Description
Appearance
The breed stands anywhere from 60–66 cm (24–26 in) at the withers. Females weigh anywhere from 30–45 kg (70–100 lb) and males are 35–54 kg (75–119). The Akita Inu comes in only five colors: Red, Fawn, Sesame, Brindle, and Pure White. All except white must have whitish hair on the sides of the muzzle, on the cheeks, the neck, chest, body and tail. Black masks, as seen in the American Akita, are not permitted in the Japanese Akita Inu.
All colors are accepted in the American Akita. The Pinto color is not accepted as a Japanese Akita color, but is as an American Akita color. In the U.S., some breeders interbreed the original Japanese type with the heavier American type, which is larger, and allows more colors. It is felt by some that combining the two types leads to improved appearance and genetic health by increasing genetic diversity. There is only a single Akita breed registered by the American Kennel Club; in all other countries besides Canada the breed has been separated into two breeds: the Akita Inu and the American Akita.
Temperament
Akitas are renowned as loyal dogs and also intelligent and because of their intelligence are easily bored. As a result, they often become destructive if not given anything to do. Akitas can live happily in apartments as long as they are given plenty of exercise. They need to be socialized as puppies so they are friendly dogs. Although they love human companionship, they are quite happy to be outside dogs as well, but should still be taken out for walks to prevent destruction of the yard. Akitas often become excitable when seeing their owners, often wiggling around and making happy grunts.
Akitas are very good with children, and are often quite playful, although they should be watched around small children as they could knock them over during play and can get a bit snappy when excited.
The Akita Inu have a reputation for sometimes being aggressive towards strangers, smaller animals or other dogs, particularly those of the same sex, they are certainly a highly dominant breed, and should not be kept as a pet if you are not able to control a dominant dog. Akitas would rather live in a home with no other pets present, unless they have been raised with them during puppyhood. Before deciding if an Akita is the right dog for your house, first make sure of the breed at which you are looking; the American Akita or the Japanese Akita Inu. Further research is always advisable before deciding on a breed.
Health
Mortality
Akitas in UK and USA/Canada surveys had a median lifespan of about 10 years, which is similar to other breeds of their size.
In a 2004 UK Kennel Club survey, the most common causes of death were cancer (32%), cardiac (14%), and gastrointestinal, including bloat/torsion (14%).[4] In a 2000-2001 USA/Canada Health Survey, the most common causes of death were cancer (21%), GDV (=bloat/torsion, 21%), musculoskeletal (15.5%), and autoimmune (7%).
Grooming
Akitas possess a double coat, with a dense straight undercoat, and a thick outer coat. This coat makes the dog waterproof, as well as being well-equipped for the fierce winters in northern Japan. Due to the thickness of their coat, the breed requires daily grooming, and also an awareness of the dog's heavy shedding, especially during warm weather.
Morbidity
Some of the health conditions known to affect this breed include:
Canine herpesvirus, a strain of the Herpes virus that affects canines
Gastric dilatation volvulus (GDV), a condition associated with bloat
Pemphigus, which causes the immune system to attack the dog's skin (leading to pustules)
Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA), an adult-onset condition which causes gradual degeneration in the eye cells (i.e. rods & cones)
UveoDermatological Syndrome (UDS)
Sebaceous adenitis, an autoimmune condition which attacks and destroys the dog's sebaceous glands
Canine hip dysplasia
Hypothyroidism
Hyperkalaemia, as a breed, Akitas have abnormally high blood potassium concentrations compared to other breeds.
Heart size, as a breed, Akitas have an unusually small heart for their size. A number of Akitas have died while being operated on under the normal dose of general anaesthetic for a canine of that size, a dose which ultimately proved excessive and fatal to the Akita. For that reason, to avoid anaesthetic-induced death, only the bare minimum dose of general anaesthetic sufficient to produce anaesthesia should be used when an Akita requires general anaesthesia.
Gastric dilatation volvulus
Akita owners should take special note of the high incidence of GDV (gastric dilatation volvulus) in this breed. Excess gas trapped in the dog's stomach causes "bloat." Twisting of the stomach (volvulus or "torsion") causes or is caused by that excess gas. GDV is an emergency condition requiring immediate veterinary treatment. Akita owners should be alert to the symptoms of GDV and know the location of the nearest emergency veterinary facility. Dogs with any symptoms of GDV (esp. unsuccessful attempts at vomiting) should be regarded as having GDV until proven otherwise by a veterinarian.
Symptoms of GDV include:
Gagging or retching with unsuccessful attempts at vomiting (frothy foam may come up instead)
Distended abdomen (may or may not be noticeable)
Discomfort and pain esp. around the abdomen for no apparent reason—this may be observed as frequent pacing, an inability to find a comfortable position, whimpering, or wincing when pressure is applied to the abdomen
Weakness
Depression
Breathing difficulty
Hypersalivation and panting
Possible cardiac problems such as arrhythmias
Cyanosis (blue gums or skin) in severe cases from a lack of oxygen
History
Japanese history, both verbal and written, describes the ancestors of the Akita Inu, the Matagi dog, as one of the oldest of the native dogs. The Akita Inu of today developed primarily from these dogs in the northernmost region of the island of Honshū in the Akita prefecture, thus providing the breed's name. The Matagi's quarry included elk, antelope, boar, and the 120-stone Yezo bear. This swift, agile, unswervingly tenacious precursor dog tracked large game and held it at bay until the hunters arrived to make the kill.
Recent DNA analysis found that the Akita was among the most ancient dog breeds.
During World War II, the number of Akita dogs greatly diminished because of the lack of food. There were also orders to capture all dogs except German Shepherds in order to use their fur for warm army uniforms.
During the occupation years following the war, the breed began to thrive again through the efforts of Morie Sawataishi and others. For the first time, Akitas were bred for a standardized appearance. Akita fanciers in Japan began gathering and exhibiting the remaining Akitas and producing litters in order to restore the breed to sustainable numbers and to accentuate the original characteristics of the breed muddied by crosses to other breeds. US servicemen fell in love with the Akita and imported many of them into the US upon and after their return.
The Japanese Akita and American Akita began to diverge in type through the middle and later part of the 20th century with the Japanese Akita fanciers focusing on restoring the breed as a work of Japanese art and American Akita fanciers selecting for the larger, heavier-boned dogs that emerged from the post-war times. Both types derive from a common ancestry, but marked differences can be observed between the two. First, while American Akitas are acceptable in all colors, Japanese Akitas are only permitted to be red, fawn, sesame, white, or brindle. Additionally, American Akitas may be pinto and/or have black masks, unlike Japanese Akitas.
Much debate occurs among Akita fanciers of both types whether there are or should be two breeds of Akita. To date, the American Kennel Club and Canadian Kennel Club, guided by their national breed clubs, consider American and Japanese Akitas to be two types of the same breed, allowing free breeding between the two. The FCI and Kennel Clubs in most other nations consider Japanese and American Akitas as separate breeds.
In popular culture
Television shows
Many manga titles by Takahashi Yoshihiro feature Akita dogs as the main character. These include Gin of Ginga: Nagareboshi Gin. His son Weed, who stars in Ginga Densetsu Weed, is an Akita/Kishu Ken mix. This is said to be because Takahashi Yoshihiro was born in Akita Prefecture.
The title character in the anime and manga animated series InuYasha, along with his brother, Sesshomaru and father, Inu no Taisho are said to be Akita yōkai (half yōkai half human in InuYasha's case). A yōkai is a legendary Japanese demon.
Literature
In the manga Nana, one of the title characters is given the nickname Hachiko in reference to her dog-like loyalty being similar to that of the famous dog Hachikō.
Martha Sherrill's biography Dog Man: An Uncommon Life on a Faraway Mountain reviews the history of the Akita and the efforts of Morie Sawataishi to restore the breed.
The Akita "Hachiko" from the book "Hachiko Waits" by Leslea Newman, illustrated by Machiyo Kodaira.
Famous people
Nicole Brown Simpson's dog in the O.J. Simpson case was an Akita, named Kaelin.
MC Hammer has two Akitas named Bart and Alvin.
Major league baseball Hall of Famer Cal Ripken owned an Akita, Champagne, in the 1980s and 90's.
Helen Keller owned two Akita dogs, the second presented by the Japanese government. It is thought that she introduced the breed into American culture.
Sarah Michelle Gellar owns an Akita named Tyson.
David Draiman owned an Akita named Lisa. She died at 7 years of age.
Plays/musicals
In the Broadway musical Rent, the character of Benny and his wife Alison own an Akita named Evita that Angel is paid to help kill.
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