Distinctive Aspects of the Japanese Akita Inu Breed

The Japanese Akita Inu dog breed is a very old breed, which has undergone several changes over time, through cross-breeding due to various vicissitudes such as wars and habits. Initially smaller in size, they were used as guard or hunting dogs and later also as fighting dogs. Around the second half of the 1800s, there was an increasing demand for fighting dogs, and in order to have stronger dogs, they were crossed with animals from Asia and Europe such as the Mastiff and Tosa.

This caused the size of these dogs to increase. In the past they became the dogs of the samurai, the shogun and the Japanese aristocracy. In more modern times they were used by the Japanese police to guard prisons, while today they are also used as rescue dogs, but mostly as companion dogs.

Fortunately, by the early 1900s dog fighting was banned and it was from then on that the breed began to be improved and preserved through careful selection in order to maintain its purity.

Its origin comes from the mountainous and rural areas of the Akita prefecture in Japan, hence its name, Akita, Inu meaning dog in Japanese. It risked extinction during World War II, where all dogs except German shepherds, used for military purposes, were confiscated and slaughtered to provide the army with furs for clothing and meat for food. Luckily, some specimens were taken to distant countryside and villages and crossed with German shepherds to circumvent the law.

After the war, two bloodlines were established, the purebred and the crossbred. Several cross-bred females were brought to the United States where the American Akita was born.

In 1931, the Akita was declared a ‘national natural monument’ by Japan and was not allowed to be exported until 1945. Only after World War II, after having risked extinction, was this possible.

Even today in Japan it is customary to give a statuette or soft toy of the Akiro to infants and the sick, it is the symbol for wishing health and a long happy life. And let us remember Hachikō, an Akita breed of dog, who became famous for his great loyalty to his master, Professor Hidesaburō Ueno, a Japanese agronomist.

This dog used to accompany his master to the station in the morning and wait for him in the evening when he returned. His master died and he continued for 10 years to go to the station to wait for his return. A bronze statue was made in Shibuya Station, in the place where Hachikō would stand to wait for him.

Character of the Japanese Akita Inu

As can be seen from the history of the Hachikō dog, loyalty is the main characteristic of this breed. It is also calm, dignified, sensitive and intelligent. But it has a proud character and its training requires loving discipline, but also a lot of firmness, as the dog tends to get the upper hand. It is therefore not an easy breed to train, you need a lot of patience and also knowledge of this dog's special character.

It does not have an innate sense of obedience, but tends to make its own decisions, taking into account, however, the wishes of its owner, who must have plenty of time to devote to its socialisation. He does not get along with other animals, due to his pack leader nature; he can only get along with a female of his own breed, or if female with a male. Especially with dogs of the same sex he can be aggressive, so he should not make friends with other dogs.

It is not a dog suitable for the elderly or for children, although towards them it can develop a kind of protection as it sees them as fragile and so they remain figures with whom to interact gently, but it is not very prone to play and interaction and it takes a certain physical strength to be able to hold it in the event of encounters with other dogs on its walks, as it is very protective of its owner and family members and may see in other dogs a danger to its humans.

He requires his own space, but can also live in a flat, as long as space is left daily for a long walk. At home he is always very calm and quiet, so much so that some compare him to a cat. He is, however, a bit stubborn and also tends to be touchy when he thinks he has been unfairly reprimanded. With his own family, he is very gentle while maintaining his decorum and majesty.

Appearance of the Japanese Akita Inu dog breed

The Akita Inu is a large dog, very vigorous and strong. It is well-proportioned, with a massive bone structure, but its appearance is always very dignified, simple and sweet. He has muscular legs, rounded, thick feet that resemble those of a cat and give him that distinctive gait. Its tail is often rolled onto its back, a characteristic that distinguishes it from other dog breeds.

The head is very broad and in proportion to the body, the ears are triangular with a rounded tip, massive, erect and carried tilted forward, the eyes are small, dark and deep, almost triangular and are very expressive. Its expression is unique, it almost seems to smile.

The coat has a characteristic straight rough coat of light fawn, reddish, sesame, tiger and white with white portions on the sides of the muzzle, on the cheeks, jaw, inside of the paws, chest and tail. The undercoat is soft and dense while the undercoat is hard and straight. It also loses a lot of hair outside the moulting period, which it also has more than twice a year.

Between male and female there is a clear difference in weight, the male weighing up to 50 kilograms and more, the female 40 at the most. So they can be recognised at a glance.

Health and care of the Japanese Akita Inu dog breed

The Akita Inu is a dog that enjoys good health, is robust and has a fairly long life expectancy, averaging 13 years. It has excellent physical endurance and resistance to cold temperatures, but may suffer from the common diseases of large dogs, such as dysplasia, lacrimation of the eyes, etc.

As far as its coat is concerned, this must be cared for very often, especially during the moulting period as it tends to lose a lot of hair, so brush it at least twice a week and bathe it when necessary.

It is not a dog that tends to put on weight as long as it gets adequate exercise. He loves fish very much.