Dogo Argentino - Fighting and Legality

Fighting and Legality

While the Dogo Argentino was bred primarily from the extinct Cordoba Fighting Dog, it was bred to be a cooperative hunter; to accompany other catch dogs and bay dogs on the hunt without fighting with the other dogs. Aggressive traits inherent in the Cordoban Dog were specifically bred out; to enable a stable cooperative nature in a pack. However, in areas where dog fighting continues, Dogos Argentinos have rarely been used for fighting although they have aggressive nature.

In the United Kingdom, it is illegal to own a Dogo Argentino without lawful authority, under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991, and dogs of the breed may be seized by the police. The maximum penalty for illegal possession of a Dogo Argentino is a fine of £5,000 and/or up to six months' imprisonment. Breed-specific legislation varies in the United States, with bans on the breed enacted in Aurora, Colorado and New York City public housing. The Australian government has banned the importation of this dog. The dog is also illegal in New Zealand, Norway, Denmark, Iceland, Romania, Singapore, and Ukraine. The ban in the UK has received criticism with a spokesperson from the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals stating that the law must "focus back on the real problem ... the owner".