Tosa (dog breed)

The Tosa Inu (土佐犬) is a breed of dog of Japanese origin that is considered rare. It was originally bred in Tosa, Shikoku (present-day Kōchi), as a fighting dog and is the only breed still used (legally) in Japanese dog fighting. Ownership is restricted in some countries as a dangerous breed.

Appearance
The Tosa vary 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 135 lb, while non-Japanese breeders have focused on dogs that weigh from 60 to 90 kg and stand 62 to 82 cm at the withers. The coat is characterized by its short and smooth appearance and is often red, brindle, or fawn, but occasionally it can be a dull black. Maintenance of the coat is usually minimal. Dogs can occasionally tip the scale at 200 lb. In Japan, they are considered the equivalent of Sumo wrestlers and are even depicted in wrestling accoutrements.

History
This breed originated in the second half of the 19th century. The breed started with the native Shikoku-Inu (an indigenous dog weighing about 25 kilograms (45 pounds) and standing about 55 centimetres high). These dogs were crossed with European dog breeds, such as the Old English Bulldog in 1872, the English Mastiff in 1874, the Saint Bernard and German Pointer in 1876, the Great Dane in 1924, and the Bull Terrier. The aim was to breed a larger, more powerful dog specifically for dog fighting competitions in Japan. 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.

Use
In South Korea, it is one of the main dog meat breeds, along with Nureongi dogs.

Legal matters
Ownership of Tosas is legally restricted in certain jurisdictions. In the United Kingdom, ownership is regulated under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991, and in Trinidad and Tobago under the Dog Control Act 2014. A specific exemption from a British court is required to own and import Tosas legally in the UK.

The breed is banned or legally restricted at a national level in:
 * Australia
 * Austria
 * Denmark
 * Fiji
 * France
 * Hong Kong
 * Iceland
 * Ireland
 * Romania
 * Malaysia
 * Malta
 * New Zealand
 * Norway
 * Singapore
 * Tunisia
 * United Arab Emirates
 * United Kingdom
 * Israel
 * Turkey