Tosa Inu
Breed Profile
The Tosa (also called the Tosa Inu, Tosa-Ken or Japanese Mastiff) is a rare breed of dog of Japanese origin. It hails from Tosa, Shikoku (present day Kōchi) where it was bred as a fighting dog. Today, it is the only breed still used in Japanese dog fighting. These dogs were crossed with European dog breeds, such as the Old English Bulldog in 1872, Mastiff in 1874, St. Bernard, German Pointer in 1876, Great Dane in 1924, and the Bull Terrier. The aim was to breed a more robust dog.
Temperament
The Tosa Inu or Japanese Inu is an incredibly robust, massive, determined, and valiant dog that is still being used for dog fighting. The Tosa Inu has a very high threshold for pain. However, because of its massive size and strength for the first time, ‘docile-type’, or inexperienced owners of dogs are not recommended for this breed. The Tosa Inu is a good guard dog. Its size, sheer size, and threatening appearance are enough to scare off any potential human or animal intruders.
Color & Coat
The hallmark of the coat is its short and smooth appearance. It is often red, brindle, fawn however, occasionally it can be black.
Health
The Tosa suffers from hip/elbow dysplasia and eye problems. Because it is prone to bloat, owners are advised to feed the Tosa smaller meals throughout the day instead of one large meal.