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About me
Important points:-Read my site before you decide to get a Tosa from me.
-I am a certifiable dog nut, dog lovers like me are few and far between.
-I love my dogs, they are the biggest part of my life.
-I love every puppy that is born in this house, I understand I can't keep them all, but it is not without difficulty that I part with them.
-If you've never raised a Tosa before, you should listen to what I have to say. There is much I have to learn, but very good chance I know more than you do.
-Please do not make me regret selling a puppy to you!!
My dogs are my family, live freely in the house, and partake in family activities. This house belongs to them, hence the name Tosa House. Anyone can keep a dozen Tosas locked up in kennels and crates, but in order to provide these magnificent dogs with the quality of life they deserve, I have to limit the number I keep. Please do not assume you can do what I do and keep dominant dogs together especially if you have kids who could get in the way of a clash. You have to have eyes in the back of your head, understand dog language very well, and know how to manage them mentally and physically. Yes I have had accidental fights, but I am able to stop them before any serious injuries occur!
In 2002, I began my search for a large breed dog, and almost immediately became interested in the Tosa. Since then, I've absorbed every bit of information I can find regarding the breed, and travelled a lot to visit many breeders and other owners. I've also travelled to the Kochi center in Japan, and received the (very unexpected) royal treatment from the president of the center. Why do I love the Tosa? They are beautiful dogs for the most part, capable of amazing athleticism. I enjoy watching them play, the rough and tumble wrestling, the high speed chases, and the nimble jumping around. Half a world away, my boys would have quite a different lifestyle, most likely as a fighting dog. Yet these dogs are exceedingly gentle and affectionate with their families and friends, especially children. They tend to be quiet dogs, good thing as I don't have a high tolerance for noise. There is next to no grooming, and even mud wicks away from them in no time. One of the most loving and loyal breeds, they are happiest when they are close to their people, even if it's just to curl up and watch a movie. While they do best with moderate to high activity levels, they are calm enough to handle low activity times too, such as bad weather days, or if you're sick. They are generally not heavy droolers, compared with other mastiff types. Most are between 45-70kg, still large dogs, but not too big. With a unique breed like a Tosa, I meet a lot of people as they're quite the conversation piece, and my dogs enjoy being the center of attention. They are excellent companions, and with some socialization and training, I can take them almost anywhere I go.
Perhaps my greatest influence in Tosas has been Bill Munier of Pharsyd Tosas. Bill is no longer breeding, but continues to offer me advice and support. I am forever grateful for all his help! One of the reasons I started breeding, is because he stopped. I feel there is a need for health screened, and physically and mentally sound Tosas. There also needs to be some thought behind breeding, not just in a "backyard" fashion.
What I hope to achieve by breeding Tosas:
-add to genetic diversity, via certain breeding practices, and by importing new bloodlines.
-produce Tosas that are free of genetic problems, especially hip and elbow dysplasia.
-produce dogs who have the soundness of mind and body to participate in just about every type of dog sports, at the very least they should be able to run the AD endurance trial without difficulty
-maintain good conformational qualities
-provide deserving homes with healthy, athletic, robust, attractive dogs who also have exceptional temperaments.
All this is a tall order, given the limited gene pool. I am not breeding for dogs over 70kg(150lbs), dogs who show unwarranted human aggression, or strictly for conformation champions. The fact that my dogs naturally like children, or can pass a hip exam, is more important to me than any ribbons or titles. You won't find me frequenting conformation shows, as they are just not my cup of tea. They are boring, full of politics, and I don't need a judge to tell me if my dog is a good specimen. My dogs and I would rather be running around the neighbourhood. Being a show champion also says nothing about the health of a dog, or it's suitability for breeding. Dogs imported directly from Japan (so called "Yokozuna lines") are not likely to be in my breeding program as I've found there are too many health problems with them, and I'm trying my hardest to create dogs who aren't walking vet bills. I will not use dogs for breeding who have obvious health issues that would be debilitating or significantly shorten life span (hip dysplasia for example). I aim to have a litter every year, or every second year. For anyone new to Tosas, I strongly suggest reading through my original site The Animals and I.
Summer 2008 in cottage country
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