The Akita is a large sized dog, known for its rippling power and intimidating presence. Its triangular, small eyes on a large head make it distinctive from other large sized breeds. Its rugged but confident posture tells us about its temperament. Though, it looks ferocious in its looks, it is actually quite noble and is known for its unwavering loyalty towards its masters. According to the American Kennel Club, this dog is one of the designated national monuments in Japan, its native country. Know more about this dog.

Star Rating :

Characteristics	Stars (based on 5)
Adaptability
Trainability
Health
All-round friendliness
Exercise Needs
Apartment friendly
Affection levelGrooming

Interesting facts about Akita dogs:

• Akita dogs are known to “talk” and the so called talk includes- grunts, mumbles and groans.
• Akita dogs do not bark without any reason.
• The average life span of this dog was 14-15 years, which reduced to 10-12 years after World War II.
• In Japan, the mothers left their young babies in care of their pet Akita dogs.
• These dogs retained their bloodline for a long time as it was guarded well by the Japanese.
• Male dogs has zero tolerance with other males and same goes about the female dogs.
• Akita dogs consider making an eye contact for a long time as a challenge.

Is Akita Dog right breed for you?

Some famous Akita Dogs:

• Helen Keller

 More information on the Akita Dog:

History:

Akita Dog is a popular dog breed that originated from the Japan’s Northern province. Its history can be traced back to 1600s. This was the time, when the Akita dog used to guard Japanese royalty and were also used for large game. This breed came into America with the help of Hellen Keller, a remarkable woman with a lot of achievements in her kitty. The Japanese were quite impressed by this remarkable lady and when they took her to show Hachiko statue, the statue of a loyal Akita who became quite popular for her loyalty in the 1920s, she expressed a desire to own an Akita dog. The Japanese gifted her with an Akita puppy and Helen brought it to America. She considered this dog as companionable, gentle and trusting.

Description:

The Akita Dog is a bold and a big dog and is known for its powerful and rugged appearance. It has triangular, small eyes and has a confident posture. The dog looks quite strong and just the presence of this dog is a restraint for trouble makers. Between ears, it has a flat skull, minimal and powerful dewlap and broad jaws.

Personality

These dogs are also known for their unwavering loyalty towards their owners. They adjust well with the owners’s family as they are quite affectionate and sweet. The dog lovingly protects their family members and love to follow their owners lovingly. They also love to serve their owners. Besides acting as a natural guardian, the dog is courageous, willful and stubborn. It loves to take up challenges. Without aggravated, they do not bark, but at the same time, they are quite vocal and make voices like moans, grunts, and mumbles. Many owners believe that their dogs speaks to themselves, muttering under the breath.

Health

Akita dogs generally enjoy a good health, but may suffer from some health problems once in a while. Some of the problems that may be faced by these dogs are-

• Hip Dysplasia

This is a condition which is inherited by the dogs and the thigh bone doesn’t fit well with the hip joint. When suffering from this disease, the dogs may experience lameness and pain in their rear legs. For proper problem diagnosis, X-ray may be suggested by the veterinarian. As the dog grows older, it may suffer from arthritis. This is why dog breeders avoid breeding Akita dogs with this problem, since it is an inherited disease.

• Bloating

Akita dogs may also suffer from bloating or gastric dilatation volvulous which, if not treated may turn out to be a life threatening problem. These dogs must not be given heavy meals or allowed to drink rapidly. If they eat a lot, their stomach may bloat with gas and gets twisted, which is quite a painful condition.

• Hypothyroidism

This is a thyroid gland disorder and can result in hair loss, epilepsy, hyperpigmentation, lethargy, skin conditions and pyoderma.

•  Sebacious Adentitis

This is again a serious, genetic problem seen in Akita dogs. This is basically inflammation of sebaceous glands that gets destroyed eventually. It is quite uncomfortable for the dog when suffering from this problem, though cosmetic in nature.

Care:

This dog is quite happy when it is with its family owners. The dog needs regular exercise on a daily basis. It is quite comfortable in cold weather; hence can be taken for its usual walk in cold weather as well. Jogging and brisk walk is quite ideal for these dogs. Since Akita dogs may get aggressive, taking them to a dog park is not a great idea. Instead, they can exercise a little in the backyard. The routine of their exercise must be changed every now and then to break the monotony. Akita dogs get bored easily, so they need to be kept engaged and occupied. They are intelligent, so grasp any instruction readily.

Feeding:

Akita dogs must not be given more than 3-5 cups of high quality, dry food in a day. They must not be allowed to take heavy meals at one time. Instead, they must be given small meals intermittently. Depending on their age, size, built and metabolism, the quantity of their food must be decided. If the dog eats too much and indulge in a little exercise, it may turn out to be a lazy couch potato which is not good for its health.

Grooming:

It is not very challenging to groom an Akita dog. But, since it sheds a lot, it is important that it is brushed regularly using a bristle brush. If you do not brush your dog regularly, you will find its hair all over your house, on your furniture, bed and other surfaces. 2-3 times in a year, the dog may shed a little more than regular shedding. It may be bathed once in three months. Monthly trimming of nails is necessary. Ears must be checked on a regular basis to see if there is any redness, dirt or foul odor emanating as it may be an indication of infection in the ear. Though, the dog doesn’t have many wrinkles, but they must be dried efficiently after being washed. Lanolin containing baby wipes may be used doe face cleaning. These days, Aloe Vera wipes are also available which are good for their skin.

The ears may be wiped clean using cotton ball dampened with a pH balanced ear cleaner. The dog’s nose must also be cleaned once in a while. For this purpose, petroleum jelly can be used so that the moist inner lining of the nose remains soft and moist and there is no internal bleeding due to rough cleaning. The dog’s teeth must also be cleaned on a regular basis. It can be given food items that remove tartar and plaque buildup.

All these factors will help you to enjoy your Akita pet dog and ensure that it remains healthy and continues to amuse you and guard you with its loyalty.