Akita Inu Information

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(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.

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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.

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Size

24-28 inches
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Weight

75-120 pounds
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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.

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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).

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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.

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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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Dog Training!

If you're having problems training your dog or getting control, you should read our review of DogProblems.com. Adam will do whatever it takes to help you whip your dog into shape. I've used them to help with my Great Dane as well as help friends train their dogs. It's the first place I go to help answer users Questions. Many training issues are too extensive to answer in this forum, which is why I refer a lot of the load to his site. Update: I've been using and recommending DogProblems for three years now. I, as well as my users, value the techniques we've learned. I get weekly emails from users who have become better owners from the information they received.

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Akita Inu Q&A

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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.

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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.

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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. 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.

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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. 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.

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Can a female boxer and akita live together as a pack? I have a 1 year old boxer and am looking to adopt a 1 year old akita from a rescue home. I am slightly nervous as I have read that akitas can be aggressive towards other dogs when left alone.

Like any other breed of dog, matching personalities is important. Just like humans, Akitas can like someone (other dog) or hate them. It is best to determine outside the home if the dogs can get along so neither has a territorial issue. I have two Akitas (one new to the family as my other dog passed from old age) and they are still going through the dominance thing to determine who is last in the pack. Before they ever met I established myself as the Alpha and maintain a tight control. Even when they have postured ready to fight my voice is enough to call the fight over before it begins. With Akitas you HAVE to BE an Alpha or they will take the spot.

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At what age should akita puppy's ears stand erect?

9 weeks or 63 days from conception.

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I am looking for a reputable breeder for the Japanese Akita Inu (not the American), and am having trouble. I live in Victoria, BC.

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my family is 3 children (9 13 and 18) and mother and father. we have an appartment with a balcony and a big parc at the end of our street. we think about taking a akita but we aren't sure. is this enviornment ok for Akitas?

No the apartment will not be large enough. The dog needs alot of space due to their large space. In addition they shed for almost a month excessively.

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How much do 7 month akita's normally weigh? I am trying to compare my dog to others to guesstimate the eventual size.

my 7 month old female akita inu weighs 71 lbs.

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I have an 11-month-old neutered male akita. He weighs about 75 lbs. He eats well and acts ok. Is he the right size? I really want him to be a healthy weight, not under or over weight. His ribs are sometimes easily felt but I do know that large breeds like that go through awkward phases where they seem skinny or overweight but are just growing. Is he the right weight for his age?

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