Tosa vs PekePoo - Breed Comparison | Petzlover

As a cross between a Peingese and a Poodle, your cute Peekapoo as he is also known, isn't a purebred dog. They first started making their appearance in the 1900s, in fact it was believed to be developed in the 1950s, being one of the oldest designer dog breeds.

He was bred to be a a low-shedding, hypoallergenic companion dog. Both the parent dogs have their own unique, long histories. Dog experts aren’t too sure where the Pekepoo originated from.

This dog breed isn’t recognized by the American Kennel Club, because it is a hybrid breed, but it is recognized by the American Canine Hybrid Club.

Known 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.

People love these little dogs because of their lack of shedding and it having a hypoallergenic coat. The coat is soft and can be wavy to curly with some feathering around the ears and tail.

It is medium length and comes in a variety of colors such as fawn, cream, white, black, apricot or chocolate. The coat can have a mix of some of these colors too. This is a small dog that stands at between 23–26cm and weighs in the region of 4 to 9kg. He has floppy, low set ears and bright brown eyes.

Temperament:

They're such cute little dogs, loving and loyal to their human family. However, there is another side to them and they can be independent, aloof and stubborn. They’re very intelligent little dogs and will require both mental and physical stimulation to prevent boredom.

Because’s he’s so smart, you won’t have any trouble training him new skills. He’ll do well with children in the home as well as with pets, especially once he’s been trained and socialized.

He is able to settle into life in the city or the countryside. Even though he is a small dog, he will have to have his share of exercise if he is to remain healthy and content. They are dogs that love to be cuddled and petted ad he gets along well with everyone in the family.

Even though he is a true family pet, loving and loyal, he becomes a good watchdog too as he wants to protect all those he loves.

The 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.

Your Pekepoo is such a gentle, sweet dog, making the perfect family pet. He is gentle, loving and amicable with his human family and wants to be involved in all their activities.

Coming from the Poodle and the Pekingese, he will have inherited some personality from each of these two popular dog breeds.

He is coming into your home ready to make you a splendid pet and companion and he asks nothing more than good care from you as a responsible dog owner.

The 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.

As with any dog, there are certain common dog ailments that you want to watch out for in your Pekepoo. Brachycephalic airway syndrome is one as well as dental disease and obesity.

Brachycephalic airway syndrome:

Because your Pekepoo has a somewhat squashed face, he may have abnormalities in the upper airways. Dogs with this syndrome have heavier breathing than other dogs and he might even have a cough. The troublesome part is that these breathing difficulties can put pressure on the cardiovascular system.

Obesity:

Small breed dogs are always at an increased risk of being obese and being obese can mean your dog possibly developing osteoarthritis, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure as well as other diseases.

The 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.

Diet:

Your small designer Peekapoo will do well on a high quality kibble diet. Always check out the packaging and see how much to feed a small dog like this. It is better to give a dog 2 smaller meals a day as composed to one because with one they tend to gobble it up which can lead to a serious condition known as bloat.

Dogs love simplicity and consistency with their food, but it is always to your dog’s benefit to feed him some home-made food too. Some chopped up boiled chicken, brown rice or pasta and some vegetables such as spinach, carrots and sweet potato added into the kibble occasionally will do him the world of good. Every now and again a little bit of raw meat can also be given.

Never leave your pet without a bowl of fresh, cool water.

Exercise:

Lively and energetic, your Peekapoo is going to need daily exercise. He will love the chance to sniff around and explore on your daily walks but he is ready to become more involved than that and will join you with hikes and swimming too. He is happiest when spending activity times with his human family. As with any dog, just make sure he doesn’t overdo it, especially on a hot day.

Grooming:

To keep your Pekepoo’s hair tangle-free, you’ll need to brush it twice a week. If you feel that his hair is getting too unruly, you can take him to the doggy parlor and have it trimmed into a shorter style. They’ll clip his nails at the same time, check inside his mouth for any signs of dental disease and check inside his ears too for dental infection.

Diet:

These 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.