The Akita Inu Dog

They hail from Japan, but are found almost worldwide. Welcome to the Akita Inu. There are Shiba Inu’s and Akita’s. Two different breeds totally. The animal originated in Hokuriki Japan and is considered one of the Native Japanese Dog Breeds. It was first brought to America by Helen Keller.

But this dog isn’t for everyone. For example, the Akita is a large dog; it was bred as a fighting dog and very high exercise demands. He is also very intelligent and needs a very firm, experienced hand to train him. He is not particularly a “family dog”.

Yet, a small dog will also require a lot of time and dedication on your part; their grooming alone requires a lot of work. Miniature dogs are also known for being “yappy”; can you (and your neighbors) deal with that?

On June 1, 1999, the FCI decided to divide the Akita into two separate “breeds” worldwide. One breed is the Japanese Akita. The other breed has been named the “Great Japanese Dog” or “GJD”. The GJD consists of Akitas originally exported after WWII whose features were grossly altered by European and American breeding. The AKC (American Kennel Club) worsened the situation by refusing to register imported Japanese Akitas beginning in the seventies. The Akita standard set by the Japanese Akiho breeders has largely been ignored in the USA. This left a small gene pool of nonstandard Akitas from which the present day Akita in the USA has been inbred. Recently, the AKC opened their registry to Akitas from Japan but only through the JKC/AKC reciprocal agreement of 1992. Consequently, many quality Japanese Akitas are now not being exported. Akiho, the original Akita registry, is a preservation society for Akitas. Now only JKC (Japanese Kennel Club) registered dogs are allowed into the AKC. The Akiho does not desire the different breed standard set by the Japan Kennel Club (JKC). As only the JKC is affiliated with the FCI, Akiho breeders are reluctant to register their dogs with the FCI.

The FCI announced this split in Mexico at the FCI World Show in 1999. Not all countries are affiliated with FCI so the Akita remains one breed in several countries including the USA, Australia, New Zealand, Great Britain and Canada. This vote caused much dissension amongst breeders and a decision to split the breed is denied for three more years. The Akita Club of America (ACA) voted not to split the breed in the United States. Once a decision to split the breed is made it will be final and cannot be reversed.

The Japanese Akita has only four different colors and they are brindle, white, sesame (i.e. hair that is red and has black tips), and red fawn. Akitas are very adaptable dogs and can adjust to different living conditions provided they are given frequent, regular exercise. They do best in a house with a large, fenced yard and shelter from the sun and cold. In very hot climates they should be kept indoor during the heat of the day.

By the way, Inu is the Japanese word for dog.

The Akita is the largest of the six Japanese spitz-type dogs. For several hundred years, these dogs were used in male-female pairs to hold game such as bear, boar, deer at bay until the hunter arrived. They have also been used to retrieve waterfowl. They have been rumored to have been kept by the aristocracy or wealthy people but interestingly, when the Allied forces occupied Japan after WW2, American G.I.’s saw the Akita, though there were very few left. The GIs were very attracted to the massive sized dog and the Akita became one of many “Japanese Souvenirs” brought to the US along with Japanese swords, helmets, etc. The Japanese saw a business opportunity and began mass producing Akita dogs to sell to the Americans from pet stores in Tokyo. Some breeders began advertising the Akita as “a dog of the Shoguns, a Dog of Royalty.” The tall tales of royal dogs, etc., stuck with the Akita in the United States and was even incorporated into the early literature distributed by the AC. There was no truth to the advertisements but the Americans fell for it (may have made them feel as if they were taking a little piece of the Emperor with them).

At the end of the 19th century, the Japanese crossed this large dog with non-native dogs (such as the Tosa Fighting Dog, German Shepherd Dog, St. Bernard, Mastiff) to increase their size and strength for pit fighting.

There are 10 breeds of inu (dog) attributed to Japan. These dogs are the Akita-Inu, Hokkaido-Inu, Kai-Inu, Kishu-Inu, Shiba-Inu, Shikoku-Inu, Tosa-Inu, Japanese Chin, Japanese Spitz, and the Japanese Terrier.

The Akita Inu is a low-maintenance dog. These days, an Akita in the home is thought to be a symbol of good health and prosperity. Keep your Akita’s weight down. This should not be difficult, since Akitas eat less than most dogs their size. Keep your Akita’s food dish separate from other pets’ dishes. Akitas are very possessive of their food.

Check out these:

The American Akita Many of you have heard about the controversy surrounding the current status of the Akita. The Japan Kennel Club as well as AKIHO (the parent club in Japan), do not consider American Akitas to be true Akitas. Over the last several years Japan has convinced the FCI countries to eliminate ...

Akita Inu Breed Reviewed With their double coat, Akitas handle cold weather well but should always have shelter. With shade and fresh water, they can also tolerate hot weather. Its double coat consists of a thick, furry underlayer and a medium-length, harsh, straight topcoat which may be any shade of cream, brown, red, gray, ...

Small Dog Breeds Small dog breeds are a very popular choice amonst dog owners all over the world. This is not to say that the larger breeds are not popular as well. This popular small dog breed generally grows to no more than six or seven pounds in weight, and has a beautiful ...

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