Our following breed portrait introduces you to a Japanese dog breed in detail: the Tosa Inu.
This dog with the imposing physique is relatively unknown outside of its homeland.
Not unknown enough, however, not to be classified as a list dog. What else is this fur nose all about?
Just read on and find out!
Tosa Inu Wanted Poster
Size Male: 62 to 82 cm, female: 55 to 60 cmWeightMale: 50 to 70 kg, Female: 36 to 51 kgColorsFawn, Black, Red, Fawn, Apricot, BrindleLife expectancy10 to 12 yearsOriginJapancharacter/temperamentfearless, suspicious, aggressive, touchy, sensitive, courageous, braveFCI groupGroup 2: Pinscher and Schnauzer – Molosser – Swiss Mountain Dogs and other breeds, Section 2.1: Molosser, mastiff-like dogs
Look
Boxer, Great Dane, Rhodesian Ridgeback? No – a Tosa Inu, but it looks quite similar to these other dog breeds.
Like these, the Japanese has a powerful, stocky and muscular body, which nevertheless conveys an elegant impression.
The Tosa Inu’s deep, broad chest and slightly slimmer hind part are joined by medium-length, slender legs.
The Tosa Inu’s head is characterized by laterally drooping, triangular floppy ears as well as a powerful muzzle and a dark snout.
The face has small, almond-shaped eyes that are usually amber or dark brown.
Height Weight
The Tosa Inu is without a doubt one of the larger dog breeds – we only have to look at the size and weight of the dog for that.
Bitches reach a stick size of 55 to 60 centimetres, the shoulder height of males is between 62 and 82 centimetres.
While females weigh between 36 and 51 kilograms, males weigh between 50 and 70 kilograms.
Coat, coat texture & coat colors
A total of 6 colors and color combinations are allowed for the Tosa Inu’s coat, namely the following:
- Red
- fawn
- Fallow
- brindle
- apricot
- Black
You can find these colors on a short and dense coat that has a hard texture.
History & origin of the Tosa Inu
The Tosa Inu is one Japanese dog breed, whose ancestor is the Shikoku-ken is.
Originally the dog was bred as a fighting dog, with these dog fights bearing more resemblance to sumo wrestling.
The Tosa Inu was not allowed to growl or bite into his opponent.
The Tosa Inu as we know it today has only been around for a good 150 years. The FCI recognized it as an independent breed in 1964.
Nature & character of the Tosa Inu
Fearless, brave, courageous, suspicious – all characteristics and traits that apply to the Tosa Inu.
What are initially good qualities, however, are accompanied by a sometimes aggressive nature and temperament.
This is the reason why the Tosa Inu appears on the list of so-called investment dogs in some German states.
However, this side of the dog’s personality is by no means the one that shows itself at all times of the day and night.
In fact, the imposing Japanese is also said to have a very delicate and sensitive nature.
His calm nature, which is also part of the character palette, also makes him a fur nose with a particularly high stimulus threshold – so she doesn’t know sensory overload.
attitude & upbringing
In the following lines we will tell you what influence the temperament, nature and size of the Tosa Inu have on his attitude and upbringing have.
Upbringing
Are you still a dog newbie? Then please keep your hands off the Tosa Inu. Because this dog needs a person with dog experience and a strong, loving hand.
Incidentally, the aforementioned aggression occurs above all towards strange dogs and is accompanied by a high level of dominance behavior.
It is important to steer these two qualities in the right direction or to get a grip on them during upbringing.
In fact, the supposedly dangerous property of this dog is mainly due to incorrect upbringing.
Our tip
Don’t you dare to take dog lessons despite your experience? Then take your little Tosa Inu to a puppy school, where he will also be socialized in a species-appropriate manner.
attitude
Tosa Inu + townhouse/apartment = good idea? Definitely not! The main argument against this is the size of the dog.
But the fact that he needs a lot of free running and exercise also makes it pretty much impossible to keep him in an apartment.
Like any large dog breed, the Tosa Inu would like to live in a large house with an even larger garden.
These four walls should ideally be in a rural area with quick access to the great outdoors.
When it comes to being left alone, that’s no problem for the Tosa Inu – thanks to its autonomy and independence.
Nevertheless, it cannot hurt to teach the Tosa Inu to be left alone as a puppy.
Health & Care
Lying down with the Tosa Inu breed-specific diseases and related health problems before?
Find out the important answers together with the care information!
Life expectancy
A healthy and happy Tosa Inu can look forward to a life expectancy of 10 to 12 years.
Health
The Tosa Inu is one of the dog breeds that can enjoy robust health.
Like all large dogs, the Tosa Inu can also have problems with hip dysplasia/HD.
To ensure that this does not become a problem, you should make sure that the puppy in particular does not overexert himself physically during the growth phase.
This will ensure that their joints, muscles and bones can develop properly.
Robust health and a long life expectancy are also related to the following things:
In addition, age- and species-appropriate nutrition is the first important step in ensuring a strong immune system and stable health.
In this way you not only avoid feed intolerances, but also gastrointestinal problems and a possible obesity of the Tosa Inu.
General Grooming & Grooming
You should regularly check the Tosa Inu’s eyes, ears and paws as well as its mouth/teeth and anus to prevent infections.
The short coat, on the other hand, makes far fewer demands on grooming. Here it is sufficient if you remove loose hair and dirt with a brush once a week.
Is the Tosa Inu right for me?
«Is the Tosa Inu right for me?» You should answer this question with a clear yes before you start looking for a Tosa Inu breeder.
The statements we have put together will guide you to the right answer.
- You are looking for a courageous and fearless dog who will become your faithful companion.
- You are looking for a single dog that doesn’t need the company of its peers.
- You are looking for a reliable companion with a calm nature and temperament.
Please note that you should also bring enough time for your Tosa Inu. Because the dog not only needs exercise, but also mental exercise and challenge.
Fun facts about the Tosa Inu
No breed portrait without ours fascinating fun facts – this time, of course, to the Tosa Inu.
If you want a Tosa Inu puppy from a reputable breeder, you should budget between €1,000 and €1,500 for the purchase.
The Tosa Inu is also called the Sumo Inu in Japan – a reference to the type of dog fighting the breed was used for.
Today’s Tosa Inu was created by crossing mostly British Bulldogs and European Mastiffs.
The Great Dane and the German Pointer can also be found in the Tosa Inu gene pool.
The Tosa Inu is the largest breed of dog in Japan.
Can you think of more stories and facts that you absolutely want to share with us? Then we look forward to reading them soon in the comments. 😊