Tosa puppies

About the Tosa

The Tosa was created in the Kochi region of Japan in the nineteenth century by crossing the native Shikoku dog with imported Mastiff, Great Dane, Bulldog and Pointer stock, producing a large mastiff type for the Japanese fighting ring, where silence and composure were prized above noise. The coat is short, dense and smooth over a very heavy frame. At home the breed is typically quiet, watchful and slow to fuss, but it is a serious guardian with the lowest possible rating for tolerance of other animals.

Ownership is restricted or banned outright in a number of countries, so checking local law comes before anything else. Grooming is simple: a weekly going over of the short coat, regular nail trims and routine ear checks. Exercise is modest for the size, daily walks and calm play rather than hard running. The breed needs an experienced handler, thorough early socialisation and a secure garden, and it does not suit a multi pet home. The common mistake is treating a placid house manner as proof that supervision can be relaxed.

What to expect at eight weeks

At eight weeks a Tosa puppy is sleeping around 18 to 20 hours a day, is not house trained, and cannot hold on for more than an hour or two at a stretch. A giant breed puppy at eight weeks is already heavy and will keep growing for up to two years. Controlled growth matters more here than in any other size class, so a large breed specific puppy food and no overfeeding. Expect moderate energy, in short bursts separated by long naps. Grooming is straightforward, but start handling the coat, feet and ears in week one anyway so it is never a fight later. The socialisation window is open and closing: everything it meets calmly now, from vacuum cleaners to men in hats, is easier for the rest of its life.

Health worth knowing about

Conditions this breed is reported to be predisposed to. Predisposed does not mean inevitable, it means ask about it.

• Hip and elbow dysplasia, screened by hip and elbow evaluation of breeding stock
• Bloat and gastric torsion, a surgical emergency in deep chested dogs
• Entropion and ectropion of the eyelids, diagnosed on clinical eye examination
• Hypothyroidism, detected by a thyroid blood panel

From Tosa breed information at https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/tosa/. Discuss any of these with your own vet.

Your Tosa puppy's first six months

• Vaccination schedule, dated for your country.
• Worming and parasite schedule.
• Feeding calculator. Set expected adult size to Giant for a Tosa.
• Adult size predictor, to check growth against the 45.4 to 90.7 kg adult range.
• Puppy names and the first week checklist.

Other giant breeds

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