Akita inu

FCI:

Spitz and primitive type, Group Section 5 - Japanese Spitz

General Appearance:

Originally it was used as a hunting, guard and defensive dog. Although a medium size, the hunting qualities were truly special. It is used to hunt   various kinds of animals, including bears, whose body weight often was up to 300 kg. Akita Inu is hard working, fast, tenacious, very courageous and very passionate hound. Today in Japan is used for hunting or also as companion dog.

It is intelligent, independent, well-trained dog. It is deeply devoted to the owner and his family, but it often tends to be aggressive towards other dogs. It means that in any case it cannot be trained or owned by inexperienced owners, it is absolutely necessary its early socialization, i.e. A systematic, gradual familiarization with other dogs, other animals, but also strangers and from an early puppy age. Urgently needs as much contact with the owner and his family members, including children. It tends more to protect them. You cannot make it  play in any way.

During its training is essential kindness and fierce training. In any case, it cannot be fixed on chain i.e. movable chain fixed between two trees or it cannot be always closed in its kennel. While other original Japanese Spitz type dogs are relatively expanded even outside the islands, Akita can be found rather infrequently, it is a rare breed.

Temperament & Behaviour:

This dog requires strong leadership and training with clearly defined limits that must not be violated, broken. It is more suitable to experienced breeders who already have some previous experience with dogs.

Build:

It's a medium-sized, balanced dog clean outlines, strong physique, strong bones, dry but well-muscled. Secondary sexual characteristics must be so significant that the male must be at first sight different from female.

Height at withers  relate to body length as 10: 11, wither male from 48.5 to 51.5 cm for females from 45.5 to 48.5 cm head has a broad skull, which is especially highlighted sideways protruding cheeks, whose base consists besides the zygomatic arches powerful chewing muscles. The ratio between the skull and the muzzle has a 3: 2, length of skull equal to width of the cheeks (bizygomatic width) and is equal to 1/4 whiter. The above skull is broad, slightly flattened, frontal stop should be slightly marked, but still noticeable.

The muzzle should be wedge-shaped, nasal bridge straight. Nose must be black. Akita white coloured variety allows the nose flesh-coloured. The edges of the lips are black and close fitting to the jaws and teeth. Teeth should be strong, scissor bite is required.

Eyes must be relatively small, almost triangular shape, adequately far apart set and dark brown in colour. The earlobes are small, stiffly upright, triangular shaped, tilted slightly forward. The neck is strong and muscular, without dewlap.

The body should be apparent high withers, the back must be straight, strong shoulders are broad and muscular properly, the croup should be reasonably steep. The tail should be high, thick, carried upward, just above the croup curled or curved in sickle. If it is stretched downward, reaching its peak almost to the hock.

Forechest is visible well build, when viewed from the side coming-out before the shoulder joints, chest should be deep and must also have the correct width, ribs must be well sprung, belly is nicely tucked up the front legs are reasonably sloping shoulder blade, so that their tops are facing up and backward, straight, dry and forearm when viewed from the side slightly angled pasterns. The hindquarters are strong, powerful hocks, adequate substance. The feet have well arched and together tight toes, thick padded, flexible and hard, black or other dark coloured claws.

The outercoat consists of a rigid, straight hairs, the undercoat is soft and dense fur on the tail is relatively long, wispy. Coat may be coloured sesame (fawn to red coloured hairs with black ends) can also be brindled, black, red, black and tan or white.