Japanese Akhitas (sp?)

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itsme123

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Hi, does anyone have any experience of this breed? Do they make good family pets?? What are they like to own etc?? Would appreciate some honest opinions as we're currently discussing buying one after meeting a friend's VERY laid back bitch.

thanks
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I wrongly thought these were on the dangerous dogs list
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I think its Japanese Tosas.
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But have heard that they can be unpredictable. A friend of mine who had rotties and gsd's had one and kept it caged for all the time visitors were in the house, as she could not trust it!!!!

Being in a cage probably didnt help either
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yes, I've just done a quick bit of research on the net and read that they can be unpredictable
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Probably not the best choice as a family pet then
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We have an akita cross dalmation and friend has a pure akita, ours is a lovely lovely dog with us and people she knows but very protective and wary of strangers, friends purebred is also very very protective. They are also great big dogs so possibly not a good choice round little people.
 
A friend of mine has one of these but I'm afraid she has a rather unpredictable temperament. OK with her owners but can be aggressive towards other people, even if she has known them a while.
 
Certainly not a breed I would suggest as a family pet. These are bred as fighting dogs and are very big, strong, opinionated and unpredictable. We have had them as working dogs in the past and they are not easy.
 
i think you'd need experience with large dominant dogs to safely have an akita as a family dog, they weren't only bred to fight but also to hunt bear, wild boar and deer so they really are powerful under all that cuddly fur. if you like the look and the type how about a smaller japanese breed the Shiba Inu
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now i'm not biased at all but these are fun little dogs who are good with kids and strangers if well socialised, oh did i mention i have one lol
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nowhere near as common as the akita so you get very used to people asking if it's a fox. only downside to any of the spitz type breeds is they could win gold medals in moulting, you know how you see the wild wolves with big clumps of hair coming out in the spring? well thats what shibas do twice a year, in fact he's moulting in that pic lol. other than that they are very clean little dogs, i got mine at 17 weeks and he has never messed in the house unless he was ill!
 
Now, whatever pup we choose, it needs to serve a purpose here. That is, because of where we live and the fact OH works nights it needs to be a 'guard' dog of sorts. Ie something with a real 'BOOM' of a bark, that will make me feel safe, and not only alert me to anyone near the house but also have a good enough territorial instinct to frighten off anyone who does come onto the property. I very much doubt it would ever have the need but I need to feel safe... But it needs to be exceptionally family friendly too.

Our first choice was a golden Lab, as whatever we choose needs really to be a medium to large dog as OH dislikes small breeds. I'm quite girly and like 'cute' dogs, ie Akitas, Cavalier king charles', Shizu's etc. I also like Gundogs.

OH is somewhat more masculine in his choice of dog, and would choose an Irish wolfhound, a rottie or a german shepherd if he could.

The only breeds atm that we BOTH like are Akitas, Labs and retrievers.
 
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i think you'd need experience with large dominant dogs to safely have an akita as a family dog, they weren't only bred to fight but also to hunt bear, wild boar and deer so they really are powerful under all that cuddly fur. if you like the look and the type how about a smaller japanese breed the Shiba Inu
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now i'm not biased at all but these are fun little dogs who are good with kids and strangers if well socialised, oh did i mention i have one lol
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nowhere near as common as the akita so you get very used to people asking if it's a fox. only downside to any of the spitz type breeds is they could win gold medals in moulting, you know how you see the wild wolves with big clumps of hair coming out in the spring? well thats what shibas do twice a year, in fact he's moulting in that pic lol. other than that they are very clean little dogs, i got mine at 17 weeks and he has never messed in the house unless he was ill!

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Love Shiba Inus. As with most small breeds, they're ten a penny in NYC. Stella has a Shiba pal who is quite unlike most of them (he's very outgoing with strangers and I know they can be aloof as a breed).

A chap who used to live across the street had an Akita. Again, it was *very* un-Akita in its temperament and was more like a Lab, its tail always wafting whenever people stopped to say hi. Needed a hell of a lot of exercise, though.

Cala is a good one to ask--she has a huge fuzzy bear of an Akita among her pack.
 
I met someone the other day walking their three Akita's (sp?) in a huge park but they still had the dogs on their leads and were dragging them away from other dogs. So although I don't know the breed that would seem to me that they are not an 'easy' dog to own.

Labradors, yellow or black are a great medium sized family pet, but they can be great chewers so you need to be prepared (have a crate).
 
TBH I wouldn't trust them as far as I could throw them. Beautiful to look at, but not the easiest to handle. I have heard way too many stories of ones that have been perfectly brought up suddenly turning on their owners
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Not something you'd want to risk with your two little ones.

Go for a lab
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If you are looking for a good family dog that is also an excellant guard dog Google "Black Russian Terriers"

We live on a farm and my husband works away, my BRT is a wonderful family dog, but would put his life on the line for our family.

They say that if they could talk they would say " don't mess with my family and i won't mess with you"

Mine is 18mths old and weighs in at 60kg but is so gentle that our JRT beats him up!!
But if someone comes to the gate, they only have to look at him and they move on!

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This was him at 11mths
 
I have a Long coated Japanese Akita, I kept her to stop her falling into the wrong hands when she came into our rescue.....she is a solem dog as they are, they are very wary of strangers and protective of their own, they are stubborn and need a firm hand, they like husky's cannot be let of the lead as they have a one track mind and very keen hunters, I love her to bits and she makes a lovely pet, she is very palyfull,and she is great with my other dogs and cats but I am very firm, in the wrong hands these dogs are very dangerous.
Unlike other breeds they show very little warning before they turn, they are not very vocal and are like lightning when they they do turn, wether that be on dog or human.

I do however love the breed and will always have one through rescue, would never buy one.
I would not recommend them as a family pet, there are breeds much more suited to this as well as being good managable guard dog's, I have a shepherd, rotti and Akita, and I would go for a shepherd as a first choice family pet and protector, they are intelligent and an all rounder then Rotti as they again are very protective of their own and very loyal and loving.

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yes, I've just done a quick bit of research on the net and read that they can be unpredictable
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Probably not the best choice as a family pet then
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Well,they can make good family pets but there are a lot of breeds that would be better suited to an enviroment with young children.

Have to say though OH's cousins was a lot more trustworthy then the bloody yorkie
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He was honest and loving(if a little over protective of the children when out) untill the brain tumor changed his behaviour so much and he had to be put down
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Wasnt the ideal choice for a novice dog owner,but OH's cousin is the sort that soaks up all advice like a sponge and the breeder became a friend so had no trouble with him.
 
Everybody has their own dislikes and likes..Akitas are my total dislikes.I wouldn't give one of them house room. I have a friend who has been in the breed for years and she shows and breeds....I really don't like them at all.find them very unpredictable, very possessive and aggressive.and they have the weight and power to back it up.......

We had a Akita/german shepherd as a guard dog for about 12 years.....had lots of grief with him but he was an excellent guard dog.....would never ever have trusted him with anybody.let alone kids...he once ate through a brand new horse rug.I went ballistic at him and he went for me.......If I could have found another home for him I would have done....but it would have meant passing on his bad temper and problems.and we had him from a 6 week old pup.

Personally here, I would find any other breed to look at....sorry to any Akita lovers here, just my own personal opinion.
 
Lovely dogs, but not suited to being a family dog. As has already been said, they are unpredictable, powerful dogs that need a lot of exercise and can't be let off lead.

I seriously considered getting an Akita, but decided against it due to what I was told about them and their exercise requirements. I went for a Chow instead, again not a family dog (kids scare her to death - she's only happy in a quiet house) but I love her to bits and wouldn't change her for the world.
 
How about a Cattle Dog, they guard home and car, they do need a lot of exercise they are not manic and are obedient but are not overly submissive. I walk mine alone at night and they are with me at the stables late too and I feel very safe! When I'm walking or riding they always keep an eye on me and are never very far away. My two below are rescues.
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I have no doubt that if someone tried to break in or do something to me they would not hesitate.

They are strong powerful compact dogs built to take knocks and should appeal to the OH! But at home they are quiet and love to be with you. Neither of mine are destructive. They are not really interested in people other than their "family" but really look and sound like they mean it! My postman thinks they do and one delivery man won't come near my door!
 
I wouldn't recommend one, I have worked with dogs for six year, and every single one I've met (apart from one hehe) has been a bit funny and some what aggressive. A girl that worked in the kennels with me got put in hospital because one bit through her finger nail and several times in her arm. They are definitely a a one man dog and I wouldn't trust one with other dogs. They are stunning to look at but their guarding instincts are very high still. If you want a spitz'y looking dog go for a samoyed, japanese or german spitz, or a sheba INu , all lovely dogs and easy to train.
 
For what you want I would go for a GSD. They can be lovely and cuddly, brought up the right way they are super friendly and safe with children, but look large enough to scare off anyone who might worry you. Our GSD is fantastic, soft as anything, the JRT wins all their play 'fights', but when we were attacked by a herd of bullocks he was right at the front barking (he has only barked about three times in his life!).
 
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Now, whatever pup we choose, it needs to serve a purpose here. That is, because of where we live and the fact OH works nights it needs to be a 'guard' dog of sorts. Ie something with a real 'BOOM' of a bark, that will make me feel safe, and not only alert me to anyone near the house but also have a good enough territorial instinct to frighten off anyone who does come onto the property. I very much doubt it would ever have the need but I need to feel safe... But it needs to be exceptionally family friendly too.

Our first choice was a golden Lab, as whatever we choose needs really to be a medium to large dog as OH dislikes small breeds. I'm quite girly and like 'cute' dogs, ie Akitas, Cavalier king charles', Shizu's etc. I also like Gundogs.

OH is somewhat more masculine in his choice of dog, and would choose an Irish wolfhound, a rottie or a german shepherd if he could.

The only breeds atm that we BOTH like are Akitas, Labs and retrievers.

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ideal dog for you would be a great dane
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big dog, big bark, but people friendly. not biased here at all
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i know of some dane rescues if you're interested just give me a PM
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wouldn't say that shiba inus are easy to train
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far from it , they are very primitive dogs , even the books tell you to expect them to scream like a banshee when you put the first collar on and they have little or no recall lol, and thats the honest truth from someone who loves the furry faced little gits
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for a guard dog i would choose a rottie or a GSD, people rightly or wrongly, do respect the reputation of these dogs, not many people would be scared of a Lab even if it's barking, they just look to friendly and they advertise loo roll so how scary can they be lol.
whatever you decide I would fully recommend finding a training class to take it to, a dog well socialised with people and other dogs is always easier to handle than one which is scared of everything it meets. Rotties and gsd's have a natural guarding instict so you don't need to teach them it, but they do need to be taught manners
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I have a rescued Akita male and I have to say he has not been the easiest to turn around. He had been neglected and beaten and left on his own for about 4 months at a very crucial age so I knew we would have difficulties.

However he is extremely loyal to his family and always has been- he would not dream of turning on one of his pack although yes he can be very funny with other people and dogs. They say in Japan they were used to help watch over the children!

I can understand that peopl ehave had bad experiences with these dogs but a lot of this can arise from bad handling. They are very stubborn, dominant dogs and without persistent training would very likely take over the family. But I can honestly say I would trust my dog comletely with any of us even to the extent that you can take a bone off him while he is eating it - a lot of other dogs I knwo of varying breeds would not let you do this!

They are incredibly intelligent dogs as well and ours remebers people who have bee to the house before as friends. When they come again he will rmeeber them and be fine - but if a stranger just walked in he would have something to say!!

Oh and they don't really bark as such - Len will bark once as a warning - a real deep bark and then just jump up all his hair raised if he hears something. Very good to have his collar in one hand late at night if someone knocks on the door as no way anyone would attempt to break in and mug you with him standing there!
 
Totally sgree, they are not for the faint hearted or inexperienced handler but in the right hand they can make fantastic companions..I personally will always have one now...I love everything about the breed.
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What do you have? A dog or a bitch? len is a red and white dog. Not sure of his breeding as he is rescued. Weighs around 7.5 stone at present. Is yours the long haired in your signature?
 
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