|    INTRODUCTION    |    BACKGROUND INFORMATION    |    BASIC INFORMATION    |

|    FEEDING AND GROWTH    |    HEALTH    |    APPROVED COLORS    |    BREED STANDARD    |

|    STATISTICS    |    ARE YOU PLANNING TO PURCHASE AN AMERICAN AKITA    |

 
 
 

 
About feeding
 
The breed has a sound appetite, but may seem to eat little for his size. These dogs are not gluttons who tuck into food all the time, but rather finish their meal when they have had enough. Thus you can hardly overfeed your American Akita.
 
There is no fast rule for feeding as there are a number of ways of feeding your dog. When your puppy is growing up you should see that he has a varied and balanced diet.
 
Please ask your puppys breeder for a diet sheet. He knows best what to recommend. Please follow the breeders advice during the puppys growth period unless you have a specific reason to feed your puppy differently. If you need to change your puppys diet, please have a word with the breeder first.
 
 
About growth
 
Follow your puppys growth closely and this will be the best indicator to prove whether he is enjoying a balanced diet or not. If the puppy is not provided with a balanced diet, this can usually first be observed in the front legs which may start to turn out in pasterns and feet. If you think all is not well, then you are best advised to contact the breeder. Immediate corrective measures will ensure that your puppy will continue to grow soundly. It is also important to worm your puppy regularly, as infestation is harmful to the puppy's growth. Adult dogs too should be wormed about twice a year, but it is very important to remember to worm your puppy at regular intervals.
 
Generally speaking American Akitas grow soundly and without problems. He may grow very rapidly up till about six to seven months and may look somewhat comical during this growth period. His rump may be higher than his withers and he may look as if his front and back end do not belong to the same body. Towards the end of the growth period his withers and rump will even out. As the American Akita is a very large dog he will take a long time to develop and mature. Your dog may look his mature very best when he is three to four years old! Once your puppy has reached his adult height, then his body will start to develop and fill out. His head too will take a long time to fill out, particularly in skull and the head will also look mature when he is about three to four years old. A gorgeous broad bear head will be "the jewel in the crown".
 

Good manners from the very beginning
 
Due to the size and strength of the American Akita you must always be able to control him. Therefore it is vital that you give him at least a minimum of elementary obedience training. It is most important that training starts at a very young age. The most important commands a puppy should learn are "no", "stop", "come" and "leave". Once he has absorbed these commands you have won half the battle! The puppy should also be trained to walk to heel and not pull in the lead as well as to ignore other dogs passing by. Do not let your puppy greet passers-by and their dogs every time you meet them as this will complicate things when your puppy has reached puberty and you may need to pass by quickly! Train your puppy to accept that sometimes you do not stop to greet everybody, but just pass by. Always praise your puppy when he has done the right thing and reward him with a treat.
 
Never let your puppy snarl or growl at other dogs - always tell him to stop such behaviour immediately and use a strict tone. Your dog is trying to take over with such unpleasant behaviour and you should remember that you must be the boss at all times. Such behaviour is not very common for our breed - the American Akita just knows how supreme he is! It is enough for him to be aware of his greatness and might. You should never let your puppy grow up in the "summerhill" spirit - with no limits or basic manners he is likely to grow into an unpleasant companion. This naturally applies to all breeds, but it is easier to cope with a toy dog with a big ego, rather than an American Akita.
 
 
Who's the boss?
 
A young strong willed American Akita dog may challenge you about the pecking order. He will try you out in order to see who is in charge - exactly like children. Therefore it is important to be very determined with him from the moment he arrives in his new home and use corrective measures each time he tries to take over. It is vitally important to be strict in such situations as the puppy will soon work out his rank in the family. He will learn to respect you if you treat him justly and firmly. With a young American Akita in the family the most common word used is very often "no". Always praise your puppy when he is well behaved and you are pleased with him. Kindness and firmness walk hand in hand.
 
The American Akita does not easily get along with dogs he does not know, particularly if they are of the same sex. Let your puppy play as much as he likes with other dogs as this will do him good. The situation may change when the puppy is about six to twelve months old and reaches puberty. Some will not tolerate other dogs after this age. This problem may be impossible to overcome and you may have to accept it as a trait in the character of the breed. If you already have older dogs in your household, be prepared that your newly acquired American Akita may try to take over and rule the roost amongst your dogs. This happens particularly easily when your dogs are more or less the same age. The American Akita usually respects a much older dog and will not challenge him or her.
 
 
Centuries old guardian
 
The American Akita may have a pronounced guarding instinct. This is hardly surprising when the breed has already for centuries been a guard dog. This instinct will not disappear, although our society undergoes a lot of changes. You cannot stop this behaviour, nor should you, as guarding is an essential part of the breeds temperament; and should be seen a good and typical characteristic. The essential point is that you can control this guarding instinct. You must pay attention to your puppy growing up. Some specimens may start guarding at a very early age, others will wait till they are about a year old when they start guarding the home.
 
It is a good idea to invite as many visitors as possible to your home when the puppy is small. He will thus learn to accept visitors. Ask your visitors to pat the puppy, so that he gets used to being handled by strangers too. Socialising the puppy from an early age on is absolutely essential. Your dog is most likely to react to the sound of the door bell even at a more mature age - and this is how he should behave bearing in mind his guarding instinct. Once you have greeted the visitor, your dog should understand that the visitor is welcome and he can retire to his bed.If your dog does not understand this, then the pecking order in your family is not clear. If your dog continues to be suspicious of your visitor, tell him off for doing so and try to get him interested in something else.
 
Normally the American Akita will understand his duties as a guard dog, but sometimes a young and boisterous dog may exceed the limits and needs to be disciplined. The sooner this happens, the better.Keep an eye on your puppy's mental development and if problems arise, please contact the breeder or our Club.
 
Never approach an American Akita who has been left alone to guard the house and garden. If you drop by to visit a friend who owns an American Akita and you find that the dog is at home with children, then you are best advised to call again when his master is at home. The dog may think that he must be on duty when the master is away. He may not consider children or even teenagers to have sufficient authority for such a task.
 
 
Joint hobbies
 
The American Akita likes to use his nose and this makes him ideal for tracking, search or disaster work. The breed has a very accurate nose and they like to succeed in the given task. So your American Akita will enjoy using his nose. Many American Akitas would probably make an excellent hunting dogs and many would be well suited as guard dogs in capable and understanding hands.
 
 
Come rain or sunshine - the American Akita likes to be outside
 
The American Akitas coat is easy to manage - give him an occasional brush and sometimes a bath. Some individuals enjoy water and are keen swimmers which will help to keep their coats clean. He will moult twice a year and this is a good time to bath him and your house will not be full of dog hair.
 
The American Akita has a double coat and this is one of the reasons why he prefers to be outdoors. He will enjoy being outdoors even in the winter, but is equally happy to be indoors and many American Akitas enjoy to snuggle up on the sofa. We think that the American Akita is best suited to a house with a garden, so that he can be outdoors. He should not just be left in a run as he is very fond of his "flock" and wants to be a part of it. Of course you can also have an American Akita in a flat, but then you must be able to provide your dog with sufficient exercise. Sufficient daily exercise will keep him fit.
 
 
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