But, they don't seem to be that tough anymore. People I know who still have them or have them as pets claim they aren't prey driven and get along with other dogs.
But, our foundation bitch was from one of the first kennels in America to raise them, things are different now. They were bear fighting/hunting and protection dogs, not lap dog/pets so they were supposed to be tough. Now we see the more Japanese look in the ring and for some reason that is lighter more "Sheba inu" style than what it used to be. Our dogs had tiny ears huge big bear looking heads, massive body lots of bone. Now they are much more fine.
But, our foundation bitch was from one of the first kennels in America to raise them, things are different now. They were bear fighting/hunting and protection dogs, not lap dog/pets so they were supposed to be tough. Now we see the more Japanese look in the ring and for some reason that is lighter more "Sheba inu" style than what it used to be. Our dogs had tiny ears huge big bear looking heads, massive body lots of bone. Now they are much more fine.