Tosa

The Tosa, also called the Japanese Mastiff, is a rare breed from Japan. It was developed in Tosa, on the island of Shikoku in what is now Kōchi Prefecture, as a fighting dog, and it is the only dog legally allowed in Japanese dog fighting. A number of countries restrict it as a dangerous breed.

History

The Tosa dates from the second half of the 19th century. Breeders began with the native Shikoku-Inu, a dog of about 25 kg (55 lb) standing about 55 cm high, and crossed it with European breeds to get a larger, stronger dog for fighting contests. The crosses included the Old English Bulldog in 1872, the English Mastiff in 1874, the Saint Bernard and German Pointer in 1876, the Great Dane in 1924, and the Bull Terrier. Tosa breeding was at its height between 1924 and 1933, when Japan was said to have more than 5,000 breeders.

The Tosa was taken to South Korea in 1955 and soon became the main dog used in fighting there. Korean breeding grew to the point where dogs were exported to Taiwan. In South Korea the Tosa is also one of the main breeds raised for dog meat.

Owning a Tosa is restricted by law in many places. In the United Kingdom the breed comes under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991, and a specific exemption from a British court is needed to own or import one. Trinidad and Tobago regulates it under the Dog Control Act 2014. The breed is also banned or restricted in Australia, Austria, Cyprus, Denmark, Fiji, France, Hong Kong, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Malaysia, Malta, New Zealand, Norway, Romania, Singapore, Tunisia, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates.

Appearance

Tosas vary a great deal in size. Dogs bred in Japan tend to be about half the size of those bred elsewhere, generally weighing 36 to 61 kg (80 to 135 lb). Breeders outside Japan have favored dogs of 60 to 90 kg (130 to 200 lb) that stand 62 to 82 cm (24 to 32 in) at the withers.

The coat is short and smooth. It is most often red, brindle or fawn, and now and then a dull black. It usually needs very little upkeep. In Japan the dogs are thought of as the canine counterpart of sumo wrestlers, and are even pictured in wrestling regalia.

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