American Akita and Japanese Akita: What Differences Matter to Owners?

The FCI recognizes the American Akita and the Japanese Akita as two separate breeds. In fact, they have not crossed again until the end of World War II. So there are still a lot of similarities. Akita Inus are among the oldest dog breeds in the world and share numerous genes with wolves, which is hardly noticeable in their behavior. In the AKC, the breed goes by the name Akita; in Europe, this usually means the Japanese archetype.

The Appearance of the Akita: Spitz with Asian Features

Many visible differences now separate the two Akita breeds from each other. Because the American Akita comes from lines crossed with German Shepherds, Tosas, and Mastiffs, they are significantly larger and stockier than their close relatives.

Differences Between Akita Inu and American Akita in brief

• The American type is stockier and has stronger bones.
• The American’s triangular head resembles that of a bear, while the Japanese’s head is more fox-like and narrower in appearance.
• Only American Akitas wear dark face masks.
• Like many Asian primal dogs, the Akita Inu has triangular, dark eyes. The American form has rounder, slightly protruding eyes.
• All colors are bred in the United States. Inus are red, sesame, white, or brindle with white markings.

Important Traits for American Akita Breeders

• Head: Skull, muzzle, and nose are broad and blunt. The nose stop is well defined, but when at rest there should be no wrinkles on the face. The lips are black and do not hang over the corners of the mouth. The nose is black in all colors.
• The ears are relatively small and stand firmly up. The triangular shape is slightly rounded at the thick tips.
• The neck is short, thick, and muscular with a convex nape that is in a straight line with the top line of the skull. A dewlap forms on the chest. The backline is horizontal and the belly is only slightly tucked up.
• The Fore and hind legs are equipped with very broad bones. The forelegs stand straight like an extension of the neck.
• The luxuriantly hairy tail comes in different variants: It is curled three quarters, completely or twice, and is always carried upright. In some dogs it lies on the side of the body, in others, it is curled up over the back. All variants mentioned are approved for breeding.

The colorful version of the Akita Inu

American Akitas are bred in all colors. Their stick hair grows in two layers: the undercoat is very dense, short, and soft, while the topcoat feels stiff and stands up slightly. The stiff hair is significantly longer on the tail than on the rest of the body. No coloring is expressly excluded from breeding. However, some drawings are preferred and purposefully bred:

Fur types

• Basic colors are red, white, black, silver, brindle, sable (silver-black or red-black) and dilute colors (lightened basic colors like liver and blue).
• Black Mask: Dark fur covers the muzzle and face, sometimes up to the ears. The rest of the body is brown, silver, brindle (fawn, red, or black), or “pinto” (white with red markings). The black mask is a clear indication of the past crossing of Akita Inus and Mastiffs.
• White Mask (called Urajou): An heirloom of the Japanese primal dogs. White masks usually occur with reddish fur coloring or brindle fur.
• Black and white mask: The fur around the tip of the nose and on the bridge of the nose is usually white, with a black mask extending to the eyes. The transition from white to black can differ in sharpness.
• Self-Mask: The mask is the same color as the rest of the fur. Also possible in combination as Self-White or Self-Black.
• Chocolate Mask: Commonly associated with lightened (blue) eyes and a liver-colored nose due to a mutation in the dilute gene.
• All colors may have white markings on the belly, tail, chest, chin, and legs. If other parts are colored white, this is referred to as a pinto.
• Hooded: If more than two-thirds of the coat is white, this is considered a breeding fault, but gives the dog an individual look and is popular with private owners. Solid white Akitas are allowed inbreeding.

Short Summary of the Long History of the Breed

American Akita and Akita Inu shared their history up until the 1950s: The dogs have been kept in Japan for thousands of years and are among the oldest breeds in the world. Until the early 17th century they were kept as working dogs and helped hunt big game. Today’s Akita Inu corresponds more to this archetype; in the American type, the typical Spitz characteristics are not so pronounced.

From hunter to watchdog

• From 1603 Akitas were used in dogfighting arenas. In addition, other large breeds such as Mastiffs, German Shepherds, and Tosas were crossed which changed the appearance of the attack dogs, resulting in different strains of the breed.
• Specimens with German shepherd features and a black mask were preferred to be taken home by American military personnel. In 1956 the first American club for Akita breeding was founded.
• American breeds were not recognized by Japan, so there was no further exchange between Japanese and American breeders and they developed very differently. The FCI has recognized the American Akita as a separate breed since 2015. The American AKC does not distinguish them.

Nature and Character: Guard dog with unique habits

American Akitas are used as guard dogs in the USA and can protect houses and yards on their own. They form a close bond with their owner and family members but are not very fond of cuddles or constant closeness. In contrast to other dog breeds, which like to follow their owner to the toilet, they have their own mind and prefer to move around freely in the house.