Tosa vs Italian Greyhound - Breed Comparison | MyDogBreeds

Tosa vs Italian Greyhound - Breed ComparisonTosa is originated from Japan but Italian Greyhound is originated from Italy. Tosa may grow 44 cm / 18 inches higher than Italian Greyhound. Tosa may weigh 83 kg / 183 pounds more than Italian Greyhound. Tosa may live 3 years less than Italian Greyhound. Tosa may have more litter size than Italian Greyhound. Both Tosa and Italian Greyhound requires Low maintenance.

History

tosa - historyKnown also as the Japanese Mastiff, the Tosa hails from Japan. In fact, these dogs come from the Tosa Province, so the dog was named after the region where they were bred.

It is why they are sometimes referred to as Japanese Mastiffs. The Tosa is a rare dog breed and unfortunately, the dog is still used in Japan for dogfighting.

Thought to be a dangerous dog breed, it is restricted in some countries.

The breed was developed in the 2nd half of the 19th century, with a number of dog breeds being involved to bring about a more powerful, braver dog.

italian greyhound - historyThe Italian Greyhound is an ancient breed, a purebred originating in Italy but with evidence to suggest it was also to be found in Turkey and Greece.

It's a small breed dog that became popular with Italian royalty in the 16th century. Over the centuries, the dog's appearance has remain unchanged, although breeders tried to make it even smaller, leading to problems with the health of the dog.

Towards the end of the 1800s, it was fortunate that breed fanciers implemented breeding programs to restore the dog's look's and strength. The American Kennel Club registered the Italian Greyhound in 1886. Today the dog is a wonderful companion dog.

Basic Information

Group:
Miscellaneous dogs
Toy dog
Origin:
Japan
Italy
Height Male:
62 - 82 cm
24 - 33 inches
33 - 38 cm
12 - 15 inches
Height Female:
62 - 82 cm
24 - 33 inches
33 - 38 cm
12 - 15 inches
Weight Male:
54 - 90 kg
119 - 199 pounds
3 - 7 kg
6 - 16 pounds
Weight Female:
54 - 90 kg
119 - 199 pounds
3 - 7 kg
6 - 16 pounds
Life Span:
10 - 12 Years
12 - 15 Years
Litter Size:
6 - 8
1 - 4
Size:
Large dog
Small dog
Other Names:
Tosa-Inu, Japanese Mastiff
IG, Iggy
Colors Available:
Caramel, fawn tan, black or brindle
grey, tan, Fawn, chocolate and black., reddish
Coat:
Short, smooth, dense
Short and smooth
Shedding:
Minimal
Minimal
Temperament:
Affectionate, Aggressive, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Quiet, Responsive, Social, Stubborn, Territorial
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Curious, Docile, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Quiet, Responsive, Social, Stubborn, Sweet, Territorial
Grooming:
Low maintenance
Low maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

Description

tosa puppy - descriptionThe Tosa is a large dog, but their sizes vary, and in fact, because of their fighting, they are actually divided into light-, middleweight and heavyweight classes.

Generally, you can say that these dogs weigh in the region of 54 to 90kg and they stand in height at between 62 to 82cm. The head is large, the jaws powerful, the eyes dark brown in color, the ears small, high set and floppy.

The neck is broad wit a dewlap and the tail is long, thick and tapering to a point. The coat is short and thick and is most times a rich caramel color, fawn tan, black or brindle. The dog often has a black mask.

Temperament:

The Tosa is a fairly quiet dog, courageous and fearless. He is going to need a strong, consistent owner who shows leadership with him. Training and socialization will be imperative for this dog.

When he has been properly reared and trained, he makes a good pet, able to get on with members of the family. He takes his role as protector and guardian seriously.

italian greyhound puppy - descriptionThe sweet Italian Greyhound is much like the regular Greyhound, just smaller but every bit as sleek, elegant and fine-boned. He stands at between 33 and 38cm at the withers and weighs just 3 to 7kg. He is slender and elegant.

He has long, fine-boned legs and his short, smooth coat makes him easy to groom too. The coat comes in a number of colors such as fawn, tan, grey, reddish, chocolate and black.

Temperament.

Described as sweet, intelligent and playful, the Italian Greyhound adapts easily to life in the city or to country life.

He is easy to train too, and even though he is small and amicable, it is still a good idea to have him trained and socialized as he is just a simple pleasure to have around then. He just loves the company of his human family and becomes a gentle friend to other dogs, to children in the home and to the elderly.

He is a frail toy dog, and he needs to be constantly watched over that he isn’t handled roughly by disrespectful children or from bigger pets. He is an active breed and will love to be played with and join you on your walks. Even though he is such a frail, fragile looking dog, he has a feisty, stubborn, defiant side to him and that is why training and socialization becomes important. He will be reserved around strangers.

Characteristics

tosa dog - characteristicsThe Tosa isn’t recommended for first-time dog owners, as in the wrong hands, they can become aggressive. Care has to be taken around children too especially undisciplined ones.

He also doesn't come as recommended for small, cramped homes in the city. He’s just too big and he will need to get out and be walked often.

You want to create a home for him that ensures he is the calm, gentle dog he is capable of being, If you’re fair, firm, caring, patient and consistent, then this big dog might be for you. With the right care he becomes a gentle, devoted pet.

italian greyhound dog - characteristicsIf you’re looking for a sweet, gentle canine friend, the Italian Greyhound promises to be just that. They just crave human companionship and are eager to please.

He isn’t the ideal playmate for children, simply because he is frail and can get hurt easily in rough play.

Small he may be, but he is intelligent and alert, and he will bark to warn you of strangers. They are essentially indoor dogs, and when you bring one of them into your home, you’ll be rewarded with a devoted, loving and loyal canine friend.

Health Problems

tosa puppies - health problemsThe Tosa is a formidable looking molossoid, but even so, this big, calm dog can succumb to illness. Some of these diseases you need to be looking out for include bloat,hip dyslasia and eye conditions.

Bloat for this dog can be life-threatening, and can often be because the dog is too hungry and he gobbles up his food quickly. Bloat is when gas can't escape, the stomach swells and twists – very dangerous. Rather give your dog two smaller meals – one in the morning and one in the evening, or even give several smaller portions throughout the day.

To help with eliminating health issues always choose a reputable Tosa breeder. You’re not likely to find one of these dogs in a dog shelter.

italian greyhound puppies - health problemsYour small Italian Greyhound isn’t a sickly dog breed, and in fact, with the right care, he can live to be between 10 to 14 years of age.

As with any dog breed however, there will be some more common conditions to watch for in the Italian Greyhound. Some of these are epilepsy, hyperthyroidism and periodontal disease.

Epilepsy:

There are different types and causes of seizures, and there are actually no definitive tests for epilepsy. One seizure isn’t enough to make a diagnosis and more than one seizure is usually recorded before a diagnosis can be made and treatment prescribed.

These treatments don’t cure Epilepsy but rather control the symptoms and keep the dog seizure-free so that they can have a normal life.

Seizures are not all the same – some are life-threatening and advice from the internet can’t be looked upon as adequate. With a dangerous disease such as epilepsy, excellent and qualified veterinary help will be required.

Periodontal Disease:

Gum disease can be terrible for your pet. Apart from bone loss and loss of teeth, your pet will experience pain. Periodontal disease may well be common in dogs, but it can be prevented.

Once an animal has eaten food, particles of food, saliva and bacteria form plaque over the teeth and this doesn’t only cause damage to the teeth but to the entire immune system.

This disease can cause inflamed gums and loss of teeth. It is important to brush your pet’s teeth with special canine toothbrush and toothpaste.

The truth is, periodontal disease can cause more problems than just tooth pain which is bad enough. Dogs with gum inflammation may be at higher risk for heart- and kidney disease too. If you’re worried about your dog, take him in to your vet for an oral examination and teeth cleaning.

Caring The Pet

Diet:

tosa dogs - caringThese large, strong dogs do well on good quality food. If you opt to buy him commercially manufactured food, make sure it is the top quality one free of unwholesome ingredients such as preservatives, colorants and useless fillers.

Invest in the best quality ones that have nutritious minerals and vitamins. Try and give your dog some home-prepared food too – boiled chicken, brown rice or pasta, spinach, sweet-potatoes and carrots.

Never feed your dog things such as chocolates, peanuts, crisps, grapes, onion and food with spicy flavorings. This will just ensure digestive problems and having to get your dog to the vet.

Cool, fresh water should be available at all times.

Grooming:

The Tosa’s short coat isn’t going to require too much attention. A good brush twice a week will keep it free from loose hair and keep its shine and gleam. It’s why the dog is looked upon as being low maintenance.

Beyond that, he will need to have his nails trimmed. When brushing him, check him over for parasites – ticks and fleas, check for unusual lumps and look inside his ears for signs of redness.

Exercise:

These dogs are calm and fairly low-energy. Nonetheless, to maintain good health, he will need to be exercised. Ball games outside are always a good idea as well as nice long walks. Hikes into the countryside will be wonderful for this big dog.

Grooming:

italian greyhound dogs - caringThe Italian Greyhound has a short, smooth, satin-type coat which is easy to maintain. Gently brush him once or twice a week, being careful not to press down hard as he has frail, bambi-like legs.

He also sheds little, making him a low maintenance breed. Because of the short coat, take particular care of him in the Winter and don’t allow him to become overly cold.

Diet:

Your Italian Greyhound will require a diet rich in nutritional value, and if your particular dog is quite active you will need to feed him about 450 calories a day and sometimes more.

Each dog is an individual and will have different dietary needs. If you feed your pet a top quality commercially manufactured food, read the packaging for guidance on food portion sizes.

Speak to your vet if you are unsure how to feed your dog so that his food and the amounts you feed him contribute to his good health. He must always have access to fresh, cool water.

Comparison with other breeds

  1. Tosa vs Northern Inuit Dog - Breed Comparison
  2. Tosa vs Pugnaces Britanniae - Breed Comparison
  3. Tosa vs Sindh Mastiff - Breed Comparison
  4. Tosa vs Tamaskan - Breed Comparison
  5. Wolfdog vs Tosa - Breed Comparison
  6. Tosa vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  7. Tosa vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  8. Tosa vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
  9. Tosa vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  10. Tosa vs American Bully - Breed Comparison
  11. Tosa vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  12. Tosa vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  13. Tosa vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  14. Tosa vs Samoyed - Breed Comparison
  15. Tosa vs Labradoodle - Breed Comparison
  16. Tosa vs Cane Corso - Breed Comparison
  17. Tosa vs Alaskan Malamute - Breed Comparison
  18. Tosa vs Mixed - Breed Comparison
  19. Tosa vs Bullmastiff - Breed Comparison
  20. Tosa vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  21. Tosa vs Dogue De Bordeaux - Breed Comparison
  22. Tosa vs German Shorthaired Pointer - Breed Comparison
  23. Tosa vs Bloodhound - Breed Comparison
  24. Tosa vs Great Pyrenees - Breed Comparison
  25. Tosa vs American Staffordshire Terrier - Breed Comparison
  26. Pomeranian vs Italian Greyhound - Breed Comparison
  27. Maltese vs Italian Greyhound - Breed Comparison
  28. Pug vs Italian Greyhound - Breed Comparison
  29. Maltipoo vs Italian Greyhound - Breed Comparison
  30. Papillon vs Italian Greyhound - Breed Comparison
  31. Japanese Chin vs Italian Greyhound - Breed Comparison
  32. Miniature English Bulldog vs Italian Greyhound - Breed Comparison
  33. Italian Greyhound vs Cavalier King Charles Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  34. Italian Greyhound vs Cockapoo - Breed Comparison
  35. Italian Greyhound vs Cavapoo - Breed Comparison
  36. Italian Greyhound vs Cavachon - Breed Comparison
  37. Italian Greyhound vs Bolognese - Breed Comparison
  38. Italian Greyhound vs Australian Silky Terrier - Breed Comparison
  39. Italian Greyhound vs Dorgi - Breed Comparison
  40. Italian Greyhound vs Belgian Griffon - Breed Comparison
  41. Italian Greyhound vs Carlin Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  42. Italian Greyhound vs Dorkie - Breed Comparison
  43. Italian Greyhound vs German Spitz (Klein) - Breed Comparison
  44. Italian Greyhound vs Doxiepoo - Breed Comparison
  45. Italian Greyhound vs Bospin - Breed Comparison
  46. Italian Greyhound vs Bantam Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  47. Italian Greyhound vs Damchi - Breed Comparison
  48. Italian Greyhound vs Cyprus Poodle - Breed Comparison
  49. Italian Greyhound vs Doxiepom - Breed Comparison
  50. Jug vs Italian Greyhound - Breed Comparison

View/Compare Breeds

Popular Dog Breeds