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| Other names | Tosa Inu Tosa Ken Tosa Tōken Japanese Fighting Dog Japanese Mastiff Tosa Fighting Dog Japanese Tosa |
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| Country of origin | Japan | |||||||||||||||
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The Tosa (土佐, also called the Tosa Ken) is a breed of dog of Japanese origin that is considered rare. It was originally bred in Tosa (present day Kochi) as a fighting dog and still is today.
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Appearance
The Tosa varies considerably in size, with the Japanese-bred dogs tending to be about half the size of those bred outside the country. The Japanese breed generally weighs between 80 and 120 lb (36,3 - 54,4 kg), while the non-Japanese breeders have focused on dogs that weigh from 130 to 200 lb (60 to 100 kg) and stand 24.5 to 32 inches (62 to 82 cm) at the withers.[1][clarification needed] The coat is characterized by its short and smooth appearance and is often red, brindle, or fawn. Occasionally it can be a dull black, but this is somewhat rare. Maintenance of the coat is usually minimal.
History
This breed originated in the second half of the nineteenth century. The breed started from the native Shikoku-Inu, an indigenous dog weighing about 25 kilograms (45 pounds) and standing about 55 centimetres high, which closely resembles the European Spitz. These dogs were crossed with European dog breeds, such as the Bulldog in 1872, Mastiff in 1874, St. Bernard, German Pointer in 1876, Great Dane in 1924, and the Bull Terrier.[2] The aim was to breed a larger, more powerful dog. The heyday of Tosa breeding was between 1924 and 1933, when it was said that there were more than 5,000 Tosa breeders in Japan.
Dog fights
Sumo wrestling
In Japan this breed is also called Sumo Dog. Sumo fighters are Japanese wrestlers who engage in a very unusual style of wrestling that is over 1,500 years old. The objective of sumo wrestling is to stay on one's feet despite one's opponent's attacks and not to allow one's opponent to knock one to the floor or drive him from the ring.
This sumo wrestling is also the basis for the traditional Japanese dog. The Tosa is thus a "wrestling dog", and the fights are carried out according to sumo rules. The winner is the dog that presses its opponent to the ground with its body, knocks it off its feet, and holds it to the ground. Growling dogs are disqualified and are banned from further competition. Despite some rumors that they don't bite, Tosa fights do involve biting. The loser often will turn their backs away which results in a loss.
Tosa who were successful in the sumo fight received a valuable, beautifully decorated cloth apron with the crowning touch of an elaborately braided, thick hemp rope. What is required is not the wild fighter, the mauler, but the physically strong dog, courage paired with skill, patience, and stamina.
Modern dog fighting
Tosas are one of the dogs used in modern dog fights; this is due to their impressive stamina and agility despite their large size.
Tosas fight silently due to Japanese dog fighting rules. The Japanese dog fighting rules are different from Cajun rules in the many ways, most notable the time limit and lack of a scratch line. Despite these differences the Tosa fights are still brutal and Tosas do bite. However, in Tosa fights wrestling types of moves from the dogs as opposed to "thrashing" and repeated biting are often seen. The Tosa gets a grip and uses it to control and dominate, the Dog that cowers and refuses to fight loses, whether from exhaustion or otherwise.
Legal matters
Ownership of Tosas is legally restricted in certain jurisdictions. In the United Kingdom ownership is regulated under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991. A specific exemption of a British court is required to own and import Tosas legally in the UK (see article on the act for details). Some insurance companies will not insure homes with dog breeds deemed dangerous.
The Australian Customs Service prohibits the import of Tosas, along with other dog breeds considered dangerous, into Australia.[3]
The Tosa is one of 11 breeds of dog recently banned by the Dublin City Council from their properties, including council houses, flats and estates.[4]
The New Zealand government banned the import of Tosas claiming that they are dogs specifically bred for fighting. It was to be a step towards combating the increasing number of dog attacks on humans, especially children.
The breed is illegal in Denmark and Norway[1]. Additionally, the breed is banned in New Zealand[5], where the country's government claimed that the Tosas are specifically bred for fighting; the step was made in order to combat the increasing number of dog attacks on humans, especially children.
Notability
- Several Tosa Inu play pivotal roles in the Japanese manga and anime series, Ginga: Nagareboshi Gin and its sequel, Ginga Densetsu Weed. Most notable are a Tosa named Musashi, the middle weight dog-fighting champion of Japan, and a Tosa cross named Benizakura, hailed as the strongest fighting dog in the world.
- In Gokusen, the Kuroda family keeps a Tosa Inu named Fuji. According to the special chapter titled "My name is Kuroda Fuji", each generation of the Kuroda family has a Tosa Inu named Fuji.
References
- ^ "Forskrift om hunder". Lovdata. 2009-08-25. http://www.lovdata.no/for/sf/jd/xd-20040820-1204.html#map0. Retrieved 2009-08-25.
- ^ Fogle, Bruce, DVM (2000). The New Encyclopedia of the Dog. Doring Kindersley (DK). ISBN 0-7894-6130-7.
- ^ Cunliffe, Juliette (2004). The Encyclopedia of Dog Breeds. Parragon Publishing. ISBN 0-7525-8276-3.
- ^ Australian customs web page on dog importation
- ^ Ireland.com report on Dublin City Council ban
- ^ The New Zealand Department of Internal Affairs rules on dog control
Further reading
- Ostuni, Steve (2003). Japanese Tosa. Allenhurst: Kennel Club Books. ISBN 1-59378-336-1.
External links
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