| Akitas: the most honest dog breed review you'll ever find. Information about Akita personality and behavior. |
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My book, Your Purebred Puppy: A Buyer's Guide (published by Henry Holt & Co.), includes a full-page profile of the Akita, including these excerpts:
"The Akita is calm, dignified, and quiet (seldom barks), yet also has a dominant and challenging personality.
Powerful, reserved with strangers, and protective, he must be accustomed to people at an early age so that his guarding instincts remain controlled rather than indiscriminate.
Akitas can be so aggressive with other dogs of the same sex that two males or two females should never be left alone together. They can also be predatory toward smaller pets.
Training can be a challenge, for the Akita is assertive, strong-willed, and bores easily, and he may use his intelligence in ways that suit his own purposes.
Yet owners who know how to lead will find him eminently trainable via praise and reward methods. He must be treated with respect and you must insist on respect in return.
This rugged breed doesn't require hours of running, yet he enjoys vigorous exercise, especially in cold weather.
Akitas can be very possessive of their food and do not accept teasing or mischief."
History
In the mountains of Akita Prefecture in Japan, he was used for bear hunting, guarding, and occasionally for dogfighting.
Size
24-28 inches and 70-130 lbs |
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Akitas
What's good about 'em
What's bad about 'em
- Is large, rugged, and powerful, with a wolf-like appearance
- Has a thick coat that comes in many colors and patterns
- Carries himself with a dignified, impressive presence
- Looks imposing, so makes an effective deterrent
- Doesn't need a great deal of exercise
- Doesn't bark much -- the "strong and silent" type
An Akita Inu may be right for you.
| If you don't want to deal with... |
- A bulky dog who takes up a lot of space in your house and car
- Aggression toward people when not socialized properly
- Aggression toward other animals
- Strong-willed mind of his own, requiring a confident owner who can take charge
- Extreme possessiveness of food -- children and other animals should not be allowed near an Akita who is eating
- Heavy shedding
- Legal liabilities (public perception, future breed bans, insurance problems, increased chance of lawsuits)
An Akita Inu may not be right for you.
| If I were considering an Akita Inu... |
My major concerns would be:
- Providing enough socialization. Many Akitas have protective instincts toward strangers. They need extensive exposure to friendly people so they learn to recognize the normal behaviors of "good guys." Then they can recognize the difference when someone acts abnormally. Without careful socialization, they may be suspicious of everyone, which could lead to biting.
| If you have children, I do not recommend an Akita. First, young Akitas (up to about two years old) romp and jump with great vigor, and things can go flying, including people. Second, there are just too many Akitas who don't tolerate any nonsense. |
- Animal aggression. Akitas were developed to hunt other animals. Most Akitas will not tolerate another dog of the same sex, and some won't tolerate the opposite sex either. Most Akitas have strong instincts to chase and seize cats and other fleeing creatures, including deer and livestock. If anything goes wrong in the breeding, socializing, training, handling, or management of this breed, it is capable of seriously injuring or killing other animals.
| To keep your Akita in, and to keep other animals and children out, fences should be high, with wire sunk into the ground along the fence line to thwart digging. Gates should have the highest quality locks. |
- The strong temperament. Akitas are not Golden Retrievers. They have an independent mind of their own and are not pushovers to raise and train. Many Akitas are willful, obstinate, and dominant (they want to be the boss) and will make you prove that you can make them do things. You must show them, through absolute consistency, that you mean what you say.
| To teach your Akita to listen to you, "Respect Training" is mandatory. My Akita Training Page discusses the program you need. |
- Heavy shedding. Akitas shed a LOT. You'll find hair and fur all over your clothing, upholstery, carpeting, under your furniture, on your countertops -- even in your food. Frequent vacuuming will become a way of life. Make sure you're REALLY up for this.
- Legal liabilities. Akitas may be targeted for "banning" in certain areas. Homeowners' insurance policies may be refused or revoked if you are discovered to own an Akita. Your friends and neighbors may be uncomfortable around this breed. In this day and age, the legal liabilities of owning any breed that looks intimidating and has a history as a guard dog and big game hunter should be seriously considered. People are quicker to sue if such a dog does anything even remotely questionable.
| Frankly, most Akitas are "too much dog" for the average household. Very few people really have the knowledge or skills necessary to manage this breed. |
| Not all Akitas are alike! |
- There are energetic Akitas, and placid Akitas.
- Hard-headed Akitas, and sweet-natured Akitas.
- Serious Akitas, and good-natured goofballs.
- Introverted Akitas, and Akitas who love everyone.
| If you acquire an Akita Inu puppy, you can't know for sure what he or she will grow up to be like. Because a good number of purebred puppies do NOT grow up to conform to the "norm." |
| If you're considering an adult Akita... |
There are plenty of adult Akitas who have already proven themselves NOT to have negative characteristics. If you find such an adult, don't let "typical breed negatives" worry you.
When you acquire a puppy, you're acquiring potential -- what he one day will be. So "typical breed characteristics" are very important. But when you acquire an adult, you're acquiring what he already IS.
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Copyright © 2000-2008 by Michele Welton. All rights reserved. No part of this website may be reproduced without the permission of the author. |
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