The Akita

The Akita is a working breed from Japan, known for its unfaltering loyalty to its family. There are many stories of the loyalty of an Akita, and the breed was declared a Japanese Natural Monument in 1931. Considered a national treasure, there is even an Akita Dog Museum that houses information, documents, and photos.


World War II pushed the breed close to extinction, and after the war the Japanese Akita and American Akita began to take different paths. American Akitas have become larger and heavier, while the Japanese breeders have focused on maintaining the national monument’s original appearance.

An Akita thrives on human companionship. These dogs can be goofy and silly when around their family, and are miserable if not allowed to be with their humans. They are intelligent and independent thinkers, powerful, alert, and courageous.

These dogs are popular for performance sports and therapy work. In Japan they’re often used as hunting dogs, and they are nick-named the “Silent Hunter” because even though they are quite able to bark, they rarely do. 

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