Physical Appearance
The Akita always makes a lasting first impression. Akitas are large, powerful
dogs with substantial bone and musculature. The broad chest and neck serve
as a solid base for the Akita's large head, the Akita's most distinguishing
feature. The broad skull and the short muzzle form a blunt triangle when viewed
from above. The massive head in combination with the small triangular shaped
eyes and small erect ears give the Akita an intimidating, yet dignified, expression.
The Akita is a very balanced looking dog, being only slightly
longer than it is tall. The tail is curled and carried over
the back, which serves to balance with the dog's head. Typically
the male Akita is substantially larger than the female. The
males range in weight from about 100 to 130 pounds, while the
females range from 70 to 100 pounds.
The double coat of the Akita has the appearance of the typical
northern breeds. It is short to moderate in length, but very
dense and consists of two layers. The undercoat is very soft
and is the primary insulator, while the outer coat, or the
guard hair, is slightly longer and coarser. The Akita is very
well suited to the coldest of climates, and while it might
not enjoy hot weather, its coat does lighten considerably in
the warmer months to compensate for the heat.
Temperament
The personality of the Akita is very complex. While temperaments vary, most
would agree that the Akita is very intelligent, extremely loyal, and can
exhibit aggressive tendencies. The aggressive tendencies are almost exclusively
towards other dogs of the same sex. Typically, Akitas are not aggressive
towards people, but do have a very well developed guarding and protective
instinct. Akitas also have a high and well developed prey drive. An Akita
is not likely to shower affection on someone that is not a member of his
family or a close friend that he sees frequently.
The loyalty and devotion displayed by an Akita is phenomenal.
The typical pet Akita will follow you from room to room, yet
has the uncanny ability not to be under foot. Your Akita lives
his life as if his only purpose is to protect you and spend
time with you. This trait is evident in the tale of Hachiko.
The Akita as a House Pet
Even though Akitas are large, hardy dogs which can withstand the elements,
they have been bred for centuries to be house companions. The two most outstanding
characteristics of the Akita as a house pet are that they are very clean
and that they are very easy to house break. Akitas have been described as
almost "cat-like," they are so clean and odorless. This may also
be one of the reasons why they housebreak so easily. Most Akitas respond
so well to housebreaking that they are trained in a matter of weeks.
As far as the family children are concerned, there are a
few worries. Akitas are devoted, patient friends and protectors
of children. Akitas are typically very gentle with children,
and it is said that Japanese mothers often left their children
with only the Akitas to watch over and protect them.
Of course with a new baby entering into a home with an Akita,
proper introductions and precautions should be taken until
the Akita understands the situation. Young children should
never be left unsupervised with large dogs of any breed, as
the potential for an accident is not worth the risk.
Is the Akita the Dog for Everyone?
Right about now, you are probably thinking . . . What's the catch? Well, the
Akita is not the right dog for everyone. The person who assumes responsibility
for an Akita MUST be able to take control of the dog at an early age. This
means that the person has to be the dominant party in this relationship.
Dominance is more a state of mind, but you must also be prepared
to physically dominate the dog if necessary. Akitas, as with
most dogs, live their lives in a pack environment, whether
the pack be animals or people. If you are not willing to be
the leader of the pack, the Akita most certainly will. So the
Akita owner must have the energy and will to keep a firm, consistent
discipline as the dog matures. A little work and persistence
in training in the early months with an Akita will reap you
huge benefits as a well behaved member of the family down the
road.
Is the Akita the Right Dog for You?
Before you buy an Akita puppy, THINK:
- What do I want my dog to be like?
- How will this dog fit into my lifestyle?
- What is my living situation?
- Consider what your needs are and what the dog's needs
will be. Do they conflict?
- Think of the dogs you've enjoyed owning in the past. Were
they easygoing or intense? Self-willed, or independent; outgoing
or reserved; placid or energetic?
Then ask yourself if you have the TIME needed to devote to
socializing, training, and loving your dog.
The Akita is an extremely intelligent, large, energetic,
and strongly territorial dog whose life is oriented toward
his owners. If he is the right dog for you, he is one of the
most rewarding breeds to own, but this is also a demanding
breed, and should not be casually added to the household on
a whim.
Will you enjoy owning an Akita?
If you are looking for a bright, sensitive, responsive dog with whom you will
be able to spend time, will be able to train and will be protective and loyal
and devoted to you and your family for the rest of his life, then perhaps
you will enjoy owning an Akita.
The Akita can be a guard dog. He feels that one of his jobs
is to protect his family. You don't need to train him to do
this; it comes naturally to him. He will be watchful of people
on your property, expressing suspicion with a low rumble; Akitas
are not barkers. They quickly learn to differentiate between
strangers and friends. Akitas are not tolerant of other dogs
especially those of the same sex. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES
SHOULD AN AKITA BE ALLOWED TO ROAM THROUGH THE NEIGHBORHOOD!!
The Akita, although a large dog, does not require huge amounts
of exercise. It will thrive on a moderate amount of exercise
and enjoys playing energetically. You will be happier and so
will your dog if you choose a breed that fits into your present
lifestyle. Don't expect to change your way of life once you've
acquired a dog.
Akitas do not shed on a continual basis; however, they do "blow
their coats" about twice a year. As the new coat is beginning
to grow into place, large tufts of hair will loosen. The coat
can be easily removed by using an undercoat rake or wire slicker
brush. The dog seems to enjoy this extra attention and if done
on a regular basis as the coat is shedding, the new coat will
come in more quickly.
The Akita is a working dog. The working dog group includes
some of the most intelligent breeds of dogs. You'll be amazed
at how quickly he learns, and at the number of things you can
teach him.
But his intelligence carries an obligation with it. An Akita
won't be happy if left alone in a pen or house all day. A working
dog enjoys life most when he is given a responsibility and
a job to do, whether the job is obedience, baby-sitting, back-packing,
or hunting. The Akita demands your attention and thrives on
it when trained and worked regularly.
DON'T BUY AN AKITA because of the pictures you've seen, stories
you've read or because they are the "IN THING". MEET
THE DOGS. Watch them at shows and visit them at home. There
is a big difference between a cute eight-week-old ball of fur
and a full grown adult. If, after all of that, you still want
an Akita, then welcome to a most pleasurable experience.
Facts About Akitas
The Akita is a Japanese breed and in his native country, the
Akita has been declared a national treasure. An Akita in a
home is believed to be a symbol of good health, prosperity
and good fortune. Helen Keller brought the first Akita to the
United States in 1937.
Akitas do not bark unless there is a good reason. When an
Akita is barking, pay attention. Akitas are natural guardians
of the home and do not require any training to turn them into
guard dogs. When there is a reason to protect family and property,
your Akita will act to do so.
Akitas are inherently aggressive toward other animals and
for this reason, they should not be allowed to run free or
roam at will. You can exercise your Akita off leash when you
are in an area where contact with other animals and people
is unlikely.
Male Akitas show aggression toward other male dogs, and female
Akitas usually will not tolerate another female. Akitas can
live peacefully with a dog of the opposite sex, though some
Akitas prefer being an only dog!
Akitas may consider small animals as prey and hunt them.
This includes cats, rodents, birds, small wildlife and small
dogs. Akitas can be raised to accept animals in residence.
Some adult Akitas can even be trained to fit into a home where
other animals are already established. It is, however, imperative
that the Akita be closely watched around the other animals
until you have established a peaceful co-existence.
Akitas are VERY food possessive. If you have other pets,
you will want to be certain the Akita is given it's own food
bowl or treat well away from any other animals and that no
other animal is allowed near the Akita until the food is gone.
Akitas not raised with children are not always tolerant of
small children and the Akita should never be left alone with
a child until you are certain you have a dog who adores all
children. Often, Akitas raised with children will tolerate
their own children but may not accept the neighborhood kids.
As a general rule it is wise not to leave an Akita or any large
dog alone with children under 12 years of age.
Akitas do not like to be teased and can respond by biting.
Some children are allowed to treat animals unkindly, a behavior
that often leads to cruelty to animals. These children should
be kept away from an Akita, whose large size and hunting instincts
can endanger the child's life.
Akitas like to take charge - an inherited trait from their
wolf ancestry - and may at some time, challenge you for the
dominant position. This behavior cannot be tolerated and a
firm, consistent correction should be your immediate response.
Akitas with good temperament accept discipline well - not beating,
but intelligent discipline. A good scruff shaking is an effective
form of discipline for an Akita. frequently, a firm verbal
command will get your point across.
Akitas should be obedience trained BY their owner and not
sent away to school like other breeds! A good obedience class,
perhaps beginning with puppy kindergarten, will guarantee you
a firm bond with your dog and a well behaved dog.. Remember
though, Akitas are extremely intelligent and tend to get bored
easily. They learn quickly, so short training periods are suggested.
This keeps the dog from becoming bored. Akitas are also very
stubborn and when the dog thinks it's a waste of time to "sit" or "stay" one
more time, he will simply walk away! Obedience training requires
patience!
Some Akitas are talkers! They may grunt, groan and mumble
to entertain themselves and you. This conversational verbalizing
IS NOT growling and should not be interpreted as a growl, which
sounds quite different. Akita "talking" is an endearing
trait and should not frighten you. After living with your dog,
you will easily distinguish between talking and growling.
Most Akitas enjoy carrying things around in their mouth,
including your wrist! They may take you by the wrist to lead
you to the cookie cupboard or to their lead. It is not an aggressive
act, it is an endearing trait. Try allowing your Akita to bring
in the newspaper or the mail. They love to do these types of
jobs.
Akitas are very family oriented and are not happy when kept
apart from the family. If you do not plan on having your dog
live with you inside both your home and yard, you should not
seriously consider an Akita for a pet.
Akitas are not hyperactive and fit into a sedentary household,
but for optimum health for both YOU and your Akita, regular
exercise is important.
Akitas will live from 10-14 years with good care and proper
nutrition.
Hypothyroid disease affects a large percentage of the breed
and is easily treated by twice daily hormone replacement therapy.
A simple blood test, including a T3 and T4 thyroid levels test,
will determine the existence of the condition. The symptoms
may include one or all of the following: skin and coat problems,
sudden onset aggression, itching, lethargy, musky odor. Before
treating skin conditions with any drugs, have your vet check
for sarcoptic mange, sebaceous adenitis, and Hypothyroid disease.
Other diseases found in Akitas include Progressive Retinal
Atrophy (blindness) manifested by impaired night vision, hip
and elbow problems, autoimmune diseases, degenerative myelopathy,
and some blood disorders, though these are not common problems
in the breed.
Akitas require a good quality meat and bone meal based food
and do not thrive as well on soybean based dog foods. Akitas
7 years and older should be fed one of the commercial LITE
foods to lessen the onset of kidney disease which is a problem
in older Akitas. (Akita Rescue Society of America)
How to Choose a Reputable Breeder
When you are looking at a cute bundle of fur the important
facts about just who is offering this Akita pup for sale may
escape you. Often the buyer takes the darling pup home only
to find out later that the person who sold the pup is either
unable or unwilling to help the buyer.
Come-ons like "A.K.C. Registered", "CH. Bloodlines",
etc., in no way assure that you are getting a quality pup or
that you are dealing with a reputable breeder. Big flashy ads
in national magazines may be impressive, but what do you really
know about the advertiser?
Unethical breeders thrive because the average buyer is uninformed.
Some buyers do less research on the purchase of a pup than
they do on a new washing machine! Armed with knowledge, you
can avoid being "taken in". Remember that "AKC
registered" is not a guarantee of quality; it simply means
that the pup is registered, and even the most poorly bred dogs
have "CH. bloodlines".
You will need a breeder who is available to you for the many
questions you will have on rearing your dog, feeding, basic
obedience, housebreaking, etc. You'll need someone who knows
what makes the Akita tick. If you are interested in showing/breeding,
you need a breeder who will help you get started in training
and entering shows.
It does not cost any more to buy from a good breeder, and
in fact, the "bargain" Akita may end up costing more
in problems than a show pup! Your best possible choice of a
breeder is a "hobby breeder". Stress is placed on
the word hobby. The dedicated hobby breeder views his dogs
as a hobby from which he expects no profit. When an individual
breeds dogs for enjoyment, with the AKC Standard as a goal
rather than a profit motive, the end result is superior pups.
Such a breeder feels responsible for each little pup and stands
behind every dog he has bred.
The ACA has a Breeder Referral List on this website. If you
cannot find a breeder there, you might consult your Region
Representative.
You should have certain requirements from anyone you talk
to in order to assure that you are making a wise purchase.
One requirement should be that the breeder belong to a local
Akita Club, if possible, the Akita Club of America (ACA), an
obedience club, or an all-breed club.
Why? Through membership in one or all, the breeder is exposed
to others who are also interested in Akitas, and dogs in general,
and learns more about his breed, dog care, modern breeding
practices, etc.
The second requirement is that the breeder be involved in
showing his dog(s). At this point you may be asking "But
I only want a pet! I'm not interested in showing so what difference
could that make to me?" PLENTY!
For one thing, showing dogs gives the breeder the same opportunity
that belonging to a club does. It gives HIM a chance to share
information and thoughts with others. Showing provides the
competition that makes breeders want to produce better dogs.
Breeders who do show are putting everything on the line; they
are not depending on impressive pedigrees to carry them. They
wish to show how good their dogs are in competition.
"Show people" are not necessarily jet setters or
even very wealthy people. On average, they are just ordinary
people who want to prove that the dogs they breed are worthy.
Every dog that a breeder raises may not be worthy of being
shown. In every litter there will be those pups which are strictly
pet quality. However, a breeder who does not show his dogs
has no idea how his dogs would fare in competition and deprives
himself of the learning experience that showing provides.
OK, so maybe you don't want a "show dog", but don't
you want a pet that was the end result of a carefully planned
litter, rather than the result of an accident or a litter bred
for profit alone? Don't you want a pet that got the same care
as the potential champions in the litter?
The breeder who shows is known by others in the breed, he
has a reputation to maintain. He is more likely to be careful
and honest.
Before You Buy
Read the checklist of questions to ask the breeder and read the ACA or your
local Breed Club's CODE OF ETHICS. It would behoove you to use these tools
in questioning the breeders you contact. (Akita Club of America)
Checklist for the Puppy Buyer:
Be sure the pups come from American Kennel Club registered
parents, and insist on seeing the registration papers.
Ask for proof that both the sire and dam have been x-rayed
for hip dysplasia and cleared of eye diseases. Make sure the
sire and dam are x-rayed normal, and their eye exam showed
no abnormalities. It's one thing to say, "Oh yes, they've
both been x-rayed" or “A vet checked their eyes”.
Let's see if they're both normal. Ask to see the OFA and CERF
certificates; if the parents are not OFA'd or CERF’d,
ask to call the vets for x-ray information and eye information.
Be sure the pups have been wormed for ascarids, and have
been given the necessary vaccinations (Parvo, Distemper, Lepto,
Hepatitis, etc., according to the age of the puppy). This should
be in writing.
Be sure the breeder provides you with a health record and
directions for feeding the pup. Information on supplements
and how often to feed are quite important.
Read a copy of the A.K.C. Standard for the Akita so that
you will know something about the requirements for the breed.
There are size limitations, for instance. A puppy from parents
barely making the breed standard in height will not likely
grow comfortably to the 25" height required for Akita
males, or the 23" height required for the Akita females.
Observe the parents. Is the dam friendly? If she panics and
hides under a table, how many of the pups will take after her?
If you want a personable, outgoing puppy you had better buy
one produced by a personable, outgoing dam. Same goes for the
sire of the litter.
If you are buying a male pup for show or breeding make sure the testicles have
dropped into the scrotum. If a testicle is retained and the seller still wants
you to take the pup, make sure the seller puts it in writing . . . dated .
. . that he guarantees the other testicle to drop within a reasonable period.
Most testicles are down and stable by the time the pups are six weeks old.
If you are still waiting for one to drop at four months, you have a problem.
Even if the testicle does drop that late, the dog is NOT a good bet for breeding.
Your Veterinarian will explain. A dog with a retained testicle should be neutered,
as cancer can develop.
Akitas may have a variety of problems you should be aware
of, such as long silky hair, flopped ears (in a pup 8 months
or older), sickle tail, splayed feet, entropion (your vet can
explain this to you). Be cautious of buying a pup with really
runny eyes. Hernias require surgery. A true hernia gives the
pup a large (quarter-sized) bulge in the abdominal area.
The tail must curl. The lips, eye rims and nose should be
black. The pup should look well fed, but if the belly is too
distended it might be full of worms rather than food. The pup
should show no signs of limping and should be able to use its
legs easily in a trotting gate.
The pup should have a jolly attitude. He should look well fed and cared for.
He should be easy and comfortable in the company of his litter mates and breeder.
Take the time to observe the pups. Watch how they play. Remember . . . Akitas
live to be about 10-14 years of age. That's a long time to live with a dog.
How nice if you and the dog are good companions. How dreadful if you and the
dog don't like each other after a couple of months. People that buy and get
rid of pups every few months are missing the fun of a good relationship with
a dog . . . a relationship that requires time to make it mellow.
Akitas can also have eye problems: cataracts, progressive retinal atrophy (PRA),
etc. Both dam and sire should have eye checks dated within the past year. Ask
to see the certificates. (Akita Club of America)
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