American Akita - loyal and courageous

American Akita - loyal and courageous

The American Akita is a breed of large dogs, known for their wisdom, nobility, and special loyalty to their owner. The extraordinary intelligence and courage of the American Akita make the quadruped of this breed an excellent domestic animal, guardian, service and therapeutic dog.

American Akita

American Akita - breed description

Originally, Akitas were bred in their native Land of the Rising Sun as royal guard and hunting dogs. The Akita was brought to America after World War II by US soldiers returning from the war. Since then, this breed has evolved to provide strong dogs that are finding more and more enthusiasts. The first American Akita Club was established in the 50s. The American Kennel Club recognized the breed in 1972, and the International Cynological Federation (FCI) only in 2006.

American Akita according to FCI belongs to group 5, section V, standard no. 344 (Spitz and primitive breed dogs). It is a dog with a massive build, large bones and a muscular figure. The body of the American Akita is covered with a double coat that helps the dog to adapt to harsh weather conditions. The undercoat is short and dense, and the topcoat is straight, short and spiky, slightly longer around the lower part of the neck, belly and rump.

Suggested sizes and widths of accessories for this breed of dog:

Here are the suggested sizes for adult dogs of this breed. They were selected on the basis of many years of experience in sewing accessories and the most common choices of other dog owners of this breed. Remember, only measuring will give you 100% certainty - every dog ​​is different.

The representative of this breed has a slightly tapered muzzle, a black nose, a strong deep jaw and black thin lips. The Akita's neck is thick, medium length and muscular. The erect, triangular ears are relatively small compared to the head. It has almond-shaped eyes, generally dark brown. The American Akita's jaws are similar to those of Pitbull's. In the past, it was this trait and the tendency to attack that made this breed a dangerous breed for some time.

The tail of the American Akita is usually longer and curled over its back. The front legs are strong and the rear legs are rather muscular with well-developed thighs. Webbed toes are characteristic, which make it easier to walk on snow and evenly distribute the weight. The color of the American Akita comes in many shades of white, brown and black. Dogs can have different meanings, especially on the head, e.g. a black mask covering the nose.

The height of adult tetrapods is: 60-66 cm for females, 66-71 cm for dogs. An adult American Akita can weigh: female from 36 to 54 kg, male from 45 to 66 kg.

Character

The personality and temperament of the American Akita can be described as restrained. Dogs of this breed are faithful to their owners, they are very attached to them. They are loyal, sensitive and protective of all household members. The American Akita is somewhat aloof from strangers, so early socialization is essential for her to develop good relationships with unfamiliar people and other animals.

Individuals of this breed are great hunters, which makes them highly valued hunting dogs. In the old days, Akitas were trained by hunters to hunt bears, deer, wild boars and other large animals. The American Akita likes challenges and confrontation, and being very independent and a bit stubborn at the same time, it is quite difficult to train. Therefore, it requires an experienced, patient caregiver.

American Akita and its relationship to children and other animals

The American Akita develops good relationships with dogs of the opposite sex, but shows nervousness when dealing with same-sex quadrupeds. The pet should be kept away from small pets as it has a strong innate prey hunting instinct so it will just chase them. You should also watch out for small children who live with akita, a massive dog can accidentally injure them. Children should be old enough to understand how to treat their pet properly and be supervised at all times when they are with them.

Health

The American Akita is a healthy breed. However, it is susceptible to diseases that affect large dogs. If she is well cared for, signs of illness do not appear until she is older. Some common medical conditions include hip dysplasia, hypothyroidism, gas, progressive atrophy of the kidneys, and inflammation of the sebaceous gland. American Akita is prone to obesity, mainly due to hypothyroidism. Exercise and proper nutrition are essential for giant breeds like this one. The average life expectancy of American Akita dogs is 10 to 15 years.

American Akita - care

American Akita has a short and dense undercoat, hair on the rump and withers can grow up to 6 cm in length. Akitas should be brushed regularly, preferably daily, to minimize felting of the undercoat and shedding copious amounts of hair (especially during the shedding period). You have to take into account that this quadruple is drooling quite intensively, so it requires systematic wiping with a paper towel.
American Akita takes baths up to 3-4 times a year. It is worth getting her used to bathing from an early age, then she will not resist this form of care too much. You should also remember to trim the claws regularly, check the condition of the ears and clean them when necessary to prevent infections.

Worth knowing

  • The American Akita is a relatively quiet dog. When he is not chasing small animals, he loves to nap for hours (during the day). Her barking sounds more like moans, grunts, or howls.
  • The black mask (meaning) on ​​the face of the American Akita indicates that it was bred in accordance with American standards that allow it to participate in competitions.
  • The American Akita is a great hunting companion. It can track wild game and retrieve it from the water. It has catlike movements, similar to the movements of a tiger following its prey.
  • Akita does not bark or show signs of aggression when it spots a target. He gently lowers his body before giving chase.

Maybe you'll like it:

Also check....

How to teach a dog to pass the paw?
Category: Blog, Dog training,

Passing a paw is a trick that dog owners teach their pets the most. The training is simple and does not take much time, and the positive effect strengthens the bond and is a lot of fun for both parties. See how to teach your pet to pass the paw so that the training is effective and satisfying.

Weimaraner
Category: Blog, Dog breeds,

The Weimaraner is an aristocrat among hunting dogs. It is an extremely intelligent quadruped with a characteristic shiny silver coat, proud posture and amber eyes. It is not only a very desirable companion in the hunting community, but also arouses well-deserved admiration among other dog lovers.

The dog ran away? See why!
Category: Blog, Living with a dog,

Your dog has run away and you are worried about what will happen to it. Will he find his way home, will he be hit by a car, will he be stolen, will you ever see him again? But do not panic, do not succumb to fear, act as quickly as possible to increase the chance of finding your pet!