Morocho

Before we get into today’s story, it is important to provide some background about a breed of dog that very few people have ever heard of and will never see.

Background information

Dogo Argentino is also known as the Argentinean Mastiff and the “Armoured Tank.” It has a pure white coat and can weigh up to 120 lbs. Created in the 1920s by surgeon Antonio Nores Martinez and designed to hunt big game like wild boars, it also has a reputation as a devoted and highly protective family pet. It derives from breeding many different breeds and, along the way, has included a Cordoba fighting dog, a Bull Terrier, a Pyrenean Mastiff, an Irish Wolfhound, a Boxer, a Great Dane, a Spanish Mastiff and a Dog de Bordeaux. It is not a breed of dog that a novice should even contemplate owning, as they need experienced handlers who will command respect. Being a very large, powerful dog, their sheer size and instinct to defend their owners and children makes them a potential liability in the wrong environment.

One strange fact is that the Dogo’s jaw has a unique dental arch, so instead of being round, the jaw appears to be square; this means that when the mouth is closed, both top and bottom sets of teeth are In direct contact. This creates a potential bite of 500 psi. They are a fairly healthy breed and suffer very few congenital defects; however, like many white dogs, it has a tendency to be deaf. Just in case you are thinking of adopting one, they are on the list of banned breeds in many countries. This includes the UK. In fairness, wild boar hunting went out of fashion many years ago.

The story

In 2008 Sofie and her great friend Yoli were playing on Sofie’s family farm. The farm was set in the beautiful countryside. It was tranquil, and on that day, there was no indication that it would be any different from previous days. The children were playing under a fig tree when Yoli decided to climb up looking for figs. Knowing that the sweetest fruit would be found at the highest point, she started to climb; she felt perfectly safe and had no idea that danger lurked close by. As she climbed higher, the branches started to shake, leaves dropped, some twigs snapped, and suddenly, Yoli was confronted by a puma that had been taking a nap.

A puma also known as a cougar or a mountain lion weighs up to 180 kilo’s and is not your cuddly feline.

The puma lunged and, with a powerful swipe of its paw, struck a blow that knocked Yoli out of the tree. She fell backwards and hit the ground on her back, dropping from a height of around two metres. The two girls ran as fast as they could, screaming in the hope of attracting attention, but the puma instinctively followed. They had no chance of outrunning it, and death or serious injury beckoned.

Only one thing would save the girls. The family pet was a Dogo Argentino called Morocho, he wasn’t the biggest, weighing around 90 lbs, but without any hesitation he charged the puma head on. This would be a fight to the death with odds heavily in the puma’s favour. The puma, being a ferocious predator with a fearless reputation, had a massive size advantage, and things didn’t look good for Morocho. The girl’s screams were heard, and as the adults arrived, they were met with an appalling sight. Amazingly, the puma was dead, and standing over the body was Morocho, but he had suffered terrible injuries in his battle to protect the children. He was carried into the house, and with his life in the balance, the family nursed their heroic dog for ten days. Finally, their commitment paid off, and Morocho started to recover. He would carry the scars of his brutal battle with the puma for the rest of his life but had secured his place as the family hero. As the story became known, he also became a national hero in Argentina, and millions around the world were captivated by the exploits of Morocho.