Let's talk American Akitas
A handsome, headstrong breed with ancient Japanese heritage, the American Akita is a heavy-boned, muscular dog whose striking, noble looks and somewhat dominant personality are guaranteed to make an impression. Renowned for their fearlessness and deep sense of loyalty, American Akitas have a long history as both guardians and sporting dogs. Though aloof and standoffish around strangers, once an American Akita bonds with their family, the latter can expect a devoted lifelong companion ready to follow them anywhere—and we do mean anywhere.
Official name: American Akita
Other names: None
Origins: Japan
Drooling tendencies
5 out of 5Shedding Level
5 out of 5Energy level*
3 out of 5Compatibility with other pets
1 out of 5Warm weather?
2 out of 5Suited to apartment living
2 out of 5Family pet?*
2 out of 5Can stay alone
1 out of 5
| Male | Female |
|---|---|
| Height | Height |
| 66 - 71 cm | 61 - 66 cm |
| Weight | Weight |
| 45 - 59 kg | 31 - 45 kg |
| Life stages | |
|---|---|
| Adult | |
| 15 months to 5 years | |
| Mature | Senior |
| 5 to 8 years | from 8 years |
| Baby | Junior |
| Birth to 2 months | 2 to 15 months |
Drooling tendencies
5 out of 5Shedding Level
5 out of 5Energy level*
3 out of 5Compatibility with other pets
1 out of 5Warm weather?
2 out of 5Suited to apartment living
2 out of 5Family pet?*
2 out of 5Can stay alone
1 out of 5
| Male | Female |
|---|---|
| Height | Height |
| 66 - 71 cm | 61 - 66 cm |
| Weight | Weight |
| 45 - 59 kg | 31 - 45 kg |
| Life stages | |
|---|---|
| Adult | |
| 15 months to 5 years | |
| Mature | Senior |
| 5 to 8 years | from 8 years |
| Baby | Junior |
| Birth to 2 months | 2 to 15 months |
Get to know the American Akita
All you need to know about the breed
The bold and brave American Akita is a stunning breed whose individuality and confidence are to be admired. Fiercely protective of their family, these powerful dogs are natural guardians who rarely back away from a challenge. But despite their somewhat intimidating public demeanor, the American Akita has an entirely other side reserved uniquely for their loved ones. Playful and affectionate in their “private life”, an American Akita wants nothing more than to be by their family’s side, wherever that may be.
Though a one-family kind of dog, the American Akita is very social within their home environment and most content when included in daily activities. Though not prone to barking, the American Akita is quite vocal, producing an impressive range of grunts, mumbles, moans, etc. And another unique American Akita trait is known as mouthing, by which they carry various items around, from toys to shoes to your hand. The latter isn’t aggressive behavior but rather a means of telling their owners, "Let’s go for a walk" or "Come see this".
Despite the affection and loyalty that the American Akita showers on their family, this breed can be stubborn and determined both in and outside the home. As such, confident, experienced dog owners capable of establishing their alpha position will fare best. However, anyone willing to take the time necessary to properly train and socialize an American Akita will be rewarded with a devoted and loving pet-owner relationship.
2 facts about American Akitas
1. Some angels have fur
It is widely held that Helen Keller was the first American to import an Akita from Japan to the U.S. While on a trip to the breed’s native country, Keller was shown a statue of a famous Akita–Hachiko– renowned for his lasting loyalty to his owner long after the latter’s passing. When the Japanese heard of Keller’s desire to own one, they offered her a puppy, which she named Kamikaze-go. After his early passing from distemper, Keller wrote that Kamikaze was “an angel in fur”.
2. Fear? Never heard of it.
Two uncontested behavioral traits of the American Akita are their courage and loyalty. In fact, these were once put to the test when London Zoo zookeepers needed a solution to help them raise an orphaned Sumatran Tiger cub. Who did they enlist? An American Akita puppy! With fearlessness that enabled the puppy to play with the tiger cub and a protective instinct that helped the two forge a strong bond, the American Akita puppy pulled off its mission with flying colors.
History of the breed
The American Akita’s origins can be traced back to the Akita province of Japan where, in the 17th century, the breed’s ancestors, the Matagi-Inu, were used for hunting large game and guarding royalty. By the 19th century, dogfighting had become popular and many Matagi-Inu were crossbred with foreign breeds like the Tosa and Mastiff to produce bigger, more aggressive dogs dubbed the Dewa line.
Japan prohibited dog fighting in 1908, but World War II soon decimated the Akita population. Fortunately, many American GIs in Japan fell for the breed and took theirs back home, mostly Dewa—German Shepherd and Fighting dog strains.
In 1956, the Akita Club of America was formed and, in 1973, the American Kennel Club officially recognized the Akita, closing their stud book to further imported Akitas (they didn’t recognize the Japanese Kennel Club). Since the majority of imported dogs were of the Dewa lines, these made up the resulting foundation stock of the American Akita. The AKC later recognized the Japanese Kennel Club and reopened the stud book, but the differences between the American and Japanese Akitas were already established. Years of debate ended in 2006 when the American type was officially named the American Akita.
From head to tail
Physical characteristics of American Akitas
1.Head
2.Eyes
3.Ears
4.Body
5.Tail
Things to look out for
From specific breed traits to a general health overview, here are some interesting facts about your American Akita
When the get up and go is gone
Hip dysplasia is a genetic condition causing the malformation of the hip joint and can unfortunately be found in American Akitas. Over time, it can lead to arthritis and loss of mobility. Dogs with hip dysplasia may experience pain and lameness in one or both rear legs. Responsible breeders screen their breeding stock; however, should you notice symptoms in your American Akita, visit your vet immediately to identify a course of treatment to ensure your pet’s optimal long-term comfort and healthy lifestyle.
When bellyache is something more
Large, deep-chested dogs like the American Akita can develop gastric dilatation-volvulus, commonly called bloat, a life-threatening condition in which their stomach, and subsequently, their abdomen swells, requiring immediate medical, and often surgical, attention. Symptoms include a distended belly, retching, salivation, whining and/or sudden stillness. To minimize the risk of bloat, give your American Akita several small meals a day versus one large one, and avoid vigorous exercise around mealtimes.
Healthy diet, healthier dog
When choosing food for an American Akita, there are many factors to consider: their age, lifestyle, activity level, physical condition, and health including potential sickness or sensitivities. Food provides energy to cover a dog’s vital functions, and a complete nutritional formula should contain an adjusted balance of nutrients to avoid any deficiency or excess in their diet, both of which could have adverse effects on the dog. As giant-sized breed dogs have a higher risk of a condition called gastric dilatation-volvulus (GDV), where the stomach becomes overstretched and rotated because of excess gas (usually caused by overfeeding during a meal), it’s recommended to split the daily allowance into three meals for puppies and try to keep this routine into their adult years.
Clean and fresh water should be available at all times to support good urinary regularity. In hot weather and especially when out exercising, bring water along and give your dog frequent water breaks. Energy intake may also have to be adapted to the climatic conditions. A dog that lives outdoors in winter will have increased energy requirements.
The following recommendations are for healthy animals. If your dog has health problems, please consult your veterinarian who will prescribe an exclusively veterinary diet.
An American Akita puppy’s requirements, in terms of energy, protein, minerals, and vitamins, are greater than those of an adult dog. They need energy and nutrients to maintain their body, but also to grow and build it. During their growth, an American Akita puppy’s immune system develops gradually. A complex of antioxidants–including vitamin E–can help support their natural defenses during this time of big changes, discoveries, and new encounters. Their digestive functions are also different from that of an adult American Akita: their digestive system is not mature yet so it is important to provide highly-digestible proteins that will be effectively used for the building of bones, tissues, and organs. Prebiotics, such as fructo-oligosaccharides, can support digestive health by helping balance the intestinal flora, resulting in good stool.
Giant-sized puppies, whose growth period is long and intense, are especially susceptible to skeletal and joint problems, including limb defects, bone deformities, and joint lesions.
The first part of growth (up to 15 months) is mainly concerned with bone development, although the muscles will also start to grow. This means that a puppy that eats too much (takes in too much energy) will put on too much weight and grow too quickly. A food with an adjusted calorie content to support a high growth rate while at the same time avoiding excess weight gain will help minimize these risks. A balance of energy and minerals (calcium and phosphorus) during this first phase of growth will contribute to bone mineralization in order to support bone consolidation and the development of healthy joints. Although the calcium content in the food needs to be increased, giant-sized breed puppies are more sensitive to excessive calcium intake. It’s important to understand that adding any ingredients to a complete food formulated for the growth phase is at best unnecessary and at worst dangerous for the animal, unless prescribed by a veterinarian.
As with many giant-sized breed dogs, American Akitas are prone to digestive sensitivity, and their body weight can create stress on their joints throughout their lifetime. American Akitas’ nutritional needs then should include high-quality protein and a balanced supply of dietary fiber to help promote optimal digestibility, as well as glucosamine, chondroitin, and antioxidants to help support the health of their bones and joints. A formula enriched with omega-3 fatty acids, such as EPA and DHA, will help maintain healthy skin. An adapted taurine content is also important to support healthy heart function.
It is important to avoid feeding American Akitas human foods or fatty snacks. Instead, reward them with kibble taken from their daily meal allowance, and strictly follow the feeding guidelines written on the package.
Caring for your American Akita
Grooming, training, and exercise tips
Weekly brushing, regular nail trimming and ear cleaning, and a bath every three months or so will suffice in terms of grooming your American Akita. That said, you may want to invest in a good vacuum cleaner since these dogs shed—a lot— and blow their coats twice a year.
While not a highly active breed, American Akitas should get at least a half hour to an hour’s worth of exercise each day in addition to their favorite pastime—playing! The American Akita benefits enormously from a varied routine, which will both keep them mentally and physically stimulated and help curb any undesirable behaviors that might result from boredom.
The American Akita is a dominating breed that is all too ready to take charge of things—and you. Extensive, early socialization and firm but loving training given by an experienced trainer will ensure an American Akita learns the best canine manners.
7/7
All about American Akitas
When considering an American Akita as a family pet, it is recommended to start with a very young puppy who can be raised alongside small children and other pets. American Akitas tend to be territorial, so exposing them to other members of the family from the earliest age will help ensure their comfort—and yours. As with any breed, dogs should always be supervised when kids are around, and vice versa.
Given their strong prey drive and same-sex aggressivity with other dogs, American Akitas are best as the only household pet. In addition, they do not always make good candidates for dog parks and should be kept on a leash when out and about.
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Read more on this topic
Sources
- Veterinary Centers of America https://vcahospitals.com/;
- Royal Canin Dog Encyclopaedia. Ed 2010 and 2020
- Banfield Pet Hospital https://www.banfield.com/
- Royal Canin BHN Product Book
- American Kennel Club https://www.akc.org/
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