akita info needed

[Formula86]

hola! well, since jen never planned on getting an akita mix, we are a little behind on knowing breed traits.

if anyone could provide us with personality, as well as, physical traits (for example, possible future medical problems), we'd appreciate it!

we know some, but we need to know a lot more. anything will be welcome (as long as it's true - haha!).

anyone ever had an akita or know someone that does? your info would be greatly appreciated!

gracias!!!

[mm_simb]

I know one of our clients at the clinic has one and the dog is huge. They are pretty loyal to their owners too. One thing I have heard is that most akitas are at risk of being blind but they do pretty well with it eitherway. That clients dog was blind but she was really nice with us.

[Millimi]

http://www.akitaclubaz.com/characteristics.htm
Hope that helps!
*Edit* Those are all negative, but they are traits nonetheless.

[LdyDragon]

This is a decent site to get the general run down of different dog breeds. http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/akita.htm

[Chrisanne]

OMG those "traits" ARE so negative, and so misleading. Talk about adding to a bad reputation.

i've never had an akita, so i can't say anything really. I'll see if i can't find some sites with information out there to help.

[CTChin]

There was a time that I dreamed of owning an Akita and I researched them heavily. I admit I gave up on the dream because I wanted a lot of other animals and I felt discouraged.

My girlfriend has an akita that lives with 7 other dogs, cats in the house and she has llamas, horses and goats outside. Everyone is happy now. I know that when Tess was younger she had issues with Tess playing too rough and body slamming the other dogs LOL She was also worried about the little dogs and would lock them up when she wasn't home. Tess just seemed to have a smaller threshold for dogs that irritated her. She also was terrible on the leash for a while. By 2 to 4 years she mellowed greatly and is now 9 1/2 years old.

I'll never forget several years ago I was at a large dog show in Hartford, Ct and I was kneeling down on the floor outside of the Akita ring waiting for them to go in. An Akita I recognized with a very famous handler pulled up beside me and the Akita promptly reached over and gave me a big kiss on the face This Akita went on to enter Westminster and was a fav. to win the 3 times he won the working group there but never succeeded unfortunately. He was still a great dog. I believe his name was Jedai or Ben for short.

[Formula86]

thanks for all the info guys! he really just acts like any other large puppy. so i'm hoping he'll be ok having been raised with small dogs and a cat. thank you!

ok...off to read all of those websites now.

[pihlaja]

From what I read on the site Natalie gave me, all the things they listed are traits found in almost ALL primitive breeds of dog and I feel they aren't so much 'negative' but bluntly truthful. These ARE things one should be aware of if you bring a primitive breed of dog into your home. They aren't like other dogs--they have many natural instincts that are still intact and so handling and rearing them should be approached a little differently.

FYI--Kirby is a Samoyed, another primitive breed, and I identified with MANY things on those lists. If you don't work extensively with the dog to be used to being around children and small animals, they can very likely have a tendency to be snappish to small, yappy things or small things that run. Socialise, socialise, socialise.

Also, food aggression is another tendency. Even Kirby sometimes has bits of it cropping up still. With breeds of dogs like this, you HAVE to estabilish yourself as alpha to them. Keep in mind the dog will always love you, but you have to PROVE that he should respect you as well and accept your authority as alpha of the 'pack.'

I feel that when dealing with breeds like this, not only should you research the breed, but also research how wolves behave in the wild. Learn how they talk, assert dominance, etc. Learn the importance of eye contanct--if you're ever in a staring contest, DO NOT look away. It says you're submitting to the dog.

Sorry if I sound a bit unconventional, but it's something I believe in concerning primitive dogs. With such intelligent, wild doggies as these, you have to think outside the box.

[Formula86]

thank you, rowan!! i will certainly pass this on. i read about the food aggression so when i fed him yesterday i put my hand in his bowl, picked it up from him and then put it back down and i fed him from my hand. he was cool.

i will let jen know.

[pihlaja]

Kirby's food aggression comes when he has a good treat. He couldn't care less about someone messing with him when he eats his food, but if he has a tasty treat--WATCH OUT!

This only started happening after the addition of Seamus, so if your friend's dog is an only dog, then it might never crop up. Kirby feels that now there are more beings in the house, he needs to make it clear that this is HIS bone and he's not sharing.

Also, dogs like this are VERY intelligent and are usually very good escape artists. If she has a fenced-in yard, tell her to go around checking it 2-3 times a week for ANY signs the dog might be digging a hole somewhere, etc. And check well, too, beause I know that with Kirby, he's tried to hide his escape attempts in some clever places--like under a bush or behind a tree--places where no one can see him!

[Millimi]

Jane, I was watching the dog show on Animal Planet last night and they were talking about the Akita that was being shown. They said he was a therapy dog and went to visit hospitals and places like that and that he loved kids. Just thought I'd share that...

[Formula86]

rowan - fyi: jen lives with me with her dog, josie, and her new dog, ki-adi. plus there's penny, chaquita and charlie (the cat).

i will let her know everything.

millimi - thanks for the kind thoughts.

[Piedmontpets]

So how is it going with the Akita Mix. I wish I would have seen your post before because I have an Akita and love the breed.

[Tilt]

Quote: Originally Posted by LdyDragon This is a decent site to get the general run down of different dog breeds. http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/akita.htm

That website tends to contain a lot of false information on a lot of different breeds. I would search out information elsewhere.