El tosa inu or Japanese tosa is an imposing, beautiful and faithful dog, with a reserved character with strangers but tender with his relatives more close. It is a large dog, with molossoid-type physical characteristics that can easily exceed 60 centimeters in height at the withers.
If you are thinking of adopting a tosa inu dog, it will be essential that you properly inform yourself about its character, the care it will need or some details of their education and training that you should take into account. It is not a dog for any type of family, for this reason its adoption must be studied correctly and carried out responsibly.
Discover everything you need to know about the Japanese dog Tosa inu in this tab on our site and find out if it is the perfect dog for you.
Origin of the tosa inu
The origin of the tosa inu can be traced back to Japan. This breed originated in the old Japanese province of Tosa, current Kochi prefecture, as a fighting breed. In that country, dog fighting has a long history dating back to the 14th century, and is part of the "culture" of some provinces.
To develop the Tosa Inu breed, various crosses were made between the Japanese Shikoku-ken dog and six Western breeds:
- English bulldog
- English Mastiff
- Pointer
- Great Dane
- Saint Bernard
- Bull terrier
It is believed that today the tosa is still used clandestinely as a fighting dog in some prefectures of Japan, but it is also used in its country of origin as a guard dog.
Characteristics of the tosa inu
The tosa inu is a large, robust dog with a certain majestic air Its skull is wide and the naso-frontal depression (stop) is somewhat abrupt. The nose is black. The eyes are small and dark brown. Other characteristics of the most common tosa inu are:
- The ears: they are small hanging, thin and set high. The neck has an obvious double chin.
- The body: he is muscular and tall. The back is horizontal and straight, while the chest is broad and deep. The flanks are well gathered but not jagged.
- The tail: of the tosa inu is thick at the base and tapers towards the end. When it hangs it reaches the hock.
- The coat: the tosa is short, hard and dense.
There is no specific weight for this breed but there is a minimum height. In males it is about 60 centimeters and in females around 55 cm. Finally we will add that it is a strong and vigorous dog.
Colors of the Japanese Tosa or Tosa Inu dog breed
The accepted colors of the tosa inu are:
- Red.
- Tawny.
- Apricot.
- Black.
- Tabby.
- Allowed White spots on chest and feet.
Tosa inu or Japanese tosa character
According to the official standard, the Tosa Inu has a temperament patient, bold and of great value It is a very loyal dog to the family, very sure of himself and of his physical capacity. The Japanese tosa tend to be somewhat shy and reserved with those they do not know, whom they will hardly pay attention to, but they are very devoted to those who treat them with affection and affection.
On the other hand, the relationship of the Japanese Tosa dog breed with young children is usually excellent The Tosa Inu has an instinct natural protection and a calm and relaxed temperament within the home, which goes perfectly with the little ones, who will put up with their pranks and ear pulls. However, the tosa inu is a large dog that can inadvertently hurt when running around or playing, for that reason it is highly recommended to always supervise the game and educate children correctly so that they understand how they should treat this noble dog.
With other dogs, the Tosa Inu or Japanese Tosa can get along wonderfully as long as we train them properly. However, it is important to monitor their reaction to reactive dogs, as the Tosa Inu is a dog of great value and courage that will not hesitate to protect those it considers to be its companions in life.
It is highly recommended that the responsible adoption of the Tosa Inu be carried out by an experienced person and knowledgeable about the breed. If we are not used to training or having large dogs, it will be better to opt for other breeds. Likewise, if behavioral problems arise, it will be essential to have an economic cushion that allows us to go to an appropriate professional to help us and guide us in their education and care.
Let's not forget that due to his great physical strength he will need a person capable of controlling him in a hypothetical case of emergency. The use of the anti-pull harness and work on obedience on a regular basis will be fundamental factors if you do not have sufficient physical capacity. Keep that in mind.
Care for Tosa Inu or Japanese Tosa
Like all dogs, the tosa inu dog has its own specific care. Such care is:
- Food: As with all other dog breeds, the Tosa Inu or Japanese Tosa is a large dog that should have a amount of food in proportion to their size and age. In this way, what we will do is look for a high-quality dry feed to cover their nutritional needs.
- Exercise: the Tosa Inu is a dog that will need 2 to 3 daily walksthat allow you to interact with other animals, exercise, relax and enjoy mental stimulation. A good exercise that combines stimulation and relaxation is sowing, a very simple activity to carry out.
- Grooming: The Tosa Inu's coat is very easy to maintain and care for. These Japanese Molossians have a short and hard coat, which will need weekly brushing to keep it free of dead hair and dirt. On the other hand, it will be indicated to bathe him approximately every two months. We can do it more often if it gets too dirty. We will regularly clean the remains of food and dirt that may accumulate in the wrinkles of your face to maintain proper hygiene.
It would be ideal if the tosa inu could live in a large house, and even a home with a garden, but yes, we remember that the garden is not a substitute for walks or living inside a home. However, the Tosa Inu can adapt to living in an apartment if given enough care and exercise.
Tosa inu education
The most important part of the Tosa Inu's education will undoubtedly be socialization, which must begin early to avoid undesirable behavior. To socialize him, we will introduce him to all kinds of people, animals and environments from the time he is a puppy, a process that will allow him to relate properly and avoid fears and reactive reactions. All of this must be based on positive reinforcement because the Tosa Inu is a dog that, due to its sensitivity, reacts very negatively to mistreatment and punishment.
The Japanese tosa dog breed is a breed with which we can work wonderfully on obedience and training, since it has a natural predisposition to the mental stimulation that these types of activities provide. For this reason and for good control of this huge dog, it will be essential to work on basic obedience commands from an early age. Learning to sit, stay still or come here will be basic instructions that will ensure his safety and help us strengthen our relationship with him.
One thing to keep in mind is that the tosa inu can develop some behavioral problems if he is not given the love and care appropriate exercise. It is not a barking dog, but it can develop destructive habits if we fail in its needs. It can also become a reactive dog with other dogs if we have overlooked the socialization process.
He alth of the Tosa Inu or Japanese Tosa
Japanese Bulldogs are generally in good he alth and are not particularly prone to common hereditary diseases. However, this largely depends on the genetic line from which they come, since just as there are responsible breeders, there are also puppy factories that simply seek to profit from the lives of poor animals.
Some of the problems that can affect the Japanese Tosa dog breed are:
- Hip dysplasia.
- Heatstroke.
- Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.
To ensure that our Tosa Inu is in good he alth, it is advisable to visit the vet every 6 months, constantly follow his vaccination schedule and deworm him (internally and externally) on a regular basis. Habits that any dog should follow.
Other details that we must pay attention to in the Tosa Inu dog breed will be its body hygiene. Cleaning his teeth, ears or emptying his anal glands if required, will be some of the practices to carry out to keep him properly.
Where to adopt a tosa inu?
Although we have mentioned it throughout the article, we want to remember that the adoption of the Tosa Inu or Japanese Tosa dog is recommended for those people who already have experience with large dogs and, above all, for those who know how to handle larger and stronger dogs. If you think you can get into the life of a tosa inu to make him happier and provide him with the best care, don't hesitate to approach an animal shelter, protector or breed clubto check that there is a puppy that corresponds to the Tosa Inu or Japanese Tosa dog breed.
In case there isn't, from our site we want to remind you that the important thing when adopting is not that a dog conforms to a breed standard, but that we can give it a full life of facilities.
