Curly-Coated Retriever versus Dogo Argentino. Final Verdict on Which is a Better Pet.

Curly-Coated Retriever versus Dogo Argentino

Quick Links: Table of Contents

Curly-Coated Retriever Versus Dogo Argentino: Introduction

Are you thinking of getting a new pet dog, and you have narrowed down your choices to the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Dogo Argentino? Well, you have come to the right place. In this article, we will provide you a detailed comparison of these two dog breeds to help you decide which of the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Dogo Argentino better suits you.

We will provide you a detailed discussion and comparison of dog attributes such as intelligence, price, general health, friendliness, etc, for both the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Dogo Argentino.

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Dogo Argentino is better suited for new dog owners, for owners with kids, for owners that live in apartments, for owners with dog allergies, etc.

Importantly, we did some analysis and calculation and we obtained a number that we call the Better-Pet Score™ for both the Curly-Coated Retriever and for the Dogo Argentino. The dog breed with the higher Better-Pet score is the `better` pet. We hope that these Better-Pet Scores will provide you more insight into deciding which pet to get between the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Dogo Argentino.

Our only goal here is to help you make a well-thought-out decision on your next long-term companion, be it the Curly-Coated Retriever or the Dogo Argentino

Curly-Coated Retriever versus Dogo Argentino: Overview

A very important difference between the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Dogo Argentino is the size difference between the two dog breeds. The Curly-Coated Retriever is a medium-sized dog while the Dogo Argentino is a large-sized dog.

Furthermore, both the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Dogo Argentino are Sporting Dogs. This means both the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Dogo Argentino were bred to help hunters catch and retrieve feathered game. Some sporting dog breeds such as Retrievers, which were built for swimming, were bred to hunt waterfowl in water. Whereas sporting dog breeds like setters, spaniels, and pointing breeds were bred to hunt quail, pheasant, and other game birds nest on grasslands. Many Sporting Group breeds have thick, water-repellent coats that protect them from harsh hunting conditions.

Curly-Coated Retriever versus Dogo Argentino: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Curly-Coated Retriever to the Dogo Argentino based on different important factors such as Price, Health, Kid-friendliness, etc.

When a dog breed scores higher for a factor than the other dog breed, the box of the breed that scores higher is shaded green and the box of the breed that scores lower is shaded red. When there is no difference between the breeds for a particular factor then the box is shaded gray for both pets. Also, when the factor is not important in picking a pet, or when the factor cannot be compared between two pets, the box for the factor is shaded gray for both pets

Most of the factors in the table for each dog breed are ranked on a scale of 1 to 5. “1” means “worst”, and “5” means “best”.

However, some factors such as “Price”, “Average Lifespan”, etc. cannot be on a scale of 1 to 5, so they are not on a scale of 1 to 5 in the comparison table.

Factor Curly-Coated Retriever Dogo Argentino
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 1/5 1/5
Height 1 foot, 11 inches to 2 feet, 3 inches tall at the 23 to 27 inches
Does NOT Drool 4/5 3/5
General Health 2/5 3/5
Good For Novice Owners 3/5 1/5
Easygoing 3/5 3/5
Tolerates Being Alone 3/5 2/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 3/5 2/5
Does NOT Shed 3/5 5/5
Easy To Groom 3/5 4/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 3/5 4/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 3/5 4/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 3/5 2/5
Tolerates Cold Weather 4/5 2/5
Tolerates Hot Weather 4/5 4/5
Dog Friendly 4/5 2/5
Easy To Train 4/5 2/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 2/5 2/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 2/5 2/5
Affectionate With Family 5/5 4/5
Kid-Friendly 5/5 2/5
Intelligence 5/5 3/5
Does NOT chew on things 1/5 4/5
Low Prey Drive 1/5 1/5
NOT Rambunctious 1/5 2/5
Potential For Playfulness 5/5 3/5
Weight 65 to 100 pounds 80 to 100 pounds
Life Span 9 to 12 years 9 to 15 years
Average Lifespan 10.5 years 12.0 years
Price Range No Data $1500 – $2500
Average Price No Data $2510
Temperament Score 91.7 percent 89.5 percent
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Cord-1 PRA
  • EIC (Exercise Induced Collapse)
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination
  • GSD IIIa
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Congenital Deafness
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds 162 93

    *Data from dogtime.com, OFA.org (The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals), petcalculator.com, wikipedia.org, ATTS.org (the American Temperament Test Society)

    Next, we added the scores of the factors that can be added together for the Curly-Coated Retriever in the table (that is, `Ease of Grooming` score + `General Health` score + `Calmness` score + …etc) and we compared it to the corresponding total score for the Dogo Argentino. We call these total scores the Better-Pet Scores, as we mentioned earlier. We called this score the Better-Pet score because the better dog breed will have a higher score. This is because the pet will the higher score will have minimal needs and be easier to have as a pet.

    The Better-Pet score for a Curly-Coated Retriever is 77 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for a Dogo Argentino is 67 out of 125.

    Based on their Better-Pet scores, the Curly-Coated Retriever is a better pet than the Dogo Argentino. So, you should get the Curly-Coated Retriever!

    Although we have done our best to analyze these two dog breeds in a very unbiased way, however, we will like to let you know that there are some dog attributes that cannot be assigned a number for comparison. We cannot put a number on how cute a dog breed is, for example. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

    Also, the dog breed that best suits you will depend on your peculiar lifestyle, your taste, and your priorities, which we do not know. So, for you to decide on which breed is right for you, read through the rest of the article to further understand both the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Dogo Argentino so that you can make your own well-informed decision on which pet to get.

    The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Dogo Argentino

    Below is a list of where the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Dogo Argentino are most different:

  • Curly-Coated Retrievers get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly. However, Dogo Argentinos do not get along well with kids. They are not kid-friendly.
  • Curly-Coated Retrievers are prone to nip and chew at things. However, Dogo Argentinos are not prone to nip and chew at things.
  • The Similarities Between the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Dogo Argentino

    The Curly-Coated Retriever and the Dogo Argentino are very similar in certain aspects. Below is the list of where the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Dogo Argentino are most similar:

  • Both the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Dogo Argentino do not adapt well to apartment living.
  • Both the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Dogo Argentino do not have the tendency to drool.
  • Both the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Dogo Argentino have the tendency to develop certain health problems.
  • Both the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Dogo Argentino can tolerate hot weather.
  • Both the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Dogo Argentino have a high tendency to wander. They are easily distracted by other animals or objects.
  • Both the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Dogo Argentino require a lot of exercise. They are good for owners who like to exercise.
  • Both the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Dogo Argentino are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Both the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Dogo Argentino have a high prey drive. They do not get along well with other pets.
  • Both the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Dogo Argentino have very high energy levels. They need a lot of exercise time to release their high energy.
  • Size (Weight and Height) of Curly-Coated Retriever versus Dogo Argentino

    Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Dogo Argentino.

    Curly-Coated Retrievers weigh 65 to 100 pounds when fully grown. Curly-Coated Retrievers are 1 foot, 11 inches to 2 feet, 3 inches tall at the when fully grown.

    On the other hand, Dogo Argentinos weigh 80 to 100 pounds when fully grown. Dogo Argentinos are 23 to 27 inches when fully grown.

    Temperament of the Dogo Argentino Versus the Curly-Coated Retriever

    The Curly-Coated Retriever has a better temperament than the Dogo Argentino.

    This is because the temperament score for the Curly-Coated Retriever is 91.7 percent while the temperament score for the Dogo Argentino is 89.5 percent, according to the American Temperament Test Society (ATTS).

    The American Temperament Test Society (ATTS) is a non-profit organization whose mission is to provide fair and objective evaluations of the temperaments of dog breeds.

    Dog breeds with low temperament scores tend to show unprovoked aggression, they easily panic without quickly recovering from the panic, and they tend to avoid people. However, dog breeds with high temperament scores are not aggressive and are not shy. Also, these dogs are generally friendly and they are protective of their owners.

    The average temperament score across all dog breeds (over 250 breeds) is 83.7 percent.

    With its temperament score of 91.7 percent, the Curly-Coated Retriever has an above-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    With its temperament score of 89.5 percent, the Dogo Argentino has an above-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    The ATTS obtained the temperament scores of the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Dogo Argentino by measuring the temperaments of 181 Curly-Coated Retrievers and 19 Dogo Argentinos.

    The Popularity of Curly-Coated Retriever versus Popularity of Dogo Argentino

    Every year, the American Kennel Club (AKC) publishes information on how popular a dog breed is in that particular year. The AKC gets the popularity information of a breed from how many dogs of that breed the owners register with the AKC every year. The AKC collects this data for about 200 dog breeds. The AKC collects this data for purebred dogs only(no mixed or hybrid dogs).

    The graphs and the table below show the popularity of the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Dogo Argentino over the years.

    Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the Dogo Argentino is more popular with dog owners than the Curly-Coated Retriever. This is because, over the years, the average popularity of the Dogo Argentino is 93 out of about 200 dog breeds while the average popularity of the Curly-Coated Retriever is 162 out of about 200 dog breeds.

    Popularity of Curly-Coated Retriever

    Popularity of Curly-Coated Retriever

    Popularity of Dogo Argentino

    Popularity of Dogo Argentino

    Year Curly-Coated Retriever Popularity Rank Dogo Argentino Popularity Rank
    2013 163 no data
    2014 163 no data
    2015 151 no data
    2016 164 no data
    2017 171 no data
    2018 162 no data
    2019 163 no data
    2020 159 93.0

    Health Problems of Curly-Coated Retriever versus Health Problems of Dogo Argentino

    Every dog breed has its own set of health problems that it has a tendency to develop. Therefore, there is nothing like a perfect puppy.

    Both the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Dogo Argentino are prone to certain genetic health conditions. The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) is the organization that keeps track of health problems in dogs. Based on the extensive records that the OFA keeps, the OFA knows what health problems each dog breed is naturally prone to develop. Hence, the OFA recommends which health screening that breeders should perform on a dog breed to make sure that the breeders won`t breed `defective` dog parents that can pass down defective genes to their puppy offspring.

    The more health problems a dog breed is prone to develop, the more health tests the OFA will recommend for that dog breed.

    Based on our review of OFA records, we found that the Curly-Coated Retriever is prone to more genetic health problems than the Dogo Argentino.

    This is because the OFA recommends more screening health tests for the Curly-Coated Retriever than for the Dogo Argentino.

    7 health tests are recommended for Curly-Coated Retriever while 3 tests are recommended for the Dogo Argentino.

    Below is a detailed discussion of health problems in Curly-Coated Retrievers and in Dogo Argentinos.

    Curly-Coated Retriever Health Problems

    Curly-Coated Retrievers are genetically prone to certain health problems. However, breeders can reduce the chances of producing Curly-Coated Retriever puppies with genetic defects by making sure that a puppy`s parents are free from genetic health problems before allowing the parent to make puppies.

    The OFA provides breeders recommendations on which genetic diseases that breeders should screen their dog parents and puppies for.

    If you want a Curly-Coated Retriever puppy that will grow up to be healthy, make sure that your Curly-Coated Retriever breeder screens your puppy or your puppy`s parents for the health problems that the OFA recommends for your puppy`s breed. This will increase the chances that your puppy is free from genetic defects.

    The following are the health tests that Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) recommends that breeders should screen Curly-Coated Retrievers for:

  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Cord-1 PRA
  • EIC (Exercise Induced Collapse)
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination
  • GSD IIIa
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Curly-Coated Retrievers here.

    Dogo Argentino Health Problems

    Dogo Argentinos are genetically prone to certain health problems. However, breeders can reduce the chances of producing Dogo Argentino puppies with genetic defects by making sure that a puppy`s parents are free from genetic health problems before allowing the parent to make puppies.

    The OFA provides breeders recommendations on which genetic diseases that breeders should screen their dog parents and puppies for.

    If you want a Dogo Argentino puppy that will grow up to be healthy, make sure that your Dogo Argentino breeder screens your puppy or your puppy`s parents for the health problems that the OFA recommends for your puppy`s breed. This will increase the chances that your puppy is free from genetic defects.

    The following are the health tests that Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) recommends that breeders should screen Dogo Argentinos for:

  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Congenital Deafness
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Dogo Argentinos here.

    More Discussions on Health Problems in Curly-Coated Retrievers and Dogo Argentinos

    Based on our analysis of data from the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals, of all known genetic health problems in dogs, the health problem that is most commonly seen in the Curly-Coated Retriever Breed is Exercise Induced Collapse problems.

    This is because the Curly-Coated Retriever ranks 1 out of 6 dog breeds for Exercise Induced Collapse problems. In fact, in a health test conducted on 145 Curly-Coated Retrievers, 12 of them had Exercise Induced Collapse problems.

    The genetic diseases that were found to commonly occur in Curly-Coated Retrievers, and how common these diseases are in Curly-Coated Retrievers relative to other dog breeds, are given below:

  • Exercise Induced Collapse problems: Rank 1 out of 6 Dog Breeds
  • Progressive Retinal Atrophy problems: Rank 10 out of 32 Dog Breeds
  • Congenital Cardiac problems: Rank 24 out of 159 Dog Breeds
  • Hips problems: Rank 73 out of 198 Dog Breeds
  • Eyes problems: Rank 84 out of 182 Dog Breeds
  • Elbow problems: Rank 136 out of 144 Dog Breeds
  • Based on our analysis of data from the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals, of all known genetic health problems in dogs, the health problem that is most commonly seen in the Dogo Argentino Breed is Baer Hearing Test problems.

    This is because the Dogo Argentino ranks 3 out of 21 dog breeds for Baer Hearing Test problems. In fact, in a health test conducted on 105 Dogo Argentinos, 3 of them had Baer Hearing Test problems.

    The genetic diseases that were found to commonly occur in Dogo Argentinos, and how common these diseases are in Dogo Argentinos relative to other dog breeds, are given below:

  • Baer Hearing Test problems: Rank 3 out of 21 Dog Breeds
  • Hips problems: Rank 16 out of 198 Dog Breeds
  • Elbow problems: Rank 85 out of 144 Dog Breeds
  • The table below lists the common health problems in Curly-Coated Retriever and in Dogo Argentino and the rank (prevalence), compared to other dogs, of these health problems in the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Dogo Argentino:

    Disease Curly-Coated Retriever Rank Dogo Argentino Rank
    Exercise Induced Collapse problems 1 out of 6 dog breeds Not Common
    Progressive Retinal Atrophy problems 10 out of 32 dog breeds Not Common
    Congenital Cardiac problems 24 out of 159 dog breeds Not Common
    Hips problems 73 out of 198 dog breeds 16 out of 198 dog breeds
    Eyes problems 84 out of 182 dog breeds Not Common
    Elbow problems 136 out of 144 dog breeds 85 out of 144 dog breeds
    Baer Hearing Test problems Not Common 3 out of 21 dog breeds

    *To learn more about each of these diseases, go to OFA.org and search for the disease.

    Again, most of these health problems can be prevented through health screening. Responsible breeders screen male and female dog parents for genetic problems. These breeders will only breed dogs that are free of genetic defects. That way, there is little or no chance that their puppies will grow up to have genetic health problems. Always ask a breeder for the list of health tests the breeder screens their dogs for before buying a puppy from such a breeder.

    Is the Curly-Coated Retriever Better for Apartment Owners than the Dogo Argentino?

    Curly-Coated Retrievers do not adapt well to apartment living.

    Dogo Argentinos do not adapt well to apartment living.

    Which one drools more, the Curly-Coated Retriever or the Dogo Argentino

    Curly-Coated Retrievers do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Dogo Argentinos drool moderately.

    Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Curly-Coated Retriever or the Dogo Argentino?

    Curly-Coated Retrievers are OK for new dog owners.

    Dogo Argentinos are not the best dogs for new dog owners.

    Tolerates Being Alone: Curly-Coated Retriever versus Dogo Argentino

    Curly-Coated Retrievers can be left alone only for a short time.

    Dogo Argentinos do not like to be left alone.

    Do Curly-Coated Retrievers shed more than Dogo Argentinos?

    Curly-Coated Retrievers shed moderately.

    Dogo Argentinos do not shed a lot. They are good for people with dog allergies.

    Which is Easier to Groom, the Curly-Coated Retriever or the Dogo Argentino?

    Curly-Coated Retrievers are moderately easy to groom.

    Dogo Argentinos are very easy to groom.

    Do Curly-Coated Retrievers Bark and Howl? What about Dogo Argentinos?

    Curly-Coated Retrievers bark and howl, but not very much.

    Dogo Argentinos are not very vocal. They do not tend to bark and howl.

    Can Curly-Coated Retrievers Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Dogo Argentinos Tolerate Cold Weather?

    Curly-Coated Retrievers can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Dogo Argentinos cannot tolerate cold weather. They are vulnerable to the cold.

    Can Curly-Coated Retrievers Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Dogo Argentinos Tolerate Hot Weather?

    Curly-Coated Retrievers can tolerate hot weather.

    Dogo Argentinos can tolerate hot weather.

    Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Curly-Coated Retriever or the Dogo Argentino?

    Curly-Coated Retrievers get along very well with other dogs.

    Dogo Argentinos do not get along well with other dogs.

    Is the Curly-Coated Retriever Easier to Train than the Dogo Argentino?

    Curly-Coated Retrievers are very easy to train.

    Dogo Argentinos are not easy to train.

    Wanderlust Potential: Curly-Coated Retriever vs. Dogo Argentino

    Curly-Coated Retrievers have a high tendency to wander. They are easily distracted by other animals or objects.

    Dogo Argentinos have a high tendency to wander. They are easily distracted by other animals or objects.

    Are Curly-Coated Retrievers good family dogs? What about Dogo Argentinos?

    Curly-Coated Retrievers are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    Dogo Argentinos are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    How Kid-friendly are Curly-Coated Retrievers and Dogo Argentinos?

    Curly-Coated Retrievers get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

    Dogo Argentinos do not get along well with kids. They are not kid-friendly.

    Does the Curly-Coated Retriever Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Dogo Argentino?

    Curly-Coated Retrievers have a high prey drive. They have the tendency to chase after smaller animals and pets. They do not get along well with other pets.

    Dogo Argentinos have a high prey drive. They have the tendency to chase after smaller animals and pets. They do not get along well with other pets.

    Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Curly-Coated Retriever

    Furthermore, there are other dog breeds that are very similar to the Curly-Coated Retriever that you can consider on your quest to get the best pet.

    We crunched the numbers and found that the following dog breeds have similar personality and temperament as the Curly-Coated Retriever:

  • Airedale Terrier (82 percent match with Curly-Coated Retriever). Here is our comparison of the Dogo Argentino vs Airedale Terrier.
  • English Springer Spaniel (79 percent match with Curly-Coated Retriever). Here is our comparison of the Dogo Argentino vs English Springer Spaniel.
  • Irish Setter (82 percent match with Curly-Coated Retriever). Here is our comparison of the Dogo Argentino vs Irish Setter.
  • Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Dogo Argentino

    Furthermore, there are other dog breeds that are very similar to the Dogo Argentino that you can consider on your quest to get the best pet.

    We crunched the numbers and found that the following dog breeds have similar personality and temperament as the Dogo Argentino:

  • American Bulldog (78 percent match with Dogo Argentino). Here is our comparison of the Curly-Coated Retriever vs American Bulldog.
  • Fila Brasileiro (80 percent match with Dogo Argentino). Here is our comparison of the Curly-Coated Retriever vs Fila Brasileiro.
  • Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You

    You may also be interested in how the Curly-Coated Retriever and how the Dogo Argentino compares to other breeds. So, see below the comparison of the Curly-Coated Retriever and of the Dogo Argentino to other breeds:

    Curly-Coated Retriever Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Curly-Coated Retriever versus Morkie     Curly-Coated Retriever versus Schipperke     Curly-Coated Retriever versus Puggle     Curly-Coated Retriever versus Manchester Terrier     Curly-Coated Retriever versus Border Collie     Curly-Coated Retriever versus Norwegian Lundehund     Curly-Coated Retriever versus Beaglier     Curly-Coated Retriever versus German Pinscher     Curly-Coated Retriever versus Shiloh Shepherd     Curly-Coated Retriever versus Pyrenean Mastiff     

    Dogo Argentino Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Dogo Argentino versus Bedlington Terrier     Dogo Argentino versus Shiloh Shepherd     Dogo Argentino versus Lakeland Terrier     Dogo Argentino versus Canaan Dog     Dogo Argentino versus Scottish Terrier     Dogo Argentino versus Chi-Poo     Dogo Argentino versus Catahoula Leopard Dog     Dogo Argentino versus Black Russian Terrier     Dogo Argentino versus Tibetan Terrier     Dogo Argentino versus Maltipoo     

    Conclusion: Curly-Coated Retriever versus Dogo Argentino. Which One is a Better Pet?

    In summary, there is nothing like a better dog breed or a worse dog breed. The important question to ask is which dog breed better matches your interests and lifestyle. We hope our discussion above will help you in deciding which dog breed between the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Dogo Argentino better suits you and your family.