Tosa

Other names: Tosa Inu, Japanese Mastiff, Sumo, Japanese Fighting Dog, Japanese Mastiff

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Hair type	Short
Origin	Japan
Template	Giant
Head shape	Square

Weight and size
Sex	Weight	Cut
Female	From 30 kg to 50 kg	From 55 cm to 70 cm
Male	From 40 kg to 65 kg	From 60 cm to 80 cm

History of the breed

The Tosa inherits a long history as a fighting dog. Originally from Japan and bearing the name of the region where he was raised, he was indeed selected for his physical and moral qualities during the confrontation. It is the result of the cross between the Shikoku-Ken and several Western breeds during the 18th and 19th centuries: Bulldogs, Mastiffs, German Shorthaired Pointer, German Mastiff. It would also seem that he benefited from contributions from Saint-Bernard and Bull Terrier. The Tosa breed was definitively recognized by the Fédération Cynologique Internationale on April 1, 1964. Its official standard currently in force was published on September 9, 1997.

Tosa Pictures

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Physical features

His hair: short, hard to the touch and quite dense.
Its color: fawn, apricot, red, black and brindle, possibly with white markings on the chest and feet.
His head: square muzzle and broad skull, with a very marked stop.
His ears: falling against the cheeks, small in size, not very thick and set high on the sides.
His eyes: dark brown in color, small in size, displaying an expression of dignity.
His body: of imposing dimensions, with the withers well extended, the back horizontal and straight, the kidney wide and muscular, the chest wide and high, the belly well pulled up.
Its tail: strong at the set and tapering towards the tip, of medium length.

Behavior and character

Behavior with others

Tosa is pure strength in its purest form. Calm, patient and level-headed, he never barks for no reason and only becomes less friendly when he feels that his master’s house or his family is threatened by an intrusion. In this, and combined with his great courage, the Tosa un   is an excellent watchdog. Moreover, its imposing size fully plays its dissuasive role, forcing it to take action only very rarely. He is also a very good companion dog, since he is very attentive to his surroundings. More or less obedient, the Tosa can adopt a dominant behavior towards other dogs of the same sex, but without becoming overly aggressive. In short, we are dealing with a balanced dog.

Education…
To temper his somewhat stubborn and domineering character, it is necessary to educate the Tosa with firmness from an early age. Otherwise, it becomes difficult to manage and control due to its potency. Well educated and socialized, the Tosa is a quiet, gentle, docile dog who only asks to learn to please his master.

The Tosa
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Education

Living conditions

It is clear that with its size and power, the Tosa is not a dog made to live in an apartment, despite its fairly calm character. Rather, it is aimed at active people, who know how to show firmness during their education and who are capable of ensuring that their status as teachers is respected, without, however, tending towards the balance of power. The Tosa can live in a family with children, but it is best to never leave them alone with them. This type of large dog feels much more comfortable in a house with a large, fenced garden.

Health

The Tosa is a robust and very resistant dog. He has no fear of health, as long as he enjoys a balanced diet and regular care.

To protect you from these risks and insure your companion in the event of health problems, Woopets recommends Tosa dog insurance .

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Life expectancy

Maintenance and hygiene

The Tosa is not a particularly difficult to maintain dog, despite its large size. This is a hardy dog that only requires regular maintenance to stay clean and healthy.

Exits…
The Tosa needs long daily walks to exercise, but care should be taken not to overexert it so as not to put excessive strain on its joints.

Hygiene…
It is recommended to brush the dog at least once a week and more frequently during the moult. The bath is only necessary if it is really too dirty (if it is covered with mud, for example). His nails, eyes, ears and teeth should be checked and cleaned regularly to prevent the accumulation of debris.

Price and budget

No name is currently proposed. Use our tool to find the name of your Tosa!

Physical activity

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