Akita Inu

The breed takes its name from Akita Prefecture in northern Japan, originating from the city of Ōdate in that prefecture. It was originally bred to hunt bears, red deer and wild boar but also for guarding. Descended from the Akita Matagi or Matagi Inu (マタギ犬) and used as a fighting dog in Japan from 1603 onwards, the breed is crossed with the Tosa and the Mastiff to increase its size. In 1908, the governor of Akita Prefecture banned dog fighting to try to preserve the purity of the breed and founded in 1927 the "Society for the Preservation of the Akita". In 1931, the Japanese Ministry of Education declared the Akita a natural monument. From then on, all efforts were made to preserve the breed and recover the original standard. World War II pushed Akitas to the brink of extinction because it was common to use dog skins to make clothing. The police captured all dogs except German Shepherds, reserved for military tasks. Some owners tried to circumvent the law by crossing their American Akitas with them as well as hiding them in the mountains, where their robustness and hunting instinct helped them survive. At the end of World War II, the breed is very weakened and the dogs present three different morphological types: Akitas, fighting dog Akitas and German Shepherd Akitas. It was American writer Helen Keller who reportedly brought the first Akita to North America in the 1930s after being given a dog during a visit to Japan. Akitas whose morphology revealed the contribution of German Shepherd and Mastiff blood are imported to the United States by military personnel. The American Akita Club was founded in 1956 and the American Kennel Club (AKC) accepted the breed in October 1972. The lack of exchanges between the AKC and the Japanese Kennel Club (JKC) led to a differentiation of American and Japanese bloodlines, then to a split into two different breeds: the American Akita and the Akita. Japanese breeders focused on preserving the original type of Akita (Akita Matagi). Hachikō is the most famous Akita. His statue now stands in front of Shibuya Station in Tokyo. This faithful dog accompanied his master, a university professor (Mr. Ueno), and waited for him every day in front of the station: he continued for nine years after the old professor's death, until his own death (he was fed by the residents). It is said that Hachikō died in front of the station but was later found under a bridge. There is also a film Hachiko (1987 Japanese film) which is loosely inspired by this story. An American remake was filmed in 2009 under the name Hatchi. Today, in Japan, the Akita is mainly used as a companion dog, guard dog and police dog.

The Akita is generally considered territorial regarding its property and can be very reserved with strangers. The breed is considered in some countries to be a dangerous dog breed. A Japanese study revealed that CAG repeat polymorphism in the AR gene in Akita Inu was correlated with increased aggression reports in male Akita dogs, but not in females. The Akita is a large and solid dog. A well-trained Akita should be able to accept strangers if they are not threatening. In general, the Akita is a dog wary of strangers, and which can be aggressive toward other male dogs, especially if they arrive under its roof; it is therefore essential to socialize it as early as possible. The Akita is on the other hand a dog that reacts poorly to constraint, to the point that training by "negative reinforcement" based on punishment will inevitably lead to failure. The Akita is a calm dog that likes tranquility, but with a strong character. It must therefore be approached accordingly in its education. The earlier one starts, the better the results. Patience is the key word in the education of the Akita.

The Akita is a medium-sized dog, of robust and well-proportioned build. Secondary sex characteristics are clearly marked. An adult dog can reach 58 to 71 cm at the withers. Its weight is generally between 27 and 32 kg for the female and between 32 and 50 kg for the male. The coat can be red fawn, sesame (red fawn hair with black tips) [this color is no longer present nowadays or very little], white or brindle. It has a specific marking named Urajiro (white present on the legs, head, belly). Long hair is not accepted by the FCI breed standard. The hair is short with a thick undercoat, so impressive shedding occurs in spring and autumn generally.

The Akita needs regular brushing, weekly or even daily because of its double coat. The major shedding (the old undercoat falls out to make way for the new one) occurs approximately twice a year, in autumn and spring. The "high-pressure air dryer" (a device that sends high-pressure air into the coat) is of great help in removing as much hair as possible (be careful to accustom it to the noise and sensation of the latter).