Akita Inu

Akita Inu

An Akita Inu
Other names	Great Japanese Dog (Obsolete) Japanese Akita
Country of origin	Japan
Traits Weight Male 34–54 kg (75–119 lb) Female 34-50 kg (75–110 lb) Height Male 61–66 cm (24–26 in) Coat Coarse, straight, with soft undercoat Color Red, fawn, sesame, brindle, pure white or black Litter size 3–12 puppies, avg. 7–8 Life span 11–15 years
Classification and standards FCI Group 5 Section 5 #255 standard AKC Working standard ANKC Group 6 - (Utility) standard CKC Group 3 - (Working Dogs) standard KC (UK) Utility standard NZKC Utility standard UKC Northern Breeds standard
Dog (Canis lupus familiaris)

The Akita Inu (秋田犬^?) is a Japanese breed of large dog. Named for Akita Prefecture, where it is thought to have originated, it is sometimes called the Akita-ken based on the Sino-Japanese reading of the same kanji. In most countries (with the exception of the American and Canadian Kennel Clubs), it is considered a separate breed from the American Akita, as requested by the Japanese Kennel Club. "Inu" means "dog."

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 lb). 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 colour, 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. It has often been commented that the Japanese Akita has an extraordinary elegance. 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

Akita Inu are renowned as loyal dogs and are also intelligent. The loyalty of an Akita named Hachiko established the breed as truly loyal to their owners.^[1] The famous Akita Hachiko spent his entire life visiting the railway station daily and waiting for his master to arrive who died at work.

Because of their intelligence, Akitas get bored very easily. As a result, they often become destructive if not given anything to do. Akita Inu 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 and should have experienced owners. 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. Akita Inu often become excitable when seeing their owners, often wiggling around and making happy grunts.

Akita Inu 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.

The Akita Inu have a reputation for sometimes being aggressive towards smaller animals or other dogs, particularly those of the same sex. However they can live happily with other dogs and animals providing they are socialized well. They are excellent guard dogs and naturally protective of their home and family. The Akita Inu has a reputation for being an excellent house dog. They make great family dogs with the right training and socialization.

Health

White Akita female with pup

Akitas in UK and USA/Canada surveys had a median lifespan of about 10 years,^[2] which is similar to other breeds of their size.^[3]

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%).^[5]

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 regular grooming, and also an awareness of the dog's heavy shedding, especially during warm weather.

History

The Akita "Tachibana" (one of the very few purebred Akitas that survived World War II) was used on a Japanese postage stamp.

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 Asian black 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.^[6]

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 breeders and 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, Nihon Ken Hozonkai (日本犬保存会, The Association for the Preservation of the Japanese Dog^?), and Kennel Clubs in most other nations consider Japanese and American Akitas as separate breeds. As of 01/01/2006 the UK's Kennel Club has given the Japanese Akita Inu breed recognition and as such no cross breeding, of the now totaly seperate breeds is permitted.

See also

• Hachikō
• Shiba Inu
• Shikoku (dog)
• Kishu
• Hokkaido (dog)
• Kai Ken
• Tosa (dog)
• Karafuto-Ken
• Nihon Ken Hozonkai
• Ginga: Nagareboshi Gin

Notes

References

• Much of the content of this article comes from the equivalent Japanese-language wikipedia article (retrieved October 15, 2005).

External links

• Japanese Akita Inu Club
• The Akita Inu Forum
• Information about the Akita Inu
• Akita HeadQuarters—a pedigree database
• Akita Rescue
• Akita Kansei-The Spanish website, news & forum about Japanese Akita Inu
• Akita Inu Breeder Portal—AkitaMatch.com
• Japanese Akita Club of America