Tosa Breed Information

Tosa Breed Information

Learn all about Tosa dogs, read about the Tosa breed information, find out about the Tosa Breed Standard, Tosa behavior and more.

Tosa Breed Introduction

The Tosa breed is considered the Sumo dog of Japan and is now rare. Just like Sumos, they were fighters. As with Sumo, the winner brought the loser to the ground or threw him or her out of the ring.

The Tosa's Behavior

Source: Wikipedia and the Bull Dog Information Site

Recommended for: pet

The Tosa dog breed makes for an imposing guard dog because of its size. It is not as fierce as people would expect out of a fighting breed as it is known in the West although it is driven to compete with other animals. It is courageous, a trait all fighting dogs share, prudent, well-tempered, and docile (at least to humans). Tosas were trained to fight in a rigid and ritualistic manner and short and bloody fights were frowned upon and disqualified. They are not suited to first-time owners as they require a strong will and a strong body to handle.

Remember that breed only provides a general clue as to any individual dog's actual behavior. Make sure to get to know dogs well before bringing them into your home.

The Tosa's Physical Characteristics

Here are some of the characteristics of the Tosa breed as determined by the United Kennel Club's published breed standard.

• Size: males 23 1/2 inches minimum; females 21 1/2 inches minimum
• Coat: short, straight, dense, close to body
• Color: solid red and its shades, red and black brindling, dull black, brown, black with red markings, pied.
• Eyes: small to mid-size, round to slightly round, set well apart
• Ears: mid-size, V-shaped, drop, slightly rounded tips
• Muzzle: broad, blunt, deep, very slight taper, powerful
• Nose: black, large and well-opened nostrils
• Tail: extends topline, thick base, tapering

The Tosa's Origins and History

Source: Wikipedia, the Bull Dog Information Site

Country/Region of Origin: Japan

Original purpose: fighting

Name: Derived from the place where they were bred, the old province of Tosa; also known as Tosa Inu and Tosa Ken

Historical notes: Tosa dogs originated in the late 19th century when a local breed, Shikoku Inu, was cross-bred with the Bulldog, the Mastiff, the St. Bernard, Pointer, and the Great Dane. They reached their height in popularity from the early 1920s to the early 1930s.

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