Tosa Inu Central America
Japanese fighting dog
土佐闘犬 - Tosa Ken, Tosa Tōken, Japanese Mastiff,
Tosa Fighting Dog, Japanese Tosa, Samurai Dog
The Tosa-Inu is Japan's latest export, a must-have for any hacienda that wants to be protected and loved. It took nearly a hundred years to interbreed the present Tosa which they call the Samurai or Sumo Dog. In Japan, the Tosa is worshipped as the avatar of the perfect warrior. In the old days of the samurai, warriors studied the breed's fighting tactics to learn fearlessness, pugnacity and courage. The Tosa makes a great guardian, fierce and alert but protective towards the children of the house. It's a dog's life. But it can't get better than this...
ORIGIN: Japan.
DATE
OF PUBLICATION OF THE OFFICIAL VALID STANDARD:
FCI 09.12.1997.
UTILIZATION:
Formerly fighting dog, nowadays watchdog.
FCI-CLASSIFICATION
:
Group 2, Pinscher and Schnauzer-Molossoid breeds-Swiss Mountain and Cattle Dogs.
Section
2.1, Molossoid
breeds, Mastiff
type. Without
working trial.
BRIEF
HISTORICAL SUMMARY:
Japan has a long history ofdog
fighting, beginning in the 14th century. With such a history in the
background, this breed was produced as a hybrid of Shikoku-ken and
Western breeds. Named after the area where they were bred, these dogs
are sometimes called "Japanese Mastiffs". The Western dogs
used for creating the breed were Bulldogs (1872), Mastiffs (1874),
German Pointers (1876) and Great Danes (1924), all of which were used
to improve the breed by sequential mating. According to some
accounts, St.Bernards and Bull Terriers were also involved, but it is
not known in what years they were used. The Tosa's established
features of stamina and the fighting instinct typically found in
Mastiffs may be attributed to the involvement of such breeds.
GENERAL
APPEARANCE:
Large-sized dog with a statelymanner
and robust build. The dog has hanging ears, short hair, a square
muzzle and hanging tail thick at the root.
BEHAVIOUR/TEMPERAMENT:
The temperament ismarked
by patience, composure, boldness and courage.
HEAD
CRANIAL
REGION
:
Skull
: Broad.
Stop
: Rather abrupt.
FACIAL
REGION
:
Nose
: Large and black.
Muzzle
: Moderately long. Nasal bridge staight.
Jaws
: Upper and lower jaws strong.
Teeth
: Strong with a scissor bite.
Eyes
: Rather small, dark brown in colour with a dignified expression.
Ears
: Relatively small, rather thin, set high on the skull sides, hanging
close to the cheeks.
NECK:
Muscular, with a dewlap.
BODY:
Withers
: High.
Back
: Level and straight.
Loins
: Broad, muscular.
Croup
: Slightly arched at the top.
Chest
: Broad and deep, ribs moderately sprung.
Belly
: Well drawn up.
TAIL:
Thick at the root, tapering towards the tip, reaching the hockswhen
let down.
LIMBS
FOREQUARTERS
:
Shoulder
: Moderately sloping.
Forearm
: Straight, moderately long and strong.
Pastern
: Slightly inclining and robust.
HINDQUARTERS
:
Muscles
very developed. Joints of stifle and hock moderately angulated,
strong.
FEET
:
Tightly closed. Pads thick and elastic. Nails hard and preferably
dark in colour.
GAIT:
Robust and powerful.
COAT
HAIR
: Short, hard and dense.
COLOUR
: Red, fawn, apricot, black, brindle. Slight white markings on chest
and feet are permitted.
SIZE
:
Minimum height at withers for dogs 60
cm, for
bitches 55
cm.
FAULTS: Any departure from the foregoing points should beconsidered as a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree and its effect upon the health and welfare of the dog.
Thin bone.
Snipy muzzle.
Slightly overshot or undershot bite.
DISQUALIFYING FAULTS:
Aggresive or overly shy.
Any dog clearly showing physical or behavioural abnormalities shall be disqualified.
Extremely overshot or undershot bite.
Shyness.
N.B.:
Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.
Only functionally and clinically healthy dogs, with breed typical conformation should be used for breeding.