As a descendant of the traditional Japanese Akita, the American Akita is also referred to as the “Great Japanese Dog.” The American breed is known for its strong character. Loyal, attentive, and obedient, this confident dog will impress you not only with its independence and courage but also with its friendly nature.

History of the American Akita

The American Akita traces its roots back to an ancient breed with origins that can be traced to prehistoric times. The original Akita is considered a “national natural monument” in Japan. Due to World War II, the number of Akitas in Japan was significantly reduced, putting the breed at risk of extinction. Efforts by breeders in Japan and the USA to preserve the breed involved crossbreeding with other breeds to increase the population.

Different breeds were crossed in Japan and the USA, leading to the distinction between the American Akita and the modern Japanese Akita Inu. Since 2000, the American Akita and Akita Inu have been listed as separate breeds by the AKC (American Kennel Club) and the FCI (Fédération Cynologique Internationale) due to significant differences resulting from crossbreeding.

Nature and Character

Upon closer examination of the American Akita, you’ll quickly notice that it impresses not only with its size but also with its nature and character. Members of the breed tend to form an extremely strong bond with their human companions. They are reserved to indifferent towards strangers but remain friendly. Even in hectic and chaotic situations, the American Akita remains attentive and calm.

While these impressively self-assured dogs have a protective instinct, they exercise restraint and show bite inhibition toward humans. A well-socialized and trained American Akita can be a good and amiable companion in everyday life. Despite their courage and independence, the breed is extremely obedient and cooperative.

Affection Level	Medium
Friendliness	Medium
Kid-Friendly	High
Pet-Friendly	Medium
Exercise Needs	High
Playfulness	High
Energy Level	High
Trainability	High
Intelligence	High
Tendency to Bark	Medium
Amount of Shedding	Medium

Acquiring

Akita Konrad Lorenz once described the type of the “one-man dog,” and this description certainly applies to the American Akita. Recognition as the primary caregiver must be earned with the American Akita, making it not a dog for beginners. Dogs of this breed require consistent training and leadership. When deciding to get an American Akita, consider that it is not a dog that casually walks alongside you. It’s important to always be attentive and give clear commands. While the breed gets along well with children, they should not be left unsupervised.

The loyal furry companions develop a strong protective instinct towards their family, always ready to defend all family members. To avoid tense situations, it’s important for the owner to give the dog the “all clear” signal, providing a sense of security. With proper acclimatization, cohabitation with other pets, from cats to hamsters, is usually possible and goes smoothly. However, the Akita remains a loner at heart, appreciating peace and quiet. If you feel up to the task, there’s hardly anything standing in the way of acquiring an American Akita.

What to Consider When Buying?

The decision to get an Akita and the purchase should not be rushed. Choose the breeder carefully because it’s crucial that American Akita puppies are well-socialized and raised in the breeder’s household. Schedule a meeting with the breeder and take a look at the environment where the dogs are kept. Everything should be clean and well-maintained, allowing the dogs to move freely. Despite the excitement for the puppies, also have an eye for the parent animals.

If the parent animals are well-groomed, sociable, obedient, and appear healthy, it’s a good sign. However, don’t just rely on the pedigree; also ask for the medical records of the puppies and parent animals. Reputable breeders document the development of the puppies and are happy to provide insights into the breeding process. Additionally, the breeder should ask you some questions because, especially since the American Akita is not a beginner’s dog, reputable breeders value potential owners with the background and experience to meet the needs of the American Akita.

Development and Training of the Puppy

Even American Akita puppies possess a pronounced self-confidence and do not tend to be “everybody’s darling.” You should be aware from the beginning of the size and strength that American Akita puppies of the American breed can reach. Accordingly, it is important to provide proper training to the puppy from the moment it enters your home. Intensive work with the puppy and clear guidelines help the American Akita Dog quickly establish a strong bond with you.

In general, the training of an Akita is never complete, as you should always remain clear and consistent with the animal beyond the puppy stage. This ensures that the dog has clear guidance and can rely on its owner. What you neglect in terms of training during the puppy stage can lead to problems, as these intelligent breed dogs are quite independent, and their strong protective instinct needs to be controlled by you. This is only possible if you know your dog well, are attentive, and give clear commands from an early age. A consistent but also non-violent education is a must since the Akita needs to build trust in “its” human.

How to Care for an American Akita?

As a calm companion, the American Akita loves to be near you and doze off. Akitas indoors are very calm and barely noticeable. Nevertheless, the American Akita needs sufficient exercise and wants to be physically and mentally stimulated. “Trying to please” is not a priority for the Akita; it is too independent for that. Ideally, if you can provide the American Akita with a house and garden, along with daily sufficient exercise and activities. However, even in an urban apartment, these calm companions can be kept well if adequate outdoor activities are ensured.

Activities with the American Akita

With the American breed dog, it is important to stimulate its interest in activities. If you try to force the Akita, you will fail, as the independent dog quickly enters a mode where its stubbornness takes over. Once you find a connection with the Akita, the dog, with its calm demeanor, can become a joyful, persistent, and focused working dog. Nose work is particularly suitable for this breed. Daily walks are essential and should be tailored to the individual exercise needs of your dog, as this can vary depending on disposition and age. Any type of search games is good for mentally challenging the Akita. But also dog sports, tracking work, mantrailing, or working as a therapy dog, the breed does well. The key here is to awaken joy in the Akita for the tasks and reinforce them with positive interaction.

Health and Grooming

Equipped with a dirt- and water-resistant coat, this dog breed is extremely easy to care for. The breed undergoes a coat change twice a year, making frequent brushing a necessity. While you should brush daily during the shedding period, once or twice a week is sufficient for the rest of the year.

In terms of feeding, you should ensure a balanced and varied diet for the American Akita. Feeding a raw diet (BARF) is a good alternative for the Akita, but only if done properly and if you are willing to intensively study the topic beforehand.

In general, the breed is quite robust. Although there is a tendency to some breed-typical diseases, these rarely occur in reputable breeding since responsible breeders only use healthy animals for breeding.

Interesting and Worth Knowing

Once used as a fighting dog in Japan, the Akita is not suitable as a fighting dog due to the American Akita’s temperament, as it lacks aggression. While the Akita is considered a brave and fearless hunting dog, American breed dogs are reluctant to bite people, making them unsuitable for protection dog training.

Do you have an American Akita or plan to get one in the future? Share what makes the breed special in the comments!