Tosa Inu

FCI-Standard No 260 / 05.06.1995 / GB
T O S A
ORIGIN : Japan.
DATE OF PUBLICATION OF THE ORIGINAL VALID STANDARD : 05.06.1995.
UTILIZATION : Formerly fighting dog, nowadays watchdog.
FCI CLASSIFICATION : Gr. 2 Pinscher and Schnauzer type, Molossian type and Swiss Mountain and Cattle DogsSection 2.1 Molossian type, Mastiff typeWithout 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.
HEADCRANIAL REGION : Skull : Broad.Stop : Rather abrupt.FACIAL REGION :Nose : Large and black; nasal bridge staight.Muzzle : Moderately long.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.
FOREQUARTERS :Shoulders : Moderately sloping.Forearms : Straight, moderately long and strong.Pasterns : 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 : Solid colour of red or fawn is ideal, but slight white and red markings also permitted.
SIZE : Minimum height at withers for dogs 60 cmfor 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.
- Snipy muzzle.- Slightly overshot or undershot bite.- Thin bone.
DISQUALIFYING FAULTS :- Shyness.- Extremely overshot or undershot bite.