Dogo Cubano History
By the end of the 1800’s, the Dogo Cubano was nearing extinction. There is not a lot of reliable information about this rare breed, but it has been reported that Pit Bulls, Cordoba Bulldogs and Dogo Argentinos were bred into the leftover stock of old Cuban Dogges in the early 20th century, resulting in better fighters, much larger than the original dogs. The Dogo Cubano was a member of a large family of dogs collectively known as the Mastiffs, Molossers, Dogues, or Alaunts.
This family is one of the oldest groups of domestic dogs, although their history is incredibly disputed. Some claim that they are descended from the ancient war dogs of Egypt and Mesopotamia, and were later spread across the Mediterranean by Phoenician and Greek traders. The most common story for their origin is that they are the descendants of the Molossus, feared war dog of the Greek and Roman armies. Others believe that they are descended from the Tibetan Mastiff and introduced to Europe by the Roman Empire.
Dogo Cubano Description
The Dogo Cubano was generally similar to other Mastiffs, although it was still quite distinct. Most sources claim that the breed was intermediate in height between the Old English Bulldog and the English Mastiff, which means that the breed would have stood between 20 and 22 inches tall at the shoulder. The breed was said to be incredibly heavy for its height, and most sources claim that it was the heaviest of all dogs. The breed apparently weighed an average of 300 pounds or more. If so, this dog was probably the most massive breed in history. This weight was achieved largely through immense bulk and thickness, although the breed was also extremely muscular and powerful. Most drawings show a dog that had the thick, straight legs of a Mastiff, and a long, straight back. The tail of this breed was apparently quite variable.
Some were very long and tapering, while others were quite short with a pronounced curve. The coat of the Dogo Cubano was quite short, as befits a dog native to balmy Cuba. The breed was said to come in a variety of colors, but the most common was probably a rusty brown.They were between a Bulldog and a Mastiff in size. The muzzle was short, broad, and abruptly truncated. The head was broad and flat, and the lips, deeply pendulous. The medium sized ears, were also partly pendulous, the tail rather short, cylindrical, and turned upwards and forwards towards the tip. They were described as a “rusty wolf-colour”, with black face, lips, and legs. They were very notable for their chasing of slaves.
Dogo Cubano Temperament
The Dogo Cubano was known for being extremely courageous and aggressive. Dogo Cubanos were willing to face any enemy without fear, and some seemed to face challenges with great enjoyment. The dog was famed for its intense loyalty and protective instinct towards its master. The breed was said to be willing to follow its master anywhere, and to lay down its life for him without hesitation if necessary. However, the breed was extremely aggressive towards those it was not familiar. The dog was willing to attack ferociously if necessary, but most were trained to subdue with as little violence as necessary in order to avoid seriously injuring valuable slaves.
The Dogo Cubano was known to be highly animal aggressive, willing and eager to fight bulls and other dogs to the death. The breed was apparently highly intelligent and quite trainable, at least when the goal was to teach the breed to track or fight. Based on what is known about the dog, it was likely extremely dominant, requiring a very firm hand. The Dogo Cubano possessed a keen sense of smell which allowed it to track Cimarrones through the Cuban wilds. The dog was also driven to follow a trail, dedicatedly pursuing it to its end.
Dogo Cubano Lifespan
8 to 10 Years
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