home page
all dog breeds
dog origin chart
dog size chart
dog coat colors

herding dog breeds
herding
dog
breeds

hound dog breeds
hound
dog
breeds

molossoid dog breeds
molossoid
dog
breeds

nonsporting dog breeds
nonsporting
/ companion
dog breeds

primitive dog breeds
primitive
dog
breeds

spitz dog breeds
spitz /
northern
dog breeds

sporting dog breeds
sporting
dog
breeds

terrier dog breeds
terrier
dog
breeds

toy dog breeds
toy
dog
breeds

working dog breeds
working
dog
breeds

 

choosing a dog
world standards
mixed breeds
add your dog



advertise with us
back to icelandic sheepdog dogforward to japanese american akita dog

Japanese Akita

Japanese Akita dog
Japanese Akita
Japanese Akita dog
Japanese Akita dog
Japanese Akita dog
Japanese Akita dog
Japanese Akita dog
     
group: spitz /
working

height: 23-27.5" / 70-58-70 cm

weight: 75-110 lbs / 34-50
kg

height of a japanese akita spitz breed dog
types: Japanese American Akita (Akita Matagis), Japanese Akita (Fighting Akita), Shepherd Akita
colors:

red fawn, sesame (red fawn hairs with black tips), brindle, tiger and white. all except white must have urajiro markings: whitish coat on the sides of the muzzle, on the cheeks, on the underside of jaw, neck, chest, body and tail and on the inside of the legs

physical traits:  
hair type: outer coat harsh and straight, undercoat soft and dense; withers and rump covered with slightly longer hair; hair on tail longer than on the rest of body
personality/
temperament:
composed, faithful, docile and receptive, faithful, submissive, some can be overly shy or aggressive
maintenance/
special needs:

medium, patience to train
nickname: bear hound, Akita Inu, Akita
origination: Japan, originally medium-sized and spitz looking (''Akita Matagis"), over time they were bred with larger breeds to make for a better fighting dog. these crossings resulted in the Japanese American Akita and the Akita Shepherd hybrid. the Japanese Akita is the result of purist fanciers successfully eliminating any remnant of cross-breeding and restoring the original "Akita Matagis" look
bred for: large game hunting, dog fighting
identifying traits: Japanese Akitas do not have blue or black spotted tongues, nor should they have a black mask or a predominately white coat with markings
ideal for: home dog, companion, family, security, outdoors, cold climates
good with kids? supervise as with any large dog
life expectancy: 10-12 yrs  
of interest: in their original form the Japanese Akita (Matagis Akitas) resembled medium-sized spitz and were used for fighting. to make a larger, stronger fighting dog they were crossed with Tosas and Mastiffs (and possibly Great Danes). during WWII, dog (including Akita) coats were used to make military garments. only German Shepherds that served as police dogs were protected. Akita fanciers bred these larger Akitas with German Shepherds in an attempt to save them. one line, the Dewa, were brought back to the United States by WWII soldiers where they developed a different look and were recognized as a unique type in 1955, with the establishment of the Akita Club of America in 1956 and subsequently accepted by the AKC in 1972.
the Japanese Akita's original spitz look was restored in Japan by breeding WWII Akitas with Matagis Akitas.
those crossbred with Shepherds are considered Akita Shepherd hybrids.
health concerns:  
kennel clubs: jkc- (spitz dog breed group), fci-(spitz and primitive, Asian Spitz dog breed group), nzkc-(utility dog breed group)
rescues:    
     
Japanese Akita dog
     
Japanese Akita dog
     
Japanese Akita dog
     
 
  home | herding | hound | molossoid | nonsporting | primitive | spitz | sporting | terrier | toy | working | write us