicts.

 If you want to socialize on a walk, it’s best to walk a few blocks or walk in a park to keep the dogs on a leash and in control.

The dog playground is more suitable for training new teams. This is a limited space. If you are not sure that a puppy or an adult dog obeys you perfectly off a leash, it is better to let them go only on the playground.

 Communication with you should be a priority for the puppy. He needs to be interested in playing with you, and not with relatives. Then the adult dog will hear and listen to you. This needs to be reinforced regularly.

 I always recommend to my graduates to study with a cynologist. It is a professional who can teach the owner how to properly interact with the pet and correct his behavior, if necessary. I wish you happy training!