# Dogo Argentino: The Big Cat Hunter

> Brad Anderson discusses the history of the Dogo Argentino, its specific application in hazing mountain lions in the American West, and the realities of breed health and temperament.

### Breed Origins & Purpose
The Dogo Argentino is a hunting breed developed in Argentina specifically for hunting boar and puma [00:00:27]. It was created by two brothers who used the now-extinct fighting dog of Cordoba as the foundation [00:00:46]. They introduced other breeds to increase size and tracking ability—aiming for a dog larger than the Cordoba fighter that could track, catch, and fight wild boar and puma [00:01:14]. There is some ambiguity regarding the exact mix, with debates over the inclusion of breeds like the Irish Wolfhound [00:01:05].

### Hunting Application: Hazing vs. Kill
I utilize my dogs primarily for "hazing" rather than killing. Hazing involves using the dogs to bark at and stress the prey (puma, cougar, mountain lion, bobcat) without shooting them [00:01:51]. This process instills fear of dogs and humans in the predator, reducing the likelihood of them encroaching on human habitats [00:02:00]. This method is similar to bear control tactics used in Yellowstone with Karelian Bear Dogs [00:02:15].

While many hunters prefer to shoot a large "Tom," they will often just haze a smaller female and move on [00:03:41].

### Working Selection & Genetics
I specifically imported my Dogo, Che, for hunting mountain lions [00:01:31]. I previously ran my male West Siberian Laika, Ike, on puma, but encountered issues with "dog-sour" Toms—old cats that would come out of the tree to fight the dog rather than stay treed [00:02:30]. In those situations, it is difficult to get a shot off safely.

To counter this, I wanted a dog with a lineage proven for fighting wild cats. The Dogo Argentino has a history of being matched against puma in Argentina (though now illegal) [00:02:51]. Along with a friend, I tracked down a specific line of Dogos still used for hunting puma in Argentina. My friend imported a pregnant female named Puma, and I picked Che from that litter at six weeks old [00:03:03].

### Environmental variables
I used these dogs extensively in the Flagstaff, Arizona area, specifically the Coconino National Forest [00:4:13]. The Grand Canyon creates an "island" effect in that region, resulting in a densely populated habitat where you encounter wildlife like elk and lions constantly [00:04:20].

Because the local lion population has been hazed frequently, they are "dog savvy" and aggressive; they often bail from trees to attack the dogs [00:04:39]. When I moved to a remote area in Colorado, the cats were less experienced and would simply stay in the tree or run, wanting nothing to do with the dogs [00:04:58].

### Breed Health & Weaknesses
It is important to acknowledge that the Dogo Argentino has significant health concerns that are often glossed over:
* **Allergies:** They are highly prone to allergies, reacting to corn or even meat from animals that were fed corn [00:5:22].
* **Deafness:** This is a known issue in the breed [00:05:37].
* **Weak Bladders:** I have observed a prevalence of weak bladders in the breed, a trait many breeders do not discuss [00:05:40].

### Temperament & Socialization
Despite their serious working lineage, my Dogos are excellent family dogs. They are great with my wife and children and generally love people [00:06:00].
* **Dog Aggression:** The breed has a reputation for dog aggression, and it is still fought in some circles today [00:06:36]. There are "hotter" lines that carry significant dog aggression issues [00:07:17].
* **Pack Dynamics:** My male, Che, is shockingly good with other dogs, which is why I keep him; I dislike quarrelsome dogs [00:06:45]. My female, Mia, is good with dogs but becomes aggressive with other females when she is in heat [00:06:58

## Details

- **Category:** Interviews and media
- **Tags:** dogo-argentino, west-siberian-laika, karelian-bear-dog, hunting, preservation, breeding, genetics, management, import, hazing, mountain-lion, puma, boar
- **Date:** 2017-04-30
- **Originally published at:** [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6J8UWh3_jUg](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6J8UWh3_jUg)

**Also read:** [All writing](https://bradanderson.org/writing?format=md) · [About Brad](https://bradanderson.org/about?format=md)

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