This regional mastiff, which is readily available in Japan but not very frequently found elsewhere, is the fighting dog's fighting dog. Because of the rarity as well as the somewhat singular purpose of this breed, there tends to be a lot of conflicting Tosa Inu information. While there is clearly pain and suffering inflicted, the fights are not like typical dogfights; the men who execute the events spend most of their time controlling the dogs verbally and physically while the dogs sometimes bite, sometimes wrestle each other. These can be dangerous dogs but around people they know, however, and non-canine animals, they don't pose a physical threat unless they have been specifically manipulated.
These are extremely intelligent dogs. They must be trained, but they will listen to their human alphas. While they will regard strangers with suspicion, they rarely attack. They understand their size and power tends to be an able deterrent. Because they are bred to fight quietly, these dogs don't bark much, if at all. They are remarkably loyal to their family, and one of the most protective dogs out there.
Another odd aspect is that they don't need as much exercise as you might think. As they develop slowly, they must be exercised carefully so their growing bodies are not injured; at the same time, they can't be neglected lest their natural desire to be rambunctious gets the better of them. You definitely don't want this huge dog chewing up your house because he's bored!
