Posture

American Akitas are very smart and receptive dogs whose potential can be awakened by experienced owners through good training. The proud dog is not one that simply follows orders and wants to please everyone. So if you want to take an Akita, you should not only accept but appreciate his independence and self-confidence.

Because of his stubbornness, it is very important to put a lot of work into his upbringing right from the start. Indeed, the dogs have a strong tendency to dominancewhich is why you must immediately communicate to your Akita that you lead the pack and indicate who or what is to be protected and defended. If you don’t, his protective instincts, which make him an excellent watchdog, can get out of control.

The Akita is happiest when he has connection to the family, which he loves above everything and can protect. With children he usually gets along very well. The Akita fulfills his role as a watchdog by always being alert and, if necessary, striking by barking loudly. In the house, he feels most comfortable when he has a quiet retreat from which he can look over everything to spot impending danger. In addition, the dogs behave very quietly and unobtrusively in the house.

The Akita can also be accustomed to pets or other dogs if necessary, but he remains rather a loner. In general, he is very dominant towards other dogs. Only early education and habituation to conspecifics can keep dominance behavior in check.

Although Akitas are very quiet comrades, they need a lot of activity and exercise. Therefore, a house with a large garden would be an advantage. If you can offer him enough exercise in nature, an Akita can also be kept well in an apartment. Even with a puppy you should take short walks several times a day, with an adult dog at least 3 a day, which together should not come to less than 2 hours. When walking, you should keep in mind that due to the strong hunting instinct, depending on the success of your dog’s training and personality, it may be necessary to keep him on a leash. In addition, you can also do excellent dog sports, search games and tracking work with him, with which you will not only challenge your dog physically, but also mentally enough. He is even well suited as a therapy dog. The only important thing is to get the dog interested in these activities, as this is the only way to motivate him to participate.

In general, the attitude and upbringing of an Akita require experience, empathy, consistency and, above all, mutual respect. The Akita is not a dog that wants to please and simply follows orders. He can not be forced to do anything, but must be motivated and convinced, because with harshness and severity, the sensitive dog switches to stubborn. However, through sensitivity and clear boundaries, you can earn your dog’s approval and win him over as an extremely loyal and kind friend.

Nutrition and care

As with all other dogs, the optimal diet for the American Akita is balanced and varied. Normal dog food is sufficient, provided there are no allergies or special needs. It is best to adjust the amount of food to the age and activity of your dog and keep an eye on weight changes.

Also, make sure that your dog always has enough drinking water available and that he rests a bit after eating to avoid digestive problems.

Coat care is also uncomplicated with the Akita. 2 times a year he goes through a coat change, during which you should brush him daily. Since the coat is dirt and water repellent and virtually self-cleansing, however, outside of the coat change, which usually lasts 2 to 4 weeks, it is quite sufficient to brush the dogs 1 to 2 times a week to avoid matting. Not only will you avoid excessive scratching, but you’ll also reduce the shedding of hair in the home. You should only bathe him if you can’t avoid it.

As part of the grooming process, you should also check him regularly for parasites, as ticks, fleas and mites are among the most common ailments of Akitas. Pay special attention to whether your dog scratches or shakes himself unusually often. In this case, besides parasites, allergies or the wrong diet could be the reason for itching and rashes.

Also, check his ears and eyes regularly for sticking. It is advisable to additionally clean the ears regularly.

If you are unsure about anything, it is best to contact your veterinarian if in doubt.

Thanks to serious breeding, there are no diseases typical of the Akita breed.

History

The American Akita originates from Japan, more precisely from the Akita region, where its traces can be traced back almost 5 millennia. In its homeland, the Akita was used as a guard dog, companion dog for samurai, draft dog and hunting dog, for example, for bears, and because he was so appreciated, even appointed a natural monument.

Nevertheless, unfortunately, he was also abused for dog fighting and for his fur. In the 2nd World War, it went so far that the breed was even threatened with extinction. In order to save the Akitas, after the war, both in Japan and in the United States, they began to cross with other breeds, which has increased the population again.

Since in Japan and in the USA different races were crossed, the in each case bred dogs developed strongly apart, so that one could speak no more of a common race. For example, the American dogs are much stockier than their petite Japanese counterparts and usually have a black mask. Then in 2000 the division into the American Akita and the (Japanese) Akita took place.

Conclusion

The American Akita is a brave, proud, smart, independent but also extremely loyal companion. His education means a lot of work, but if you invest enough time and energy, with some experience you can gain a wonderful, extremely loyal friend who will always stand by you.