Saluki vs Argentine Dogo - Breed Comparison | Petzlover

Known also as the Argentinian Mastiff, this large dog breed from Argentina is a descendant of the extinct Fighting Dog of Cordoba. People were looking for a fearless, companionable dog, and a man, Martinez from Argentina, began a selective breeding program to get a breed that wasn’t essentially geared to fighting.

A number of breeds were mixed to achieve the desired characteristics in the Argentine Dogo breed.

It is unfortunate that the dog has been used for fighting and that it comes across as a dangerous dog so that today it is banned in several countries.

It seems as though the Saluki's origins go far back to ancient Egypt times. The dog is known for its superb hunting abilities.

These dogs have been known in the Middle East and could be found in Iran and Egypt too. Breeding with other dogs was forbidden so the Saluki has remained unchanged for thousands of years.

It has always been known over the centuries for its superb grace and speed as well as endurance. He is capable of that because of the tall, sleek, muscular body and long, narrow head.

The Saluki came to England in the 1900s, and today the dog comes in quite a few variations.

The Argentine Dogo is a striking looking dog, large, muscular and powerful looking. He stands at about 60 – 68cm and weighs about 35 – 45kg.

He has a pure white coat. The coat is short and smooth. The ears are high set and most times cropped and erect.The Dogo’s tail is long and hangs naturally.

Temperament

The Argentine Dogo is a companion dog today who can be loving and loyal towards his human family. He is a strong willed dog with a distrust of strangers and other animals.

He will most certainly require training and socialization if you want him to behave well among people and animals. With proper training and socialization, he can make a good family pet.

The Saluki is a graceful, elegant looking dog, deep chested and long legged, much like the Greyhound and fairly closely related to the Afghan Hound.

They stand at between 58 and 71cm and weigh between 16 to 29kg. The head is long and narrow, the eyes large and the dog has floppy ears. The tail is long and curved. The coat of the Saluki comes in a number of different colours and these can be fawn, cream, white, tan, some black or it can have a blend of all these colours. The coat of this dog comes in two types - smooth and the feathered type. The fur is always beautifully silky and is considered to be low-shedding.

These dogs are also very fast runners, and if you check the Guinness Book of Records, you’ll see that the Saluki is listed there as being one of the fastest dogs with tremendous stamina.

Temperament:

Th Saluki is a beautiful, quiet, dignified, reserved, loyal dog. You can just see that he is intelligent. He is certainly affectionate with his human family but you wouldn’t call him demonstrative. He isn’t the kind of dog to be wildly prancing around wagging his tail furiously.

He’s the kind of dog that likes to give chase so you’ll need a large garden for him. It’s why he isn’t suited for city life on a small property. The countryside is a far better option for this tall dog.

When he’s not outdoors, he can easily curl up on your sofa for a few hours of utter relaxation. Training and socialization will be necessary for this shy dog as it not only makes him obedient, but it gives him some confidence with knowing how to behave in different circumstances. He’ll get on well with older children, but is fairly indifferent and intolerant to small kids, especially those that are undisciplined and left to climb over him.

This big, muscular white dog with his short white coat was once a hunting dog so he is active and energetic. He is also intelligent and courageous, loving his human family and wanting to protect them being a strong characteristic of his.

The Argentine Dogo is social, strong, loyal and devoted and just wants to be part of his human family and all their activities. It is important that he is trained and socialized at an early age because then he is obedient and relaxed around people and pets in the home.

The Saluki loves his human family, and he’s the kind of dog that wouldn’t like to be owned by one family ad then given away to another later on. That's why make sure when you get your Saluki your intentions are to keep him.

He likes to be comfortable too when they’re not running outside, and a good bed is important to him. Salukis are naturally thin, so make sure not to overfeed him. These are quiet, calm dogs, but over the centuries they've been making reliable, steadfast pets and companions.

The Argentine Dogo can live to be between 10 and 12 years of age if he is looked after well, however about 10% of Argentine Dogos suffer from pigment-related deafness in one or both ears.

Dogs with white coats often have to contend with deafness.

Deafness in Dogs:

A dog can lose it’s hearing because of an ear infection. That is why it is so important to watch your pets ears and make sure that the ears aren’t red and that your pet isn't continually scratching his ears.

The most common cause of congenital deafness with a dog is pigment-related. Dogs with white coats are often affected by deafness and you commonly see deafness in dogs with white pigmented skin because they carry the piebald gene – the white coat and often blue eyes. Without a particular stem cell, the white dog’s body isn’t able to make a special layer of hearing cells.

Hip Dysplasia:

There is a high rate of hip dysplasia with these dogs and more than 40% of Argentine Dogos have malformed hips. This isn’t a dog ailment to take lightly as it can lead to pain, discomfort and even lameness for your pet.

Skin- and Eye Diseases:

Skin diseases such as red, itchy allergies are also common with these dogs as well as eye diseases.

We always mention hip dysplasia as a common dog ailment as so many dog breeds can succumb to this ailment. With the Saluki, hip dysplasia is uncommon. Cancer and cardiac issues are more prevalent with these dogs.

Cancer:

It is sad to realize that dogs are susceptible to the same types of cancer as people are. If the uncontrolled growth of cells in the body isn’t discovered in time, cancer can reach the circulatory or lymph systems and other parts of the body. In fact, cancer is the leading cause of death with dogs. The good news is that it is treatable if you catch it in the early stages.

One of the more common types of cancer in dogs is Lymphoma. This can affect any dog, and at any age too. There are swollen lymph nodes under the neck and the dog can have trouble with breathing and digestion. You’ll notice lumps underneath the dog's skin, abnormal discharges from the eyes, ears or rectum, non-healing wounds, coughing and pain.

Brushing and Grooming:

With his short coat, the Argentine Dogo is a low maintenance dog, requiring a good brush twice a week. Its a pure white dog, and wiping him down with a damp cloth can keep his coat looking dazzling white and clean.

Grooming your dog like this gives you a good chance to also check your pet for fleas and ticks and to ensure the skin is free from infection or dryness. You will find that he sheds a bit more in the hotter seasons, but during the colder months it will be wise to bring your pet indoors.

Other areas to consistently check with your dog are his nails – to keep them trimmed, to clean his teeth 2 or 3 times a week with proper canine toothbrush and toothpaste and to check his ears for infection.

These tall, slender dogs love to run free and it's the kind of dog that will need regular and different forms of exercise.

Provide your Saluki with a comfortable, warm, dry bed with lots of padding.

The Saluki has smooth, silky hair so brush it twice a week to keep it gleaming.

To help your Saluki have a strong immune system, he needs the best food there is. Good food packed with vitamins and minerals instead of preservative and colorants will help him fight diseases like cancer.

Commercially manufactured dog foods can be wonderfully convenient and nutritious if you get the better quality ones. Give him some home-made food too and add it twice a week to the dry kibble. This will provide variety and a tasty treat. Boiled chicken, brown rice, sweet potatoes, carrots and spinach are simple foods – just like dogs want.

Try and include some raw meat occasionally. Fresh, cool water should always be available around the clock.