16+ Pros and Cons of Owning a Akita Inu

Akita Inu is one of the oldest dog breeds on Earth, bred in the northern regions of Japan. It is a proud, strong, and loyal pet.

Highlights

Akita Inu does not like other dogs, especially his own gender.
Correct upbringing, long-term socialization, competent training are extremely important, otherwise, the animal is able to grow up aggressive.
They are noble and restrained, but only when they recognize the owner as of the unconditional leader.
Akita sheds profusely twice a year.
Dogs feel good in the house and apartment, but they require frequent walks and physical activity.

Life span

The life span of the Akita Inu is approximately 10-12 years. Females live a little longer than males, but statistically, the difference is small – only about 2 months. This indicator is the same for types of dog varieties. Before World War II, life expectancy was much longer – 14-15 years, but the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki left its imprint on genetics forever.

The nature of the Akita Inu

It is difficult to briefly describe the nature of this breed. Akitas are very versatile dogs. The American subspecies are distinguished by more serious habits, the Japanese are somewhat more playful and frivolous. Moreover, most of the breed are not stupid couch pets or overly sullen dogs. There are several main character traits.

Own independent thinking – it is often mistaken for stubbornness, but in fact, it is enough to establish mutual understanding.
The hierarchical feeling is very strongly developed, so they try to establish a rank in relation to other owners. It is important to achieve recognition of a person as a leader during the first weeks and months of the dog’s life, otherwise, he will dominate.

Learning – Akita Inu dogs quickly grasp new knowledge and skills, so they start to get bored if they repeat the same thing for a long time. It is very important for them to understand why they need to perform certain tasks, so it is worth taking care of developing the right motivation.
Lack of fear of heights – it is worth blocking the balcony and other dangerous places because puppies are very brave and not too smart. Adult dogs jump high, caring little about the landing site.

Craving for space – they like to run a lot, frolic in nature, visit new places. Physical activity is vital for them.
Tenderness – mentally these dogs are very sensitive, it is easy to offend them.
Loyalty to the owner – Akita will not bother and interfere with everyday affairs, rest, but these are very loyal creatures. They love to follow the owner quietly everywhere.

Craving for space – they like to run a lot, frolic in nature, visit new places. Physical activity is vital for them.
Tenderness – mentally these dogs are very sensitive, it is easy to offend them.
Loyalty to the owner – Akita will not bother and interfere with everyday affairs, rest, but these are very loyal creatures. They love to follow the owner quietly everywhere.

Training and education

The foundation of parenting is the socialization of babies. The most important period is from 3 weeks to 4 months – this completely determines whether the dog can get along with a person or not, whether it grows up aggressive, how it will react to new people and animals in the future.

From the first day the puppy moves to a new home, a hierarchy should be designated. Someevs are touched by the kids, allowing them to behave in an inappropriate way, but already at a tender age, Akita understands everything and probes the boundaries of his leadership. The owner should be caring, loving, and calm, but with a strong character. If the dog does not recognize him as an undeniable dominant, trouble will soon arise. It comes to the point that some people throw or even put the dog to sleep, not coping with his upbringing. A few more points are of great importance.

Pros

• Cleanliness. They are easy to clean and do not have a specific smell. It is not recommended to bathe the animal too often, it should be done 1-2 times a year. A couple of times a week you need to comb out the wool so that it does not spread throughout the house.
• A high level of intellectual development, which affects the learning ability of the animal. If you say something to an animal, then it can understand the owner at a glance and perform a given action.
• The animal loves to walk, and if the owner leads an active lifestyle, this will allow better contact with his dog. In the process of walking, it will be easy to teach the dog the “fetch” command.
• Good protective qualities. The dog, as a watchman, protects the owner’s property, without fear of dangers and difficulties. It is best to wind up a cable for these purposes since they have the most developed protective instincts.
• The presence of a coarse coat with a thick undercoat makes it easy to endure any weather conditions. That is, Akita Inu can live both in an outdoor enclosure and in a house.
• Uncompromising, which allows you to raise a good watchdog from an Akita Inu representative.
• Unobtrusiveness and independence.
• Devotion to your master.
• He is wary of outsiders.
• Doesn’t bark on trifles.
• Has a calm temperament.

Cons

• Stubbornness does not allow you to perceive the commands of a person, so it can take a long time to learn. The owner needs persistence. In the process of training, you must not apply physical force to the animal or treat it roughly. In order for the dog to perceive commands, you need to be restrained, speak in a calm and confident voice.
• The animal does not tolerate bullying from children, although it treats them well. If you press down hard on the dog or inflict any injury, he can respond with aggression to such behavior.
• Training and education is a difficult process, and if a person does not have enough experience in this matter, then this breed is not recommended for an institution.
• Problems can arise in the selection of dry food.
• Unpredictable behavior and wayward character.
• The animal does not get along well in the pack. This disadvantage is more relevant for breeders, as a rule, only one such dog is kept at home.
• Akita Inu has a predisposition to strong molt.
• Negative to other dogs and prone to same gender aggression.
• If the dog is not socialized at a young age and becomes mistreated, it will show aggression towards the entire environment.
• From an early age, an animal needs a special approach and proper education.
• Because of the warm coat, although the dog copes well with cold and rain, it does not tolerate hot conditions.
• The animal requires a lot of attention in terms of daily care with a hard brush. The hair on the bottom of the legs should be trimmed.
• If there are other pets in the house, then you should prepare for the fact that the Akita Inu dog will not get along well with them and chase them everywhere.
• The animal is not suitable for apartment buildings, it is recommended to keep it in a yard with a large fenced area or in a large house.
• Overly capricious.