#Dog #Breed of the #Month: #Akita - #March 2013

Featured dog breed for March is loyal beyond belief
By Stacey Gonzalez

Photo by gomagoti Foter.com CC BY-SA

Brave, bold and fiercely loyal, the Japanese Akita is a great companion for experience dog owners. With a little patience and a lot of training an Akita can be a real addition to your family, happily participating in your day to day activities right by your side.
The Akita is a working dog that can weight anywhere between 70 to 130 pounds. Declared a national treasure in Japan the Akita dog is famous around the world thanks to one canine named Hachiko. Hachiko was an Akita who greeted his master every day at the train station after work. One day Hachiko’s master passed away while on the job and his loyal dog waited for him relentlessly. He continued to return to that spot and wait for his master every day until poor Hachiko died on March 8, 1935.
The Akita was named after a province in northern Japan where it is believed that the breed originated. The powerful and regal canines used to guard royalty as far back as the 1600s. What makes the Akita even more infamous is its special tie to an American Hero.

Photo by aldenchadwick Foter.com CC BY

Helen Keller brought the first Akita to the United States in 1937 upon her return from a trip to Japan. After visiting a statue of Hachiko in Shibuyu, Japan Helen Keller wanted a beautiful Akita of her own. The Japanese government proudly presented her with the first Akita to come to America. The breed’s popularity has been growing ever since.The Akita is known to be playful and amusing. It is very mouthy and enjoys carrying things in its mouth. Pulling a large stick around the back yard for an hour may be just what your Akita needs to enjoy its day. Some Akita’s will even lead their owners about the house by gently taking the hand in their large mouths. But the breed is also stubborn and fearless. An Akita will never back down and if you keep eye contact with an Akita for too long it will consider it a challenge. That is why Akita’s are not recommended for first time dog owners and take a lot of specialize training. You have to become the pack leader with these dogs.Akita’s need a lot of socializing with other dogs and pets otherwise they may not form bonds with your other furry family members. They can sometimes become aggressive with other dogs- especially dogs of the same sex. Akita’s have also been known to chase other pets around so it is best to carefully introduce your Akita to other pets while it is still a puppy. They are very wary of strangers and are extremely protective of their family members. When training an Akita it is important to be respectful and firm- never aggressive. Akita’s are gentle by nature and respond well to respect but an Akita will not back down and if you disrespect it the dog is likely to bark and be stubborn.
If you decide you need a trainer’s help with your Akita you should always be present for the sessions. Due to the loyal nature of the dog it will be confusing for it to be forced to bond with someone outside its family. That being said, every dog is different. With a little patience and a lot of love Akita’s are amazing and happy dogs.
The breed is renowned for its loyalty and its deep attachment to its family and home life. The Akita is a very special kind of large breed dog that lives a happier life inside with its family rather than outside in the yard. It does require daily exercise for at least an hour. But be creative- if an Akita is sent out in the back yard to play fetch all the time it will become bored. That’s when the bold, stubborn nature of the breed will kick in and it will most likely do something to get your attention. So change it up- create new games that involve pulling, carrying and hunting things down.
The Akita’s facial features are what draw people in. Their adorable bear-like features paired with a mouth that always seems to be smiling make it easy to love an Akita. The Akita’s tail curls up and forward on the dog at all time. They can be a variety of colours- usually with white front legs. Although they are big dogs a lot of it is just an illusion created by their thick, water proof coat. Akita’s shed quite a bit- especially during the shedding seasons- and they should be brushed at least once a week to remove dead hair. Akita’s should only be bathed when necessary because frequent bathing can remove some of the natural water-proofing on the dog’s coat. The Akita will bathe itself in an almost feline-like fashion. Like most large breed dogs Akita’s are prone to hip dysplasia but for the most part Akita’s are pretty healthy. They can get bloated from eating or drinking too fast, which is a common and potentially life-threatening condition that affects deep-chested dogs like Akita’s. They should be monitored when they are fed and should never be fed one large meal for the day. Other important medical tests for an Akita should include the eyes and the thyroid. Akita’s can also develop a skin condition called sebaceous adenitis that can be difficult to diagnose and extremely uncomfortable for the dog. Symptoms can include dry, scaly skin, hair loss, loss of fur on the top of the head and around the neck, thickened skin and an unpleasant odour. If you see any of these symptoms present in your Akita have a veterinarian do a biopsy on the skin immediately.

An Akita can quickly become a part of the family and will follow its owner to the end of the earth. They are bold, beautiful and love their owners unconditionally. If you gain the trust of an Akita you will have it for life. It will protect you and honor you until you’re dying day- and maybe even beyond that.
Check out the featured cat breed for the month of March