The Akita is a large breed of dog originating from the
mountainous northern regions of Japan. There are two separate varieties of
Akita: a Japanese strain, commonly called "Akita Ken" in Japan,
"Akita Inu" ("inu" means "dog" in Japanese), or
"Japanese Akita"; and an American strain, known as the
"Akita" or "American Akita". The Japanese strain called the
Akita Inu comes in a narrow palette of colors, with all other colors considered
atypical of the breed, while the American strain known simply as the Akita
comes in all dog colors. The Akita has a short double-coat similar to that of
many other northern spitz breeds such as the Siberian Husky, but long-coated
dogs can be found in many litters due to a recessive gene.
The Akita is a powerful, independent and
dominant breed, commonly aloof with strangers but affectionate with family
members. As a breed, Akitas are generally hardy, but they have been known to
suffer from various genetic conditions and be sensitive to certain drugs.
In all countries (except the United Stats
and Canada) the American strain of Akita are considered two separate breeds. In
the United States and Canada, however, the two strains are considered a single
breed with differences in type. For a while, the American strain of Akita was
known in some countries as the "Great Japanese Dog". Both forms of
Akita are probably best known worldwide from the true story of Hachikō, a loyal
Akita who lived in Japan before World War II.
Breed
name
There is debate among fanciers whether
there are two separate breeds of Akita. To date, only the American Kennel Club,
and the Canadian Kennel Club consider American and Japanese Akitas to be two
varieties of the same breed, allowing free breeding between the two. The United
Kennel Club, The Federation Cynologique Internationale, The Kennel Club, the
Australian National Kennel Council, the New
Zealand Kennel Club, and the Japan Kennel Club consider Japanese and American
Akitas as separate breeds. Some countries refer to the American Akita as simply
the "Akita" and not the American Akita. The issue is especially
controversial in Japan. For the FCI's 84 countries, the breed split formally
occurred June 1999, when the FCI decided that the American type would be called
the Great Japanese Dog, later renamed the American Akita in January 2006.
History
Japanese history, both verbal and
written, describe the ancestors of the Akita, the Matagi dog (hunting dog, Bear
hunting dog, Deer hunting dog), as one of the oldest of the native dogs.
Today's Akita developed primarily from 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 wild boar, Sika deer, and Asian black bear.[citation
needed] This precursor dog tracked large game, holding it at bay until hunters
arrived to make the kill. The breed is also influenced by crosses with larger
breeds from Asia and Europe, including English Mastiffs, Great Danes, St.
Bernards, and the Tosa Inu, in the desire to develop a fighting dog for the
burgeoning dog fighting industry in Odate in the early 20th century. During
World War II the Akita was also crossed with German Shepherd Dogs in an attempt
to save them from the wartime government order for all non-military dogs to be
culled. The ancestors of the American Akita were originally a variety of the
Japanese Akita, a form that was not desired in Japan due to the markings, and
which is not eligible for show competition.
The story of Hachikō, the most revered
Akita of all time, helped push the Akita into the international dog world.
Hachiko was born in 1923 and owned by Professor Hidesaburō Ueno of Tokyo.
Professor Ueno lived near the Shibuya Train Station in a suburb of the city and
commuted to work every day on the train. Hachikō accompanied his master to and
from the station each day. On May 25, 1925, when the dog was 18 months old, he
waited for his master's arrival on the four o'clock train, but Professor Ueno
had suffered a fatal brain haemorrhage at work. Hachikō continued to wait for
his master's return. He travelled to and from the station each day for the next
nine years. He allowed the professor's relatives to care for him, but he never
gave up the vigil at the station for his master. His vigil became world-renowned
when, in 1934, shortly before his death, a bronze statue was erected at the
Shibuya train station in his honor. This statue was melted down for munitions
during the war, but a new one was commissioned after the war. Each year on
April 8 since 1936, Hachikō's devotion has been honoured with a solemn ceremony
of remembrance at Tokyo's Shibuya railroad station. Eventually, Hachikō's
legendary faithfulness became a national symbol of loyalty, particularly to the
person and institution of the Emperor.
In 1931, the Akita was officially declared
a Japanese National Monument. The Mayor of Odate City in Akita Prefecture
organized the Akita Inu Hozonkai to preserve the original Akita as a Japanese
natural treasure through careful breeding. In 1934 the first Japanese breed
standard for the Akita Inu was listed, following the breeds declaration as a
natural monument of Japan. In 1967, commemorating the 50th anniversary of the
founding of the Akita Dog Preservation Society, the Akita Dog Museum was built
to house information, documents and photos. There is a tradition in Japan, that
when a child is born they receive a statue of an Akita. This statue symbolizes
health, happiness, and a long life.
In 1937, Helen Keller travelled to Japan.
She expressed a keen interest in the breed and was presented with the first two
Akitas to enter the US. The first dog, presented to her by Mr. Ogasawara and
named Kamikaze-go, died at 7 1/2 months of age from distemper, one month after
her return to the States. A second Akita was arranged to be sent to Miss
Keller: Kamikaze's litter brother, Kenzan-go. Kenzan-go died in the mid-1940s.
By 1939 a breed standard had been established and dog shows had been held, but
such activities stopped after World War II began. Keller wrote in the Akita
Journal:
“ If
ever there was an angel in fur, it was Kamikaze. I know I shall never feel
quite the same tenderness for any other pet. The Akita dog has all the
qualities that appeal to me — he is gentle, companionable and trusty. ”
Just as the breed was stabilizing in its
native land, World War II pushed the Akita to the brink of extinction. Early in
the war the dogs suffered from lack of nutritious food. Then many were killed
to be eaten by the starving populace, and their pelts were used as clothing.
Finally, the government ordered all remaining dogs to be killed on sight to
prevent the spread of disease. The only way concerned owners could save their
beloved Akitas was to turn them loose in remote mountain areas, where they bred
back with their ancestor dogs, the Matagi, or conceal them from authorities by
means of crossing with German Shepherd dogs, and naming them in the style of
German Shepherd dogs of the time. Morie Sawataishi and his efforts to breed the
Akita is a major reason this breed exists today.
During the occupation years following the
war, the breed began to thrive again through the efforts of 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. U.S. servicemen fell in love with
the Akita and imported many with them upon their return.
American
history
The Japanese Akita and American Akita
began to diverge in type during the Post–World War II era. It
was during this time, that US servicemen serving as part of the occupation
force in Japan first came into contact with the Akita, the breed so impressed
them that many servicemembers chose to bring an Akita back home with them upon
completion of their tour. American servicemembers were
typically more impressed with the larger more bear-like fighting Akita or
German Shepherd type than they were with the smaller framed and fox-like
Akita-Inu; the types of dogs they brought back with them to the US reflected
this sentiment.[citation needed] Japanese Akita fanciers focused on restoring
the breed as a work of Japanese art or to 'Natural Monument' status. American
Akita fanciers chose to breed larger, heavier-boned and more intimidating
dogs.[citation needed] Although, both types derive from a common ancestry,
there are marked differences 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 where it is considered
a disqualification and not permitted in the breed standards.
American Akitas generally are heavier boned and larger, with a more bear-like
head, whereas Japanese Akitas tend to be lighter and more finely featured with
a fox-like head.
Recognized by the American Kennel Club in
1955, it was placed in the Miscellaneous class. It was not
until the end of 1972 that the AKC approved the Akita standard and it was moved
to the Working dog class, as such, the Akita is a rather new breed in the
United States. Foundation stock in America continued to be
imported from Japan until 1974 when the AKC cut off registration to any further
Japanese imports until 1992 when it recognized the Japan Kennel Club. The decision by the AKC to disallow the registration of any further
imported dogs in 1974, set the stage for the divergence in type between the
American Akita and Japanese Akita Inu that is present today.
Elsewhere in the world, the American
Akita was first introduced to the UK in 1937, he was a Canadian import, owned
by a Mrs. Jenson, however the breed was not widely known until the early 1980s.
The breed was introduced in Australia in 1982 with an American Import and to
New Zealand in 1986 with an import from the U.K.
Description
Appearance
As a spitz breed, the appearance of the
Akita reflects cold weather adaptations essential to their original function.
The Akita is a substantial breed for its height with heavy bones. Characteristic physical traits of the breed include a large, bear-like
head with erect, triangular ears set at a slight angle following the arch of
the neck. Additionally, the eyes of the Akita are small, dark,
deeply set and triangular in shape. Akitas have thick double coats, and tight,
well knuckled cat-like feet. Their tails are carried over the
top of the back in a gentle or double curl down the loin.
Mature American type males measure
typically 26–28 inches (66–71 cm) at the withers and weigh between 100–130 lb
(45–59 kg). Mature females typically measure 24–26 inches
(61–66 cm) and weigh between 70–100 lb (32–45 kg). The Japanese type, as stated
in the breed standards, are a little smaller and lighter.
Breed standards state that all dog breed
coat colors are allowable in the American Akita, including pinto, all types of
brindle, solid white, black mask, white mask, self-colored mask, even differing
colors of under coat and overlay (guard hairs). This includes the common Shiba
Inu coloring pattern known as Urajiro. The Japanese Akitas, as
per the breed standards, are restricted to red, fawn, sesame, brindle, pure
white, all with "Urajiro" markings i.e., 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.
Coat
types
There are two coat types in the Akita,
the standard coat length and the long coat. The long coat is considered a fault
in the show ring, however. The long coat, also known as 'Moku' is the result of
an autosomal recessive gene and may only occur phenotypically if both sire and
dam are carriers. They have longer (about 3–4 inches in length) and softer
coats and are known to have sweeter temperaments. It is believed that this
gene comes from the now extinct Karafuto-Ken Unlike their short coat cousins, the long
coats will cost much less. Making them more affordable.
Grooming
needs
American Akitas are a low maintenance dog
breed. Grooming them should be an easy process. They are fairly heavy shredders
and can go heavier than normal two to three times per year. Daily brushing
could be a good way to reduce this problem. This breed needs to bathe every few
months, although it can be more often, depending on the needs of each owner.
Toenails should be trimmed every month, and their ears should be cleaned once a
week. Another great way to reduce shedding is adding around 40 ml of olive oil
and Omega3 for an adult Akita Inu each day, will help improving his overall coat condition and
decrease its shedding.
On top of that, you should Add some vegetables
and fruits to his diet
Temperament
The Akita is generally seen as
territorial about its property, and can be reserved with strangers.[citation
needed] It is sometimes described as feline in its actions; it is not unusual
for an Akita to clean its face after eating, to preen its kennel mate, and to
be fastidious in the house. They are known to be intolerant of other dogs of
the same sex, as stated in the AKC breed standard.
Since it is a large, powerful dog, the
Akita is not considered a breed for a first time dog owner. The breed has been
targeted by some countries' breed-specific legislation as a dangerous dog. The
Akita is a large, strong, independent and dominant dog. A dog
with the correct Akita temperament should be accepting of non-threatening
strangers, yet protective of their family when faced with a threatening
situation. As a breed they should be good with children; it is
said that the breed has an affinity for children. Not all Akitas will
necessarily have the same temperament.
Akitas tend to take a socially dominant
role with other dogs, and thus caution must be used in situations when Akitas
are likely to be around other dogs, especially unfamiliar ones. In particular, Akitas tend to be less tolerant of dogs of the same
sex. For this reason, Akitas, unless highly socialized, are
not generally well-suited for off-leash dog parks. The Akita is said to be
careful, courageous, fearless, and intelligent. Sometimes
spontaneous, it needs a confident, consistent handler, without which the dog
will be very wilful and may become very aggressive to other dogs and animals.
Health
Autoimmune
diseases
There are many autoimmune diseases that
are known to sometimes occur in the Akita. These include, but are not limited
to:
Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada syndrome, also known as Uveo-Dermatologic Syndrome
is an auto-immune condition which affects the skin and eyes.
Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia, which is an autoimmune blood disorder.
Sebaceous Adenitis is an autoimmune skin
disorder believed to be of autosomal recessive inheritance.
Pemphigus Foliaceus is an autoimmune skin
disorder, believed to be genetic.
Systemic Lupus Erythematosus also known as SLE or lupus, is a systemic
autoimmune disease (or autoimmune connective tissue disease) that can affect
any part of the body.
Immune-mediated
endocrine diseases
In addition to these there are also the
Immune-mediated endocrine diseases with a heritable factor, such as:
Addison’s Disease also known as hypoadrenocorticism, it affects the adrenal
glands and is essentially the opposite to Cushing's syndrome.
Cushing’s Syndrome also known as Hyperadrenocorticism, it affects the
adrenal glands and is caused by long-term exposure to high levels of
glucocorticosteroids, either manufactured by the body or given as medications.
Diabetes mellitus also known as type 1 diabetes. It affects the
pancreas.
Hypothyroidism, also known as autoimmune hypothyroidism. This is an
autoimmune disease which affects the thyroid gland.
Non
immune specific conditions
Other non-immune specific conditions
known to have occurred in the Akita include:
Gastric dilation is also known as bloat; may progressive to gastric
dilatation volvulus (GDV), in which the stomach twists on itself.
Microphthalmia, meaning "small eyes", is a developmental
disorder of the eye, believed to be an autosomal recessive genetic condition.
Primary Glaucoma, Increased pressure in the eye.
Progressive Retinal Atrophy progressive degeneration of the retina
(portion of the eye that senses light and allows sight).
Hip dysplasia a skeletal condition where the head of the femur does not
fit properly into the hip socket. Leads to osteoarthritis and pain.
Elbow dysplasia a skeletal condition in which the components of the
elbow joint (the humerus, radius, and ulna) do not line up properly, leading to
osteoarthritis and pain.
Von Willebrands Disease, a genetic bleeding disorder caused by a
deficiency in Von Willebrand factor.
Breed
specific conditions
There are two breed specific conditions
mentioned in veterinary literature:
Immune Sensitivity to vaccines, drugs, insecticides, anesthetics and
tranquilizers
Pseudohyperkalemia, a rise in the amount of potassium that occurs due to
its excessive leakage from red blood cells (RBCs) when blood is drawn. This can
give a false indication of hyperkalemia on lab tests, hence the prefix pseudo, meaning
false. This occurs because many eastern Asian breeds, including Akitas and
Shiba Inus, have a higher level of potassium in their RBCs than other dogs.
Working
life
Predecessors of the modern Akita were
used for hunting bear, wild boar and deer in Japan as late as 1957. They would
be used to flush out the bear and keep it at bay until the hunter could come
and kill it. Today, the breed is used primarily as a companion dog. However,
the breed is currently also known to be used as therapy dogs, and compete in
all dog competitions including: conformation showing, obedience trials, canine
good citizen program, tracking trials and agility competition, as well as
weight pulling, hunting and schutzhund (i.e., personal protection dogs).
