The Tosa, also known as the Japanese Mastiff, is a powerful dog breed that originated in Japan. In the 19th century, this breed was created by breeding various European and Asian breeds together such as Bull Terrier, Mastiff and Shikoku among others.
The Tosa is a large dog breed with males reaching up to 24-32 inches tall at the shoulder and weighing between 130-200 pounds while females are typically smaller than males ranging from 23-27 inches tall and weigh around 80-120 pounds. The coat of a Tosa can vary from short-haired to medium-long haired with colors ranging from red, brindle or fawn. They have small ears that fold forward making their face appear more intimidating which adds to its protective abilities.
Tosas are known for their loyalty towards their owners but it’s important for them to be socialized early on in life to avoid shyness or aggression issues later down the line. Due to their territorial nature they will protect those who they consider part of “their” family sometimes becoming aggressive if provoked especially when encountering unfamiliar dogs.
In terms of health concerns Tosas may suffer from hip dysplasia which causes lameness due to abnormal hip joint development meaning that they need proper exercise while young avoiding over-exertion before full musculoskeletal maturity has been reached (around two years old). Another common health issue experienced by Tosas includes eye problems such as cataracts and progressive retinal atrophy so regular veterinary check-ups every six months should be undertaken.
Tosas require moderate exercise consisting of daily walks/jogs plus playtime outdoor activities like fetch however care must be taken not allowing these breeds excessive activity during hot weather since poor breathing function leading respiratory distress occurring due overheating/exhaustion risk otherwise present compared less active breeds [source]. Additionally positive reinforcement training methods works well particularly starting pups obedience trainings right away after weaning age around 8-10 weeks old.
Grooming of a Tosa requires weekly brushing to remove loose hairs and maintain the coat’s shine, however these dogs do not have many grooming needs compared to other breeds. Moreover their wrinkled facial area must be kept clean with regular face washing since they are known for drooling during meal times or when tired/sleepy.
As for compatibility Tosas get along well with children and other pets if properly socialized at young age so no major issues arise later on. Best practices include early introductions by supervised playtime together as always better safe than sorry scenario hence it’s never too soon to start training your pup socialize even prior before vaccinations completed (age 12 weeks).
Tosas aren’t particularly known for any significant personality quirks aside from being fiercely protective of their family making them great guard dogs. Additionally due to their heritage which was bred fighting now outlawed in Japan some individuals may display aggressive behavior traits – why strict monitoring vital during training socialization process ensued closely monitored following proper guidance/training techniques given above.
Some famous examples of the breed includes Champion Andros Junior who won numerous dog shows across Europe plus Olympics gold medalist Michael Phelps, owns his own Tosa named Stella who he frequently posts about on Instagram boasting her presence among best buds youngest son Boomer has recently become quite popular on social media sites.