The Japanese Akita Dog

By Ken Charles
2008-03-12

The Japanese Akita Dog

Origin and History of the Akita Dog.

The Japanese Akita is not a
suitable dog as a normal family pet. It was originally bred in the
Akita Prefecture in Japan, as a hunting dog, for deer, wild boar and
even bears. For this purpose, it required to be a large, strong dog
with confident, dominant tendencies and an independent nature. The
Akita is also known as Akita Inu, which is Japanese for dog.

The
average height for the Akita is between 24 to 28 inches and will weigh
from eighty to one hundred and ten pounds. He has strong, heavy bones
and a muscular body. This is a lot of dog!

The Akita has a
double coat, which is harsh and waterproof, with a thick, dense
undercoat. It sheds profusely, all year round and requires brushing and
grooming every day. Colors include white, white with tan patches and
other combinations, including brindle. The dense coat of this breed
means that he is happy in the snow but he will suffer in a hot climate.

This
is not a dog for inexperienced owners, or for people who are elderly or
weak. Akitas are intelligent and athletic and when socialized are
faithful and affectionate but will always strive for the dominant
position in the family group. He may show aggression towards family
members and may not suit a family with small children. With this breed,
it is vital that you are the Alpha Dog and that he knows his place in
your "pack"!

The Akita may show aggression towards other dogs
and small animals and should not be allowed to roam off-leash in public
areas where there are many people and other dogs.

Training Akitas

The
Akita can be difficult to train because they are intelligent and
stubborn and can quickly become bored. it should never be a question of
"asking" an Akita to do something. It must always be a strong command
from a dominant owner. When you say "NO", mean it and make it stick.
You may have problems with house training, as Akitas suffer from
urinary infections in infancy.

There is plenty of information
available online, much of it Free, on the subject of Dog Aggression.
Any dog which shows undue aggression, to people or animals, is in
urgent need of proper expert training.

If you take an Akita into
your family, you must be prepared to spend time and effort on training,
socializing, excercise and grooming. This large dog also costs a lot to
feed.

Akitas in the Family

There are conflicting opinions
about the suitability of Akitas with young children. Historically, the
breed had a strong reputation for being protective of young children
and were often left in sole charge. Other opinions point out the
dominant nature of the breed and the fact that these dogs will compete
for their place in the pack. Certainly, a young child will be no match
physically for an adult Akita.

Proper supervision of the
behavior of the dog and the children is essential in this situation.
Having said this, a well socialized Akita will be more comfortable with
this.

Akitas make extremely good guard dogs. They have a strong
territorial instinct and will be very protective of family and
property. As a watch dog, they are quietly effective. They do not bark
unnecessarily but will certainly raise the alarm at the approach of any
strange visitors or sounds.

The average lifespan of the Akita is
about 12 years. Like many other breeds of dog, cancer is the most
common cause of death. Recent surveys in both the United Kingdom and
the USA/Canada revealed this to be the case, with other causes
including cardiac and bloat/torsion.


Article Pages:
» The Japanese Akita Dog

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