Tosa

The Tosa is a breed of dog of Japanese origin that is considered rare.

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Appearance

The Tosa varies considerably in size, with the Japanese-bred dogs tend to be about half the size of those bred outside the country. The Japanese breed generally weighs between 66 and 88 lb (30 to 40 kg), while the non-Japanese breeders have focused on dogs that weight from 197 to 200 lb (89.5 to 90.5 kg) and stand 24.5 to 25.5 (62 to 65 cm) inches at the withers.1]

The coat is characterized by its short and smooth appearance and is often red, brindle, or fawn. Occasionally it can be a dull black, but this is somewhat rare. Maintenance of the coat is usually minimal.

The Tosa also bears many facial similarites with the Rhodesian Ridgeback among other dogs.

Temperament

Due to its origins as a fighting dog, the Tosa Inu is not a dog for the novice owner. While most are driven to scrap with other canines, cats as well as other small animals (including dogs), are generally accepted with no issue. Early socialization is paramount for a well rounded Tosa-Ken. These dogs are suitable for a home with children. Rough play between young friends should be avoided as this protective breed may read mock hostile actions toward his/her young charge as a true threat. The Tosa is a people-oriented canine which equates to most specimens doing poorly in a strictly kennel environment. Extremely intelligent, it is an easy to train but large breed, that must be controlled at all times.

Legal Issues

Japanese Tosa's are banned in the United Kingdom under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991. Any Japanese Tosa found in the United Kingdom will be destroyed and their owners prosecuted. The maximum penalty for ownership of a Japanese Tosa in the United Kingdom is 6 months imprisonment and an unlimited fine. Some consider Tosas to be the most dangerous dog in the world and they can be very expensive with prices ranging from 5,000 to 10,000 dollars in some cases due to rarity.

History

This breed originated in the second half of the nineteenth century. The breed started from the native Shikoku-Inu, an indigenous dog weighing about 25 kilograms and standing about 55 centimetres high, which closely resembles the European Spitz. These dogs were crossed with European dog breeds, such as the Bulldog in 1872, Mastiff in 1874, St. Bernard, German Pointer in 1876, Great Dane in 1924, and the Bull Terrier2]. The aim was to breed a larger, more powerful fighting dog. The heyday of Tosa breeding was between 1924 and 1933, when it was said that there were more than 5,000 Tosa breeders in Japan.

Sumo wrestling

In Japan this breed is also called Sumo Dog. Sumo fighters are Japanese wrestlers who engage in a very unusual style of wrestling that is already over 1,500 years old. The objective of sumo wrestling is to stay on your feet despite your opponent's attacks and not to allow your opponent to knock you to the floor or drive you from the ring.

This sumo wrestling is also the basis for the traditional Japanese dog fight. The Tosa is thus a "wrestling dog", and the fights are carried out according to sumo rules. The winner is the dog that presses its opponent to the ground with its body, knocks it off its feet, and holds it to the ground. Biting and growling dogs are disqualified and are banned from further competition.

Tosa who were successful in the sumo fight received a valuable, beautifully decorated cloth apron with the crowning touch of an elaborately braided, thick hemp rope. What was demanded was not the wild fighter, the mauler, but the physically strong dog, courage paired with skill, patience and stamina.

For foreigners it is hard to comprehend how it is possible to transform a dog breed into a wrestler. This entails going against the dog's natural instincts, against every normal fighting technique of a dog. It seems a likely supposition that dogs that were unsuitable for such fights were used in "normal" dog fights.

There have been few specimens abroad so far and only initial attempts at breeding. Despite its claimed history, there remains the suspicion that these dogs as a rule also would rather bite than wrestle.

References

1. ↑ Fogle, Bruce, DVM (2000). The New Encyclopedia of the Dog. Doring Kindersley (DK). ISBN 0-7894-6130-7.
2. ↑ Cunliffe, Juliette (2004). The Encyclopedia of Dog Breeds. Parragon Publishing. ISBN 0-7525-8276-3.
3. Ostuni, Steve (2003). Japanese Tosa. Allenhurst: Kennel Club Books. ISBN 1-59378-336-1