http://stopbsl.com/2009/11/25/tasmania-australia-tougher-controls-on-dangerous-dogs-bsl-passed/ THere's a short list of breeds. I have to go look up some of these. Has anyone ever seen a fila Brasileiro? the Japanese tosa looks like a Mastiff. Here they are http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/images12/TosaKitoshiP8030033.JPG&imgrefurl=http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/tosaphotos.htm&h=302&w=400&sz=29&tbnid=XmFsLDvfC_kDaM:&tbnh=94&tbnw=124&prev=/images%3Fq%3DJapanese%2Btosa&usg=__pUprIlwpcTMcbptWziFmNQJegvM=&ei=Fv8NS5aXIIapnQfU64jIAw&sa=X&oi=image_result&resnum=1&ct=image&ved=0CAkQ9QEwAA

I've seen a Fila. Why?

I hadn't seen it yet I was wondering if they were rare breeds. They seem to be Mastiff's. Look's like Australia's targeting Mastifs more than with pitbull types. You really don't hear about Mastiff attacks in the US. The Presa's look a lot like a pitbull but some pics have less muscle. The whole dogo issue has me wondering. They have quite a few breeds in the mix.

I think Filas are less rare than Tosas...but I guess that's probably quite variable depending on where you are. I think there are a lot more molosser attacks in the US than we hear about. I bet most of them get filed under Pit Bull...I know I have seen many Mastiffs labeled as Pits. IMO, Presas don't look a thing like a Pit Bull...for one thing their minimum standard is twice the weight of a Pit Bill (not that most people have any idea what a proper Pit Bull looks like size/weight)...but there are people who think Boxers look like Pits...it's a slippery slope and quite dangerous.

This is the big flaw in BSL. Who decides and HOW do they decide what dogs to ban, and more importantly, how do they identify such dogs???

Tosa are a fairly uncommon japanese breed, even in Japan and are still actively fought there. Although the rules are different than a "normal" dogfight (they call it wrestling) it's still a dogfight. Tosas have alot of history to japan and you can often find statues outside of temples. I have a really nice picture I took of a bronze in Kyoto. It's pretty uncommon to see a well bred Tosa anywhere outside of Japan that's actually a Tosa and not just a mastiff mutt. This variation may also have something to do with the breed nearly going extinct after the food shortages in WW2 when it was illegal to own them and punishable by death.

Filas are way more common in the USA especially in hog hunting areas. I know they're rapidly becoming prized as catch dogs compared to more traditional hog runners.

Jenni-I agree the Presa's are much larger than the pit bull. I saw a great picture of one lunging forward and it 's muscles were engaged so it had a pit-bull-esce look to it and the size wasn't as apparent due to the angle of the camera. Also I think the reason these dogs are getting lumped in is whenever a well muscled dog is seen many people think "pitbull", I catch myself doing it. IMHO this is why so many musclular breeds are getting lumped in.
Melissa- thanks for the info on the Fila. I was taken by their beauty as well when I looked at pictures for the first time. I have a bit of a retorical question. Why did they ban ownership in WW2? Did they want people to eat them rather than waste food feeding them? I'm wondering if then all dog ownership was banned in Japan. I have to say I've personally met more mean Akitas than pitbulls-(Japan connection.) Did you see any Akita statues in Japan? I'm just wondering because as just your "average dog afficiando" when I think of Japan and dogs for some reason the Akita comes to my mind. Maybe because my brother has owned 2 the first one he inherited by marriage had 3 reported dog bites, one of which was inflicted on my brother and he needed stitches. His second Akita was a rescued male pup and as sweet as can be. My friend has an Akita mix that bit my daughter over the summer. But in this case he's had many previous bites and my friend didn't tell me this before I let my daughter anywhere near him. Also the food was right next to him (which I did not see as we'd just arrived)and my daughter pet him on the head and he turned and nipped her on the stomache.

 Quote: michelle pociask

Why did they ban ownership in WW2? Did they want people to eat them rather than waste food feeding them? I'm wondering if then all dog ownership was banned in Japan.

Did you see any Akita statues in Japan? I'm just wondering because as just your "average dog afficiando" when I think of Japan and dogs for some reason the Akita comes to my mind.

Dog ownership outside of Tosas as I understand it wasn't banned. Alot of dogs were eaten though by a population that was starving. As I understand it Tosas were hidden away by committed owners and the population dropped to ten dogs. When you consider the amount of protein a large dog requires and the fact the country was literally starving to death it's not too surprising that people looked unkindly on someone keeping large dogs in such a time.

I didn't see any Akita statues in Japan although I think there is a couple in the northern parts of Japan. I did see two japanese Akitas outside of Osaka, a ton of Shiba Inu in the city, and one of what I think was a Kai Inu. I have trouble telling the difference between the Kai, Kishu, and Hokkaido apart. Keep in mind that when you speak of Akitas that there are two Akita breeds, the Japanese and the American. They have very different standards and imo a pretty distinct temperament difference as well.

What are the differences in temperament between the Japanese and the American Akitas?
I am able to find photos of the two different types, but not much information about the actual differences.

Hey Jenn,

This would be a bit much of a thread hijack since it has nothing to do with Filas or Tosas. Feel free to PM.

Your right!
Pm sent.

It seems to me that all too often any dog with a muscular build and a broad chest is labeled as a pit or pit mix.