Akitas - deserving of the rep?

[marmalade76]

This threads is some 18 months old, but perhaps still of interest. During the 1960s then Doberman's were the ultimate hardpan's sidekick - then in the 1970s it was Rotts. Nowadays few of us will think twice about passing either breed on a sidewalk - mostly and though probably not by design, the aggressive traits have been bred out of them.

20 years ago, the advice/instructions offered by Equi's kennels made for perfect sense. The initial imports had never had either control or compliance bred in to them and the dogs at the time had no general respect, for man - any man or woman, for that matter. Hardcase dogs very often don't seem to 'generally' see women as a threat and so, they tend to ignore them.

There have been some interesting and well expressed opinions on this thread, many of which I agree with …. but what I will never understand is that if the pro-trainers, those who work with the guard breeds all the time, many as their daily bread and butter, don't want these obscure and often downright dangerous breeds, what chance do those who, if we're being honest, haven't clue what they're doing, stand with them?

Would I want an Akita? Not really but if I wanted a guard breed, I'd probably choose a Czech Border Patrol (GSD) …. they tend to be biddable and trainable, they have a history of fitting in with mankind and to my eye, they are handsome animals.

My father & stepmother have kept Dobes since I was a child, thirty odd years, I've never understood where their reputation came from because IME, whilst they've always been good at barking at people the other side of the fence or door, they are otherwise quite wimpy dogs. I love GSDs and spent a portion of my childhood with them too, certainly a bolder guard dog and more "mature" than the more playful personalities of the Dobes.

 

[Birker2020]

A fellow livery who is a vet nurse has one. She said its soft as butter.

 

[windswoo]

Where we used to live there was a guy who had an Akita.
Beautiful dog, but he always made sure he walked on the other side of the road if we saw him.
Pleasant guy would always nod and say hello, but the intensity in which the dog would look at ours was scary.
It came to a head one day that the dog was just looking so much that he walked into the lamppost - you could almost see the stars and the dent in the post.
We happened to see the owner later in the week without our dog and we were actually able to go up to him to talk to and give the dog a fuss. His coat was beautiful and his eyes were just mesmerising, but I'd never have done that when walking my dog, because you just couldn't trust him not to go for him and it was quite clear that the owner knew the same.
They are powerful animals that need proper handling/training and I honestly don't think I'd have one, but I'd love a Doberman.