MyDogBreeds
Tosa is originated from Japan but Plott Hound is originated from Germany. Tosa may grow 11 cm / 5 inches higher than Plott Hound. Tosa may weigh 63 kg / 139 pounds more than Plott Hound. Both Tosa and Plott Hound has almost same life span. Both Tosa and Plott Hound has almost same litter size. Both Tosa and Plott Hound requires Low maintenance.
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.
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.
The Plott Hound is a scent hound who has always been used for for hunting bears. The dog may well be the state dog of North Carolina, but it isn’t well known.
The Plott Hound is an old dog breed descending from several Hanoverian Schweisshunds which were brought to North Carolina way back in 1750. They were brought by a German immigrant, Johannes George Plott, and that is why it is believed that the dog hails from Germany.
It is believed that in the early 1900s the dog was mated with black-and-tan hounds, giving the canine additional scenting skills as well as its black-saddled brindle pattern. The dog breed has since been registered by the United Kennel Club and is also registered by the American Kennel Club.
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.
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.
The Plott Hound is a large dog standing between 50 and 71cm in height, both male and female, and weighing in at between 18 to 27kg.
The dog’s coat is available in a number of brindle shades such as red-, blue, tan-, brown and black brindle. The ears of the dog are long and floppy and the tail is also long and held up or down, depending on whether the dog is quiet or excited. He is active and would not be recommended for a small homes in the city.
Bold, alert and intelligent, the Plott Hound is a confident, courageous and loyal pet, being somewhat aloof around strangers.
Typical of any hounds, he is a strong willed, independent dog, and this is why he will need training and socialization. These make him obedient so that he can respond to simple commands such as sit, lie down, come and stay. This makes him a pleasure to have around wherever you go with him. He is also protective, making him an excellent watchdog.
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.
The Plott is a bold, aggressive type of dog, but he is also loving, loyal and intelligent.
If you want him as a pet and companion, another bonus part is that his smooth, short coat makes him a low maintenance breed. He’s good looking too, and with training and socialization he’s going to make a great family friend, guardian and pet.
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.
Your Plott Hound is a healthy dog breed and can live to be anything from 12 to 14 years of age. Just like with any other dog breed, they are prone to certain health conditions. It is however, highly unlikely that he will get any of the diseases, but it is good to be aware of some of them -
There are many forms of cancer and some of the symptoms of the disease include lumps, sores that won’t heal, difficulty with breathing, lack of energy and black stools. Cancer is of course life threatening and treatments will include the likes of chemotherapy, radiation and even surgery.
This is also a deadly disease where parasites infect a dog’s heart and arteries. With a mosquito bite, dogs are exposed to larvae, and if left unchecked, the larva can develop into large worms. Your dog will be coughing, be lethargic and in a run down state. This disease certainly requires veterinary intervention.
There are so many things that can cause your dog to vomit and also have diarrhea. Eating the wrong foods, having an infection such as parvo for instance can cause a dog to vomit. An isolated case of vomiting needn’t be cause for alarm, but if your dog is vomiting repeatedly, you’ll need to get him to the vet.
This is more common in small dogs, but big dogs can easily become obese too. Being overweight has a host of negative health effects on your dog such as opening up diseases such as diabetes and putting too much stress on the joints.
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.
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.
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.
The Plott is a hunting dog, used to being outside and used to being active and busy. For anyone who can satisfy his need to be busy, he’ll make a fantastic pet, companion and watchdog. Provide him with a variety of activities to keep him occupied – a walk, ball games, runs in the park, swimming and hikes.
Your Plott Hound has a short coat which sheds. He is regarded as a low maintenance dog and will require a brush twice a week. A rubber curry will keep the coat gleaming.
Check inside his ears for redness which can be indicative of an ear infection. Check his eyes too and make sure they are bright, clear and alert.
Trim your pet’s nails.
If you don’t intend to go in for breeding, have your dog neutered or spayed to avoid unwanted pups.
Provide your dog with a nice warm, dry place to sleep. When he goes outside, ensure he has both shade and sunshine to lie down in.
Make sure you feed your Plott Hound high quality food to promote longevity and good health. There are some commercially manufactured dog foods that have bad ingredients in them which can actually make your pet sick. Buy a quality food, and try to add in some homemade food too from time to time. You don’t have to make feeding your dog a complicated affair – some chopped up boiled chicken, brown rice or pasta and some vegetables such as sweet potato, carrots and spinach will keep your pet healthy and happy. You can add it into his kibble once in a while for a treat and also give him a little bit of raw meat occasionally. Easy, simple and nutritious – just like your pet wants. He doesn’t want you popping chocolate, raisins, peanuts, coffee and spicy foods into his mouth or bowl as it upsets his stomach.
Make sure he always has access to fresh, cool water.