Dog
Tosa Inu Champions
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Pronunciation:
təʊsə inu
Breed Description:
The Tosa Inu breed of dog is a large sized breed of dog that should be robust without appearing course. They should have a powerful build and they should have a body that is agile in appearance. The top line of the dog should be level and the body should be slightly longer than it is tall. The long tail should be thick and should taper to a point. The head of the Tosa Inu should be broad and the overall look should be of a large boxy head. There should be a clear dewlap and pendulous flews and there should be wrinkles on the head and face. The medium sized ears should be set high on the head and they should be drop ears.
The coat of the Tosa Inu should be short and smooth. It should have a slightly harsh texture to it. While the most preferred color is deep red, the Tosa Inu can be found in fawn, any shade of red, black with red markings, red brindle, black, pied and brown.
Temperament:
The Tosa Inu breed of dog is an intelligent breed of dog that is often known for their quiet nature and their way to quietly watch the world. While they have been bred to guard, the Tosa Inu is a companion breed. They are very loyal with their family and are naturally protective of them. They are wonderful with children and tend to be very gentle with them. The breed is naturally suspicious of strangers and they can be aggressive towards other dogs if they are not properly socialized. That being said, the breed is usually good with other pets if they are trained and raised properly. While they are obedient, the Tosa Inu does require a firm, yet gentle owner, who will properly train them and set firm rules.
Height:
The average height for a Tosa Inu should be over 21.5 inches for a female and 23.5 inches for a male. There is no set maximum for the height.
Weight:
The average weight for a Tosa Inu can range greatly and the main emphasis should be of a dog that is well-balanced and in proportion to its height.
Health Problems:
The Tosa Inu breed of dog is a giant breed and because of this the breed can suffer from a wide range of health problems. Some to be aware of with this breed are hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, eye problems, joint inflammation and gastric torsion, which is also known as bloat.
Living Conditions:
The Tosa Inu breed of dog can do very well in apartments if they are exercised properly, however, the ideal living condition is a home with a fenced yard, although they don't need too much space. In addition, while they do enjoy being outside, they should not be an outdoor dog; this is a breed that loves being with their owners.
Exercise:
The Tosa Inu breed of dog should receive between 30 to 45 minutes per day to keep them at a healthy weight.
Life Expectancy:
10 to 12 years
Grooming:
The Tosa Inu breed of dog is a very easy breed to groom and they require little to no maintenance to keep their coats healthy. On average, you should expect to brush your dog on a weekly basis to remove dead hairs and dirt. A wipe down with a damp cloth will keep them clean and they should only be bathed when it is absolutely necessary. Ears should be cleaned on a regular basis since they can be prone to ear infections and nails should be clipped once or twice a month.
Origin:
The Tosa Inu breed of dog originated in Japan and while it is over 150 years old, in the dog world, it is still considered to be a fairly young breed. The Tosa Inu, also known as the Tosa Ken, was originally develoiped by crossing several dog breeds including Bulldogs, Great Danes, Mastiffs and German Pointers with the Shikoku, which is an indigenous breed of dog. The breed was developed in 1854, shortly after Japanese breeders began introducing European breeds into their own lines. The result was a massive size dog that was wonderful as both a guard dog and companion dog. While the breed is considered to be a rare dog breed, it is actually celebrated in Japan and are commonly treated with great honor. Comments
The standards for all the breeds accepted to the AKC are used here for breed information, and those not part of the AKC are resourced from FCI standard information, where it is written and coded into the club rules for those breeds.
