Sometimes I get the question where to find a reputable Japanese Akita breeder. Earlier I published a list of Akita kennels in the Netherlands. You can find others by doing a search in Google or start from this website.
Select about three breeders in your area and visit them – personally! Get to know them and [...]

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Recognizing, preventing, and handling dog aggression
A dog is an instinctively aggressive creature and the same is true for the Akita. In the wild, aggression came in very handy: dogs needed aggression to hunt, to defend themselves from other creatures, and to defend resources such as food, a place to sleep, and a mate.
Selective breeding over [...]

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27 March 2008 OneNews – New Zealand’s News A man in New Zealand was attacked by a Japanese Akita. Now he wants the popular dog out of the country, or at least added to the country’s dangerous dog list. He sais “they just kill us”. He thinks Japanese Akita’s are three times more dangerous than [...]

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The Akita belongs to group 5 ‘Spitz and primitive types’ according to the FCI classification of dog breeds.
Physically spitz breeds are very close to the wolf ancestors of dogs. Take a wolf and curl its tail and you have a grey Malamute or a Siberian Husky. Paint it red like a fox and you get [...]

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The Akita is named for his place of origin, the Odate region in Akita Prefecture (Americans: think ’state’), on the Island of Honshu in northern Japan.

So the Akita is not a polar dog, though his coat resembles that of traditional polar dogs such as Huskies and the Alaskan Malamute. There is of course a reason [...]

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The Akita was designated as a Natural Monument in July of 1931 by satisfying the criteria of “a domesticated animal unique to Japan”. Soon other Japanese dog breeds followed.

These other Japanese breeds are:

Akita
Hokkaido
Kai
Kishu
Shikoku
Shiba Inu

Until that time, Akitas were known only to the local population around Odate in the Thoku District, and by a handful of [...]

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The Akita is a special breed. Did you know these three remarkable facts before visiting Akita Blog?

The Akita is one of seven breeds designated as a National Monument in his native country of Japan.
There is a strong spiritual significance attached to the Akita. In Japan they are affectionately regarded as loyal companions and pets, protectors [...]

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I’ve collected a whole bunch of books that are devoted to the Akita dog.

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General Appearance
Large, well-balanced, sturdily built dog of Spitz type. Very slightly longer than high.
Characteristics
Dignified. Broad head with relatively small eyes. Thick, triangular ears pricked and inclined forward. Distinctive tightly curled tail and markings.
Temperament
Aloof, docile and faithful.
Head and Skull
Head appears as a blunt triangle when viewed from above. Broad skull, free from wrinkle, with cheeks moderately [...]

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In the old days Akitas were used for hunting in Japan, but not in such a way that they would actually kill a bear. Some people tell this story but an Akita (or two of them) are not big and strong enough to bring down an angry bear.

Instead, the use of Akitas in bear hunting [...]

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On June 1, 1999, the FCI decided to divide the Akita into two separate ‘breeds’ worldwide.
One breed is the Japanese Akita (formerly known as ‘Akita Inu’).
The other breed is the American Akita (formerly known as ‘Great Japanese Dog’ or GJD).

The GJD consists of Akitas originally exported after WWII whose features were grossly altered by [...]

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The history of the Japanese Akita dog shows many ups and downs.

The Akita’s ancestors were dogs used by matagi for hunting. These dogs, usually called matagi inu, were not as large as modern Akita dogs. Many of these dogs were used as guard dogs. Many were used to guard the emperor and his children. [...]

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The Japanese Akita is considered as a large breed. They are not considered to be a dog for novice owners, as the dog’s master should be assertive in showing the dog its place in the pack, and to have some experience of dog behavior. They are naturally wary of unknown people and animals and should [...]

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This new blog is all about Akita’s, which is not to say that there is no room for other dogs…. but this is just to warn you: It will be Akita all over the place. If you’re not already in love with this dog breed, you’ll soon will be as you will be getting to [...]

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