Akita, a Japanese dog breed, dates back nearly 400 years and derives its name from the prefecture of Akita in Northern Japan. In 1931, this dog breed was proclaimed a natural monument by the Japanese Ministry of Education. The government more recently took steps to preserve the Akita breed, which is now regarded as a National Treasure. Primarily, the Akita is a working dog. It was used for hunting bear, wild boar, and sled work; a companion and protector of children and home.
Photo: Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe took part in a ceremony to present a Japanese Akita dog to Russia’s Olympic figure skating champion Alina Zagitova during a visit to Moscow.
Japanese Akita Dog
Japanese Akita ideal specimenAkita FAQ Frequently Asked Questions:
Let us seek some answers related to the Akita breed. Are they hypoallergenic, or do they shed a lot? Do they bark a lot? Are they good guard dogs? Are they good family dogs? Good with children? And many more questions that a potential dog owner may be concerned about.
Russian President Vladimir Putin plays with an Akita in this lovely photo.What is the difference between the American Akita and the Japanese Akita?
American Akita is larger and more imposing than Japanese Akita. When compared to American Akita, Japanese Akita is more fine-boned. Another difference between American Akita and Japanese Akita is the ears’ size – Japanese Akitas have tiny ears. There are many different colors and color combinations in the American Akita, including black, white, chocolate, color, white, or brindle.
Photo: An American Akita (looks bigger)Where did the American Akita come from?
The origins of the American Akita follow that of the Akita Inu, in the Akita prefecture region in northern Japan. They originally were medium-sized dogs used for hunting bears and guarding homes. This was around the early part of the sixteen hundreds; this type of Akita was known as a Matagi Akita.
Then as the years progressed, some Japanese owners began to use their Akitas to fight other dogs; as a result of this, the Akita was cross-bred with the Tosa and Mastiff increasing in overall size.
Matagi Akita with Japanese hunterIn 1908 dog fighting was prohibited, and this changed the outlook for the Akita as the Japanese breeders wanted to bring back the original characteristics lost by crossbreeding the Matagi Akita. As a result, superior examples of the breed were designated as natural monuments in 1931.
Another significant factor in the history of the Akita was the second world war. During this period, Japanese Akita breeders were ordered to hand over all their dogs to be used as a source of military garments. Some Akita breeders then started to crossbreed with German Shepherds to save the Akita from certain extinction. By the end of the war, there were at least three different types of Akita in Japan.
In 1937, Helen Keller imported the first Akita into the United States and after the war. American service members of the occupying forces admired the Akita and adopted them. The Akita dog breeds popularity soon increased in the United States. Most of these Akitas were of the larger type (Dewa line). As the Akita breed grew in popularity, the Akita Club of American was established in 1956, and the American Kennel Club accepted the breed in October 1972.
Do Akitas shed a lot?
Akitas don’t shed year-round, although it might seem that way. They’re a double-coated breed, blowing out their undercoats twice a year. You’ll have large clumps of Akita’s hair all over the place. Regular brushing and vacuuming help reduce the volume of hair in the house.
What is Moku Akita?
Photo: Moku – Akita with a longer coat (about 2 or 3 inches long)Moku is an Akita with a long coat. There are two coat types in the Akita, the standard coat length and the long coat. The long coat Moku is considered a fault in the show ring. The long coat, also known as Moku, results from an autosomal recessive gene and may only occur if both parents are carriers. They have longer and softer coats and are known to have sweeter temperaments. It is believed that this gene comes from the now-extinct Karafuto-Ken Samurai dog. Unlike their short coat cousins, the long coats are less highly prized and thus more affordable.
Are Akitas friendly?
No! The Akita is a bold and willful dog, naturally wary of strangers but extremely loyal to their family. They tend to be aggressive toward other dogs, especially those of the same sex. They are best suited to a one-dog household. With family, the Akita is affectionate and playful.
Are Akitas good family dogs?
Akita is a great dog for the family if you will have just one dog as a pet. Akitas consider themselves a responsible family member. An Akita will wait for its master to be back home from work, will wait for the kids to return safely from school, and protect them once they are back. Also, an Akita is affectionate and playful with all family members. Akita will be a serious, responsible member of your family (not the joker).
Are Akitas good with children?
As a general rule, all dogs brought up with kids are good with them. Akitas brought up in a family with children who are usually extremely good with them. They are also protective. However, Akitas, brought up without any contact with children, does not always readily accept them. It is not advisable to allow kids to annoy an Akita.
Can Akita breed be left alone at home?
Yes! Akita is a serious, independent, courageous, mentally strong dog breed. They can be left alone without issues. When left alone, they will consider it their responsibility to protect their home.
Can two Akitas live together?
Male Akitas like to be the dominant force within the pets of a home; they always want to be the alpha dog. Avoid keeping two Akitas of the same sex together.
Can Akita survive in hot weather?
Akitas can survive in hot weather. However, they are better suited to colder climates where their insulating coats can help them rather than make them susceptible to heat stress. A climate-controlled environment, plenty of water, and cool shade are necessary to keep these dogs in good form when it’s super-hot.
Do Akitas need grooming? Hair-cuts? Are they clean?
Akitas are clean dogs and easy to keep groomed by brushing. Akitas are a relatively low-maintenance breed when it comes to grooming needs. They do not need haircuts. They typically blow their coat or shed out the undercoat twice a year. Brushing them during the shedding season helps to keep hair out of the house.
Do Akitas bark a lot?
Akitas do not bark unless there is a good reason. When an Akita is barking, pay attention. They are silent hunters who hunt low to the ground without growls or noise, similar to cats. Akitas may consider small animals as prey and hunt them.
Do Akitas like to swim?
Akitas can swim but may or may not like to swim. It depends on the individual and the circumstances. Fact: Akitas have webbed feet, which do help them in swimming. However, Akita’s webbed feet are thought to have developed to improve their ability to walk on snow more than for swimming.
Do Akitas have a high prey drive?
Akitas are born hunters with a high prey drive and may deem them as prey unless raised with small animals.
Is the Akita a good guard dog?
Akitas do have a very well developed protective instinct. When there is a reason to protect family and property, the Akita will surely do so. They are very quiet dogs and do not bark unless there is a good reason. If you are looking for a guard dog, here is a list of guard dog breeds. The Akita is also a part of this list of amazing guard dog breeds.
Ok, so let’s assume you have chosen the Akita as the best dog breed suitable for yourself. You have decided to find yourself an Akita puppy as your next family member. How will you choose the best pup? Let us look at some standard characteristics of the Akita dog breed, which will help you select the right puppy.
Choosing a good Akita puppy
The definition of the best Akita puppy depends on your requirements. Your expectations from an adult Akita can be broadly categorized as follows: Confirmation for show or breeding; obedience; smart guard dog; companion; homely pet.
Although it is tempting to look for all these qualities in one Akita puppy you plan to buy; it is seldom possible to find all qualities in a single pup.
If you want your Akita puppy to grow up to be a champion in the show ring, you should look for confirmation of the Akita dog breed standards. We have put together a general guideline for selecting an all-around good puppy for you. Our guideline includes breed standards and gives importance to temperament, appearance, physical details, gait, health issues, grooming needs, and maintenance.
Look for the following characteristics while choosing an Akita puppy.
Akita’s General Appearance
Large, powerful, alert, and much substance and heavy bone. The broad head, forming a blunt triangle with a deep muzzle. Small eyes and small erect ears carried forward in line with the neck are characteristic of the breed. The large curled tail, balancing the broadhead, is also characteristic of the Akita breed.
Akita Temperament
Alert, responsive, dignified, reserved with strangers. An Akita’s nature is to be intensely loyal to its master. The Akita barks infrequently and then only as a warning signal. Fearless when challenged, often dominant over other dogs. Akita’s demeanor suggests activity and agility.
Akita Size
Height at shoulders: 26 to 28 inches (66-71 cm) for dogs; 24 inches to 26 inches (61-66 cm) for bitches. The male dogs’ length to height is approximately 10:9; females 11:9.
Akita’s Coat and Color
Akita is double-coated: undercoat is soft and dense – shorter than outer coat. The outer coat is straight, harsh, slightly standing off the body. The hair on the head, legs, and ears is short. Length of hair at withers and rump, approximately two inches; except tail, where the coat is longest and most profuse. Any color, white, brindle or pinto. Colors well defined. Markings are well balanced. Whites have no mask. Pintos have a white background with large evenly placed patches covering the head and more than one-third of the body—brindles with or without a mask. If the face has stripes rather than a black mask, they should be uniform. The undercoat may be a different color from the outer coat.
Akita Inu
Akita’s Head
Skull is massive but in balance with body, tending to be flat on top with the rest of the head, forming a blunt triangle when viewed from the top. Free from wrinkles when at ease. Median fissure clearly visible and stop well defined. Cheeks moderately developed.
Muzzle – broad, full. Distance from nose to stop is the distance from stop to occiput as two is to three.
Nose – Broad and black. Liver nose permitted on white Akitas only, but black preferred.
Mouth – Clean, powerful jaws.
The tongue should be pink.
Teeth strong with scissors bite – but level bites acceptable. No black spots on the tongue. Lips black and heavy, but not pendulous.
Eyes – Dark brown: Small, deep-set, and triangular in shape. Eye rims black and tight.
Ears – of the Akita are characteristic of the breed. They are strongly erect and small concerning the size of the head. Ears are triangular, slightly rounded at tip, wide at the base, set wide on the head, but not too low, and carried slightly forward over eyes in line with the back of the neck.
Akita puppyAkita’s Neck
The neck is thick and muscular, comparatively short, widening gradually towards the shoulders. A pronounced crest blends in with the base of the skull.
Akita’s Forequarters
Shoulders – Strong and powerful with moderate layback.
Upper Arm – Heavy-boned and straight as viewed from the front. Elbows turning neither in nor out.
Lower Arm – Heavy-boned and straight as viewed from the front. Dewclaws are optional.
Pasterns – Angle of pastern 15 degrees from vertical.
Feet – Thick, round, and very tight with arched toes (cat feet) straight ahead, pads thick.
Akita puppies
Akita’s Body
Topline – Level back.
Chest – It is wide and deep. Depth of chest is half-height of the dog at the shoulder: Ribs well-sprung, brisket will-developed.
Loin – Firmly muscled and moderate tuck-up.
Abdomen – Is drawn up and tucked up.
Croup – Is slightly rounded.
Akita’s Hindquarters
Hip bone – Width, muscular development, and bone comparable to front.
Upper thigh – Well developed and powerful, stifle moderately angled.
Lower thigh – Should be comparable to forequarters, dewclaws optional.
Hocks – strong hocks, less angular than many breeds (145-160 degrees) turning neither in nor out. (e) Feet – Same as the front.
Akita’s Tail
Large and full, set high and carried over back or against flank in a three quarter, full or double curl, always dipping to or below the back level. On a three-quarter curl, tip drops well down flank. Root thick and strong. The tail reaches hock when let down—hair coarse, straight and full, with no plume appearance.
American Akita
Akita’s Gait
Brisk and powerful. Vigorous. Back remains firm and level. Rear legs move in line with the front legs.
Faults that are observed in the Akita dog breed standard.
1. Over-refinement in males; 2. coarseness in bitches; 3. lack of chest; 4. elbows in or out; 5. light bone, the rangy body; 6. straight hocks; 7. excessive dewlap; 8. an indication of ruff or feathering; 9. round or light eye.
The foregoing description is that of the ideal Akita. Any deviation from the above-described dog must be penalized to the extent of the deviation, keeping in mind the Akita dog breed’s original purpose.
Disqualifications: 1. Monorchids or cryptorchids; 2. Viciousness, instability; 3. Excessively over/undershot; 4. Uncurled or sickle tail; 5. Albinos: 6. Butterfly nose; 7. Drop or broken ears; 8. Entropion or ectropion; 9. Long coats; 10. Males under twenty-five (25) inches (64 cm); bitches under twenty-three (23) inches (58 cm); 11. Altering of a coat or general appearance by scissoring or clipping.
Image: Russian President Vladimir Putin poses for the camera as he plays with his dogs Yume, an Akita Inu, front, and Buffy, a Bulgarian shepherd.
Akita Videos
Hachiko, one of the world’s most loyal dogs, was an Akita. Story of Hachiko.
Rare photo of Hachiko, an Akita.
Unfortunately, Akitas have a bad reputation in some countries. Any dog that isn’t correctly reared can become aggressive or badly behaved, but large, athletic, confident dogs like Akitas are more capable of hurting people when out of control. Due to their hunting instincts, leaving an Akita to roam free in a park or area where other animals are present is a bad idea.
Akita is such an amazing breed!! Yet it is banned in some cities.. banned or restricted by cities in: Iowa, Louisiana, Michigan, Tennessee, and Washington.
The Akita faces bans in many cities across the United States. These dogs have a reputation for being aggressive. So, in any encounter with other dogs or uninformed people, whether your dog was the aggressor or not, expect the Akita to be blamed.
Whether you own an Akita or another restricted breed, some cities don’t ban breeds outright, but they require you to handle the animal like he’s a dangerous dog.
In areas with such rules, you may have to muzzle your dog when he’s in public. You may also need to carry liability insurance, or display a dangerous dog sign at your home. Some cities require your pet to wear a tag that reads dangerous dog! They may even mandate that you micro-chip and fix or neuter the dog.
Hello!!!!! We are looking for a new pup to join our family and we fell in love for the akitas!!! BUTTT we have two female dachshunds (one is 2yo and neutered and the other is 9yo). Is it possible for them to get along with a MALE akita?? Can he be agressive towards them even if raised together since a pup??? And even being a male?? They are sweet dogs but with a little strong personality… the two females used to get into bad fights with each other, but they are two females and one is not neutered… But nowadays they don’t fight anymore, as we went through a dog training with them and established a hierarchy with the humans on top…. so…. YEAHHH thank you in advance!!!! 🙂
I’m no expert, but in my experience male akitas will usually let females do whatever they want. If you wanted a female akita with two other small female dogs I would be more worried, but the males are pushovers when it comes to females.
Nope, not a problem. Ours lives with 3 other dogs of various sizes. Including two smaller dogs, our old chihuahua (who passed) and our new chihuahua/IG mix. Both have bitten our Akita in the face, like hanging off his face, because he is huge and invasive sometimes. Never once has he bitten, growled, or even acted like he was going to do anything back. As a matter of fact it seems to really hurt his feelings haha. They are super family oriented and generally look out for the others.
I would be more concerned about making sure that you are ready for an Akita. My buddy is my best friend and we have a connection that I didn’t know a person could have with a dog. He is an amazing and crazy loyal friend. He is so smart it’s almost like having a kid around lol. I talk to him and ask him to do something and he just does it. He is a champion and I love him so much!
On the flip side, I too ran into him as a puppy, he was free and insanely cute…but man is he a huge HASSLE. He is smart, althetic, and energetic… Not a real great combo for a city dog who spends a large portion of time inside. I have spent thousands keeping him in our (large) back yard or caged up (he has high anxiety and destroys the house when we are gone). The city fined me once because he jumped the fence so that he could sit in the driveway and bark at the mailman. I literally cannot buy a cage for under $1k that will hold him. He has broken 2 “heavy duty” cages and I am now welding him one together out of angle iron and expanded metal. I have put up a new stockade fence with a parameter shock collar so that he can’t get close enough to jump it, because he will different so with ease. He used to be ok with other dogs and like the dog park, but as he has gotten older he just gets annoyed with it. Inevitably someones untrained pit wants to come try to hump him or other dogs pack up and overwhelm him, so he bites them and we look like the assholes because he is giant and dominant. You have to perpetually let him know that you are in charge. He is constantly testing the waters to see what he can get away with. And this is a HIGHLY trained dog. We have worked with him consistently since he was a puppy. My girlfriend worked at a vet/groomer and had access to the best resources in our area. I can literally tell him to give the vet his paw so that they can draw blood lol. Everywhere we go we get compliments on how well behaved he is.
I would not trade my dog for the world, but I might have waited to get an Akita until I had land. Out of his litter of 10, 2 of us did not get rid of our akitas. Me and an older woman who has had a lot of experience with the breed. I hate seeing people buy a dog because it is cute as a puppy and all they have heard were the breeds positive attributes, only to learn about the negatives later on. I say all of this not to deter you, but so that you can make a well informed decision and hopefully so that you get a dog that you can keep and love for many many years.
First I feel compelled to react to what Drago wrote…I am sitting here with tears on my cheeks…as a fellow Akita owner so privileged to read the unvarnished truth about the breed that we love.
OP…please seriously consider why you think you wish to add an Akita to your existing fur baby family. Kudos to you for proactively reaching out…the differences in breeds is HUGE…and the difference goes far beyond the obvious of physical size.
We are blessed to live on 15 acres and I am home with Loki and also have him with experienced large breed trainers and at doggy daycare multi times per week and I came into this loving commitment with 14 years of prior experience with a Siberian Husky…and still it is challenging at times.
The Akita’s strength is unparalleled… physical as well as their mental acuity. It reminds me of being a parent to a gifted child…they are exceedingly demanding for all of the right reasons… highly intelligent, inquisitive, demonstrative, fiercely loyal, stubborn, single minded determination, protective of family to a fault, independent, goofy, precious beings that a select few are honored to share our lives with.
Loving and living with Loki has changed my life in a wide variety of ways…and they are not all positive. Akita’s in general dislike (Despise) being left alone. Loki is “ok” with about an hour before he will let us know that we dishonored him. We have shifted going out to eat with friends even before Covid changed life. We can’t visit certain family (we have 4 grown sons with families) because they are uncertain of his size, we spend most summer weekends on our boat and now am on guard for several of the Marina’s male dogs like to challenge and be assertive with Loki while he (so far) has remained a perfect gentleman…and the life changing list goes on and on…
And given everything I would adopt that 10 week old adorable ball of fur again…it was a very well thought out and researched decision. No regrets.
But…if this were 5 or 10 years ago this would have already resulted in me rehoming him…at that point in my life I didn’t have the time and resources to have given him what he demands…what he minimally deserves in exchange for all that he brings to the table…(thinking of his head hovering over our farmhouse table and he is still an 11 month old puppy).
So if you honestly can’t imagine having over 100 lbs of intensity coming at you throughout your day then this breed doesn’t currently represent a fit for you…think of it in a other way… recently bought a new car and while it is true that I could of chosen a sedan over my Jeep Wrangler…it would never have “fit” into my current lifestyle. I certainly would be trading it in the first time it didn’t make it down the side of the mountain (hill) we live on after a foot of snow (likely tomorrow).
Please do extensive research before buying that Akita puppy…there are substantive reasons why the Lab remains the most popular dog breed in the US for 29 straight years…and not the Akita!
Thank you for asking the tough and correct question.
It can certainly work, as you’re considering opposite sex which is what you need, but I will reiterate – you need to be prepared for everything that the breed is. They are adorable puppies and stunning adults, but they are challenging dogs. I have placed my Akita puppies into homes with small dogs, and into adulthood they are doing great, but owners have to be prepared for how to handle the breed and manage the dogs under the same roof.
Akitas are protective but not dangerous. Akitas are amazing dogs that have such unusual colors and markings that once you see them, you’ll never be able to forget them. They are simply the best loyal pet dog you can have!
They say Akitas are a wolf-like dog breed! There have been 70 attacks, eight deaths, and 52 maimings from 1980 to 2020..blah blah (however, this is not a lot, considering the number of dogs in the USA!). Humans have by far been the most dangerous species on the planet! The Akita breed originated from the snowy, rural, mountainous regions of Japan, where they were used to hunt boar, elk, and the small Yezo bear. IMO, a well-socialized Akita is not dangerous at all. It is an excellent companion, family dog, protector, and faithful partner.
Akitas may seem a bit dangerous to strangers, but they are amazing dogs with their own families. And my Akitas like to cuddle! The Akita breed is renowned for being loyal, friendly, and affectionate with its owners and those they can trust. Although not every Akita will come over and beg to be cuddled, most of them love nothing more than the close contact that cuddling with their owner brings.