Akita Inu

January 23, 2023

1 18 4 minutes read

History

The Japanese Akita Inu dog is a legendary domestic animal in Japan, known to the locals since ancient times. Do not confuse the Japanese Akita and the American – they are different dogs. The Japanese Akita Inu originated in the north of Japan in the province of Akita – that is how this breed got its name. It is not known for certain when exactly these animals were formed as a breed, however, the first written evidence dates back to the beginning of the 17th century. In this period the Akita Inu was used to guard the imperial family.

In addition, members of the imperial family loved to hunt small and large prey with these dogs – it’s hard to believe but they even went after bears with Akitas. This very clearly characterizes the personality of the animal, because the Akita has a bold and at the same time good-natured character. To understand the kindness of these dogs – in the London Zoo, a baby Akita Inu was once used as a nanny/big brother for a tiger cub. And the dog did a great job.

The first Akita Inu came to America in 1937, along with an outstanding deaf-blind-mute woman of her time, Hellen Keller. This idea came to Hellen after visiting the statue of the dog Hachiko, located in Shibuya. Hearing about the extraordinary devotion of this animal, as well as the history of these dogs in general, Hellen decided to take one Akita with her. Her name was Kamikaze-go.

In the post-war period, American servicemen brought these dogs home from Japan, thanks to which a separate breed was formed – the American Akita. However, there is still a dispute among breeders regarding the difference between the Japanese and American Akita Inu breeds, since the Japanese do not want to recognize American Akitas as a separate breed. Moreover, many adhere to this rule even today, despite the fact that the dispute has been going on for more than half a century.

Description

Akita Inu are large dogs with a powerful physique. Large muscles and a round head. Ears are erect. Their limbs are muscular and medium length. The tail is saber-shaped and fluffy. Their fur is long.

Personality

The Japanese Akita Inu is a real hero. Or, rather, a real samurai. Akita Inu never retreats in battle, is distinguished by great devotion to his family and master, and will follow them no matter what. In the circle of his loved ones, they are extremely gentle, affectionate, and friendly dogs. It is always a pleasure to spend time with them. They like to take part in all family affairs and feel like part of the team.

The Akita Inu breed has a large amount of energy, and loves all kinds of games and entertainment, toys, and walks. They need physical activity in order to keep their muscle mass in shape, however, if you are not ready to provide your pet with daily training, at least arrange long walks so that the dog can run around. A good idea is games that involve a lot of activity.

The Akita Inu breed is prone to strong inter-gender and inter-species aggression. These dogs are aggressive towards other dogs, and cats, especially if they are of the opposite gender. This phenomenon can be combated through socialization.

Living Conditions

The Akita is a breed that is good with children, loves to be friends with them, play, go for walks, and generally spend time together. These animals have a highly developed intellect, perfectly understand their owners and everything that happens around them, as well as feel the emotional situation around them.

Akita Inu love to express their emotions through their voice and have a lot of different sounds for this – grunts, barks, howls, squeals, and whines – everything you can imagine. These dogs are not recommended for inexperienced or timid owners as they tend to have obedience problems.

Training

The Akita Inu needs education – that’s for sure. Many even call this breed the most disobedient in the world. Like it or not – it’s hard to say, however, these dogs do have great independence and often want to do their own thing. Their stubbornness is really high. You will need a lot of patience, consistency, and rigorous training.

Of course, you should use every opportunity to show your leadership position. To do this, use food, toys, games, and walks as a method to achieve your goal. Do not go for a walk, and do not give your dog his favorite toys until he does it right. Then your pet will understand that a lot of very valuable things in life depend directly on you, and by his disobedience, he deprives himself of these things.

Care

Thick, with an undercoat, the coat of the Akita Inu needs to be combed 2 times a week. When the dog sheds – it is recommended to comb more often. Also don’t forget to clean your pet’s eyes after sleeping (every morning), as well as keep the ears clean. The claws should be trimmed three times a month and your pup should be bathed 1 – 2 times a week.