The Tosa is known as the sumo matman of the dogtooth macrocosm . con what it contain to care for these frank that excel in size , patience , and courage .
The Tosa go by several names . Tosa Inu . Tosa dog . Tosa token . Japanese contend dog . Nipponese mastiff . But disregardless of which moniker you settle on , one dimension of thisrare and revered breedthat continue ordered ( and quite hard to drop ) is his stately size of it .
Tosas were originally multiply to fox that exercising weight around the dogfight rings of Japan , but in the U.S. you ’re much more likely to encounter them employed as full - fourth dimension family companions . That ’s because despite their enforce appearance , Tosas are do it for being incredibly calm , patient , and loving with their humans .
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Still , with great size comes great obligation — for the owner , that is ! A gentle giant is still a giant , so anexperienced owneris better for these pups .
Appearance
" The Tosa Inu could be a major challenger for the title of ' Most Athletic ' in their high school yearbook , " say Georgina Ushi Phillips , DVM , advising veterinary surgeon and writer forNot A Bully . However , with their stamina , powerful muscles , andlarge body , she order you ’d be more likely to find them on the football field than on a hybridisation country team .
Ushi Phillips take note that while Japanese - bred Tosas are impressively sized ( up to 130 lbf. ) , Tosas in the U.S. are even bigger and can weigh up to 200 pounds . For graduated table , that ’s about as much as a front - load washing machine . Or , to practice a more dogtooth - friendly method of measurement , it would take 10 average - sizeddachshundsto adequate the weight of one Tosa . The breed is no slouch in the altitude department either — literally . Their minimum height from paws to shoulder is just under 2 foot ( 21.5 to 23.5 in ) .
Tosas have spacious heads , wrinkled brows , square gun muzzle , and dingy brown eyes . Their thin , high - set pinna advert down by their cheeks , and their mesomorphic neck have a characteristic dewlap ( fold of easy skin ) . Tosas wear easy - to - prepare , low - peeling coatsthat are short and tranquil and come in shadiness of black , brindle , fawn , and red , and you may also happen white markings on their paws or chest . Thisshort , obtuse furcontinues onto their tenacious , tapered tail coat .
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Temperament
There ’s enough more to marvel about the Tosa beyond his stature . Looking at him , you might await a stoic dog . But Ushi Phillips says they can be outgoing and even playful or silly with their families . However , she explains that you could generally expect them to be appropriate around people they do n’t know .
Ushi Phillips enjoin Tosas are intelligent and eager to please — two traits that serve them well during training . And while these athletic all - stars enjoy being fighting , they do n’t mind being prognosticate back to the " bench " to relax with their owner .
Living Needs
" Tosa Inus are not for the inexperienced dog owner , " Ushi Phillips excuse . " And because these andiron are massive , have been [ traditionally ] bred for scrap , and have apowerful prey parkway , they do well in a family without any other pets . "
She describes Tosas asloyal family dogswho can do well with kids but warns that very young children who are stilllearning how to interact with dogsmay not make the best fellow . As with all breeds , puppy playday with kiddos should be superintend .
Ushi Phillips allege the idealistic environment for a Tosa would include alarge fenced yardwhere he can practise freely . " As with most click this size , you should n’t expect them togo on a long jogwith you , " she adds . " But they still do best with 45 minute to an minute of practice a day . "
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Apartments , on the other deal , are not recommended — in part because it would be difficult for a Tosa to get the exercise he needs in such a limit blank space . But perhaps more importantly , apartments put Tosas in a position where there ’s always newfangled people and dogs , which can make him leery and uncomfortable .
Because of their story , the Tosa dog strain is banned in several land , including the United Kingdom , Australia , Denmark , and Norway . Thankfully , the U.S. is n’t one of them . grant to Ushi Phillips , these bans can be difficult to apply and can induce more harm than good .
" stock - specific lawmaking is always problematic since it fail to address the true root of the problem , which is irresponsible and even simply unsafe pet ownership , " Ushi Phillips explains . " It ’s true that the Tosa is a massive dog that should only be in the care of experient and responsible owners . unluckily , breeds like the Tosa often attract the opposite variety of owner , and many countries see censor as the dependable option . "
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Care
At the risk of sound like a broken criminal record , arguably the most authoritative component of a Tosa ’s care is an experienced , attached , and responsible for proprietor . Specifically , Ushi Phillips says a Tosa owner should understand the grandness ofsocializing their Canis familiaris as early as potential . " Tosas are course distant around people they do n’t know , " she explain . " Without proper socialization , that aloofness could turn into hunch . "
But socialization is just the first step . owner will need to be skilled inpositive reinforcement trainingas well , Ushi Phillips says . With their intelligence and desire to please , Tosas respond well to reward - based preparation ( aka , lots of treatsand " upright male child " affirmations ) .
If this go overwhelming , keep in mind that you do n’t have to do it alone . Even if you ’re an experienced and consecrated owner , it can take a settlement to raise a the right way socialised and train dog . hit out to your veterinary team ; they can recommend a reputable trainer in your area who can partner with you in your pet ’s aid .
To keep your athletic Tosa’sbrain and body in pourboire - top shape , trytaking him on hikesandwalks through the neighborhood . Long , intense physical exertion session are n’t recommend for any dog this size ( especially on blistering sidereal day ) , but a simplegame of fetch in the backyardor sentence spentlearning a new trickcan provide him with the mental and forcible outlets he call for .
Caring for your Tosa ’s short , placid coat could n’t be simpler . The breed only needsoccasional brushingandbathingto keep their skin and fur hefty . Otherwise , your Tosa will just needregular nail trimsandteeth brushingto bide sound .
Health
Tosas tend to behealthy dogswho can hold up as many as 12 human year . But as with any breed , they can be predisposed to sure conditions :
History
While dogfighting has been part of Nipponese culture since the 14th one C , the reaching of American Commodore Matthew Perry to Tokyo Bay in 1853 and subsequent re - establishment of trade and discussion between Japan and the westerly populace ( for the first time in 200 years ) is an important part of the Tosa ’s story . That ’s because the breed is a mixture of the Japanese Shikoku and dogs brought to Japan by westerly traders .
