 Most Akita puppies chew. A
poodle puts a few teeth marks in chair; an Akita will destroy the
whole chair. Most grow out of this stage by their first birthday,
but some do not stop until they are about two. They have been
named "100 pound termites" with good reason. |
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Akitas do not bark unless there
is a good reason. When an Akita is barking, pay attention!
Akitas are inherently aggressive towards other animals and for
this reason, they should not be allowed to run free or roam at
will. |
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Akitas consider small animals as prey and hunt them. This includes
cats, rodents, birds, small wildlife and small dogs. Akitas can be
raised to accept animals in residence. Some adult Akitas can even
be trained to fit into a home where other animals are already
established. It is imperative; however, that the Akita be closely
watched around the other animals until you have established a
peaceful co-existence. |
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Akitas are VERY FOOD POSSESSIVE. If
you have other pets, you will want to be certain the Akita is
given his own food bowl or treats well away from other animals and
that no other animal is allowed near the Akita until the food is
gone. |
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Akitas not raised with children are
not always tolerant of small children, and the Akita should never
be left alone with a child until you are CERTAIN you have a dog
who adores children. Often, Akitas raised with children will
tolerate their own children, but may not accept the neighborhood
kids. |
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Akitas do not like to be teased and may respond by biting. Some
children are allowed to treat animals unkindly, a behavior that
often leads to cruelty to animals. These children should be kept
away from an Akita whose large size and hunting instincts can
endanger the child's life. |
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Akitas like to take charge -- an
inherited trait from their wolf ancestry and may, at times,
challenge you for the dominant position (especially adolescent
males from 1 year to 2 years of age). This behavior cannot be
tolerated and a firm, CONSISTENT correction should be your
immediate response. Akitas with good temperament accept discipline
well -- not beating, but intelligent discipline. |
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Akitas should be obedience trained BY THEIR OWNER and not sent
away to school like some little poodle!! A good obedience class
will guarantee a firm bond with your dog and well-behaved dog.
Remember though, Akitas are extremely intelligent and tend to get
bored easily. They learn quickly so short training periods are
suggested. This keeps the dog from becoming bored. Akitas are very
stubborn, and when the dog thinks it is a waste of time to "sit"
or "stay" one more time, he may simply walk away. Obedience
training requires patience! |
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Some Akitas are "talkers". They may
grunt, groan and mumble to entertain themselves and you. This
conversational verbalizing is not growling and should not be
interpreted as a growl which sounds quite different. Akita
"talking" is an endearing trait and should not frighten you. After
living with the dog, you will easily distinguish between talking
and growling. |
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Akitas are not considered hyperactive; they are low activity
indoor dogs and moderate activity outdoor dogs. They can fit into
a sedentary household, but for optimum health for both you and
your Akita, regular exercise is important. |
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Akitas are very people oriented and are not happy when kept apart
from the family. If you do not plan on having your dog live with
you both inside your home and yard, you should not seriously
consider an Akita for a pet. |
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When
keeping another dog with an Akita, it is usually more harmonious
to have one of each sex. |
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If
your Akita has a propensity for digging, expect your yard to
resemble a lunar landscape; they are great earth moving machines
when so motivated. |
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Some Akitas are escape artists.
They will hook their front paws over a low fence and climb over.
If they can get their heads under a fence, the rest of the body is
sure to follow. Some have been known to go through a wooden fence
with the right motivation. |
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Akitas usually shed twice a
year in great quantities. It is called "blowing their coat". They
lose the entire wooly undercoat, which makes little tumbleweeds of
hair all over your house. The shed lasts 4 to 8 weeks. It can be
hurried along by daily brushing and warm baths. |
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GROOMING: If you get a puppy, start cutting toenails, brushing,
bathing, ear cleaning, teeth brushing very early. It is much
easier to do this to a 20 lb. puppy and get him used to it than to
fight with a 100 lb. adult. Adults can be trained to accept this
with patience and a little TLC. |
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Akitas are big dogs. Therefore, everything is going to be "more".
More expensive vet bills, medications, collars, food, bigger piles
of stool to clean up, large food/water bowls, large size crates.
It will be expensive to board your Akita, or have it bathed and
dipped. This will affect you financially, so consider carefully,
and be sure you can afford to have an Akita. |
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Akitas live from 10-14 years
with good care and proper nutrition. |
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Akitas are loyal, excellent
watch dogs, wonderful companions who enjoy affection, but do not
crave it. Once you've been owned by an Akita, you will never
switch to another breed! |
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