Tosa

The Japanese Tosa was traditionally bred as a fighting dog, and is still used in Japan for that purpose. It has long been revered for its tenaciousness. It is a part of the great Japanese Samarai tradition, and its character was valued over its actual physical size. This ideal runs contrary to the western idea that a good fighter must be bigger than the opponent. The Tosa-Inu is the most feared and revered of all Japan's indigenous dog breeds. They have been documented in Japanese lore for nearly 1000 years. This native dog from Tosa Wan (Bay) in the Kochi prefecture, located on the island of Shikoku in the Southern Japans, is known for its extreme courage and tenacious athletic abilities in the fighting arenas of Japan. In this arena the Tosa has no equal. The Tosa stands from 24 to 32 inches on average at the shoulder. The size of this breed varies greatly, with dogs from outside Japan being up to twice the size of those bred within Japan. The Japanese dogs weigh from 80 to 120 pounds on average, but those outside the country weigh on average from 130 to 200 pounds. This breed is a sturdy, compact, muscular dog, with a wide, deep-set chest. It is slightly longer than it is tall, and the female is longer than the male on average. The Tosa has a massive Mastiff-type head, with a muzzle that concaves upward slightly. Its small eyes are wide-set and may be brown or hazel, with pink or black rims. Its ears are usually cropped and stand upright. The back and thighs are very muscular. The tail is left natural, and carried low. The coat of this dog is a single coat, smooth and glossy. The Tosa is descended from the Kochi or Shikoku Inu, a breed of the northern Spitz type. With upturned ears and a shaggy tail curled over its hindquarters, the Kochi resembled a small reddish-brown Akita. These dogs were unequaled fighters. Then in the first year of Kaei (1848) a resident from Tosa purchased a western dog (a Bulldog) from Kyushu and bred it with a pedigreed Tosa dog. It is said that their puppies were the forebears of all the present day Tosas. After repeated breed improvements, stronger, bigger and more capable fighting dogs were developed. The peak of dog fighting history was between the end of the Meiji period and the beginning of the Showa period. During this time, a large number of great fighting dogs were produced. Fighting tournaments were held often and Tosa fighting dogs became very well known throughout Japan. As Japan entered the Second World War, dog fighting - as well as the breeding of 150-pound canines - became illegal. The already extremely rare Tosa was reduced to near extinction. At this point a few of the most dedicated Tosa breeders smuggled what is said to have been the last remaining handful of Tosa-Inu into Norhtern Japan to the island of Hokkaido, where they hid them until the end of the war. After World War II, the Tosa was brought back to the Tosa Wan area and their breeding and the organization of legal dogfight tournaments were resumed. Today in Japan the Tosa-Inu holds a treasured place in Japanese culture and history. Although the Tosa requires little grooming, daily vigilance to its health is important. This breed does not display pain, but will hide it in times of injury; the dog should often be examined for any injuries that are not readily visible. Dirt and bacteria can hide within the many deep wrinkles over its body, and the wise owner frequently wipes these areas clean to prevent pyoderma (skin inflammations). This breed is prone to treatable eye disorders such as entropion, ectropion and "cherry eye"�, in which the inner lid protrudes excessively and becomes inflamed. These can usually all be corrected with minor surgery. Given good breeding, adequate exercise and watchful care, the Tosa is very healthy in general. When diseases do occur, they are generally those common to large breeds: cardiomyopathy and hip dysplasia. Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) occasionally occurs in this breed, as does hypothyroidism and bloat. The biggest health issue that the owner must watch for in the Tosa is pano-osteosis, commonly known as "growing pains"�. This is a condition in which the young dog, still in the process of growing bone and muscle, is allowed to over-exercise to its detriment. It occurs from the ages of 4 months to 18 months and disappears as the dog ages. But ignoring the issue will sometimes cause poor development of bone and muscle tissue, and the young Tosa should not be allowed to exercise too long and hard, or to engage in activities that involve jumping over, on or off furniture and other objects. It must be stressed that the Tosa requires an experienced owner with leadership skills; this is not a dog for the novice dog handler. The breed is naturally suspicious, strong-willed and dominant. Although it is peaceful, calm, steady and quiet, it is capable of great bursts of powerful energy when excited or provoked. The owner must be willing to spend time and effort when the dog is very young to socialize it properly to other dogs and strangers, and to teach physical restraint. The Tosa is not recommended for households with young children, for when provoked it can be reactive and unaware of its own strength. While puppies should never be over-exercised, the adult requires a great deal of exercise. The Tosa does not bark excessively, and is calm indoors; it can make a fine apartment dog. However, it must have two longs walks daily. During these walks, the owner should constantly reinforce the heeling command and make certain the dog is walking at the owner's side or behind, never in front. These small tasks, when performed consistently, maintain a dog that is well-mannered and well under control at all times. With some education, common sense, and a commitment to providing strong, consistent leadership, the owner will find that the Tosa can be both an excellent guard dog and a pleasant house pet. The Tosa is excellent in competitive obedience, and Schutzhund.

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