Tosa vs Gordon Setter - Breed Comparison | Petzlover

Tosa vs Gordon Setter - Breed ComparisonGordon Setter is originated from United Kingdom but Tosa is originated from Japan. Gordon Setter may grow 12 cm / 4 inches shorter than Tosa. Gordon Setter may weigh 54 kg / 119 pounds lesser than Tosa. Both Gordon Setter and Tosa has same life span. Both Gordon Setter and Tosa has same litter size. Gordon Setter requires Moderate Maintenance. But Tosa requires Low Maintenance

Basic Information

Group:
Sporting dog
Miscellaneous dogs
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United Kingdom
Japan
Height Male:
65 - 70 cm
25 - 28 inches
62 - 82 cm
24 - 33 inches
Height Female:
65 - 70 cm
25 - 28 inches
62 - 82 cm
24 - 33 inches
Weight Male:
32 - 36 kg
70 - 80 pounds
54 - 90 kg
119 - 199 pounds
Weight Female:
32 - 36 kg
70 - 80 pounds
54 - 90 kg
119 - 199 pounds
Life Span:
10 - 12 Years
10 - 12 Years
Litter Size:
6 - 8
6 - 8
Size:
Large
Large
Other Names:
Gordons, Black and Tans
Tosa-Inu, Japanese Mastiff
Colors Available:
Black and tan
Caramel, fawn tan, black or brindle
Coat:
Straight and silky and wavy
Short, smooth, dense
Shedding:
Moderate
Minimal
Temperament:
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Responsive, Social, Stubborn, Territorial
Affectionate, Aggressive, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Quiet, Responsive, Social, Stubborn, Territorial
Grooming:
Moderate Maintenance
Low Maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

History

gordon setterThe Gordon Setter includes mixes of the English Setter and the Irish Setter. The original purpose of the breed was to hunt game birds.

The dog breed hails from Scotland with a history that dates back to the 17th century. The dog was developed in Gordon Castle by the Duke of Gordon IV.

The dog became popular among hunters in the early 19th century. He is the biggest of the setter breeds. It was in 1884 that the American Kennel Club recognized the Gordon Setter.

tosaKnown 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.

Description

gordon setter puppy - descriptionThe Gordon Setter is a large dog, capable of reaching up to 69cm in height and weighing up to 36kg in weight.

He belongs to the Setter family and is somewhat heavier than the other Setter breeds. Setter dogs are classified as sporting- or gun dogs. He is a beautiful dog with a pitch black coat with tan markings found around the chest, muzzle and paws as well as those two familiar tan dots above each eye.

Sometimes you can find a small amount of white on the chest. The coat is straight and silky but it can be slightly waved with feathering around the legs, chest, ears and tail. Both the tail and the ears of the dog are also long and feathery. The Gordon has an intelligent, dignified look about him.

Temperament:

The Gordon Setter is a confident, fearless, loyal and affectionate dog. They do well with their human families, when there are other pets in the house as well as children.

He can be a boisterous dog so training and socialization will become necessary. Your Gordon Setter is an intelligent dog and also a dog ready and willing to learn. He is calm and even-tempered but playful too.

He isn’t a dog suited to life in the city if there isn’t an adequately sized garden. He is essentially a country life dog well suited to farms or large fenced gardens.

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.

Characteristics

gordon setter dog - characteristicsBeautiful to look at, the intelligent and even-tempered Gordon Setter has everything to be confident about. He loves the attention he gets from his human family and is always looking for a pat.

He can be stubborn and he certainly won't like the idea of being left cut off from his family for long periods of time as he is a social dog with those he knows and loves.

The Gordon Setter is energetic and playful so he will need regular exercise. When you bring a Gordon Setter into your home, you bring in a wonderfully loyal pet and companion.

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.

Health Problems

gordon setter puppies - health problemsLife expectancy for the Gordon Setter is usually about 10 to 12 years and with good nutrition and care, your Gordon can easily reach 12 years of age.

Every dog is prone to some common health issues and these include among others hip dysplasia, gastric torsion or bloat, retinal atrophy and ear infections.

Hip Dysplasia:

Large dogs are more prone to hip dysplasia. The disease is a malfunction of the hip joints causing pain and loss of function in the rear legs.

Progressive Retinal Atrophy:

This eye conditon just gets worse over time and can lead to vision loss.

Hypothyroidism:

An under-active thyroid causes a decrease in metabolism. Symptoms of hypothyroidism in dogs include weight gain, obesity, cold intolerance, changes in the skin and coat like hair loss and your dog is lethargic.

Gastric torsion or Bloat:

This can be very dangerous with your pet as the stomach is swollen and the stomach rotates and twists and can lead to death.

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.

Caring The Pet

Exercise:

gordon setter dogs - caringGordon Terriers are energetic dogs so he is going to require a good deal of exercise each day. Take him with you on your walks and make sure that you give him lots of ball games and rope games.

Grooming:

All Gordon Setters shed, and their coat will require a good brushing at least twice a week. Check nails, teeth and ears regularly. Brush teeth at least twice a week to prevent dental decay.

Diet:

As a working dog your Gordon Setter has a special need for a high fat content diet. You can include some raw meat in his high-energy dog kibble. He can also have some cooked brown rice, chicken and vegetables added into his kibble from time to time. Make sure he has access to fresh, cool water.

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.

Comparison with other breeds

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  6. Tosa vs French Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  7. Tosa vs Beagle - Breed Comparison
  8. Tosa vs Yorkshire Terrier - Breed Comparison
  9. Tosa vs Poodle - Breed Comparison
  10. Tosa vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  11. Tosa vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  12. Tosa vs English Pointer - Breed Comparison
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  26. Gordon Setter vs English Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  27. Gordon Setter vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  28. Gordon Setter vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
  29. Gordon Setter vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  30. Gordon Setter vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  31. Gordon Setter vs French Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  32. Gordon Setter vs Beagle - Breed Comparison
  33. Gordon Setter vs Yorkshire Terrier - Breed Comparison
  34. Gordon Setter vs Poodle - Breed Comparison
  35. Gordon Setter vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  36. Gordon Setter vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  37. Gordon Setter vs English Pointer - Breed Comparison
  38. Gordon Setter vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  39. Gordon Setter vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  40. Gordon Setter vs American Bully - Breed Comparison
  41. Gordon Setter vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  42. Gordon Setter vs Affenpinscher - Breed Comparison
  43. Gordon Setter vs Afghan Hound - Breed Comparison
  44. Gordon Setter vs Aidi - Breed Comparison
  45. Gordon Setter vs Airedale Terrier - Breed Comparison
  46. Gordon Setter vs Akbash Dog - Breed Comparison
  47. Gordon Setter vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  48. Gordon Setter vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  49. Gordon Setter vs Askal - Breed Comparison
  50. Gordon Setter vs Atlas Terrier - Breed Comparison