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Akita
Dog
Akita Dog
The Akita dog is a striking breed
who is a large, powerful, alert, well-balanced dog with
much substance and heavy bone. They have a deep muzzle,
small triangular eyes, erect ears, and a large single or
double curled tail. The Akita dogs head is triangular
and their jaws are large and powerful. Akita dogs are
renowned for their fierce love, loyalty and obedience to
their owners. The Akita dogs are the largest of the
Japanese Spitz-type breeds and have webbed feet, which
makes them very strong swimmers. The Akita, or Shishi
Inu as they are sometimes called, are of the Northern
type breeds in which they have a distinct tail curled
over the back. The Japanese bred them as a fighting dog
with a great temperament. The Akita dog need space and
should not be confined. The Akita dog are very devoted
to their families, and are a brave and courageous breed.
The Akita dogs are very intelligent and are for the most
part obedient, but may have an independent and curious
streak once in a while. The Akita dogs do not like being
bored, and should be mentally and physically stimulated
every day. If they get bored they tend to get noisier
and less obedient, but they simply need attention from
the owner they are so devoted to.
The Akita puppies are loyal and courageous companions
that are affectionate with their own families but wary
of strangers. Akita dogs make excellent guard dogs
though they are usually good natured and quiet. The
Akita puppies can also be stubborn at times and require
socialization in order to get along with a range of
people. The Akita dog are also an active, independent,
dignified, and bold breed though they may be aggressive
toward other dogs. Akita dogs are very smart, courageous
and inquisitive. The Akita dogs tenacious and devoted to
family, playful, quiet and attentive. They are also
quite obedient, but if they are bored they may get less
obedient and less quiet as time goes on. The Akita dog
can be stubborn and must be shown what to do in order to
do it, they do not like being forced. Early
socialization from early on as a puppy is important with
children. From puppy hood, the Akita will protect
children and other dogs that they consider part of there
" pack "
The Akita dog is the tallest of Japans native breeds.
Their other name, Shishi Inu, means "large dog." Akita
dogs date back over three hundred years and take their
name from the prefecture of Akita in northern Japan on
the island of Honshu. Here, the winters were brutal, and
the Akita grew tough in such a land. Developed in 1630
by a Samurai, the Akita dog/ puppy was produced to be an
excellent fighter, guardian and hunter of large game.
Over the years they were bred and used for hunting large
game such as bear, deer and wild boar. By the time the
1800s rolled around dog fighting was a popular sport,
and thus the breed was used for that purpose as well. In
1927 some fanciers formed the Akita-inu Hozankai Society
of Japan in order to restore and preserve the original
Akita dogs, not the ones bred to fight. There was a
statue erected of an Akita in Shibuya Station in Tokyo
around 1920 to commemorate a faithful Akita that would
arrive every day to greet his master at the station, and
continued to do so even 10 years after his death! The
Akita almost became extinct several times. In Japan,
it's image is often used to represent good health. In
1931 the Japanese government designated the Akita dogs
as a National Monument and one of Japan's national
treasures. Japan has placed an emphasis on maintaining
the breed, the same emphasis as on the Shiba Inu. The
first official Akita dogs made their way to America in
1937 in the hands of Helen Keller as she brought back
one from a trip to Japan. Later during World War II,
servicemen took some home with them and the breed
expanded. In 1972 they were recognized by the AKC, and
they today their popularity steadily grows.
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