Everything you need to know about Akitas

Noble, endlessly loyal, fiercely protective… all wrapped up in a charming, teddy bear-esque exterior. Meet the Akita, a powerhouse of a pooch who's highly intelligent, dignified, courageous - and loyal to the end. Believe us when we say with an Akita, you'll truly have a BBF for life. That said, these colossal, powerful pooches aren't for everyone! 

Here, we run you through the loyal and revered Akita dog - from their noble beginnings guarding Japan's royalty to their breed characteristics, personality traits, and more. As we journey through the Akita's long and complex history, we also dive into the differences between the Japanese Akita and the American Akita. So, ready to learn (almost) everything there is to know about this faithful steed? Let's dig in...

Akita characteristics

Origin: The Akita is believed to have originated in the prefecture of Akita, in Northern Japan. They’re an ancient, noble breed with a long and super interesting history - head on over to our history section to find out more!

Size: Male Akitas weigh between 100 - 130 pounds, while females typically weigh between 70 - 100 pounds. 

Character: These noble powerhouse pooches are known to be extremely loyal and fiercely protective of their family. They are bold, alert, and courageous, but can have a stubborn streak and are naturally wary of strangers.

Grooming: They are relatively easy to groom - give them a weekly brush and you're good to go. That said, they do shed throughout the year, and twice annually their thick, double-coat will shed heavily.

Health needs: In general they are in good health, however, they are prone to certain health issues, including hip dysplasia and gastric dilatation volvulus (otherwise known as 'bloat'- a life-threatening condition that tends to affect larger dogs).

Energy levels: While they're not the most active of breeds, they do require regular exercise. Around 30 mins - 1 hour of exercise a day is usually enough to keep the breed happy and healthy.

Training: While they are an intelligent breed, they are incredibly headstrong - and can have a stubborn steak! These large and domineering canines require an experienced pet parent handler, and early training and socialization during puppyhood is a must.

Intelligence: These brainy canines are highly intelligent. They'll need regular exercise and a varied routine to keep boredom (and destructive behavior) at bay.

Lifespan: Good news - Akitas are one of the longest-living dog breeds, living on average between 10 - 14 years.

Noise levels: Nicknamed "The Silent Hunter", they are a quiet breed by nature - they tend to only bark when necessary.

Akita looks & appearance

The Akita is a large breed in the working dog group, with a muscular body and thick, double-coated fur. That said, not all Akitas are alike - in fact, there are a number of physical differences that set apart the Japanese Akita dog and the American Akita dog. 

What’s the difference between a Japanese Akita and an American Akita? 

The first (and most obvious) difference is their head. Although both equally adorable, Japanese Akitas have a fox-like appearance, with triangular ears that sit forward on their head. The American Akita, on the other paw, has a more bear-like head, with ears that sit slightly more erect. 

The Japanese dog also tends to be smaller than its American brother. Typically, Japanese Akitas - also known as the Akita Inu - stand between 23 - 25 inches tall and weigh between 70 - 120 pounds. American Akitas tend to be a bit taller and a bit heavier still - they have large, muscular bodies that stand on average between 24 - 26 inches and weigh between 70 - 130 pounds.

Another difference between these two cuties is their coat color. Japanese Akitas tend to be red fawn, brindle, white, or sesame in color, while American Akita colors tend to be more varied, and include black, white, chocolate, or a combination of colors. 

Akita personality

So, what are these fluffy powerhouse pooches really like? And is there any difference between the American and Japanese Akita? 

Well, some suggest that the Japanese Akita is the more companion animal of the two, and with proper training and lots of early socialization, they can even get along with children. On the flip side, the American Akita has a reputation for being more of a guard dog than a family dog. They have a strong desire to protect the home, but may have the potential to become frustrated around young children or other animals. 

In general, there isn’t much that sets the two apart. Because of their protective nature, both are natural guardians of the home which means they can be wary of strangers (which is why early socialization is so important for the breed). According to the American Kennel Club (AKC), they can also become aggressive toward other dogs, particularly those of the same sex. 

What's the ideal home for an Akita?

The Akita is a lone wolf (or rather, dog), in that they tend not to get along with well other animals. As they can display aggressive tendencies toward other dogs, they are much more suited to being the only pet in the home. 

They tend to be highly affectionate and incredibly loyal to their families. As such, they can live in homes with children but are better suited to living with older children (who know how to interact with them in the right way). As with any dog, it’s important to never leave them unattended around small children. 

What's the ideal human for an Akita?

The breed isn't for the faint-hearted, and is generally not recommended for new or first-time pet parents. Because of their stubborn and somewhat challenging nature, an experienced owner is a must - they will need a pet parent that knows how to handle them, and will be able to invest the time and energy in properly training and socializing them. 

Tips for training Akitas

While Akitas are highly intelligent, they can be stubborn, which can make training a challenge! They respond well to a firm but positive hand during training. As an intelligent breed, they can become bored of the same routine, so variety is key. 

Any pet parent to this breed should take the time to look into the correct training methods - and keep in mind that training may take longer than with other breeds. It’s important that Akita dogs receive the right training from a young age - while they’re still small enough to handle! 

While they'll never be the epitome of a 'social butterfly’, socialization classes and exposing them to lots of friendly humans early on in life can lessen the chance they'll become extremely wary of strangers (and reduce the likelihood of them becoming aggressive to humans they’re unfamiliar with). 

Exercise needs

While they won't be running a marathon anytime soon, they do require moderate amounts of exercise - between 30 minutes to an hour is usually enough to keep these pooches happy and healthy. Their hardy backgrounds and thick double-coats mean a bout of cold weather will do little to deter an Akita from its walkies. 

A lack of exercise can quickly lead to boredom, which can result in destructive behavior (RIP your sofa). So it's important they get plenty of exercise and play to keep boredom at bay.

Another thing to keep in mind? You'll want to skip the doggy park. As we mentioned, the breed does have a tendency to be aggressive towards other dogs (particularly those of the same sex), and so it's generally recommended that they are kept away from other pooches, and closely supervised when around them.

Grooming Akitas

Despite that lush, teddy-bear exterior, Akitas are pretty low-maintenance when it comes to grooming. Brush their thick double coats at least once a week and trim their nails regularly, and you're more or less good to go. 

Be aware, though, these dogs are big shedders. They shed consistently throughout the year, but this reaches a furry climax twice annually when they shed heavily - leaving clumps of fluff and fur in their wake. A hardy vacuum cleaner (and a couple of lint rollers) will be your new BFFs.

Other than that, they have a reputation for being very clean animals - in fact, they have been described by many as being 'cat-like' on account of them grooming and licking themselves clean, much as a kitty would! While their self-cleaning efforts are appreciated, they will still need a bath around every three months or so. 

Akita history

Originating in the prefecture of Akita, in Northern Japan, the Akita was originally bred to guard Japan's royalty and nobility and were used to track and hunt big game such as wild boar, deer, and bears. 

They're considered a symbol of protection in Japan, and are believed to signify health, happiness, and long life. In 1931, they were declared a national monument and today are considered to be one of Japan's national treasures. What did we tell you - pretty noble, right? 

While they are an ancient breed, it wasn't until the 1930s that the Akita dog breed was introduced to the United States - by none other than Helen Keller. She (understandably) fell in love with the breed after a visit to Japan and was presented with an Akita puppy as a gift - the first to ever enter the United States. 

Unfortunately, the pup died shortly after, but Keller received a second Akita whom she loved for many years. Their popularity continued to boom following World War II, when returning soldiers (who were just as captivated by their beauty and charm) would bring them back with them from the war. Eventually, the breed was further bred and developed into the American Akita. 

Throughout history, the Akita has flirted with the line of extinction - in 1927, a Japanese national breed club was established to secure the survival of this noble steed, and the breed was officially recognized by the AKC a few decades later in 1972.

Today, their reputation for being a loyal, courageous, and powerful breed reigns on. They’re one of the most loyal dog breeds around, which is probably best summed up in the story of Hachiko - an Akita who famously waited at a train station each day for his owner’s return, until one day - unbeknownst to poor Hachiko-, the man died at work. The ever-loyal steed patiently waited at the station for his master to return for an entire decade following the man’s death. A statue now still stands at Shibuya station in the pooch’s memory.  

Getting an Akita

Akitas aren’t for everyone. They need an experienced owner who knows how to handle them and can provide them with the loving - but firm - hand they need to thrive. As such, they're not recommended for new or first-time pet parents.

The ideal Akita pet parent would be somebody who can invest the time, money, and effort into properly training and socializing them from puppyhood, ideally with previous experience of the breed. Likewise, regular exercise is essential (at least if you want a happy pooch and a house intact) - and so, you should make sure that you can dedicate the time and energy needed to keep these pooches happy, before welcoming one of them into your life.

Lastly, you'll need to think about your home environment. Akitas tend not to do well with other pets, especially dogs, so ideally they should be the only pet in the household. Likewise, they are best suited to homes without small, young children. 

While they certainly aren't one of the easiest dog breeds to care for, pet parents who can truly invest the time and dedication needed to own one of these noble steeds will undoubtedly be rewarded with an intelligent, loyal and protective canine - who’ll be forever at your side.