Hunting With Dogo Argentino

Any Dogo Argentino owner knows that this breed originated as a big game hunting dog. However, as the breed gains in popularity across the world, less Dogo Argentino’s are learning how to hunt big game.

Some think that hunting dogs can’t be good family dogs, which is untrue. Other’s feel show dogs shouldn’t hunt, but some believe a show dog should be able to do what it was bred to do.

In this article, we will cover how you can get started training your Dogo Argentino to hunt, as it was meant to in the old days.

Catch dog vs. Bay Dog

The first thing you need to know about training your Dogo Argentino for hunting is knowing there are two kinds of hunting dogs: bay dogs and catch dogs.

Bay dogs are trained to locate their game, chase it, and howl or bay to alert their human companion about the game.

Bay dogs are always trained to keep a safe distance from large prey, while they bay at it. Some baying dogs also know how to create a circle around their game while baying, to keep it in place while still maintaining a reasonable distance.

Bay dogs are typically hound type dogs, although, in some areas, some cross-breeding has occurred. This occurrence has happened from years of hunters raising and using Bay and Catch dogs together.

Hunters primarily use the Dogo Argentino as a Catch dog. As the name suggests, Catch dogs track down their prey and hold it with their weight and teeth.

Catch dogs are used in hunting. Also, they can help ranchers who raise cattle or other large livestock. Catch dogs are often outfitted with special harnesses and armour for their neck and chests as protection.

The job that Catch dogs do can see them take a serious or even fatal injury from a tusk or a claw.

Hunting with Dogo Argentino: Basic Training

Before you go out hunting, you need to know your Dogo Argentino has the foundation training down firmly.

While you are working on the foundation training, you may want to do some research on to see if anyone is already hunting with Dogo’s in your area.

It can help with the later steps of catch dog training for the younger dog to learn from an older experienced catch dog.

You will want to make sure you start training your Dogo as early as possible. The first thing you need to teach your dog is the basic commands that all dogs should know.

Basic commands

• Sit
• Stay
• Down
• Come
• Off
• Leave
• Heel

Once your dog has a firm foundation and knows those commands down, it will be time for you to start the training of hunting with your Dogo Argentino. First step is to develop its prey drive.

This training is straightforward to start with; you will want to engage your Dogo in learning how to play tug. The best way to do this is with a good rope toy, but some choose old clothing with knots, etc.

Once your Dogo has sustained interest, start teaching them how to fetch with it. This part of the game will be the first part in activating prey drive.

The next step in prey drive training will be to use toys that have a remote control; cars work great for this.

While your Dogo is working on chasing the toy down, you will also want to make sure they will still listen to any command you give them. So, make sure at random you tell them to leave it, sit, or any of the basic commands.

Once your Dogo is chasing these toys well, you will want to move on to live animals. It is a step where having an experienced hunting handler will be useful.

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Hunting with Dogo Argentino: Boar/Pig

The main large prey animal that the Dogo Argentino hunts for today is Wild Boars or Pigs. These wild animals are very fertile, destructive, and have become a problem across America.

The many States in the United States now have a feral hog hunting season that goes along with elk, deer and bear season. The best way to begin your Dogo hunting wild hogs is to start him with a domestic pig.

For this, you will need a safe contained area and a pig that is roughly the same size as your Dogo is. Once you have a pig, you will want to introduce your dog to it.

Keep the pig contained in a small space for this and get your Dogo to be excited when seeing the pig, just like when they chased the car. Make sure you take your Dogo away from the pig before they lose interest. Repeat this for at least a week.

The next step is to take the pig out into an area like you would hunt boar in. Make sure you are wearing rubber boots (to cover your smell) and walk the pig around the woods to create scent trails.

Once you have created good trails, you will want to secure the pig and return to your Dogo.

Now you will release your Dogo and encourage him to follow the scent of the pig. Since you have already trained your dog to get excited about the pig, he should be excited to follow the scent.

Don’t worry if your Dogo takes a little time when following the scent to find the pig, be patient. Once he has found the pig, reward him. Repeat the process in different terrain and areas.

Hunting with Dogo Argentino: Mountain Lion/Puma

Hunting nuisance Mountain Lions is an important task. It is especially so in areas where these big cats and humans are crossing paths more and more.

It takes a special dog to be able to face down these agile, strong predators. Dogo Argentino is a breed perfect for this task.

Once you know your Dogo Argentino is going to listen even within a pack and has the physical and mental strength to hunt this prey, it’s time to teach him how to do it.

The first step is to purchase a premium grade Puma scent and go about setting a scent trail as you did with the pig. Make sure you wear gloves and boots while doing this, so your dog doesn’t track you.

The best place to end your scent trail is at a tree. Put the scent on the base of the tree, and up the tree as well. This way, you will simulate the cat going up the tree.

The next step is to have a caged feral cat and place it securely into the tree you have scented. Make sure that your Dogo can see the cat, but that the cat is high enough to be safe from accidental injury.

Cover a hide or cloth in scent and place it on the cage. It allows your dog to get excited when it sees the cat and associates the scent with a feline.

Then you will release your dog and allow it to pick up the trail. Repeat this exercise many times. The more your Dogo scents and tracks, make the trails harder for him.

For this type of training, you need to be able to think like one of these big predators. Making trails that are as cat-like as possible will better prepare your Dogo the hunt of a live Puma.

Hunting with Dogo Argentino: Bear

Bear is another large game animal that you must hunt with a pack of dogs and not just one. When pursuing an adult bear, you should hunt with a pack of no less than six dogs.

This number allows the dogs to overwhelm the bear so that it will retreat, instead of attack. Before you go on a hunt for bear, you should also check your state’s regulations on hunting bear with dogs.

Bear hunt training with a Dogo Argentino should start with hunting other game first. You can choose the small game, such as Coyotes or Bobcats and of course Wild Boar.

Once your dog is confident in hunting these small animals, you will want to purchase a premium quality Bear Scent.

Cover either a cloth or a piece of a bear’s skin in the scent and start playing tug with your Dogo, get them excited about the bear scent.

Once your dog has an active interest in the scent and the cloth, you will head out and make trails with the bear scent.

You should make trails and hide the scented item in a tree or another location a bear is likely to retreat to.

Once the trail is ready, release your dog and reward him for finding the scented item. You will want to repeat this process, progressively making it harder to find the scented object.

Once you think your dog is ready, get an experienced pack together and head out to track down a live bear.

Pro tip: Don’t forget to put your dog’s protective gear on when hunting bear, it will keep him safe from possible injuries.

Conclusion

Dogo Argentinos are fantastic dogs, and they are bred to hunt. It is something they excel at and should be doing as much as possible.

Needless to say, as a working dog, the Dogo Argentino will be at its mental and physical best when it has a job. Remember to be patient during training, and of course, make it as fun as you can for you and your Dogo Argentino.

If you are interested about hunting with dogs, feel free to read our detailed articles:

• “Best dogs for hunting: Full guide with pictures”,
• “Hunting with dachshunds”.