Akita: temperament, size, care and health

About the Akita

The Akita is a large, powerful spitz with a broad head, small upright ears, a plush curled tail and a calm, watchful expression. Adults stand roughly 24 to 28 inches tall, and the breed is heavy-boned and muscular. The thick coat comes in many colors, including white, brindle and pinto patterns, often with a mask.

In Japan the Akita was a hunting and guard dog from the northern region from which it takes its name, used on large game such as bear and boar. It is also a cultural symbol of health and good fortune. Owners today keep it for its calm loyalty, its dignity and its devotion to one household.

Temperament and family life

An Akita is typically composed, quiet and reserved. It bonds deeply with its family and often chooses one person as its favorite, while treating outsiders with aloof indifference or suspicion. It does not usually bark without cause, but its guardian instincts are strong and it takes its role seriously.

Many Akitas are intolerant of other dogs, especially of the same sex, and some will not live peacefully with other pets without careful management from an early age. A strong prey drive is common. With its own children an Akita can be gentle, but it is not a dog for chaotic households, and visiting children should be supervised closely. Early, broad socialization is essential and must continue through adulthood.

Exercise and training

The Akita needs regular, moderate to vigorous exercise: daily walks and some secure off-lead time, though recall cannot be trusted around other dogs or wildlife. It is not a dog to run beside a bicycle in hot weather. Mental activity, such as scent work and training games, keeps it content.

Training takes a patient, consistent approach. The breed is intelligent but independent, and it will ignore repetitive commands. Harsh methods tend to backfire and may provoke resistance. Short, rewarding sessions and plenty of structure work better. Because of its strength and temperament, the Akita is a breed where an experienced handler or a trainer's help early on makes a big difference.

Grooming and shedding

The coat is simple to look after but sheds profoundly. Brush at least weekly, using a slicker brush and an undercoat rake, and daily when the coat blows twice a year. Akitas are naturally clean, with little odor, and rarely need a bath more than a few times annually.

Trim the nails and check the ears and teeth. In hot weather, provide shade and cool surfaces, since the dense coat and large body retain heat.

Health

Responsible breeders screen hips and elbows and check for eye disease and thyroid function. The Akita has a higher incidence than many breeds of immune-mediated conditions, including autoimmune thyroiditis, and sebaceous adenitis, which affects the skin. Bloat is a risk in deep-chested dogs. Skin and coat problems are also reported. Lifespan is often 10 to 13 years. This is general information, and your veterinarian is the one to ask about an individual dog.

History

The Akita is generally traced to the mountainous Akita prefecture of northern Japan, where large dogs were used in hunting and later in guarding. Dogfighting and crossbreeding altered the breed in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, and breeders then worked to restore the original type, and the breed was declared a Japanese natural monument in 1931. The story of Hachiko, a dog that waited for his deceased owner at a Tokyo station, made the breed famous. American servicemen brought dogs home after the Second World War, and the American Kennel Club first listed the Akita in 1955 and moved it into the Working Group in 1972.

Is the Akita right for you?

The Akita fits a calm, experienced owner with a secure yard who wants a loyal, dignified companion and can keep it separated from other dogs when needed. It is a poor match for first-time owners, for families with a busy social life or for anyone who wants a dog friendly with all. The smaller, fox-like Shiba Inu is a related Japanese breed with a similarly independent spirit, while the Alaskan Malamute is a sled-pulling cousin. The Tibetan Mastiff is another aloof guardian.