Boxer or Dogo Argentino??? What do you think? (long, sorry...)

[PrincessGrace]

okay....I came across this pup on Petfinder...he is listed as a boxer...but as soon as I saw him -- I thought (and still believe! ) that he is NOT a boxer, but in fact a Dogo Argentino... (this would also explain why his ears were cut as they were...)

http://www.petfinder.com/petnote/dis...petid=10815230
Vinnie
Boxer
Large Young Male Dog



Vinnie (nickname for Vincent Van Gogh), was found running down the street with blood steaming from both ears. Someone had just brutally cut both ears off and wrote all over his face with permanent marker. But even coming from such a horrible experience Vinnie is mellow and sweet-tempered - just a lovely dog. Vinnie is also quite deaf and we are not yet sure if it was caused by his ear-chopping ordeal or born that way. Vinnie is 5 months old and in a foster home learning sign language and house-training. So far he is doing wonderful and loves everyone person he meets, and every new dog is his friend. This is a very special boy.

Similar in appearance for sure, if you've never seen a Dogo -- but we had 2 that used to go to the Dog Park in San Diego when I still had Norton, so I do know the breed....and can distinguish it from a white boxer!

Dogo links: basic info: http://www.yourpurebredpuppy.com/rev...argentino.html
Good info: http://www.bulldoginformation.com/argentina-dog.html
http://www.dogo.org/DACA/about_us.htm
http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/dogo.htm

This is a Dogo...










anyhow...I decided to send the SPCA that has him listed an email about his breed description and included some links on Dogos...one of my biggest gripes with shelters and rescues is when they try to "pass" other breeds as Boxers or Boxer Mixes in order to avoid labelling them as pit bulls, etc or any breed that is considered a "fighting dog" or "dangerous"....I am not saying this shelter is doing that intentionally with "Vinnie" but still...a Dogo can have a VERY dominant personality and temperment and better a potential adopter know what they are getting -- however nice and sweet this dog may be -- they need to know the potential temperment and behaviors of the breed...

also, Dogos can be very different in how they "communicate" with other dogs and some dogs cannot "read" a Dogo very easily or very well and that can create potential problems...

anyhow...I sent the info and got this reply...kinda chafes me b/c I think they just don't want to "label" him as a Dogo because of the background of the breed.... which could be a problem for the dog down the road and also adds to creating a "black mark" on the boxer breed if someone believes this is a boxer and something bad does happen...

my email:

----- Original Message ----
From: Mitch & Jill Michalski <mitchandjill@hotmail.com>
To: centralcoastspca@yahoo.com
Sent: Saturday, June 14, 2008 9:59:47 AM
Subject: RE: "Vinnie" on Petfinder

HI!

I was checking out your dogs and came across "Vinnie"

http://www.petfinder.com/petnote/dis...petid=10815230

You have him listed as a boxer but upon viewing him, I believe he is actually a Dogo Argentino NOT a boxer... might be helpful to relist him b/c Dogo's personalities and traits can be very different and MUCH more dominant than a boxer's and it would be best if potential adopters could understand and be prepared to handle a Dogo -- they are definitely NOT a breed for inexperienced dog owners!

Here are a few links re: Dogo Argentinos for reference:

http://www.dogo.org/

http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/dogo.htm

http://www.bulldoginformation.com/dogo-argentino.html

Good link with pros/cons of having a Dogo (basic info for new owners re: temperment and if a Dogo is "right" for you...)

http://www.yourpurebredpuppy.com/rev...argentino.html

http://www.caninecrib.com/dog/breeds/dogo-argentino/


Hope some of this info is helpful -- having worked as a vet tech for 10+ years and worked with rescue previously, I wanted to share this info to help any potential adopter who might be interested but not aware of what they were getting!

He's a cutie -- and such a horrible story I hope he finds a loving forever home!

Thanks,
Jill Michalski

Their reply:

Hi Jill,

Thank you for all the information, that was very kind of you to care enough to do this. Vinnie is definitely a boxer however, he just looks different because someone chopped his ears off. Vinnie has the sweetest and most loving disposition - he is very gentle and kind to everyone he meets, and all types of dogs and cats too. He is not in the slightest bit dominant - very easy going and playful.

But thank you for all of the information anyway, I found it very interesting to read.


Jeannine


Central Coast SPCA
P.O. Box 2952
Orcutt, CA 93457
www.centralcoastspca.petfinder.com

he may be super sweet and nice and "not dominant" but he is a puppy -- from an obviously BAD start and dubious breeding practices....all the more reason to be upfront about his true breed IMO and again, its the "potential" that folks need to be aware of in the breed they are adopting...

if you were buying a new car, you'd want to know the potential drawbacks to that make/model right??? if it were brand new and spotless, you'd still want to know that Model XYC is known to break down at 30,000 miles, right? (lame analogy, but you get my point...)

so....what do you think....Boxer or Dogo Argentino....???? am I crazy???

[Boxer Mom]

Um yea he is NOT a Boxer in the slightest!
I wonder how they decide what is what anyway?...
He's a boxer but doesn't look like one because of his ears? Um whatever.

Even if you try to explain away the muzzle issues his build is not boxer-ish either..

[Puppy Chows]

Dogo.... I have 1 in class now....he is a rescue.

[mergirl]

at BEST he is a boxer mix... but i honestly am not even convinced of that.

[Lil_Meat_Head]

He is 100% Dogo without a doubt in my mind. Its sad because the temperments are not even close, so they will be misinforming the public on what a boxer is. Not that there is anything wrong with Dogo's, but they are not boxers.

[PrincessGrace]

He is 100% Dogo without a doubt in my mind. Its sad because the temperments are not even close, so they will be misinforming the public on what a boxer is. Not that there is anything wrong with Dogo's, but they are not boxers.

Exactly my thoughts and concern! I have nothing against Dogos either -- but I think potential owners need to understand the breed they are getting -- or at the very least, not be mislead to think they are getting a boxer when it is NOT a boxer!

[WBL]

Well I just went straight to quick reply because after coming back from a TWO DAY dog show and where i sat next to the DOGO's both days, I can tell you that Vinnie IS NOT A BOXER and sorry but your SPCA are frackin idiots!!!! I can even tell in just the muzzle and shape of the head that he's not a boxer, even if he was from a BYB/Puppy mill it wouldn't matter. I don't even see boxer mix in him. I got a few pics of Dogos from the show this weekend, I'll post them when I get them uploaded

[ChanceNSev]

I think he's either a mix that has Boxer,American Bulldog or Pit. Most dog who are going to be used in the fight ring have their ears cut off like that by non professionals which sounds like what happened with this sweet boy.

[Roxysmom]

I don't think he's boxe AT ALL. I don't understand how they can classify him as one. He's a very sweet looking dog though.

[Boser&Abe]

NOT a BOXER! He looks so much like a Dogo. I hope he is placed with a good family who is ready for anything but Boxer.