The Tosa Inu - brave and bold

The Tosa Inu is considered an imposing, beautiful and faithful dog. A canine specimen famous in Japan for its character, which makes it appear reserved in front of strangers but changes to tenderness when in the presence of its family members. If you are making plans to acquire a Tosa Inu, it is necessary that you first obtain all the necessary information about its character, as well as the steps to follow for its correct care. The Tosa Inu is not a dog that can be integrated into any family unit, this is a reason to be responsible and take into account different factors in order to ensure that both the physical and human environment are adjusted to receive him and make him feel the best possible. .

• Size : Large/Giant.
• Weight : Between 36 and 61kg.
• Hair type : Short and hard.
• Character : Aggressive, Distrustful, Fearless, Intelligent, Sensitive, Brave
• Health : Healthy
• Life expectancy : Between 10 and 12 years.

Where does the Tosa Inu come from?

The purpose behind the appearance of the Tosa Inu was to create a dog with established intentions and objectives that would allow it to become the best fighting dog. To do this, they were looking for breeds whose traits could be part of an optimal genetic inheritance that would result in a molosser wrestling champion , which at that time was considered a very popular sport. There are ancient records in which the original canine bases used in the creation of the Tosa Inu were documented. These were the old Bulldog, belonging to a citizen of English origin named Wagner who had been living in Kochi for some time. This specimen was crossed with a Shikoku Ken, a dog with a wolf-like appearance whose instincts were predominantly strong. This union would result in a first version of Tosa that had not yet been officially designated with that name, nor had morphological principles been established to determine the breed. Subsequently, the links were deliberately selected for specific purposes, with the Tosa being mated with the Saint Martin and the Mastiff in order to inherit their size. Afterwards, he would cross with the Bulldog and the Bull Terrier to obtain their tenacity, then with the Bloodhound to inherit their skin type, with the German Bulldog for their volume and with the Pointers to inherit their concentration, obtaining in the end the expected result. in obtaining the main premise. This is how he was born, a molosser dog raised in the Japanese province where his name comes from: Tosa. This region is currently known as Kochi Prefecture , on the island of Shikoku. In it, the dog was classified as a breed towards the end of the 19th century, during the period of the Meiji era, where it was common to see a specimen of this breed as a companion to the samurai and participating in fights similar to sumo. During the Second World War the Tosa Inu was in danger of extinction where a distemper epidemic also contributed to this cause. This situation caused the weakening of all the dog breeders that existed at that time, with only 12 specimens surviving, which were selected as the ideal ones for the achievement of the breed. Already into the 21st century, fights involving this and other races began to be considered illegal. From that moment on it would no longer be used for these purposes, acquiring a new focus as a domestic dog, under which correct education would help direct it towards that lifestyle.

Characteristics of the Tosa Inu

Among the characteristics that make up the Tosa Inu's features , its large and strong body stands out . This dog denotes majesty thanks to its muscular composition, where the back remains horizontal, while the chest is deep and widened. The sides of its body are retracted but do not completely adopt a slimmed-down style. Referring to its head, the skull is wide, where the area of ​​​​the nasofrontal depression (also known as stop) is a bit abrupt. Its nose has black pigmentation, its eyes are a small, dark brown color. His ears, of thin build, are suspended, inserted in the upper part of his head, while under his neck a prominent dewlap stands out. Its tail is thick at the base, becoming narrower as it rises towards the tip, reaching the level of its knee when suspended. Its fur is hard, short, and abundant. It can grow in different shades such as red, fawn, apricot, black and brindle, although white spots may appear on the chest and legs. As for weight, it can reach a volume between 45 and 100 kilos, reaching a height at the withers of 60 centimeters in the male and 55 centimeters in the female.

Tosa Inu Behavior

In its behavior, it is distinguished by being a patient, brave, bold and loyal breed, this being an attribute applied to those who welcome the dog into their family. Confidence is another quality very present in the Tosa Inu's personality, as well as its physical capacity. They may feel shy in the presence of strangers to whom they will barely pay attention, showing, on the contrary, a lot of dedication towards those who show them affection and affection. Regarding interaction with small children, the Tosa Inu demonstrates excellent behavior , combining its natural protective instinct with its calm and relaxed temperament. Behavior that makes this dog the ideal companion for homes where there are small children with whom it can play. However, it is necessary to take into account its size in this situation, as it can accidentally cause harm when it is running around and playing. For this reason, it is advisable to keep the dog and children under supervision, educating them beforehand as to the correct way to have contact with the dog. In its interaction with other dogs, it can maintain a peaceful coexistence, as long as prior training has been carried out to control its behavior and ensure that it can behave appropriately in front of other animals. However, it is important to keep under surveillance the response that may be generated between the Tosa Inu and other dogs. This way we can detect any symptoms of discomfort or a feeling of threat in it, since being a dog that maintains courage as part of its instinctive nature, it will not hesitate to appeal to this quality to protect its loved ones. When adopting it, it is recommended that this responsibility be assigned to experienced people who have basic notions about the breed. Otherwise, it could be very difficult to carry out the training if the person has never been used to having a large dog like the Tosa as a pet. In this sense, it is also possible that during the training process problems arise in the Tosa's behavior that may warrant the intervention of a professional. For this reason, it will be necessary to have some financial support with which to cover this expense. Well, an aid that serves as a guide and allows the dog's education and care to be correctly applied will be convenient. Considering the physical capacity of the Tosa in relation to the strength it can display, the assistance of someone who can help you deal with it is necessary. This way we will avoid complications in the event of an emergency caused by an unexpected reaction. Always without causing harm to our friend, of course. Having elements such as the anti-pull harness and focusing on the development of obedience on a regular basis will be key factors in dealing with all the work involved in training this dog.

Education and training of the Tosa Inu

A key element that is decisive in the education of the Tosa Inu is, without a doubt, socialization. It must be taught from the dog's puppy stage in order to shape its behavior appropriately and avoid bad behavior. For this we will keep the dog during this puppy stage in constant interaction with different people, animals and environments. In this way, we will create the appropriate socialization conditions that will work when he becomes an adult. He thinks this will help him relate properly to his environment, dispelling his fears and avoiding adverse reactions. This is a dog with which obedience and training will develop fluidly due to its natural disposition to be mentally stimulated. Which makes it receptive to the activities involved in these processes. Taking this into consideration, and in order to have control of the Tosa, it will be necessary to apply basic notions of obedience to it from its first years of growth. Actions such as sitting, staying still, and coming when called by its owner will be the starting point to move on to more advanced instructions. In addition to allowing you to create a bond of trust with the dog. It is necessary to keep in mind that if it is not provided with sufficient attention and physical activity, the Tosa can manifest bad behavior. Barking will not necessarily be part of the problem, but it could lead to destroying furniture and causing disorder in the home.

Care you need

As for the care of the coat, it will be an easy task to carry out because, having a short and hard coat, it will only need weekly brushing to keep it free of dead hair. And, in the case of dirt, it should preferably be removed every two months with a bath, which may increase in frequency if the dirt is excessive. As a preventative hygiene measure, you can regularly clean any food debris that may be trapped in the folds of its head to keep it clean. To stay active, the Tosa Inu will need between 2 and 3 walks daily so that he can exercise, relax, and also enjoy interacting with other dogs. As well as the mental stimulation that the experience generates. Within the range of exercises that you can carry out, there is one that mixes stimulation and relaxation such as Sowing . This is a sniffing exercise that will allow you to develop your senses by sharpening them and serving as therapy for the treatment of emotional problems related to stress and anxiety. Regarding the space that will be used for habitation of the Tosa, a large house with a garden is recommended. Without forgetting that this must be complemented with daily walks to keep behavior balanced. Therefore, taking into account the needs of the Tosa Inu, providing it with appropriate care and keeping it on a moderate physical activity regimen, it will adapt without problem to living even in an apartment.

Health

Generally the health of these dogs is good , which makes them a healthy breed free from suffering from common hereditary diseases. But for this to be maintained, it will depend largely on the genetic load transferred during procreation. This is because, although there are Tosa breeders who correctly select the specimens used in reproduction, there are others who ignore these standards. Among the health problems that can occur due to this poor genetic combination are hip dysplasia, heat stroke, and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. In this sense, to ensure that the Tosa Inu maintains good physical condition, it is advisable to take it for a medical check-up with the veterinarian every 6 months. In addition to maintaining control of their vaccines with the vaccination schedule, as well as carrying out correct deworming both internally and externally on a regular basis. It is the veterinarian himself who will tell you if your puppy needs calcium supplements or not, due to his size. Body hygiene will be another factor to take into account to maintain your good health. This is achieved by carrying out simple actions such as teeth cleaning, as well as cleaning their ears and emptying their anal glands if required. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OZ2x17_pFMI[/embed] Learn more about dog breeds: