How Much Does an Argentine Dogo Cost?
The Argentine Dogo, also known as Argentinian Mastiff or Dogo Argentino, is a large, white, short-coated dog with a smooth and muscular body.
This breed is known for its endurance, physical strength, being primarily used as a hunting and fighting dog.
The Argentine Dogo can be an excellent guardian for your home — great with the family, good-natured, clever, good with children, and affectionate with those the family accepts.
How much does an Argentine Dogo cost?
On average, a pure-bred Dogo Argentino puppy can cost anywhere from $500 for a non purebred to more than $3,500+ for an AKC purebred. The costs will greatly depend on the breeder, the age, quality, its history and geographical location.
PuppyFind.com, a popular online dog classified website, had close to 100 active listings at the time of this writing, with prices ranging from $500 to more than $3,500.
The official AKC marketplace has a few kennel listings on its website, with most breeders asking anywhere from $2,000 to $3,500. The AKC breeders would include BAER testing and genetic testing.
What is going to be included in the adoption fee?
A reputable breeder, at a minimum, should include registration paperwork, up-to-date vaccinations, a health checkup and a health guarantee. Some breeders may also include pedigree paperwork, spaying/neutering, a small sample starter kit and/or a microchip.
What are the extra costs?
Due to their relatively larger size, the average Argentine Dogo can eat close to $30+ of dog food per month.
Other recurring costs, as with any dog, should include routine/surprise veterinary checks, deworming and medication. A healthy dog can easily cost $600+ per year to maintain.
Spaying or neutering this dog is an essential expense at the time of adoption if your breeder doesn’t include it.
Shipping a dog via an airline can cost upwards of $150 to $350 if you were to buy from a breeder out of town. Due to the rarity of this breed, there is a good chance you may have to pay for the shipping fees.
Because this dog will need intense socialization in its early years, as with most dogs, obedience classes are highly recommended. Beginner classes can cost $125 to $200+
Because of the dog’s coat, it is recommended that you get it groomed at least every two months. This can cost up to $75 each time if you were to hire a professional groomer; however, there are also tools that you can purchase to do this job yourself. While these tools may be more expensive up front, doing the grooming yourself will save you a lot of money throughout the life of the dog.
Depending on the city you live in, registration paperwork needs to be budgeted for as well.
Tips to know:
The Argentine Dogo measures 24.5 to 28 inches tall, with females slightly shorter on average. The average weight, again, depending on the gender, ranges from 80 to 100 pounds.
The head of the Argentine Dogo is powerful with a broad skull and a powerful, slightly domed muzzle that is somewhat above the nose stop when viewed in profile. Their body length is a bit longer than tall, and the ears can be either cut or naturally fall close to the skull.
The Argentine Dogo a short and dense outer coat, with a glossy sheen. The hair is rather stiff, coarse and of uniform length to the touch. A field-conditioned coat or working scars should not be faulted. They are completely white in color.
On average, this can live 10 to 18 years.
Their short, plain and smooth coat should be completely white; however, a dark patch close to the eye is allowed as long as it does not cover over 10 percent of the head.
The Argentine Dogo should spend lots of time with its family. Chaining the dog out in the yard and giving little or no attention is not only cruel, but it can also lead to an aggressive and destructive behavior. This breed is not recommended for apartment living.
They respond well to positive and balanced obedience training and will make excellent companions for the right families. Their need for serious mental and physical stimulation must be always be kept firmly in mind.
This breed is not recommended for first-time dog owners because its known to be extremely dominant.
The Argentine Dogo is a pack hunting dog, showing power and athleticism. The base stock of this breed was composed of 10 different breeds, with the Old Cordoba Fighting Dog (now extinct) being the basis and then cross-bred with Mastiffs, Dogue De Bordeaux, Bulldogs and Bull Terriers, Harlequin Great Dane, Boxer, English Pointer, Pyrenean Mastiff, Old English Bulldog, and Irish Wolfhound.
It was bred for the pursuit of big game, such as the puma and wild boar, and possesses the intelligence, strength, and quick reaction of a serious athlete.
How can I save money?
Highly consider checking out a local shelter or rescue group for your next puppy or adult-sized dog. While you may not find this particular breed, you could find a dog that closely resembles it. Adopting is a great way to save hundreds of dollars and help an organization in need.
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