FCI-Standard N° 260 / 09.12.1997 / GB TOSA ORIGIN : Japan.
DATE OF PUBLICATION OF THE ORIGINAL VALID STANDARD : 09.12.1997.
UTILIZATION : Formerly fighting dog, nowadays watchdog.
FCI CLASSIFICATION : Group 2 Pinscher and Schnauzer- Molossoid breeds
- Swiss Mountain and Cattle Dogs and other breeds. Section 2.1 Molossoid
breeds, Mastiff type. Without working trial.
BRIEF HISTORICAL SUMMARY : Japan has a long history of dog 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 stately manner and robust
build. The dog has hanging ears, short hair, a square muzzle and hanging
tail thick at the root.
BEHAVIOUR/TEMPERAMENT : The temperament is marked 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 hocks when 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 be considered
as a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded
should be in exact proportion to its degree. · Thin bone. · Snipy
muzzle. · Slightly overshot or undershot bite.
DISQUALIFYING FAULTS : · Extremely overshot or undershot bite. ·
Shyness. N.B. : Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles
fully descended into the scrotum.
