Lumma de Venored

BRIEF HISTORICAL SUMMARY: This breed has its origin in the province of Cordoba, in the central (Mediterranean) region of the Republic of Argentina.
Its creator was Dr. Antonio Nores Martinez, a (renowned) doctor and member of a traditional local family. In 1928, his passion for dogs, perhaps a family legacy, led him to set the bases and a standard for a new dog breed which he named : Dogo Argentino.  His work was based upon the methodical crossbreeding of several pure breeds with the « old fighting dog from Cordoba », a dog which was very strong and vigorous but lacked psychic and genetic stability.  This local breed had been the product of the crossbreeding among Mastiffs, Bulldogs and Bull Terriers and was widely known and appreciated by fervent dog-fight fans, a very popular activity at the time which embraced all social classes.
After a thorough and minute character study and selection, through different generations, Dr. Nores Martinez accomplished his purpose, obtaining the first « family ».  At the beginning it was generally considered a dog for fighting but Dr. Nores Martinez?s liking for hunting led him to take the dog to one of his habitual hunting trips, where the new breed demonstrated its skills, thus becoming a key figure in all his trips.  Thus it became quickly an excellent « big-game hunting dog ».
With the passing of time, this adaptating capacity has made this dog very versatile as regards functions; it has proved to be a noble companion and a loyal and insurmountable protector of those it loves.  Its strength, tenacity, sharp sense of smell and bravery make it the best dog among those used for hunting wild boars, peccaries, pumas and other country predators which can be found in the vast and heterogeneous areas of the Argentinean territory.  Its harmony, balance and its excellent athletic muscles are ideal characteristics for enduring long trips in any weather conditions and then fighting fiercely with the pursued prey.
On May 21st 1964, this breed was acknowledged by the Federación Cinológica Argentina and by the Argentinean Rural Society, which opened their studbook to initiate registry.
It was not until July 31st 1973 that the breed was accepted by the Fédération Cynologique Internationale as the first and only Argentinean breed, thanks to the great passion, work and effort of Dr. Augustin Nores Martinez, its creator?s brother and successor.

IMPORTANT PROPORTIONS : As a mesomorphic animal, no part stands out from the whole body which is harmonic and balanced. Mesocephalic, its muzzle should be as long as its skull.
The height at the withers is equal to the height at the croup.
The depth of the thorax equals 50% of the height at the withers.
The length of the body exceeds the height at the withers by 10%.
 

BEHAVIOUR AND TEMPERAMENT: It is cheerful, frank, humble, friendly, and not a hard barker, always conscious of its power.  It should never be aggressive, a trait that should be severely observed.   Its domineering attitude makes it continuously compete for territory with specimens of the same sex, most noticeable behaviour in males.  As a hunter, it is smart, silent,  courageous and brave.

"As an introduction about temperament the fallowing is a text written by  Agustin Nores Martineza in his book "El Dogo Argentino":

I have seen my old Kob of the pampas, hunter of many wild boars, who had fought many times with adult pumas in the mountains, his head and body bearing the scars of his struggles, and several times at the point of death, endure patiently the most irritating teasing of children, without showing anger, snarling, or the least intent to bite."
    - Agustin Nores Martinez, Translated from "The Argentine Dogo"

The Dogo craves close physical contact with his people; a Dogo never lays at your feet, he lays on your feet. He is a reliable family guardian, interested in all activities and enjoying guests along with his family. Should the Dogo discern a direct threat to any member of his family, he will act to protect that person. Dogos love children with a passion. At the sight of a child, a Dogo will light-up like a child on Christmas morning. They are as gentle and loving with their children and family as they are tenacious with their prey.

A warm body and soft couch will keep an adult Dogo quiet for hours. They are clean house dogs that need little coat care.

Obedience training is fun for the Dogo. They are natural heelers and respond wonderfully to positive reinforcement and motivation training. They enjoy working and pleasing their owners. On the other hand, Dogos don't seem to understand force training and will sometimes appear stubborn in response to a force training method, or a forceful attitude. They have a very steady temperament and seem to adjust themselves quickly to different situations. In working with Dogos in obedience, you must always keep in mind that the Dogo is a hound. Like other hounds, you are constantly working to keep their attention on you and not the exciting smells around them. They will air and ground scent and this can be very distracting to the dog when working. Therefore, you must teach them that there is a time to work and a time to hunt, which can be a test of patience to both handler and dog.

The Dogo is also a very sensitive dog and rarely needs physical corrections. A heavy handed or harsh owner would quickly ruin a Dogo. This sensitivity makes it possible for an experienced dog owner to moderate or channel the strong hunting instinct into other outlets more appropriate to suburban life. Gentle corrections consistently applied are far more successful than harsh physical corrections. Usually a stern tone of voice is enough to get the message across.
The Dogo is highly intelligent and in training this is a double edged sword. The Dogo is easily trained and learns quickly using positive motivation, but the Dogo is also easily bored by overwork and repetition.

Dogos make good watchdogs. Dogos are very alert, and with proper socialization have a good sense of judgment. However, being a hunting dog, they are not the type of dog you could put on the front porch and expect them to stay there.

All in all, it is plain to see that the Dogo is not the dog for everyone. Their extreme hunting drive and tenacity coupled with a high energy level and intelligence result in a dog that is too much for the average dog owner to handle.

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Cheeks : Large and relatively flat,  free from folds, bulges or chiselling, covered by strong skin.
Eyes : Dark or hazel coloured, protected by lids preferably with black pigmentation though the lack of pigmentation is not considered a fault.  Almond-shaped, set at medium height, the distance between them must be wide.  As a whole, the expression should be alert and lively, but at the same time remarkably firm, particularly in males.
Ears : High and laterally inserted, set well apart due to the width of the skull.  Functionally, they should be cropped and erect, in  triangular shape and with a length which does not exceed 50% of the front edge of the auricle of the natural ear.  Without being cropped, they  are of mid-length, broad, thick, flat and rounded at the tip.  Covered with smooth hair which is a bit shorter than on the rest of the body; they may show small spots, not to be penalized.  In natural position they hang down covering the back of the cheeks.  When the dog is alert they may be half-erect.

NECK : Of medium length, strong and erect, well muscled, with a slightly convex upper line.  Truncated cone-shaped, it joins the head in a muscular arch which hides all bony prominences in this part, and fits to the thorax in a large base.  It is covered by a thick and elastic skin that freely slips over the subcutaneous tissue which is a bit laxer than on the rest of the body.  It has non-pendent smooth folds at the height of the throat, a fundamental trait for the function of the animal.  The coat in this part  is slightly longer than on the rest of the body.

Indio del Litoral

BODY : The length of the body (from the point of the shoulder to the point of the buttock) exceeds the height at the withers by 10%.

Forearm : As long as the upper arm, perpendicular to the horizontal, straight with strong bone and muscles.
Pastern joint : Broad and in line with the forearm, without bony prominences or skin folds.
Pastern : Slightly flat, well boned, slanting of 70 to 75° to the horizontal plane.
Front feet : Rounded; with short, sturdy, very tight toes.  Fleshy, hard pads, covered by black and rough-to-the-touch skin.

HINDQUARTERS : With medium angulation.  As a whole, they are strong, sturdy and parallel, creating the image of the great power their function requires.  They ensure the proper impulsion and determine the dog?s characteristic gait.
Upper thigh : Length proportionate to the whole.  Strong and with fully developed and visible muscles.  Coxo-femoral angle close to 100 °.
Stifles : Set in the same axis as the limb.  Femoral-tibial angle close to 110 °.
Lower thigh : Slightly shorter than the  upper thigh, strong and with similarly developed muscles.
Hock joint / Hock : The tarsus-metatarsus section is short, strong and firm, ensuring powerful propelling of the hind limb.  Sturdy hock joint with a noticeable calcaneus (tip of hock).  The angle at the hock joint is close to 140°.  Sturdy hock, almost cylindrical and at 90° angle to the horizontal.  If present, dewclaws should be removed.
Hind feet : Similar to forefeet, though slightly smaller and broader, but with  the same characteristics.


GAIT / MOVEMENT : Agile and firm; with noticeable modification when showing interest in something, changing into an erect attitude and responding to reflexes quickly, typical for this breed.  Calm walk, extended trot, with a good front suspension and a powerful rear propelling.  At gallop, the dog shows all of its energy displaying its power fully.  The four feet leave simple, parallel traces.  Ambling (pacing) is not accepted and is considered a serious fault.

SKIN : Homogeneous, slightly thick, but smooth and elastic.  Adhering to the body through a semilax subcutaneous tissue which ensures free movement without forming relevant folds, except for the neck area where the subcutaneous tissue is laxer.  With as little pigmentation as possible, through this increases with the years.  An excessive pigmentation of the skin is not accepted.  Preference should be given to dogs with black pigmentation of the rims of labial and palpebral mucous membranes.