Akita Inu
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General Description
(Akita, Japanese Akita, Great Japanese Dog) The Akita Inu is the largest of the Japanese Spitz-type breeds. They are strong, evenly-proportioned, powerfully built dogs with distinctive features. Akita Inus have bulky, flat, triangular-shaped heads with short, pronounced muzzles. Their noses are dark (generally black), and they have triangular-shaped, dark brown eyes. Akita Inus have pink tongues, black lips, and teeth that close in a scissors bite. The breed is slightly longer than tall, with a flat back, deep chest, and stout limbs. They have a well-defined stop and a groove in the center of their foreheads. Akita Inus have fluffy, high-set tails that curl up over their back. An Akita Inu’s coat features a weather resistant outer layer that is insulated with a soft undercoat. Colors vary, but Akita Inus bred for show should be pure white, brindle, sesame, or red. Black facial masks are common, but they are not permitted in the show ring.User added info
Although normally short-haired, they can have long and fluffy varieties, in which case, extra grooming is required. Black masks are acceptable in North and South America, UK and Canada - only the Japanese Kennel club and perhaps FCI do no accept the black mask any longer. The above appearance is a reflection of FCI standards. AKC standard all colors are acceptable.
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Character
Generally, Akita Inus are very docile animals, but they can be a bit unpredictable in certain circumstances if not properly trained by a dominate figure. They are very gentle, kind, and faithful, and they need companionship. While Akita Inus can be aggressive towards other dogs and hesitant to accept strangers, they make excellent guard dogs and usually good with children in their family. Members of the family should treat this breed with respect and thoughtfulness. When teased, some Akitas, but not all, are capable of an erratic response, including biting if not socialized. It is important to properly socialize and Akita from birth with as many other breeds and people as possible in order to avoid this type of behavior. Akita Inus need firm training early on to prevent the onset of disobedience or over-independent behavior. With consistent training and proper socialization, an Akita will be as gentle and loving as any other breed.*
Akitas respond well to consistent training and will not be bullied into doing something they don't want to do. Their thought process must be respected and in turn teach it to respect yours by taking great care to protect it from the unwanted advances of teasers or treats early on. The Akita is a great guard dog but must be kept within the family housing unit and not as a yard watch dog. An Akita should never be expected to do well in packs as this cannot be trained into them. If you want a pack dog, you might want to consider choosing another breed. These very powerful, majestic creatures have hearts of glass and require your respect, consistency in commands and compassion to train them.
Size
24-28 inches
Weight
75-120 pounds
General Health
Like many other larger dog breeds, Akita Inus are prone to hip dysplasia. They can also be susceptible to certain immune diseases and thyroid issues. Skin problems, eye problems, and knee problems are also prevalent in some lines. The breed’s average life expectancy is 10 to 12 years, and they average 7 or 8 puppies per litter.*
They are susceptible to Lyme disease due to a low platelet count.
History
Akita Inus are native to the island of Honshu in Japan. The breed, which is the national dog of Japan, has remained unchanged for centuries. Originally, Akita Inus were bred to serve as guard dogs, but they have also been used for a number of other working purposes. They have excellent hunting abilities. Helen Keller first brought the Akita to the United States.*
The Akita hails from Akita Perfectur in Japan. Helen Keller brought the first one to America as a gift from Japan - more followed through military personnel. The Akita has changed significantly through the past century. There are no 2 distinct appearance or types. One that is now preferred by Japan (no black mask, smaller dog, bigger coat); and one that was original in appearance and is now preferred as the American Akita by the AKC standard (bigger dog, tighter coat, all colors accepted).
Maintenance
Akita Inus have a long, stiff, thick double coat that requires substantial attention. The breed should be bathed only as necessary to prevent removing the natural waterproofing of the coat. Akita Inus shed heavily during certain seasons. Brushing with a firm bristle brush can prevent matting, and it can also reduce shedding.*
They're eyes should also be cleaned often to prevent staining. Akitas are known to shed twice a year. Some owners choose to not extensively groom their Akitas. Weekly or biweekly bushings will help with rolling the coat so that their seasonable shedding will be minimal. There is no cutting or trimming required. There is also a long coat gene in Akitas. This coat type may be trimmed for cleanliness if desired; however, trimmed Akitas are never shown in FCI or AKC shows. While this coat type can be beautiful and plush it can also be scruffy and appear to be a mix with only tufts of extra hair on the ears, back of legs and extra plumage on the tail. This coat type is not water proof and therefore does not serve the dog functionally. That should be taken into consideration when expecting this type of Akita to tolerate outdoor temperatures. This coat type should not be intentionally bred.
Ideal Environment
In order to stay fit and healthy, Akita Inus need sufficient exercise. They can do well in an apartment-style setting if they are taken for frequent long walks. This breed is comparatively inactive indoors, so a large yard is ideal.*
Take precautions to not over exercise the Akita one hour prior or one hour after being fed. This breed as well as many large breeds are prone to bloat. Also do not take your Akita for runs of any length or extreme stress prior to 2 years of age to allow maximum time for proper ligament and tendon growth. The Akita is a large breed dog.
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Ask a QuestionAkita Inu Q&A
are akitas good with other peoples kids if raised with kids?
Akitas are very protective and loving towards children that it frequently sees (family members, or friends that come by often), but are usually wary of strange children. With my Akita, we made sure that she met as many people as she could as a puppy, by bringing her to a Walmart parking lot, and by the time she was an adult, she was fairly welcoming of strangers.Remember however, never leave an Akita alone with kids, because they are known for 'biting back,' figuratively and literally.
Yes, but they might not do too well with cats,unless they were raised with them since puppyhood.
If the Akita Inu has not seen the kids before, it will be quite wary as they will not accept them as members of the pack. However, if the Akita Inu has been raised with children, the circumstances will be much better.
All the answers (and books) suggest that they are good with their own family, but not with strangers. Other peoples kids are other people too, and not their own family. The short answer is "No."
They have to be socialized because both my Akitas love people. I take them to various places to experience different environments. I have seen some aggressive akitas but only when they are left outside unattended.
How an Akita is with other people and children has more to do with the dog's overall socialization then whether he was raised with kids. As a puppy, an Akita should be exposed to all types of people, especially children, and learn proper interaction. This does not mean seeing people at the occassional dinner party, but rather daily walks, trips to the park, trips to friends houses, etc. This is a fantastic breed, but these dogs require a real time commitment from the owners.<br />
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I live in NYC with 2 Akitas, and they have learned how to interact with people from all walks of life. They are still guard dogs, and at night are far less friendly during the day. With kids, I trust one of my dogs completely - but I have had to remind parents that not all dogs are "kid-friendly" (no lie - I have a 130 pound akita and a 70 pound akita, and have had 4 and 5 year old children run screaming at my dogs from behind and slapping him in the head while the parents watched from behind). <br />
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Take a proactive role in training and exposing your Akita to as many people and dogs while they are young and continue the exposure throughout their lives, and I guarantee you that will be an AMAZING dog.
what are the chances that an akita will attack a kid for no reason?
As with any large dog there is always a risk of a nasty bite, and if they wanted to do some damage they could. But as long as the Akita was raised lovingly and introduced to many people when it was young there should be no problems. Our Akita was very sweet but protective of us (kids) and a lot less trouble than our Boxer, Pit bull, Rottweiler, or Pomeranian for that matter.
Don't put your Akita in the back yard and never work with him. Socialize him, socialize him I can not stress enough. My large white akita loves people and it took socializing him even when I didn't feel like it. If you want an akita take time with them and work work work with them.
The chances are small if they have socialized with kids form a young age however if the kid is teasing it or hurting it the chances will incrase. They are not "evil helll hounds" but are protective of their pack (Their owner and family). My Akita has never bit a human and only bites other dogs when the other dog has bitten him first
It is always difficult to answer this question - "for no reason" to a human, to a dog may be a very good reason (a kid staring into the eyes to a dogs is a challenge and a sign of disrespect). Akitas are usually very good with children in the home, provided they are raised with them. As with all dogs, an Akita should not be left unsupervised with a small child, regardless. However, Akitas are very protective, and a friend of the child would have to be formally introduced to the Akita, and the dog should not be left alone. If the dog perceives the non-family member as challenging him or hurting his "kid", there could be a problem. <br />
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My one Akita loves kids. He was raised with my nephew and when we moved he was a frequent guest outside the playground. The kids could climb on him and pull his ears and tail and he loved it. We added to our "family" with another Akita who was older and not as trustworthy, so there are no more trips to the playground. that being said - I would trust both of my dogs if I had a child, since they are both trained and I would slowly intriduce them and NEVER leave the one I don't know the history of, alone with a child. Basically, if you take all common sense precautions - an Akita will tolerate children and if properly exposed and supervised, an Akita will learn how to behave around children.
Our Akita is prefect with kids and always has been. Its people like this who give Akitas a bad name -non-owners that is. Akitas guarded there family children in Japan while their Mother worked in the field. Check out the new Jap Akita film coming soon Hachiko the story of a loyal dog with Richard Gere as the main star. This should give Akitas the name they deserve.
We have an 18 month old Akita, and he's always been good with our 5 Children, however the past 2 months or so he has turned quite aggresive towards them, particularly our 6 year old daughter who he has always been closest too. <br />
Our children have the greatest respect for the dog and have never been left alone with him so we know nothing has happened on their part to make him this way. We have had him checked at the vets and there dont seem to be any problems physically, so at the moment are keeping a very close eye on things, as when he turns on them it has always been for no reson and totally ot of the blue.<br />
So I have to say, as with all dogs, never say never. I love our dog to pieces, as we all do, and he has been brought up in the 'correct' way, and its still happeneing so justbe careful.
How are Akitas with smaller animals, like say a cat?
The same as any other dog, some will chase a cat others will ignore it and my male Komodo grooms our cat (she hates it). Our female Keiko ignores her unless the cat takes a swipe at her first, then she will grab and toss her, but not bite, its a warning.<br />
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Establish yourself as Alpha and make sure the dog is under your control when you introduce them..more than likely the cat will avoid the dog until it feels safe.
They can co-exist, but some dogs are more likely to pursue than others. I have two akitas and two cats that came well after both my dogs, both of whom lived with my prior cat. One dog still chases the cats and the other couldn't care less. An Akita that is new to you should not be permitted around small animals, as they do have a strong prey drive. Once you have established yourself as the leader, you can introduce a cat -- but be careful and do not leave the two unsupervised for the first few weeks (or months, depending on how their "relationship" is progressing). <br />
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As far as an introduction, let the dog meet the cat outside (in the carrier). Then bring the cat in first to his or her "safe place" that has food and a litter box, and no dog access. Leave the carrier out for the dog to sniff. As the cat is more comfortable with you - bring him out to the dog, who should be on a leash, and have them in the same room. If the dog is calm, let him sniff the "new family member" and trust your gut in how to proceed. <br />
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All that being said - unless you can keep the two separate for a prolonged period - I recommend getting a full grown cat rather than a kitten. A cat has more common sense.
How does the Akita respond to being home alone all day with a fenced yard?
They can get bored fast and are consummate escape artists. These dogs need human companionship and want to be with you constantly. After all you can't protect your person if you are not with them. <br />
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If you must keep your Akita in a yard I would suggest a large pen and shelter from the sun (with a fan or they can overheat). The pen should be large enough for the dog to exercise, set in concrete so they can't dig out and tall enough that they can't clear it.
Akitas will get bored in a yard, and possibly try to escape. Also, you must make sure that the area is a quiet area and the fence is secure, since not only will Akitas try to escape, they are also natural guardians. You could have a problem on your hands if a neighbor or another dog comes into your yard.<br />
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In addition, Akitas require socialization and companionship. The independence and stubborness of the breed may turn into aggression if left alone without proper training and socialization. I have had Akitas roaming 2 acres of land and Akitas living in a small one bedroom apartment, and the Akitas who lived in the apartment were more responsive and friendly animals. Finally, Akitas (and most dogs) will not exercise themselves. They will find a place to lay down and wait for you to come home. If they do get "exercise" it will likely be in the furtherance of undesirable habits (digging, hunting, chewing, etc.) Therefore, even if you have a yard, you must make time to walk you dog - promoting both bonding and exercise.
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