Akitas a majestic-looking dog that never fails to make heads turn. It’s impossible to miss the Akita, especially with its muscular build, short muzzle, and brooding eyes. Aside from the appearance, the dog is attractive because it has so much confidence, dignity, grace, and poise whether it’s sitting, standing, walking, or lying down.
Akitas trace their origins to Japan in the 17th century. They are one of the oldest breeds in the country and in the whole world. They were originally bred for dog fighting and hunting for big game. Their thick coat helps them withstand the cold weather. The breed almost went extinct as it was crossbred with different breeds for fighting. Luckily, there were movements to preserve the breed in 1927 by an Akita organization. The breed was then brought to the United States by Helen Keller.
Today, Akitas treasured dogs because of their loyalty, strength, and courage. They are considered big and strong dogs with a soft spot for their master.
Size
The male Akitas height goes up to 26-28 inches, weighing around 75-120 pounds. The female can be around 24-26 inches tall and as heavy as 75-110 pounds.
Coat Care
The Akitas have noticeably short and thick double coat to protect them from the cold winters in Japan. They have a straight and coarse undercoat, with an overcoat that’s softer. The medium length coat needs to be brushed and combed weekly to keep it soft and groomed. There’s no need to trim their coat but brushing and combing are required because their undercoat sheds completely at certain times. Don’t be tempted to bathe these dogs often to avoid drying out the hair. The usual coat colors are brindle, pinto, and white.
Family Life
The Akitas’ shining traits are loyalty and courage, making them a very good house pet. These laid-back dogs are pretty quiet, barking only when something agitates them. They fare well with children only if the owners socialize them properly. Akitas form strong bonds with their human families but only if the family establishes its dominance over them. Akitas have a very strong personality. If they see that they can dominate their masters, they will wreck havoc.
The Akita is best for families that already know how to handle dogs. It has possessive tendencies when it comes to their families. However, If trained properly, they will turn out to be loving protectors.
Lifestyle
The first thing that you would like to do is to socialize your Akita well. It needs to know who his or her master is. That way, you can take advantage of its natural loyalty. Take it out for daily walks and expose it to different dogs. However, don’t let it cohabitate with other dogs as much as possible. When interacting with your Akitas, be firm but gentle. Shower them with love but don’t spoil them.
Health
Akitas are generally healthy pets but owners have to watch out for bloating, gastric torsion, eye conditions (e.g. cataracts), hip dysplasia, and von Willebrands. Discuss these problems with the veterinarian.
Exercise
Akitas are athletic dogs but they’re calm animals. Take them out for daily walks or hikes. As much as possible, put them in a large yard with a fence around the perimeter.
Training
Akitas are undeniably intelligent but it is their intelligence that makes them strong-willed. At the earliest age, let them know who’s in charge. Be firm but don’t be cruel. Establish companionship with a hint of dominance. Provide them a routine so they can pick up commands easily. Praise them when they do a command correctly. They want nothing more than to please their masters.
Akita Training…
