Tosa Inu: breed features and content

Purebred Japanese mastiff is a small and not widespread breed. The reputation of Tosa Inu was adversely affected by the misconception that this is an extremely aggressive dog. In addition, the high price of puppies also does not contribute to the growth of its popularity. In fact, it is a very calm, noble and unflappable breed. However, there are subtleties of character and content that you should be aware of before buying a puppy.

Different blood is mixed in the Tosa Inu breed: mastiff, bulldog, bull terrier, Great Dane. It is logical that the appearance of this mastiff happened precisely in Japan, since there is a special attitude to dog fighting. This type of entertainment was intended for rich people, it has been intensively developed since the XIV century.

Then, representatives of the Nihon Inu breed took part in the battles, but they lost to stronger and stronger European dogs - bulldogs, bull terriers, mastiffs and others. Then it was decided to cross Nihon Inu with bulldogs and bull terriers. Further, consistent crossbreeding was applied with mastiffs, Great Dane, Pointers and Saint Bernards. So the Tosa Inu appeared in the form in which it exists now.

The breed experienced its heyday in the period from 1925 to 1933. The breed almost disappeared during World War II, as the famine in Japanese lands was very strong.Most of the Tosa Inu were destroyed, only a few individuals were saved by the breeders, risking their own heads, because the dogs had to be fed, and they ate a lot. Thanks to their placement in poorly populated areas, the breed was saved from the death penalty. After some time, the number of litters was restored thanks to the enthusiasm of the breeders.

Today, Tosa Inu mainly live in the country where they were withdrawn, being used as security guards in the homes of wealthy people. This is a fighting breed, its representatives are very persistent, strong and powerful. They attack, not knowing pity. They look extremely impressive, while they are excellent watchmen. Indeed, aggressiveness is the “core” of the Tosa Inu character, therefore it must be properly educated, it must be done consistently. The owner must have a firm and calm character.

In European countries, representatives of the breed, fully meeting its standards, are almost never found. In accordance with the requirements of the standard, a dog of this breed must have the following characteristics:

• square shape of the head;
• triangular jaw, slightly protruding forward, scissor bite;
• strong jaws;
• black nose
• thick lips;
• dark brown eyes, a smart, confident and calm look;
• hanging ears of a triangular shape;
• short thick muscular neck with skin folds (suspension);
• strong muscular body with a straight back;
• matched belly;
• straight and long legs with strong bones; hind legs should have the correct angles of joints;
• tail set high and reaching to the hock.

A healthy dog ​​can weigh up to 70 kg. Male stature reaches 70 cm, female - up to about 60 cm. The coat is characterized by a brown color of different tones - it is darker in the ears and neck, the rest of the body is lighter. The presence of one or more white spots in the chest area is acceptable. In other areas of the body, the presence of white spots is not allowed. The texture of the coat should be stiff, short, thick.

By the nature of the Tosa Inu, it is a patient and courageous dog. The disadvantage of the breed is the presence of a sharp muzzle. Vices include cowardice, lack of confidence in the behavior, weak and thin bones, as well as the presence of a strong snack or undershot. Defects of the breed (i.e. disqualifying signs) are recognized as monorchism and cryptorchidism.

Despite the fact that the Tosa Inu is a fighting breed, aggression and anger with proper education are absent in it. There is no problem in keeping a dog in a family with children, all households will love it. Tosa Inu have a flexible, patient and caring character, while they are very active.

If necessary, then this dog is able to lie still for a long time, without attracting attention to itself. She is steady and persistent, it is unusual for her to bark for no reason. Tosa Inu are friendly, and if they are socialized and educated from an early age, then they completely lack aggression, even against outsiders.

These are very loyal dogs to their owners. They will never give them an insult, they will not even let a stranger with hostile intentions towards them. These are brave and brave dogs with incredible strength. In a dog of this breed a huge amount of internal dignity. That is why the owner must be so strong in spirit that the dog recognized his supremacy. You need to buy Tosa Inu at an early puppy age and train from the very beginning.

It is impossible to raise an adult dog. Representatives of this breed are child-loving, but to leave a child alone with them is undesirable. They do not really like to play with children, but they will clearly control that the little researcher does not harm himself in the process of understanding the world. But if a child climbs a dog, perhaps it will act aggressively.Only one member of the family recognizes the owner of the Tosa Inu, he will take the rest calmly and loyally, but will not obey.

The dog needs to be constantly monitored, and the owner must do this. She is calm almost all the time, but can be aggressive if someone encroaches on her peace. Only continuous training will help to solve the problem with frequent outbreaks of Tosa Inu aggression.

A distinctive feature of Tosa Inu puppies is activity and playfulness. Only at the age of a puppy does this breed run, make noise, rejoice and jump. They are so nimble, agile that the owner must keep his eyes on the pet and continuously occupy him with something, educating him during the games. Growing up, Tosa Inu become more calm, calm and noble.

If the owner does not have enough time to be near his pet, or the nature of his work is such that he is absent for a long time at home, it is better not to get a dog of this breed. If the dog does not see the owner for a long time, it ceases to perceive it as the main one, leaves the submission, and once during the outbreak of aggression the owner may not influence him and not reassure him. It’s easy to take care of Japanese mastiffs, but there are rules that must be followed so that the Tosa Inu does not get sick.

• Wash the dog needed as rarely as possible, only if absolutely necessary. Twice a week it needs to be combed out. To do this, a brush with rubber teeth is suitable.

• It is necessary to regularly check the eyes and ears of Tosa Inu. Eye cleanliness is a must for a dogAs soon as the so-called standing tear appears in them, you need to visit a doctor so that the infection does not spread.

• Ear cleaning carried out as necessary. As soon as the period of tick activity begins, it is necessary to examine the dog after each walk, removing parasites if necessary.

• Creases on the neck - This is a subject of special attention, since diaper rash that appears in them can lead to suppuration. To prevent diaper rash, in the summer you need to use a damp cloth to treat the areas between the folds daily, and in other periods - every other day.

• Mandatory care procedures for Tosa Inu include regular claw trimming. The owner can do this himself at home using round scissors, and you can also contact the groomer for help. Ordinary manicure scissors will not work, as they are very traumatic for dog claws - they break the nail plates and lead to cracking.

• Teeth also need to be cleaned, because otherwise plaque, tartar may appear. For toothbrushing, it is necessary to use special pastes, as well as toys.

• All procedures must be carried out from the first months of the puppy's life, accustoming to them. If this is not done, then it will not work to agree with an adult dog.

• Keeping a Tosa Inu in a city apartment can be very difficult, both for the dog and for the owners. The dog will be more comfortable and comfortable in a private house, where there is a fenced yard and aviary, where she can walk, and live in the summer and early autumn. In the cold season, the dog should be warm, at home. The dog should have its own place to sleep and to feed.

• Walking the dog in the place where people live, you need only on a leash and in a muzzle. Since they are members of the fighting breed, they can cause harm or scare children or adults. The leash should be long enough so as not to cause discomfort to the animal, but allow the owner to respond in a timely manner to an emergency situation.You can let the dog off the leash only where the site is fenced or forested area. But even there you need to make sure that there is no one nearby who could be hurt. When you release the dog from the leash, you need to constantly monitor where it is and what it does.

Representatives of the breed have a fairly strong immunity. They need regular and proper care, then the likelihood of diseases is minimal. And also need to be regularly vaccinated. The most common diseases of the breed are joint dysplasia of the elbows and hips. As soon as the owner notices that it is painful for the dog to move, he should immediately contact the veterinarian. If the dog is sluggish, sad, refuses to walk, lies, rarely getting up, immediately call a doctor.

The diet of the Japanese mastiff should be properly designed. It is best if the veterinarian does it, who will compile the menu, the portion size, and also indicate how often the dog needs to be fed. If the owner works during the day and cannot cook fresh food for the pet, he can eat dry food. However, its category should be either premium or super-premium with a high content of healthy fats and protein. But the priority is still for natural food.

It is impossible to salt and season with anything dishes for the Japanese mastiff. You can not treat him with sweets, smoked meats, fatty and fried foods. The basis of the diet should be lean meat, cereals, lots of vegetables and dairy products. If you plan to feed the dog offal, they should be boiled. The scar can be given raw.

Growing puppy organisms require three or four meals a day, and adult dogs need only two times a day. Puppies must be fed with calcified cottage cheese, kefir. Teenage puppies use the vitamin complex prescribed by the veterinarian. At 8 months, the dog is transferred to an adult two meals a day, this also applies to the diet.

The metabolism of Tosa Inu is slow, in addition, they are prone to weight gain. As soon as the dog begins to recover, it is necessary to review its diet, reduce the portion size, otherwise kidney and liver diseases are inevitable. To understand if a dog is overweight, you need to feel its ribs - if the last two ribs are easy to find, everything is in order. Immediately after eating, you do not need to walk with the dog, forcing it to experience physical exertion. And you should also take care of the presence of vitamin complexes in the dog’s diet to prevent the risk of joint dysplasia.

The digestive system of tosa inu is very sensitive to the quality of food consumed. Substandard products may cause allergies. In addition, they are prone to allergies to fish and chicken meat, so these products should be entered with caution. The first signs of an allergic reaction will be a skin rash and itching. If you miss the first manifestations of allergies, hair loss will begin in the affected areas.

The most common mistake made by owners of this breed is that they want to “train” the dog to guard housing as soon as possible. The caveat of experienced breeders is that this should not be done. Raising a puppy of this breed, the emphasis must be placed on something completely different.

It is better if a professional dog handler will train the puppy, who will draw up a training plan, choosing the necessary degree of intensity and duration of physical activity in accordance with the age and development of the dog. Classes should be held in specialized uninhabited places, as the dog will have to be without a leash.

Representatives of the breed well are trained, teams learn quickly, there are few problems with training. But initially, the owner should make it clear to the dog that he is a leader, so that she takes him seriously. Tosa inu need muscle development, so physical activity should be regular and stable. But when training puppies, you need to remember the fragility of their spine without overloading them.

Despite the calm and nobleness of the dog, it still belongs to the fighting breed. That is why it is necessary to start it to people who have an idea of ​​what this means. You should not get a puppy of this breed to such people as:

• those who are not ready for long walks and regular trips out of town to train the dog;
• living in a small apartment;
• not familiar with dog training;
• wishing to have a dog showing aggression;
• unable to recognize the change in mood of the dog;
• those who do not keep a dog weighing 40-60 kg on a leash;
• people who do not have huge reserves of patience;
• able to apply physical force to the animal, prone to the use of forced methods of education;
• those who do not have the opportunity to turn to a dog trainer to develop a strategy for training and eradicate problems arising in education.

For how a Tosa Inu puppy looks like in a year, see the video below.