Mary Allen
The latest after the film “Hachiko – A Wonderful Friendship,” the dog breed Akita (Akita Inu, Akita Ken) from Japan is known to many people. The original hound is a symbol of fidelity and loyalty in its homeland. Here in the profile, you will learn everything about the history, nature, and attitude of the proud dogs.
History of the Akita
The Akita Inu is an ancient breed of dog from Japan. The name “Akita” stands for the Japanese province, while “Inu” means dog. The history of dogs goes back a long way, as depictions on clay pots and bronze bells from the second century BC show the breed.
The Japanese originally used dogs for hunting wild boar, feathered game, and black bears. Later they were used as watch and load dogs. In the 19th century, dog fighting became more popular around the world, which is why strong breeds like the Mastiff were bred into Japanese dogs. In 1931, the government officially declared the dog breed a natural monument of Japan.
During World War II, the military confiscated all dogs for meat and fur, nearly leading to the dog breed’s extinction. After the end of the war, the two lines developed independently of each other. The Japanese tried to bring the original form of the dog back to life. They crossed the remaining dogs with Japanese sled dogs and the Chow Chow. This resulted in the slightly smaller, often reddish or sesame-colored dog.
The narrow and taller dogs crossed with German shepherds made their way to the United States and formed their own breed, the American Akita. Both breeds have been officially recognized by the FCI since 1999. They are included in Group 5 “Spitzer and Archetypal Dogs” in Section 5 “Asian Spitz and Related Breeds”.
Essence and Character
The Akita Inu is a confident and calm dog who likes to act independently. He doesn’t behave submissively and has a mind of his own. He is neutral to indifferent towards strangers and only attacks if he sees his family in danger. As a rule, the loyal dog fixates on a reference person and develops a strong bond with them. Once you have earned your loyalty, you will have a cooperative and courteous partner for life. The sublime and proud dog behaves calmly in stressful and hectic situations. However, as soon as he sees potential prey, the primal ferocity comes up in him and he is difficult to contain. Many males are also incompatible with foreign conspecifics.
The Appearance of the Akita
The Akita Inu is a muscular dog with a majestic appearance. The dog’s coat is rough and harsh with a soft, dense undercoat. It can be red-tawny and sesame, but also brindle or white. It is important that the coat has “urachiro” (whitish hair on the sides of the muzzle and cheeks, on the underside of the jaw, neck, chest, body, and tail, and on the inside of the limbs). The forehead with a furrow is very wide and the characteristic triangular erect ears give the dog a cute appearance. The eyes are brown with clearly accentuated black lid rims.
Education of the Puppy
Training the Akita is not a task for a beginner. The dog is not submissive and only obeys commands that make sense to it. Especially with an insecure owner, the dog prefers to make decisions itself. The breed does not tolerate violence well and reacts with stubbornness or aggression. For the training of the puppy, you should be confident and consistent, but friendly. Only then will the Japanese dog become a faithful and loyal companion. Early and comprehensive socialization with other dogs and people is essential for harmonious coexistence.
Activities with the Akita
The wayward Akita needs his daily exercise, but only joins in when he feels like it. If he doesn’t feel like moving, it’s difficult to convince the dog to do so. He also likes to lie in his basket and sleep. The dog’s sporting motivation mainly depends on whether he sees a purpose behind the exercise. The key is the owner’s motivation to convince the dog that obedience will benefit them. The serious pedigree dog is difficult to inspire for silly games or sporting tricks.
Health and Care
The Akita is a low-maintenance dog that does not require a groomer. The clean dogs hardly smell and are otherwise rather clean. In principle, the hard outer hair is self-cleaning and does not need to be washed or given special care. During the spring and fall molt, the dog loses most of its thick undercoat. At this time, he needs your support and you should comb him every day. From reputable breeders, the dogs are not particularly susceptible to illness and often reach an age of over twelve years.
Is the Akita Right for Me?
If you want to bring a pretty Akita home, you need dog experience and an understanding of the peculiarities of Asian dogs. The headstrong dogs need strong and confident leadership to become well-behaved companion dogs. In general, the pedigree dog is only recommended for people who have the time and desire to deal seriously and intensively with their dog. He is suitable as a second dog to a limited extent since male dogs in particular can be hostile to other dogs. If you are sure about the breed, it is best to look for a breeder who belongs to the Akita Club e.V. For a purebred puppy with papers you can calculate 1200 to 1500€. You can also occasionally find representatives of the breed looking for a new home in animal shelters.