Akitas-your views?

GeeGeeboy

GeeGeeboy

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Am just curious. I bathed and groomed my first Akita today:) (im an assistant dog groomer) She was a lovely dog but i was a bit wary as they seem to have such a bad reputation and are seen as unpredictable and aggresive. What are your experiences with the breed, good or bad?
 
I've no personal experience of them, but I'd imagine they're like any dog - in the right home, great, in the wrong home, not so much!
 
Chap up the road from me has 2 - a female of about 4 years and a male about a year. I see his daughter aged about 13 walk the bigger one and she seems like a nice dog - the little one is the same age as my malamute and hes just as nuts - bounces like a rubber ball at the end of the leash :D

Im not a fan of the breed myself and I know they have a rep but i have never met a nasty one - wouldnt you much prefer a Malamute though - they are far cuter :D
 
My heart breed. I have fostered 3 for our local akita rescue and once my old boy passes an akita will be my next dog.

They are for sure not for everyone. They have dog aggressive tendencys and our one person dogs but raised and treated right they are like no other.
 
I think the main problem is people get them 'cause they look cool and well 'ard, then wonder why the dog is jumping up and grabbing their arm and eating their house, because, like, it gets a ten minute dander around the block, going sideways on a harness and chain lead, and then access to the yard all day.

A lot of rescues here will not take them because they are hard to rehome and they have nailed kennel staff in frustration.

I would say rather than being unpredictable, they are hard to read - they give their 'go away' warning signs in their own way, which is not necessarily the same way as a collie or a lab, they are aloof and as KL says, one-person dogs.

They can also wish to dominate other dogs.
 
I've only known three and all have been Lab-like, very sociable and great with my small dogs. I don't think my experience of the breed is at all typical, though.
 
My sister has an American akita x rottweiler ( crazy breeding) He is just a big teddy bear. Very kind and loving but also playfull. The only time he is aggressive is when there is a bit of fluff coming out of a cushion.... the cushion has no chance of surviving!
 
Obs Im a huge fan, because I own a rather huge one:D and have trained a fair few but I prefer not to see them in the hands of any old joe public because when they are not socialised or handled correctly then there is no going back with this breed (they do mean business) however in the correct hands with the same socialising as any other dog and time spent training and a firm hand they are incredibly rewarding to own.
They do have a natural dominance and if this is not kept under hand then again you are asking for trouble.
As CC suggests they are a unique breed, they have feline like characteristics which is truely wonderous and incredibly enjoyable to whitness, mine never fails to make me laugh when she is hooning around and being a clown, They give very subtel to no warning when they go (look out for the shifty eyes):D or more a filthy glance and when they do it's at the speed of light and a great amount of damage can be done in a very minimal amount of time. (they don't suffer fools) and Unlike you mouthy shep or rotti, akitas are pretty silent solem dogs (silent but deadly):D, if you hear them bark then indeed check it out as there is most definately something up:D They also have an immense pain threshold.
Definately a breed I will always have.
They do indeed bond only with their own and are naturally suspicious of strangers and very pick to quick up on weakness in a handler/person and pretty much enjoy the quiet life. They have a very good scent/hunting ability and a high prey drive.
I think you have to own one to truely appreciate the breed.
 
They are not a dog for me. I know a lady who has one and she does very well with it doing heel work and agility but the dog is hard work. As mentioned rather aloof and stubborn and generally opinionated would hate to see this dog in the hands of idiots.
 
A basic guide to dogs to avoid if you are a novice, overly soppy, lazy or lacking in the grey matter!

If it's profile looks anything like this:
images


Note the small hairy neat little ears on top of the head, a double coat with 2x a year moult, a fluffy tail often held over or touching the back!

These are warning signs that should shout Marmite to you!! They will be every bit as intelligent as you are, even the JRT sized ones, sometimes dog aggressive, in the wrong hands human aggressive, have a VERY strong prey drive and don't let any herder title fool you, the prey drive is just re-channelled! Boredom or lack of exercise/ engagement will lead to destruction of anything they can lay their paws on, most need on lead exercise and INSURANCE with these breeds is a must if you are going to pay back any damage to cute little animals in a neighbours garden and big fluffy animals if they get out en mass, and most especially the sled breeds are very good at finding escape routes!

Having said that like Cayla says the Akitas and others in the spitz type breeds are very rewarding dogs to the right person that has done their research thoroughly, but really sadly they look cool and for many that is their downfall!!!

I love the sled breeds but they don't suite my lifestyle so I admire from a distance and have cattle dogs which are not far off, If one day I move to a country house I would have an Akita in a flash as a guard dog, they are not sporting dogs like other guarding breeds, they don't warn Billy Burglar, they wait patiently till they can't miss sinking their teeth into a good piece of flesh, yes!!
 
As CC said, the majority of Akitas I've seen have been dragging their owners round, in a big flash leather harness because they obviously make them look well cool and proper 'ard....like every other dog, trained and socialised properly they can be brilliant dogs - I've also known a few lovely ones :)

Very much one person dogs from what I've known, and very strong willed so need a firm experienced owner. Like many other big dogs, more likely to give you a clear warning before turning.
K x
 
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