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AKITA INU DOG BREED INFORMATION

Family	Spitz, Northern (hunting)
Life Span	9-11 years
Avg Size of Male:	Height: 25-28 inches Weight: 85-130 pounds
Avg Size of Female:	Height: 23-26 inches Weight: 65-110 pounds
Original Function:	Large-game hunting, dog fighting
Overall Rating (out of 5)	Faithful and affectionate, the Akita loves human companionship. The Akita is loyal to family and friends and is unusually tolerant and patient with children, but is reserved and aloof with strangers. It is able to perform as a hunting companion and protector. It can be aggressive toward other dogs and domineering.

The Akita or Akita Ken is a breed of large dog originating in Japan, named for Akita Prefecture, where it is thought to have originated. "Inu" means "dog" in Japanese, although in practice this animal is nearly always referred as "Akita-ken," based on the Sino-Japanese reading of the same kanji. (It is also a pun, as the word "prefecture" is pronounced "ken" in Japanese.)

The breed stands 24 to 28 inches at the withers (60 to 71 cm). Females weigh anywhere from 70-100 pounds. Males are 85-120 pounds. In Japan, Akitas come in only four colours: Red Fawn, Sesame (red fawn hairs with black tips), Brindle, and White. All except white must have whitish hair on the sides of the muzzle, on the cheeks, the neck, chest, body and tail. The Pinto color is not accepted as a Japanese Akita color, but only as an American Akita color. In the U.S., however, some breeders still interbeed the original Japanese type with the heavier American type, which is larger, shorter in fur, and allows more colors. It is felt by many that combining the two types leads to improved appearance and genetic health by increasing genetic diversity. In the United States, there is only a single Akita breed. Akitas from Japan and Akitas from the U.S. and other countries are all registered with the American Kennel Club as "Akitas." In many other countries the breed has been separated into two breeds: the Akita and the American Akita.

Temperament

Although the American Kennel Club has put the Akita in the Working Group, several different breeds contributed to the modern Akita, some hunting dogs and some dogs used as competitive fighting dogs. The Akita is very laid back, and has an easy-going temperament.

Akitas are a large breed, not a giant breed. They are excellent house dogs. They require only a moderate amount of exercise. Akitas are known to be very quiet dogs, only barking "when there is something to bark about". One of the most famous things about Akitas is that they make people feel calm and relaxed so an Akita is an ideal dog if you have stress problems.

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," as they are 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, although it may take longer if other "slower learning" dogs are present.

As far as the family children are concerned, there are 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. Remember, however, that young children should never be left unattended with a pet. When raised indoors with children, they can be excellent companions.

Left unattended in the backyard or in a kennel, they tend to develop "personality" problems and become very destructive to the yard, which is due to boredom. They are highly pack oriented, thus, isolating them from the pack (i.e., the owner) causes them great stress.

Akitas tend to be stubborn and require a firm but loving education where "no" always means "no" and never "whatever".

The Akita is a dominant dog who may expect other dogs to be submissive. If they fail to live up to the Akita's expectations, incidents can happen.

Akitas have a high and well-developed prey drive, particularly to small animals, including cats. 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, and can be extremely aloof. Akitas properly socialized and raised with other animals usually accept them as members of the family.

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 underfoot. 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.

Care

Akitas have a straight, harsh outercoat and a soft, dense undercoat. Regular brushing is required to keep the coat looking neat, particularly during periods when the coat sheds. The Akita craves mental and physical exercise every day. It needs to run in a safe area or on leash for a long jog. The owner of an Akita should be an energetic and consistent disciplinarian in order to handle this large and powerful dog breed. With sufficient exercise and training, an Akita can be a quiet and well-mannered house dog. The Akita is able to live outdoors in temperate or cool climates, but best suited for indoor living. Akitas tend to be somewhat messy drinkers! Notably, onions have been documented to cause changes in the red-blood cells of Akitas and, therefore, it is vigorously recommended that Akitas never receive table food.

Health

Some of the health conditions known to affect this breed include:

Canine herpesvirus, a strain of the Herpes virus that happens to affect canines
Gastric dilatation volvulus (GDV), a condition associated with bloat;
Pemphigus, which causes the autoimmune system to attack the dog's skin (leading to pustules)
Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA), an adult-onset condition which gradual degeneration in the eye cells (i.e. rods & cones)
UveoDermatological Syndrome (UDS)[1], known as Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada (VKH) disease in humans
Sebaceous adenitis, an autoimmune condition which attacks and destroys the dog's sebaceous glands

History

The modern Akita can be traced back to the 17th century, when a nobleman was exiled to the Akita Prefecture of the island of Honshu, a rugged area with brutally cold winters. He challenged area landowners to compete in breeding powerful hunting dogs. The dogs they bred – the Akita forebears – were called matagi-inu, or “hunting dog.” In the late 1800s, the breed was often used as a fighting dog, and some were even crossed with other breeds in an attempt to enhance its fighting prowess. In 1927, the Akita-inu Hozankai Society of Japan was formed to preserve the original Akita, and in 1931 the Akita was designated as one of Japan’s natural treasures. The most honored Akita of all time was Haichiko, who greeted his master every evening at the train station to accompany him home. When his master died at work one day, Haichiko waited for him and continued to return and wait for his master every day until he died nine years later on March 8, 1935. Today, a statue and annual ceremony pay homage to Haichiko’s loyalty. The first Akita arrived in America in 1937, when Helen Keller returned from Japan with one. Following World War II, servicemen returned home with Akitas from Japan. The breed’s popularity grew slowly until it received AKC recognition in 1972. In Japan, the Akita is now used as a guard and police dog.