Akita - Working Group

The Akita is a long standing member of the working group category. This breed has an adventurous, independent character, it is extremely loyal to its pack or family. Considered to be one of the single best watchdogs anyone could own, the Akita dog breed will defend members of its family no matter what the danger, because of this it is extremely reserved when near strangers and different animals.

History Of The Akita The Akita originates from Japan. As a matter of fact, the Akita's ancestors can be seen on very ancient Japanese tombs, which demonstrate to us that Akitas today are the result of deliberate efforts of the nineteenth century to revive 7 of Japan's indigenous dog breeds. The dog breeds employed for these dog breeding campaigns were largely fighting dog breeds, a few purebred and some mixed. The Japanese dog breeders tried very hard to separate a lot of the fighting traits from the Akita, especially the pinto pattern, black mask, and the dog's unbelievable size. But, North American dog breeders were avid about these fighting traits and in reality promoted them. To conserve the original Akita, the Akita-inu Hozankai Society of Japan was conceived in 1918. Just over ten years later, in 1931, the Akita breed was proclaimed an official monument in Japan. The most famous story of this breed was about an Akita named Hachiko. Hachiko would go and meet his owner daily at the train station after his owner was done work. The owner died at work one day, and Hachiko waited patiently for him to return on the train, at that same spot, until he died nine years later! The 1st Akita dog was brought to the United States in 1937. Helen Keller was the one who originally brought the Akita to America when she came back from the Japanese Islands. When the Second World War was finished, a lot of Akitas were also brought back to America by members of the military when coming back home from the war. The AKC formally acknowledged the breed in 1972.

Upkeep For The Akita

This breed loves living with people who have a physically active lifestyle. They require intellectual and physical exercise on a regular basis, preferably getting the opportunity to run long distances free from any leash, but if that is not possible then a moderate jogor walk on the leash will do. Just as long as they have sufficient quantities of exercise, Akitas are well behaved dogs when indoors. Akitas bear a fantastic tolerance for frigid weather condition and can survive outside in more frigid climates, however they don't do to well in hot weather. Just like all household pets, they're most content when slumbering indoors with the family unit at nighttime. Grooming essentials requires a complete brushing approximately one time per week to remove dead hair, particularly during shedding season.

Health Concerns With The Akita

Akita dogs have normally a life span of 10 to 12 years. The 2 primary health problems that are common in this dog breed are PRA and CHD. Minor health concerns with the Akita are gastric torsion, elbow dysplasia, sebaceous adenitis, hypothyroidism, lymphosarcoma, osteosarcoma, pemphigus, and cruciate ligament rupture. Vets advise that these dogs should be tested for potential eye, hip, elbow, and thyroid problems.