The Akita Dog Breed; Appearance, Characteristics and Personality
The Akita is a large and dignified dog breed. It originated from the hilly regions of northern Japan, and it is considered a national treasure in the country. Originally, it was trained to hunt bears and wild boars due to its courage and brave nature. These days, they are more domestic and are suitable as watchdogs.
The Akita breed first came into the United States in 1937. Servicemen also came back home from Japan with Akitas after World War II. Since then, Americans have been enamored by the loyalty and watchfulness of this breed. It has continued to grow increasingly popular and gained many admirers.
You can read about the history of this breed of dogs from this article.
Akitas appear quiet, they are loyal, protective and can be very hardy. They are friendly, affectionate and playful when they are with their owners, but they are aloof and may be hostile with strangers.
How the Akita Looks
Akitas have a cute and attractive physical appearance and the semblance of a bear with fluffy short coats. They have a rounded frame as well as disproportionately huge paws. Male adults can reach up to around 26 – 28 inches and weigh around 100 to 130 pounds.
Females may reach up to 23 or 24 inches and their weight can be up to 100 pounds. This size makes the Akita quite a sturdy breed. Their head is massive, and they come with broad jaws, small, deep-set eyes and pointy noses.
American Akitas come in a variety of colors and may come with well-defined markings across their body. Their tail is also distinctive, and it is curled and raised over their back.
The Akita’s Characteristics, Temperament and Personality
This breed of dog is powerful because they have massive build and muscular bodies. They have pliant skins making them quite flexible. This skin is covered in a short and lush double coat. Their underlying hair is dense yet fine but the overlying one is coarse, harsh but straight.
Their hair is also slightly longer at the lower end of their neck, hindquarters and stomach. It is longest though at the tail. The jaw of the Akita is slightly tapered and strong. Their nose and lips are black, and they have thick, muscular necks.
Their ears are erect and triangular and lined up with their neck. When compared to the size of their head, their ears look relatively small. Akitas have small, almond-shaped eyes that typically have a dark brown color.
When you consider the Akita personality, they love the indoors although they look more like outdoor pets. They are always in charge and do not take kindly to strangers. They are courageous, fearless and protective making them territorial and dominant.
These dogs do not bark a lot so when they do, you need to give attention to this. They probably have seen something or someone strange. They are typically expressionless and when they are threatened, they can attack the stranger and may even bite them.
It is important that you treat your Akita with love and respect. This is because they typically mirror whichever way you treat them. They are also possessive and jealous and may not also take well to other pets or dogs you may choose to have. This attribute of theirs will often lead to trouble with other animals.
When trained properly and early, Akitas are superb family dogs. They can play with kids and faces that they are familiar with. Properly training them early can make them more tolerant and social with other pets and people.
Feeding and Grooming Akitas
An Akita like most dogs require some level of attention. You should first and foremost feed them the right and healthy diet. This means dry foods that are of high-quality as well as fresh foods. Proteins must also be included in their diet.
All these help them to remain robust and healthy. You should give your pet a gram of protein for every pound of its body weight. It is also recommended that you regularly check their weight. This is to determine the quantity of food you need to give them.
Akitas are clean dogs who like taking care of themselves. They are mostly odorless but when they spend time outside, their fur can become dirty. At this point, you will need to brush and groom them.
An Akita’s coat sheds minimally and will need constant brushing. You should also brush their teeth and trim their nails regularly as it is essential for maintaining good health. You should also bathe them at least once a month.
This breed of dog needs moderate exercise. You can let them roam in your yard, take daily jogs or long walks. This helps to mentally calm and relax them. If left sedentary, they are quick to gain weight so ensure that they exercise regularly. You can find tips on taking care of them here https://pets.thenest.com/care-akitas-6016.html.
Akitas love to cuddle up and follow their owners around so you will need to spend a lot of time with them. They can live up to around 10 to 13 years. They are prone to health issues like arthritis, hypothyroidism, and hip dysplasia.
They may also experience bloating or gastric dilatation-volvulus (GDV) and this is life-threatening for them. This typically occurs when their stomach twists and their blood supply is cut off. To avoid this, Akita owners should consult with their vets and see available options for preventing these health risks.
Conclusion
The Akita is one of the most loyal breeds of dogs. They are large, strong, and very protective. They can also be quite aloof and hostile to strangers and other pets.
This means you have to be careful when you have guests and if other types of pets are around. It is advisable to research before you bring home any dog breed including an Akita.
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