[lit-ideas] Re: Dogo Argentino, etc

  • From: "Lawrence Helm" <lawrencehelm@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • To: <lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • Date: Sat, 22 Mar 2008 14:14:02 -0700

The Dogo Argentino is the sort of dog I'm accustomed to.  The
characteristics described in the articles are not that different from those
described for the Rhodesian Ridgeback.  I doubt that the Dogo is any more
dangerous to people than the Ridgeback, but it resembles the Pit Bull, so
people will think so.  The Australians have outlawed them: "Australia had
followed Britain's lead in banning dangerous dogs. Four breeds had been
banned, the Japanese tosa, the fila Brasileiro, the dogo Argentino and the
American pit bull terrier."

And Britain, that former dog-loving nation . . .  I ran across the
following: "Baker's first instinct had been to order all the Pit Bulls in
Britain to be exterminated, but he was forced to back down when dog owners,
vets and even his allies the RSPCA refused to accept this genocidal plan.
The next best thing was to 'phase out' the dangerous breeds, so Baker
effectively made it illegal to keep the American Pit Bull Terrier, Japanese
Tosa, Dogo Argentino and Fila Brassiliero. There were no members of the
later two breeds in the UK and only one Tosa. The Pit Bulls were an easy
target, so Baker decided that any dog of the 'type' known as the Pit Bull
Terrier should be neutered, registered, tattooed and microchipped and
subject to third-party insurance. These dogs could not be bred from, sold or
exchanged. The ultimate aim was that the breed would die out in ten years or
so."



Lawrence


-----Original Message-----
From: lit-ideas-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:lit-ideas-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]
On Behalf Of Robert Paul
Sent: Saturday, March 22, 2008 1:12 PM
To: lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [lit-ideas] Re: Dogo Argentino, etc

Lawrence wrote

> I watched a program last night on the dog.  It was described as a 
> creation of man and the most malleable of all species.  The program 
> began with the creation of the Dogo Argentino.  Argentine farmers had 
> problems with wild boars; so some breeders decided to create the perfect 
> dog for dealing with them.  At least that was one story.  The actual 
> creators of the breed weren't quite that narrow.  They wanted a dog good 
> for big game and wanted to start with the "Fighting Dog of Cordoba" and 
> make it suitable to their purposes.   It took 25 years but the result 
> was the Dogo Argentino.  We were shown three of these Dogos in their 
> Kevlar vests taking down a boar and holding it for the hunter to come 
> and dispatch it Argentina style, i.e., with a knife.

The Dogo Argentino (also called the Argentine Mastiff) was the result of 
a breeding program undertaken by Dr. Antonio Nores Martinez, in the 
1920s, 'to produce a big game and puma hunter.' 'This imperious and 
impressive breed was bred to hunt in packs. Using an old type of Spanish 
fighting dog, the Spanish Mastiff, Great Dane, an old-style bull 
terrier, bulldog, and Boxer, created a bullish and fearless hunter with 
great stamina and a light coat capable of deflecting (sic) rather than 
absorbing heat. The breed instantly appealed to people who organize and 
enjoy dog fights, an activity popular in many parts of South America, 
and elsewhere. Argentina's first purebred dog, this white mastiff 
requires early socialization with other animals; it also requires early 
obedience training and should be given ample exercise.'

[Encyclopedia of the Dog, Bruce Fogle DVM, 1995]

I understand that JL keeps a pack of these dogs around to protect his 
Loeb editions, when they are not out hunting pumas.

Robert Paul

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