American Akita: description and content of the breed

As samurai and shogun companion dogs, the American Akita were considered bold and fearless. By their appearance, they often frightened off strangers. Dogs were also used during game hunting. Currently, they are excellent companion dogs, they are used as guard dogs and as harness dogs. To this day, courage and loyalty are integral to their character.

American Akita belong to one of the oldest breeds in the world. On the rocks were found pictures similar to this breed, which appeared about 5,000 years ago.

The exact origin and pedigree of the breed remain unknown to this day. There is an assumption that it was founded in the XVII century. In Akita, in the northern region of Hoshu Island, the Japanese aristocrats decided to breed a bold, strong hunting breed. But that individual was smaller than today's Akit representatives. These were elite dogs. Only Japanese shoguns could be the sole owners and breeders of Akit. The way to care for dogs was classified. This demonstrates the high esteem that dogs of this breed enjoyed.

At the end of the XIX century (approximately in 1897), as a result of the crossing of Akit and Japanese fighting breeds, an aggressive breed of impressive size was bred. This led to the almost complete disappearance of the purebred Akita. The mayor of Odate, Mr. Shigei Izumi, defended the cleanliness of the breed and defended its preservation. Public opinion supported the movement to protect the purity of the breed, and already in 1919 a law was adopted on the conservation of Akit. But due to the large number of different types of dogs, it was impossible to maintain the characteristics of a purebred breed.

The results were presented in the works “The Origins of Japanese Dogs” and “The History of Maintaining the Purity of the Japanese Dog Breed” by Hiroshi Saito, as well as at the Zoological Society meeting in 1922. In 1927, the standard was developed Akiho.

In 1931, the dog population under the direction of Dr. Tokyo Kaburagi was restored, and in 1931 the name of the Akita breed was changed.

In 1931, the Akita was officially recognized as the “National Dog of Japan”, and the export of these dogs was banned. During World War II, the breed almost died out. Mainly due to the acute shortage of food - every person feeding a dog was considered a traitor. The maintenance of such large dogs was too expensive and could not go to the detriment of human life or health. Dogs were used for meat and skin. Not more than a dozen dogs of this breed survived the war. After the war, dogs did not breed well due to diseases and malformations.

The first dog brought to the United States was presented to Mrs. Helen Keller in July 1937 from Mr. Ichiro Ogasawara (later Chairman of Akiho).

After the war, the popularity of Akit in the international arena has increased. The American soldiers who returned to the country brought with them these wonderful animals.

At that time, the Kongo-Go dog won the JKC show, and a dog of the same type that won at the Akihoco show aroused a growing interest in this breed, especially from the late 40s to the mid 50s.The Kongo-Go line dogs were large, well-built and stately, however, their appearance was different from the one that interested Japanese breeders.

Akita is a symbol of loyalty. These are dogs in love with their owners, loyal to them to the end. An example of this is the story of Hati-Ko, a dog through which the world learned that there is a creature (unfortunately, not a man, but a dog), for whom the concept of love, devotion and loyalty is not empty words, but the meaning of life.

Hati-Ko, Akita Inu puppy, was born in 1923. Its owner was the University of Tokyo University professor Eisubaro Ueno. When Hati-Ko grew up a bit, he escorted his master to Shibuya Station. He returned there daily at four o'clock in the afternoon to meet his master. Every day, a man and a dog, regardless of the weather, parted and greeted each other on the square in front of the station. It seemed that nothing could disturb the harmony that prevailed between them.

However, in 1925, when the dog was 18 months old, Hati-Ko, as usual, said goodbye to his master, who was boarding the train, but did not wait for him to return to four o'clock. Eusubaro Ueno died at work. Everyone knew about it, but no one could explain it to the dog, who was returning to the square daily, searching for the beloved owner at the station door. This lasted 9 years before the death of the dog.

Friendly people took care of her. But no one could replace the dog Eisubaro Ueno. Hati-Ko became known for an article that appeared in the press on October 4, 1932 under the name "The touching story of an old dog", and in honor of his devotion a bronze monument was erected by the Japanese sculptor Teru Ando.

Another example of such unusual devotion to man is the history of 12 Akita dogs, which in 1957 took part in a scientific expedition along the southern route. Due to difficult weather conditions, Japanese scientists were forced to return from the middle of the route, leaving the equipment and dogs.

When the expedition was resumed after three years, the researchers found 12 of the 20 dogs remaining in the former camp. They survived in extreme conditions, were healthy and in good condition. Emperor Hirohito ordered to erect a monument in their honor - 12 full-size dog silhouettes cast in bronze near the Tokyo Tower.

Japanese literature portrays Akita as an ancient and native dog with which certain beliefs were associated. Small wooden figurines depicting Akita performed by Japanese sculptors were presented as gifts - symbols of happiness.

Akita American is a dog with a strong build and a lot of weight. Characterized by its head in the form of two equilateral triangles.

There are a lot of varieties of color shades of fur in this breed. There are dogs with red, red, fawn, white color. As well as various mixed colors and patterns (for example, tiger). Spotted individuals have large, evenly spaced spots on a white background of the head and torso. The color of the undercoat may differ from the color of the outer coat, which is especially evident in long-haired Akita.

The table below lists the main characteristics of this breed.

American Akita - breed properties (on a 10-point scale):

Large Japanese dogs are suitable for calm and at the same time strong people. Improper education of these dogs can cause them to be timid or aggressive. Understanding can be achieved through friendly, patient and consistent education. However, the dog belongs to the dominant individuals, so the pet will try to subjugate family members.

Submission to them is unfamiliar. Only kindness and patience will achieve its intended purpose. American Akita is ideal for finding people trapped in a mountain avalanche.

Besides, you can never be 100% sure that the Akita will obey you, even if the dog is well-educated. In forest areas rich in game, it is better to keep the Akita on a leash, as there is a hunting instinct in the genes of this breed.

The beautiful fur of these dogs consists of two layers (wool and undercoat), it is very easy to care for him. Only with the loss of wool (shedding) twice a year is necessary daily combing.

American Akita people have many different colors and color combinations, including black, white, chocolate or tiger.

They are usually stubborn and not too fond of strangers. These are good qualities for a watchdog, but you will need an experienced trainer if you have to interact with other animals or people. Beginners are wary of this breed. Nevertheless, Akita are faithful companions who will be tied to their master for life. Therefore, if you and your family are ready to accept the challenge, you will have a lifelong friend who will not let you down.

Dimensions of males about 70 cm, weight from 38 to 60 kg; females - 63 cm, weight from 30 to 50 kg.

Big Japanese Dog - great individualist. Akita is self-confident, stubborn and domineering. With proper education from an early age, the dog will be a reliable and affectionate friend of the family. As for strangers - Akita is in no hurry to make friendly relations with them, which makes her an ideal watchman. This is a balanced dog, but in battle - cruel, ruthless and irresistible.

Obedience training should begin at puppyhood, as these are dominant dogs. Having a superior position, they will try their best to keep him, which can be very dangerous for anyone who wants to deprive the dog of this position. Because of the above, Akita is not suitable for the elderly, physically weak, and also too powerful, submissive, or nervous.

Originally they were used as hunting dogs for hunting wild boars, deer and even dangerous black bears. They were valued for their stubbornness and ruthlessness in the fight, as well as for the passion of hunting.

While hunting for bears, they usually worked in pairs. At first, the animal circled around the prey, and when the bear climbed on its hind legs, the first dog attacked the side of the animal, while the second bit its throat. The fight took place in complete silence. Often the dogs died from the paws of a bear. One source reports that in Colorado (USA) a 400-kilogram grizzly bear fell on a pair of dogs after a 30-minute battle.

Old sources portray Akita as a dog that helped fishermen to fish. The dog usually sat next to its owner on a rock, almost a meter above the surface of the water, and observed the behavior of fish (trout and salmon) near the shore. When the fish swam near the shore, the dog jumped into the water to catch it and bring it to the owner. According to available data, the average fishing efficiency was about 60–70%.

These, in fact, quiet dogs also worked as watchmen, protecting the cattle from the boars. Over time, as their popularity increased, the Akita, known for its strength and determination, became popular fighting dog, especially in the regions of Kazuno and Senbok. The fights were the subject of numerous bets, and interest in them was so great that the championships were held. Usually the battles took place on small podiums surrounded by a grid.In each case, the fight ended in the death of one of the dogs. This increased the aggression of the winner as the number of defeated opponents increased.

This breed is known unwavering devotion to their owners, and they can be surprisingly sweet and affectionate with family members. Imagine a loving advocate who will follow you from room to room, and his whole mission in life - just serve you. Akita is a courageous, natural guardian of the family. Stubborn and strong-willed, they will not retreat from the test. They usually do not bark, unless there is a good reason, but they shout loudly, making funny grunts, moans and mumbling. Some owners say that Akita mumbles under his breath and seems to be talking to herself.

While these charming "talking" traits manifest themselves in a family, Akita is often aloof and silent in the presence of outsiders. They are naturally afraid of strangers, although they will be quite hospitable to the guest while their owners are home.

One of the special features of Akita is the mouth. Akita loves to wear things in your mouth, including your wrist. This is not an act of aggression, but simply a way of communication of Akita with those whom they love. They can lead you to their leash because they want, for example, to go for a walk, or to point out any number of other ideas that appear in their smart head. They will gladly bring you a newspaper or your slippers. Akita also manifests itself unusually, licking his body like a cat. And this is not their only “cat” trait: like a tiger, they will silently pursue their prey, clinging low to the ground.

Adults should always control the interaction between dogs and children, and this is especially important for this breed.. No child can have a more loyal guardian and playmate than an Akita, but poorly treated Akita can interfere with and even endanger your child’s life. It is imperative to teach children to be respectful and kind in all respects with dogs. Game between dogs and children should always be controlled, even with well-trained animals. However, Akita is suitable for families with older children.

Benefits:

• faithful and attached to the family dog;
• good caretaker;
• active, can play sports;
• intelligent, he quickly learns with the right upbringing;
• fur does not absorb dirt;
• quiet

The negative feature is that a representative of the Akita breed is:

• stubborn and independent;
• tends to dominate;
• aggressive towards strangers and dogs;
• has a strong hunting instinct (it can be a disadvantage during a walk, and an advantage during a hunt);
• twice a year sheds heavily.

Despite the fact that the Japanese and American Akita have the same origin, they developed in different conditions. In the United States bred strong and strong Akit with a calm character. In Japan, in the 1960s, in accordance with the fashion that prevailed at that time, the animals were thin and small in size. As a result of differences in both types of these dogs, it was decided to classify them as:

• Akita Inu (Japanese Akita), counted by the Kennel Club in Group V;
• large Japanese dogs (American Akita), included in group II.

Their fox-like heads have significant distinct differences from the American Akita head extended in diameter. Japanese dog has almond-shaped eyes. American - triangular.

The black mask is very popular on the American Akita, but is not recognized in Japan, where the marks on the face are white.In America, any color on Akita is allowed; in Japan, only red, white and some brindle are allowed. The difference between the types of these breeds is quite large.

There are a few things to remember when choosing a puppy.

Only a pedigree ensures that a proud Akita grows out of a small fluffy ball that you brought home.

When buying a puppy you should get a birth certificate confirming that your puppy was born from a carefully planned combination of two purebred akits.

It should be remembered that the Akita is complex, rather independent. Therefore, you must treat her resolutely, but carefully. In the training of Akita, consistency is important.

When you give a command, do not expect that it will be executed immediately - it’s good if you can bribe it with something tasty.

You have to be even more stubborn than your dog.

Akita does not get along with other dogs and does not tolerate their presence nearby. When deciding whether to purchase an Akita, you must remember that when your puppy grows up, you may be doomed to walk alone with your dog.

One option is to find a puppy on the Internet. There is another possibility - dog shows.

Before making a final decision on buying a puppy, It is recommended to personally visit several kennels, see the conditions in which the dogs live. In the kennel, you will immediately see whether the dogs are well-groomed, whether they feed correctly, whether they have conditions for running and other physical activity.

In the first case, it is a mockery of animals. You should not believe such a breeder who says that dogs live together in perfect harmony. Usually in a small area the dogs are kept in small cages. In the second case, this is normal production for money, which has nothing to do with the idea of ​​breeding purebred dogs.

Only with personal participation can you be sure that the puppy grew up in suitable conditions.

You took a puppy and what's next ...

You have a small, long-awaited Akita. A puppy will surely swallow up all your free time. Therefore it is worth taking a vacation so that in a few days the puppy will get used to you and new conditions.

When choosing an Akita, specify how the puppies ate in the kennel. Nutrition is a very important issue, especially in puppy age. At least in the first few days the puppy is usually given the food he ate in the nursery. Puppy ration: raw and boiled meat, white cheese, natural yogurt, rice, dumplings, vegetables and fruits.

Adult Akita can be fed dry food. But do not save on food, because over time it will affect the health of your pet. Various types of food are recommended - dry food, cooked food; sometimes raw meat, thigh veal, lamb, horsemeat, beef. Remember that too much protein can cause allergies.

About vaccinations made by the dog, you need to clarify when buying a puppy, and in the future to consult with a veterinarian.

Akita molts take about three weeks, it is very abundant and usually repeats twice a year. At this time, the dog loses mostly a soft undercoat that is easy to clean.

The characteristic of this breed molt is that wool does not fall out evenly over the entire surface, but comes off like a wolf. The dog needs to be combed daily (usually only once a week), but you should do it carefully because the skin becomes sensitive and more susceptible to irritation.

It also happens that during a molt the dog may even seem sick.

Best for care metal comb of medium thickness.

If you want to exhibit your pet at competitions, then keep in mind that a representative of this breed does not require special preparation for the exhibition.

The best toys for puppies of this breed are thick cords, hard balls and natural teethers. You should also teach your puppy to Toys belong to the owner, and the dog gets them at a certain time.

This breed needs daily physical exercises that are not always convenient to do at home. A half hour walk a day is enough for an Akita. Cheerful walks, jogging (for an adult dog older than two years) and playing in the garden are favorite activities. For the safety of others, walk the dog in a muzzle. A visit to the dog park is probably not a good idea, given the aggressive tendency of the Akita towards other dogs.

Attract Akita to family events and do not leave her alone in the apartment for a long time. A well-fenced yard is also important for the safety of Akita, and for the safety of strangers who may mistakenly penetrate their territory. Although they are usually not aggressive with the guests if their family is at home, the conditions of the game change when their owners are not around. Akita is a faithful keeper, and she will protect against anything that she considers a threat.

Special attention should be paid to raising Akita puppies. These dogs grow very quickly between the ages of four and seven months, which makes them susceptible to bone diseases. Also, don't let your puppy run and play on hard surfaces, such as pavement. Ideal - playing on the grass. Avoid forced jumps or jogging on hard surfaces until your dog is at least two years old and its joints are fully formed.

In general, to care for Akita is not very difficult. But Akita is fluffy. Therefore, frequent cleaning of the room will be your lifestyle if you choose this breed. Wool will lie on the furniture, clothing, utensils, food. Weekly cleaning of fur will help reduce the amount of hair in the apartment and keep the Akita hair healthy.

Akita also needs to be bathed about every three months. Of course, it is possible more often when the pet is worn in a muddy puddle or it smells bad.

Nails must be cut monthly. Also, once a week it is necessary to wipe the ears with a special cleaner for the auditory canals of dogs. As with all breeds, It is important to start caring for Akita at an early age.

Akita are illegible in food. The type of food must be adapted to their lifestyle. Dogs that move little should not get too nutritious food because they gain weight quickly. In turn, The menu of animals that live on the street in winter should be rich in calories.

During shedding, you can enter products that support the regeneration of hair and improve the condition of the animal's skin.

Undoubtedly, this is a very convenient method that does not pose serious problems for a proper balanced diet. It is worth remembering that the doses of feed recommended by the manufacturer are often too high. Therefore, it is better to give a little less, so that the dog ate everything, leaving no residue in the bowl.

It is most convenient to give high-quality dry food with the addition of glucosamine and chondroitin for large breeds. However, the feed should not contain too much protein, because Akita has food allergies. Products with lamb or fish are great for feeding.

Best of all, if the food is pre-soaked in warm water. So you can avoid unwanted gastrointestinal complications. If we pour dry food, it is necessary to provide constant access to fresh water.

For those who choose this way of feeding, you can give one important advice - there is no good food at the same time and at the same time cheap. It is better to buy more expensive feed, or at least in the average price range.

A well-balanced meal should include foods that provide the dog with proteins - meat, fish, dairy products.

Beef (including offal), lamb, and poultry are best suited for dogs. The latter is never served raw due to the risk of salmonella infection. Fish - only sea, cooked with cleaning of large bones.

White cheese is especially recommended for puppies and growing dogs. Lean cheese is more desirable.

As for milk, it is recommended to give goat or cow's milk. Both puppies and adult dogs are well suited to natural yogurt, which can be added to feed. With a natural feeding method, eggs are also served: the yolk or the whole egg, well boiled.

Dogs are also given the fats necessary to maintain the proper condition of the skin and coat. One tablespoon of vegetable oil is usually sufficient (more often in winter or during molting). The best oil is corn and linseed.

This is a method that feed manufacturers do not recommend too much. But many owners use this type of food, not seeing in it any signs of harm to dogs. They use dry food in combination with liver or fish, and with the addition of a small amount of rice. Puppies in turn receive food and natural food.

Regardless of the way of feeding, proper separation of the daily amount of food into smaller portions is necessary. Puppies up to 7 months old are fed four times a day. Then, three times a day for up to 1 year. Further and throughout life, a dog can have either double or single feeds per day.

After eating, it is advisable to give your pet an hour of rest for better absorption of nutrients.

The American Akita dog is smart, it learns quickly, but only executes commands when it understands their meaning. It is independent and can make decisions on its own, which is not always welcomed by the owners. During training, the right motivation, ability to concentrate the attention of the dog and a variety of exercises that should not last too long is important. Use only positive methods, do not use force. It should also be remembered that Akita usually performs commands much slower than other breeds (for example, shepherd dogs).

Puppies require consistency and determination from the very beginning. Akita has a strong character with a tendency to dominate, so you can not hesitate with training and training. Akita is not a dog for everyone.

Although the Akita is hardy by nature, it sometimes suffers from the following ailments.

• Ocular diseases: cataracts, progressive retinal atrophy and retinal dysplasia, manifested in partial or complete detachment, leading to blindness.
• Dysplasia of the hip joints (rarely elbow joints).
• Diseases of the stomach.
• Food allergies.
• Sometimes there are trends to autoimmune diseases, characterized by the destruction of their own cells and tissues of the immune system of the body. The most common diseases of this type are: pemphigus, sebaceous adenitis (with this disease, sebaceous glands are destroyed), Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada syndrome, manifested by depigmentation, alopecia and claw loss, and autoimmune hypothyroidism.

Weather resistance is very high. Akita easily tolerates great frosts. Nevertheless, she does not like wind and humidity, as well as excessive heat. Therefore, it should be protected in the summer from strong sunlight.

Lifespan: 10–12 years

For boys, you can choose:

• Abaris, Abdul, Abiz, Aden, Adonis, Alf, Ador, Alamo, Amber, Arnold, Alvaro, Iron, Agat, Akari, Aramis, Arden;
• Barney, Bilbo, Bryan, Bruce, Bregon, Black, Byron, Benjamin (Ben), Brutus, Boyar;
• Dakar, Danny, Dustin, Dexter, Dandy, Draco, Dingo (Dean), Dollar, Don;
• Maestro, Martin, Max, Mickey (Mick), Merlin, Morgan, Maurice, Misha;
• Parsifal (Parsi), Pedro, Pluto, Poseidon, Pinko;
• Ralph, Ramon, Ram, Ringo, Rubin, Raphael (Rapha);
• Hachiko.

For girls:

• Adelaide, Ike, Albina, Alma, Allegra, Annabel, Andromeda, Akanava, Ariel, Astra, Arista, Azalea, Alaska, Alexis, Aretha, Arina, Assyria, Aurora;
• Olympia, Ohana, Ocher, Opium, Okim;
• Salma, Samira, Sati, Savannah, Sierra, Cynthia, Santa, Sulico;
• Esmeralda, Estima, Etola, Erinia, Evernia.

According to the owners, American Akita is characterized as follows.

• Beautiful dogs with thick hair.
• Unfortunately, they are not the best companions for small children. Without proper training, a dog can be dangerous to others.
• These animals are quite complex. The dog is suitable for an owner who is firm and determined, can devote a lot of time to education.
• At the same time, with proper upbringing, they are gentle, faithful, intelligent companions who get along with children (of school age) and can coexist peacefully with other animals. Much depends on the personality of the individual dog, as well as on the education of the breeder.
• Dogs of this breed should be treated very individually.
• If a dog raised by a breeder communicates and plays with small children from birth, then the pet often loves children of any age for the rest of his life. These conscientious breeders give their dogs a fantastic start in life.
• If you are interested in purchasing a dog of this breed, first talk with the breeders. They can tell you not only about the breed as a whole, but also about the nature of their dogs.
• These dogs moult twice a year, and the wool penetrates into all the cracks. Baths help reduce or get rid of most of the wool, which reduces the need for vacuuming and cleaning your living space.

Top 5 advantages of American Akita, see the following video.