Guide one
Meet the Akita
The Akita is a large spitz-type dog from the snowy mountains of northern Japan. It is dignified, quiet and deeply loyal to its own people, and famously reserved with everyone else.
Where the breed comes from
The breed takes its name from Akita Prefecture in the north of Honshu, Japan’s main island. Its ancestors were large hunting and guarding dogs of the region. In 1931 the Akita was designated a natural monument of Japan, and breeders worked hard to restore the breed after its numbers fell sharply during the Second World War.
Hachikō
The most famous Akita of all, Hachikō, met his owner at Shibuya Station in Tokyo every evening. After the owner died in 1925, Hachikō kept returning to the station for almost ten years. A statue of him still stands there.
Japanese and American Akitas
| Japanese Akita (Akita Inu) | American Akita | |
|---|---|---|
| Head | Lighter, fox-like | Broader, bear-like |
| Colours | Red, sesame, brindle or white, with pale urajiro markings on all but white dogs | Almost any colour, including pinto and a black mask |
| Build | Large but lighter in bone | Generally heavier and more massive |
Many kennel clubs now recognise them as separate breeds, so check which type a breeder means.
Character
- Loyal: deeply attached to its family.
- Reserved: aloof with strangers and not a dog that loves everyone.
- Quiet: Akitas are not usually big barkers.
- Independent: clever, but thinks for itself.
- Protective: may be intolerant of other dogs, especially of the same sex.
Is an Akita right for you?
An Akita suits calm, consistent people with time for training, a secure garden and the confidence to handle a large, strong dog. It is not usually the easiest choice for a first dog or for a busy household with lots of visiting dogs.