| Bred in Japan, many years ago. | | | | be a strong command from a dominant owner. |
| The Japanese Akita is not a suitable dog as a | | | | When you say "NO", mean it and make it stick. |
| normal family pet. It was originally bred in the | | | | You may have problems with house training, as |
| Akita Prefecture in Japan, as a hunting dog, for | | | | Akitas suffer from urinary infections in infancy. |
| deer, wild boar and even bears. For this purpose, | | | | There is plenty of information available online, |
| it required to be a large, strong dog with | | | | much of it Free, on the subject of Dog |
| confident, dominant tendecies and an independent | | | | Aggression. Any dog which shows undue |
| nature. The Akita is also known as Akita Inu, | | | | aggression, to people or animals, is in urgent need |
| which is Japanese for dog. | | | | of proper expert training. |
| The average height for the Akita is between 24 | | | | If you take an Akita into your family, you must |
| to 28 inches and will weigh from eighty to one | | | | be prepared to spend time and effort on training, |
| hundred and ten pounds. He has strong, heavy | | | | socializing, excercise and grooming. This large dog |
| bones and a muscular body. This is a lot of dog! | | | | also costs a lot to feed. |
| The Akita has a double coat, which is harsh and | | | | Akitas in the Family |
| waterproof, with a thick, dense undercoat. It | | | | There are conflicting opinions about the suitability |
| sheds profusely, all year round and requires | | | | of Akitas with young children. Historically, the |
| brushing and grooming every day. The coat can | | | | breed had a strong reputation for being protective |
| be white, brindle or tan and any mix of these. | | | | of young children and were often left in sole |
| The dense coat of this breed means that he is | | | | charge. Other opinions point out the dominant |
| happy in the snow but he will suffer in a hot | | | | nature of the breed and the fact that these dogs |
| climate. | | | | will compete for their place in the pack. Certainly, |
| This is not a dog for inexperienced owners, or for | | | | a young child will be no match physically for an |
| people who are elderly or weak. Akitas are | | | | adult Akita. |
| intelligent and athletic and when socialized are | | | | Proper supervision of the behavior of the dog and |
| faithful and affectionate but will always strive for | | | | the children is essential in this situation. Having said |
| the dominant position in the family group. He may | | | | this, a well socialized Akita will be more |
| show aggression towards family members and | | | | comfortable with this. |
| may not suit a family with small children. With this | | | | Akitas make extremely good guard dogs. They |
| breed, it is vital that you are the Alpha Dog and | | | | have a strong territorial instinct and will be very |
| that he knows his place in your "pack"! | | | | protective of family and property. As a watch |
| The Akita may show aggression towards other | | | | dog, they are quietly effective. They do not bark |
| dogs and small animals and should not be allowed | | | | unnecessarily but will certainly raise the alarm at |
| to roam off-leash in public areas where there are | | | | the approach of any strange visitors or sounds. |
| many people and other dogs. | | | | The average lifespan of the Akita is about 12 |
| Training Akitas | | | | years. Like many other breeds of dog, cancer is |
| The Akita can be difficult to train because they | | | | the most common cause of death. Recent |
| are intelligent and stubborn and can quickly | | | | surveys in both the United Kingdom and the USA |
| become bored. it should never be a question of | | | | Canada revealed this to be the case, with other |
| "asking" an Akita to do something. It must always | | | | causes including cardiac and bloat/torsion. |