Dogo Argentino

Book excerpt: Designed as a hunter of wild boar in the jungles of South America, the Dogo Argentino owes its existence to Dr. Antonio Nores Martinez, who set out to create a superdog of his own from Argentina's native breed, the Cordoba Fighting Dog. Tenacious, fearless, and impressively muscled, the solid-white Dogo Argentino emerged and excelled as a much-sought-after big-game hunter. As author Joe Janish states in the chapter devoted to the breed's characteristics, ";one look at this handsome white dog will tell you this is no ordinary hunting dog. Exuberant musculature and powerful build give the Dogo not only great strength but also uncanny agility, speed and stamina." This chapter discusses the breed's physical characteristics, personality, training and exercise requirements, health concerns, and suitability as a home companion, all the information a potential owner needs to determine is this superdog is indeed the Dogo for him or her. New owners will welcome the well-prepared chapter on finding a reputable breeder and selecting a healthy, sound puppy. Chapters on puppy-proofing the home and yard, purchasing the right supplies for the puppy as well as house-training, feeding, exercise, and grooming are illustrated with photographs of handsome adults and puppies. In all, there are over 135 full-color photographs in this useful and reliable volume. The author's advice on obedience training will help the reader better mold and train into the most well-mannered dog in the neighborhood. The extensive and lavishly illustrated chapter on healthcare provides up-to-date detailed information on selecting a qualified veterinarian, vaccinations, preventing and dealing with parasites, infectious diseases, and more. Sidebars throughout the text offer helpful hints, covering topics as diverse as historical dogs, breeders, or kennels, toxic plants, first aid, crate training, carsickness, fussy eaters, and parasite control. Fully indexed.