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 an Akita. However behaviorally they are dogs and although they can be challenging to own they lack the full repertoire of mature wolf behaviors. With training they will usually learn to respect their owners and are not unexpectedly attempting dangerous challenges to move up in the pecking order at every opportunity.

Spitz breeds are square proportioned dogs with prick ears and a curled tail. The northern and oriental spitzs generally have a primitive type coat with guard hairs around 2 inches long and an undercoat which thickens in winter. The equatorial spitz have short coats.

BRIEF HISTORICAL SUMMARY

Originally Japanese dogs were small to medium in size and no large breeds existed. Since 1603 in the Akita region, Akita Matagis (medium-sized bear-hunting dogs) were used as fighting dogs. From 1868 Akita Matagis were crossed with Tosas and Mastiffs. Consequently, the size of this breed increased but characteristics associated with Spitz type were lost.

n 1908 dog fighting was prohibited, but this breed was nevertheless preserved and improved as a large Japanese breed. As a result, nine superior examples of this breed were designated as ” Natural Monuments” in 1931.

During World War II (1939-1945), it was common to use dogs as a source of fur for military garments. The police ordered the capture and confiscation of all dogs other than German Shepherd Dogs used for military purposes. Some fanciers tried to circumvent the order by crossbreeding their dogs with German Shepherd Dogs.

When World War II ended, Akitas had been drastically reduced in number and existed as three distinct types, which created a very confusing situation in the breed.

1. Matagi Akitas
2. Fighting Akitas
3. Shepherd Akitas

During the restoration process of the pure breed after the war., Kongo-go, a dog of the Dewa line, which exhibited characteristics of the Mastiff and German Shepherd Dog influence, enjoyed a temporary but tremendous popularity. However, sensible learned fanciers did not approve of this type as a proper Japanese breed, so they made efforts to eliminate the strain old foreign breeds by crossbreeding with Matagi Akitas for the purpose of restoring the original pure breed. They succeeded in stabilizing the pure strain of large sized breed as known today.

GENERAL APPEARANCE

Large-sized dog, sturdily built, well balanced and with much substance; secondary sex characteristics strongly marked, with high nobility and dignity in modesty; constitution tough.

IMPORTANT PROPORTIONS :

The ratio of height at withers to length of body ( from the point of the shoulders to the point of the buttock) is 10 : 11, but the body is slightly longer in bitches than in dogs.

BEHAVIOR AND TEMPERAMENT

The temperament is composed, faithful, docile and receptive.

HEAD

CRANIAL REGION :
Skull : The size is in proportion to the body. The forehead is broad, with distinct furrow. No wrinkle.
Stop : Defined.

FACIAL REGION :
Nose : Large and black. Slight and diffuse lack of pigment accepted in white dogs only, but black is always preferred.
Muzzle : Moderately long and strong with broad base, tapering but not pointed. Nasal bridge straight.
Jaws/Teeth : Teeth strong with scissor bite.
Lips : Tight.
Cheeks : Moderately developed.
Eyes : Relatively small, almost triangular in shape due to the rising of the outer eye corner, set moderately apart, dark brown : the darker, the better.
Ears : Relatively small, thick, triangular, slightly rounded at tips, set moderately apart, pricked and inclining forward.

NECK : Thick and muscular, without dewlap, in balance with head.

BODY

Back : Straight and strong.
Loin : Broad and muscular.
Chest : Deep, forechest well developed, ribs moderately well sprung.
Belly : Well drawn up.

TAIL : Set on high, thick, carried vigorously curled over back ; the tip nearly reaching hocks when let down.

LIMBS

FOREQUARTERS :
Shoulders : Moderately sloping and developed.
Elbows : Tight.
Forearms : Straight and heavy-boned.

HINDQUARTERS : Well developed, strong and moderately angulated.

FEET : Thick, round, arched and tight.

GAIT : Resilient and powerful movement.

COAT

HAIR : Outer coat harsh and straight, undercoat soft and dense ; the withers and the rump are covered with slightly longer hair ; the hair on tail is longer than on the rest of the body.

COLOUR : Red fawn, sesame (red fawn hairs with black tips), brindle and white. All the above mentioned colours except white must have ” urajiro “. (Urajiro = 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).

SIZE

Height at the withers : Dogs : 67 cm,
bitches : 61 cm.
There is a tolerance of 3 cm more or less.

FAULTS

Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree.

• Bitchy dogs / doggy bitches.
• Undershot or overshot mouth.
• Missing teeth.
• Blue or black spotted tongue.
• Iris light in colour.
• Short tail.
• Shyness.

ELIMINATING FAULTS :

• Ears not pricked.
• Hanging tail.
• Long hair (shaggy).
• Black mask.
• Markings on white ground.

NB : Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.

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

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 European and American breeding. The Akita standard set by the Japanese Akiho breeders has largely been ignored in the USA. The AKC (American Kennel Club) worsened the situation by refusing to register imported Japanese Akitas beginning in the seventies. This left a small gene pool of nonstandard Akitas from which the present day Akita in the USA has been inbred.

Recently, the AKC opened their registry to Akitas from Japan but only through the JKC/AKC reciprocal agreement of 1992. Now only JKC (Japanese Kennel Club) registered dogs are allowed into the AKC. Consequently, many quality Japanese Akitas are now not being exported. Akiho, the original Akita registry, is a preservation society for Akitas. The Akiho does not desire the different breed standard set by the Japan Kennel Club (JKC). As only the JKC is affiliated with the FCI, Akiho breeders are reluctant to register their dogs with the FCI.

The FCI announced this split in Mexico at the FCI World Show in 1999. Not all countries are affiliated with FCI so the Akita remains one breed in several countries including the USA, Australia, New Zealand, Great Britain and Canada. The Akita Club of America (ACA) voted not to split the breed in the United States. This vote caused much dissension amongst breeders and a decision to split the breed is denied for three more years. Once a decision to split the breed is made it will be final and cannot be reversed.

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 be well socialized to avoid undesirable aggression. Left unattended in the backyard or in a kennel, they can develop ‘personality’ problems, and may become destructive to the yard due to boredom.

They are highly pack oriented, thus, isolating them from a social environment (i.e., the owner) causes them great stress. The Akita is a dominant dog which may expect other dogs to be submissive. Akita’s should never be taken to off-leash dog parks due to this dominant behavior, as well as the fact that the dogs are large and strong, and would be difficult to restrain physically if the dog is not properly trained.

Akita’s are devoted protectors of children in its pack, and it is said that Japanese mothers often left their children with only the Akita’s to watch over and protect them. This devotion will not necessarily extend to other children, especially if teased, and can be aloof with strangers. Common sense should prevail, and adequate supervision of pets and children is generally a good idea. Having said this, a well socialized Akita will be more comfortable with this.

They are excellent house dogs. They require moderate, but regular exercise. Akita’s are known to be very quiet dogs, only barking “when there is something to bark about”.

Akita’s may take a while to train because they are easily bored and can be stubborn. Akita’s are highly intelligent, and will only obey a task if they see the point of it. They are not trick dogs. They are also a dominant species, and will not take orders from a weak or abusive leader, requiring a firm but loving education where “no” always means “no” and never “whatever”.

An Akita is not likely to shower affection on someone that is not a member of his family or a close friend that he sees frequently, and can be extremely aloof.

The Akita breed is famous for their loyalty, and a pet Akita will patiently follow its master from room to room, without ever getting underfoot. The tale of Hachiko (see ‘Akita History’) illustrates their loyalty.