Akita Dog Breed - History, Care, Facts, and Characteristics

Akita Overview

The Akita dog breed is well known for its loyal and devoted nature. These dogs do well with kids and all other family members. They never back down from challenges and do not frighten easily.

They are courageous, fearless, healthy, and loyal guardians to their owners. They are also respectful, affectionate, and amusing dogs when trained and socialized correctly.

Below are some characteristics of the Akita dog breed:

Akita History

Akita Dog is a famous dog breed, originated from the snowy lands of Akita and Odate, mountainous regions of japan. They were the result of a concentrated 19th-century effort to restore seven native Japanese dog breeds. Their existence goes back to 1600 when they guarded the Japanese royalty and hunted big games like bears. In the beginning, they were involved in dogfighting, which was popular in Japan at that time.

The dog is the most renowned and venerated of the Japanese breeds. This valiant breed was introduced to America by Helen Keller - a deaf-blind social activist. The Japanese took her to Shibuya to show her the statue of Hachiko, an Akita’s pet dog erected in 1935. Hidesaburo Ueno, a professor, and Hachiko owner used the train for the commute from Shibuya station.

Hachiko used to accompany Ueno daily to the station to see him off and welcome him when he returned from work. One afternoon, when Ueno did not return - he died at work in Tokyo, Hachiko waited at the train station until midnight. After Ueno’s death, Hachiko continued his daily visit to the station for almost a decade until his death.

Hachiko used to come to the station every evening in the hope of his owner’s return. When the train arrived, and after all the passengers dispersed, Hachiko used to search the station carefully before walking back home. He was an example of loyalty that he named chūken Hachikō (忠犬ハチ公) "faithful dog Hachikō".

To honor his loyalty and love for his owner, a bronze statue was erected at Shibuya station after his death. The statue became a famous place where people come to pledge their love and devotion to their loved ones.

Keller was impressed by the loyalty and faithfulness of Hachiko and expressed her desire to have an Akita of her own. The Japanese loved this lady so much that they took her request to heart and presented her with an Akita puppy. She brought the puppy to America and named the “Kamikaze-go”.

Keller and kami bonded well on a 16-day boat trip home that kami became sensitive to Keller’s emotional states. When she cried from loneliness for her beloved teacher, kami put his paw on her knee. He presses his cool nose against her cheek to lick away tears. When they reached the United States, the newspapers proclaimed that Keller had introduced a unique dog breed to America.

Unfortunately, kami did not live very long and died at the age of eight months due to distemper. Keller wrote a letter to the Japanese government about the demise of kami. She wrote, “If ever there was an angel in fur, it was kamikaze. I know I shall never feel quite the same tenderness for any other pet..”

The Japanese were saddened by the unfortunate news of the demise of Kemi. They decided to give Keller another dog as an official gift from the Japanese government. Keller named this new dog “Kenzan-Go” because of the same sire and dame as kami. The dog arrived in America in July 1939, and Kellen nicknamed the dog “Go-Go”.

Knowing the fearless, devoted, and protective nature of Go-Go, American’s fueled the demand for Akita. However, due to World War II, the import of these dogs was prevented for several years. Still, by the end of WWII, people contacted soldier stations in japan with a request to bring Akita back home.

Gradually, Akita’s popularity has increased in the United States, so they established contacts with Akita breeders in japan. Akita was recognized by AKC in 1955 and moved into the Working Class from the Miscellaneous Class in 1972.

Vital Stats

Akita is a double-coated, muscular, and large breed of dogs. Their big size makes them easily recognizable among other dogs. Here are the vital stats of this beautiful breed.

Akita Dog Variations

Akita dogs are believed to have two different variations: American Akita and Japanese Akita. American Akita is also known as Akita and American strain. Japanese Akita is commonly known as Akita Inu and Japanese strain.

There is a big debate among fanciers whether there are two separate breeds of Akita. Until now, only the American Kennel Club (AKC) recognized them as two separate variations of the same breeds. All other dog breed clubs consider them as two different breeds with similar characteristics.

These breeds are distinguished on the basis of color, size, shape, and personality.

• Physical Attributes

  American strain and Japanese strain differ greatly according to their physical attributes. Their head, facial structure, eye structures all vary greatly.

  American Strain	Japanese Strain
  Head
  Broad	Fox-like structure
  Eyes
  Small, deep-set	Almond-shaped
  Ears
  Erect	Pointed in a forward slant
  Body
  Stocky, muscular body with big bones	Slimmer build, muscular, defined tuck-up

• Sizes and Weights

  The American strain outsizes the Japanese strain both in height and weight.

  Gender	Variations
  	Japanese Strain	American Strain
  Height
  Male	25-28 inches	26-28 inches
  Female	23-25 inches	24-26 inches
  Weight
  Male	100-130 pounds	100-145 pounds
  Female	70-100 pounds	80-120 pounds

• Coat Color and Appearance

  Both American strain and Japanese strain come in a wide variety of colors.

  American Strain comes in all colors and patterns. They have a facial mask or white blazes on the forehead. Sometimes, the color of the outer coat is different from the undercoat. However, the following are the most common colors in American Strain.

  • Solid white
  • Pinto
  • Brindle
  • Red
  • Silver, black overlay
  • Black
  • Fawn
  • Brown

  The Japanese strain has a limited spectrum compared to American Strain. They have only three colors, but they should have white or light cream undersides regardless of the color. The three colors are:

  • White
  • Brindle
  • Red

  They have red fawn with black tips, but they do not have a black face mask like American strains.

• Personality

  Akita Inu and Akita have similar yet distinctive personalities.

  American Strain	Akita Inu
  Independent	Independent
  Stubborn	Stubborn
  Suspicious of strangers	Wary of strangers
  Aggressive toward other dogs	Prefer to be given a job to do
  Loyal and protective	Loyal and protective
  Does not do well with other smaller pets	Do well with other smaller pets

Interesting Facts about Akita Dog Breed

Akita Dog Breed Health Problems

Like all other dog breeds, Akitas are prone to some specific health conditions. They can experience bloating, eye infections, cataracts, and many other diseases. Akita owners should learn to recognize the symptoms of any disease in their pets. Prospective owners make sure to work with reputable breeders who test their breeding stock for health concerns.

The most common health concerns of Akitas are as follow:

• Progressive Retinal Entropy (PRE)

  It is an eye infection that causes deterioration in the retina. The dog becomes night-blind in the early stages of the disease and loses sight during the day at later stages. This may cause full blindness with time. The other eye infection includes cataracts - a clouding of the eye’s lens, which leads to a decrease in vision.

• Hypothyroidism

  Akita usually suffer from hyperthyroidism as they age, or lack of thyroid hormone production. It is a thyroid gland disorder that causes obesity, pyoderma, hyperpigmentation, lethargy, epilepsy, alopecia, and other skin conditions.

• Sebaceous Adenitis (SA)

  It is a genetic disease often confused with allergies, hypothyroidism, and usually hard to diagnose. It is a condition in which the sebaceous gland in the skin becomes inflamed and eventually destroyed.

• Hip Dysplasia

  It is another inherited condition in which the thigh bone does not fit snugly in the hip joint. Some dogs show pain and discomfort in one or both legs, while others may not show any outward symptoms.

• Bloat or Gastric Dilatation-Volvulus (GDV)

  Bloat is a life-threatening condition in Akita because of its large and deep-chested structure. It usually happens when a dog eats one large meal a day or eats rapidly. Vigorous exercise or drinking a lot of water after eating are also the causes of bloating.

  Bloating is a condition in which the stomach is distended with air or gas and then twists. The dog could not vomit or belch to emit the excess air or gas in the stomach. It results in an impeded return of blood to the heart and low blood pressure. The dog goes into shock, and without immediate medical treatment, the dog could die.

  Unfortunately, there is no universal healthcare for dogs, except proper care and high-quality food. If you are thinking of getting a dog, you need to make sure that you are capable of providing them adequate healthcare. If dogs do not get the right medication and treatment on time, they could die when they get sick. Therefore, you need to make sure to provide them specific healthcare and medication.

Akita vs. Shiba Comparison Chart

Comparing Akita and Shiba to know which one is the best?

Check out the comparison chart given below:

Akita as Emotional Support Animal

As Akitas are affectionate and devoted dogs, so they can make emotional support animal. This breed is one of the best dog breeds and a perfect option as an emotional support animal. They love hanging out and spending time with their owner. They understand emotions and be there when you need emotional support.

Also, they have a great history of loyalty and faithfulness. They have proved to be a perfect companion and an ideal partner. Hachiko’s dedication made him gain so much respect and honor that the Japanese erected a statue of him. This proves that the Akita is the best option for an ESA.

However, due to their hunting history, you need to provide them sufficient physical activities to keep them healthy. You can take them with you for a walk and do the regular exercise with them. It not just keeps you healthy but fulfills the exercise needs of your dog as well.

But, they are not good with young children and other dogs, so you need to think about that if you have small kids. They also do not get along with other pets, so you should avoid taking them to dog parks. They get along with other types of dog breeds but aggressive towards the same breed. So this is a little drawback about them; however, other than this, they are the best ESA.

If you are thinking of getting an ESA, you should consider Akita Inu or American strain. Just so you know, you need to have a legitimate ESA letter to make your Akita eligible to live and travel with you. An ESA letter allows you to live with your pet even in the no-pet apartment and take them to the no-pet zone.

If you need a real ESA letter, contact RealESALetter.com. We are a reliable and legitimate website that provides only real ESA letters written by certified mental healthcare professionals.

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