Akita Dog

The Akita Dog originated in Japan, and it gets its name from the Akita prefecture in the north of the Honshu Island of Japan, where the breed was developed. Back in the olden times, Japanese aristocrats and noble authorities were perplexed by the dog’s unearthly intelligence, guarding and hunting aptitudes. The dog’s dense double-coat and superb endurance allowed him to survive the harsh realities of life, which became evident during the World War II, when devoted breeders and owners released many Akitas into remote mountain regions in order to save them from the massed killing by starving people.

There is a striking story highlighting the devotion of the Akita Dog, based on one event that took place in the 1920s, which endowed the breed with the status of a Japanese National Monument. Professor Ueno, who lived near a train station close to the city of Shibuya and worked on a train, had a young Akita, who accompanied him to and from the work each day. One day the professor died from a stroke at work, but the dog continued to visit the station for the next nine years and to the end of his own life. The story traveled across the globe, and the memory of the dog’s heavenly devotion was perpetuated in a bronze statue that was erected at the station.

Throughout its history, the breed gained renown as an excellent hunting companion and guard dog. The Akita Dog’s endurance, commitment and protectiveness have been cultivated for centuries, and these traits are well intact in the modern Akita Dog. Akitas are very protective around their loved ones, territory and food. They are quite aloof with strangers and notably aggressive toward other animals. They are no heavy barkers, and even in the old days, when hunting, they only barked when the game was cornered, to signal the success for the hunters to arrive and kill the game.

Akita Dogs have a Spitz-like appearance, being the largest of all Spitz-type dogs. Males stand about 25 inches high at the withers and weigh over 100 pounds. Females are somewhat smaller, measuring around 23 inches high at the withers and weighing around 90-100 pounds. The Japanese Akita (the Akita Inu) occurs in the following colors: White, Fawn, Brindle, Red and Sesame. The American Akita has a more varied color palette. It is the only version of the Akita breed officially recognized by the American Kennel Club. In most countries, the American Akita and the Akita Inu are viewed as different breeds. However, the Akita Inu is used in the USA in breeding the American Akita, in order to boost its genetic makeup.

Akita Dogs are very people-oriented dogs, and they tend to bond with a particular person. Being highly dominant, they require firm (not rough!) training, and are not recommended for novice dog owners. It takes a great deal of awareness, devotion and responsibility to bring up a decent guardian and companion. Any presence of other animals within your Akita’s domain is out of the question. Akita Dogs are not good with children. If you want to make as good a companion out of your Akita Dog as he is known to be, you must possess a stern, confident and assertive temperament, because these dogs tend to challenge for leadership in the house.