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.
