What is the Cost of Buying and Owning an American Akita? – Spitzpedia

Investing in a pet is a choice that should be made carefully and deliberately. Both in considering your needs and lifestyle and that of your future pet, you want to ensure that these can fit well together. Additionally, there is critical importance placed on considering the financial cost of a pet before you bring it into your home and family.

What is the cost of buying and owning an American Akita? American Akitas sell from $650-$3,000 with an average cost close to $1,000. Price differs based on age, pedigree, and location of the breeder. Shelter adoptions are much less expensive: generally under $300. Additional costs of nutrition, doggy items, grooming, and medical needs range between $1,000-$2,200 annually (and are less after year 1).

It is also important to note that these are just the (average) financial costs of buying and owning an American Akita. To become a responsible pet owner, you will also need to invest your time, love, and attention to caring for your beloved furry friend. Though those might not sound as taxing, they are significantly important factors in contributing to the overall health and well-being of your dog for its entire lifetime.

What is the Average Price for an American Akita?

American Akita puppies sell for no less than $650 unless you happen to find one at a local shelter for closer to $300. Purebred dogs sell for much more: closer to $2500-$3,000. On average, though, this breed sells for around $1,000 assuming you are purchasing an American Akita puppy from a responsible breeder. To pay less, consider an adult or a shelter adoption.

Cost Based on Age

The average price does fluctuate, though, especially under the consideration of the dog’s age, pedigree, and location of the breeder. When considering the dog’s age, generally, the younger the dog, the higher the price. There are many reasons for this. First, younger puppies are significantly more in demand than older dogs. Some want younger puppies simply for the thrill of raising a sweet little fluff ball. Others think more practically.

Bringing a younger dog into your home can have many advantages. Specifically, you can train your dog from an early age, teach your dog various commands and require set discipline, and bond with your puppy from its earliest years.

Obedience is one of the top advantages of bringing a dog home with you during its puppy years. Those first few months and years of a dog’s life will provide a huge learning curve as to their behavioral patterns and expectations. If you are able to teach your dog from day one what is and is not acceptable within your home and in social settings, you will have a much easier time gaining their respect and training them to be obedient for years to come.

Since the American Akita is a rather difficult breed to train, bringing them home as a puppy can be very advantageous for the aforementioned reasons. However, if you choose to adopt an adult dog, you can still train them with lots of work and patience. Many argue that adopting adult dogs is vitally important as they are often left abandoned once they enter into a shelter as an adult. If you have the time and energy for additional training, bringing home an adult American Akita can be a great choice.

Cost Based on Pedigree

When considering other factors that influence the cost of an American Akita, their pedigree will also be important. Responsible breeders will breed dogs that have calmer temperaments and less frequent health issues so as to help in the reproduction of the best-behaved and healthiest dogs possible.

A dog with a strong pedigree will sell for more as you are paying for a dog that is considered “high quality” in these factors. Of course, show dogs also sell for much higher due to their pedigree and appearance. However, unless you plan on entering your dog into a series of contests, then paying for a show dog seems like it could be an unnecessary expenditure that could otherwise be postmarked for something else for your pet.

Cost Based on Location of the Breeder

Finally, the location of the breeder will influence the cost of an American Akita. Considering the costs of responsible breeding (as raising tiny puppies is no easy task), the cost variances based on location will make a difference. For example, if you find a breeder in rural Iowa, they likely have a less expensive cost of living than a breeder based in the suburbs of L.A. Thus, the cost of the pet will be raised accordingly as the cost of their initial care rises, too.

For long-term costs, location will also influence what you spend on your pet. If you are in an area with a higher cost of living, you can expect to pay more for vet visits, general grooming needs, and even doggy items like bedding and food bowls from your local pet store. In a region with a lower cost of living, you can expect the cost of your American Akita to fall accordingly.

What are Common Health Issues for American Akitas?

Undoubtedly, you will want to leave room in your budget for health-related costs associated with your American Akita. During their first year of life, your puppy will need to receive a series of shots that will cost an average of $300 in total. Following this, you should not need to spend much on your dog’s health unless they happen to have an unfortunate health concern.

Monitoring your dog’s diet and physical exercise can be two ways to prevent health issues. In providing essential nutrients, you can help with the promotion of positive muscle and bone growth associated with positive overall health outcomes. Additionally, through the practice of a regular exercise routine for your pet, you will help them to maintain a peak level of physical fitness preventing many health-related concerns.

Next, you will want to consider having your American Akita spayed or neutered. This common surgery does more than simply restrict your dog’s reproductive abilities. It can prolong their long-term health and lead to decreased rates of cancer in the reproductive organs among other beneficial health results. For more information on having your American Akita neutered or spayed, check out this article.

Common health issues for American Akitas include dysplasia of the joints (commonly the hip and elbow), hypothyroidism, and eye-related diseases. Additionally, this breed is particularly susceptible to immune system disorders that often affect the skin and coat. If your dog is showing signs of illness or discomfort, be sure to bring them to the vet.

More routinely, American Akitas experience age-related issues when they reach their senior years between the ages of 10-12. You may find that your dog appears more sluggish and has less energy for work and play during this time. Increasing the frequency of vet visits is recommended once your dog hits the age of 10-years-old. These visits will be both preventative in nature as well as be an opportunity for your vet to treat any concerns.

What are the Vaccination Costs for an American Akita?

Vaccination costs for an American Akita average about $300 total during their first puppy year and will generally cost no more than $50 in their proceeding years of life. During year one, your dog will need to receive a series of “puppy shots” that increase the first annual total vaccination costs. Following this year, there will be routine vaccination maintenance but these will be less substantial.

What are the Grooming Costs for an American Akita?

Fortunately, the American Akita is not a high-maintenance pet when it comes to grooming. This breed sheds twice seasonally (in the fall and spring as it prepares for winter and summer respectively). Otherwise, it sheds a moderate amount indicating a need for regular brushing but nothing too extensive.

Costs for grooming an American Akita vary based on location and whether you choose to groom at home or have a professional do the full routine. Generally, having your American Akita bathed, dried, and brushed will cost between $40-$60. Other services like having its nails trimmed tend towards the $10-$20 range.

Of course, doing much of the grooming work at home will help you to save in overall costs (though you will need to initially purchase a grooming kit). However, the more you are willing to do at home, the less frequently you will need to take your pet in for grooming services and the less work will be charged for grooming your American Akita.

For example, if you are not confident in your ability to bathe your American Akita, you can still brush them the recommended amount of 2-3 times per week (if not a daily brush). This will reduce any matted portions of their coat and reduce the extensive labor that a pet groomer would otherwise have to perform.

To help in grooming your pet at home, it is essential to have the right tools to make this an easier task. Otherwise, you might grow frustrated and see grooming as a chore rather than a bonding opportunity with your pet. Once you begin to see this as an easy, routine activity, your pet will follow suit and will not mind either. You might even notice your American Akita cuddling up next to you as you bring out the grooming tools.

The best grooming tools to have for at-home grooming with an American Akita include a thick-bristle comb, a graduated-bristle comb, a pin brush, a grooming rake (for areas with longer hair), and a de-shedding tool to be used when they blow their coat seasonally in the spring and fall. Also, be sure to use pet-safe shampoo and conditioner, and practice trimming their nails safely with clippers you are most comfortable with.

What Are the Food Costs for an American Akita?

American Akita puppies will eat between 1-2 cups of dry puppy dog food per day whereas adult American Akitas will eat 2-3 cups of dry adult dog food daily. With a 30lb bag of high-quality dog food, you will receive roughly 120 cups and pay an average of $45. This will last between 6-8 weeks thus providing you a yearly cost of $390-$460 for dry dog food alone.

Of course, there are other costs that should be anticipated with feeding an American Akita. While you can feed your dog a strictly dry dog food diet, you will likely end up supplementing this with treats and snacks that come at an additional cost. Since these will vary per your and your dog’s allowance for treats, it is difficult to provide an exact cost. However, it is best to include around $15-20 per month in the budget for snacks and treats that are dog-friendly.

You can also choose to provide meals for your dog through wet (canned) dog food or through cooking meals for your American Akita. These options are less economical but have their benefits, too. While wet dog food is not recommended for more than supplementing an American Akita’s diet, cooking food for your pet can be a great option assuming you have the time, energy, and resources to do so in a healthy manner.

Cooking meals for your pet can become quite the task, though, so you will want to ensure that you are including ingredients that are both safe and healthy for your dog. For example, if you are cooking chicken for you and your family, be sure to set aside any garlic or onion on the chicken pieces that you plan to give to your American Akita.

If you choose to cook for your American Akita, the annual cost can range over $2,000 assuming you are cooking meals that cost between $6-8 per day. This is obviously much more expensive than buying dry dog food. However, as an added benefit, you will know exactly what went into your dog’s food- the ingredient quality as well as quantity- that can not always be found in dry dog food nutritional guides.

Regardless of the option of food that you choose for your American Akita, just be sure that you stick with something that works well for both you and your pet. Do not skimp on high-quality food as this is a primary source of healthy development for your pet. Additionally, make sure that you can stick with what you start with and choose either dry, cooked, or wet for set meals rather than combining within the meal itself.

Why Should You Find a Reputable American Akita Breeder?

There are many reasons to find a reputable breeder for an American Akita. Mainly, reputable dog breeders promote responsible breeders (unlike “puppy mills”) as they care for the animals they breed and seek to promote the reproduction of healthy, happy pets. Additionally, reputable breeders will carry paperwork with health stats and your dog’s pedigree.

You will often find that reputable breeders are also open to taking dogs back in the worst-case scenario that you are unable to provide a happy and healthy life for the pet you have brought home. This is a huge benefit as it decreases overpopulation and eliminates the need to displace a dog in the form of bringing it to an animal shelter. Hopefully, you would not have to worry about this issue arising in the first place, but just in case- a reputable breeder will be there.

Another consideration is if you plan on showing your dog in dog contests, you will need to provide paperwork and verification of its lineage. A friend or neighbor who is selling their American Akita puppies will likely not have as high of a pedigree for their puppies and is also less likely to carry paperwork.

Finally, reputable breeders will know the highest quality nutrition and other health recommendations for your pet. They will be able to tell you exactly what they did when weaning your American Akita puppy from its mother’s milk and what type of food you should transition to. Reputable breeders will also be able to give insight into shots that your dog has received and recommendations for finding a local vet to fulfill the remaining vaccination requirements.

What is the Yearly Cost for an American Akita?

With the purchase of an American Akita ranging from $650-$3,000 and an additional $1,000-$2,200 yearly cost for upkeep and supplies, the average yearly cost of an American Akita ranges between $1,650 and $5,200 with an average cost of $2,100 annually. You will notice a sharp decline after initial purchases and health-costs after year one.

One time expenses

Annual expenses

Adoption

$650 – $3000

Food

$390 – $460

Start-up Supplies (bowls, bed/crate, leashes, tags, toys)

$50 – $300

Vet Check-up

$50 – $100

Vet & Vaccinations

$50 – $300

Vaccinations

$10 – $100

Preventative Medicals (heartworm/tick/etc)

$50 – $100

Preventative Medicals (heartworm/tick/etc)

$50 – $100

Spay / Neuter

$300

Toys / Supplies

$20 – $100

Licensing

$10 – $20

Professional Groom

$400

Microchip

$50

License

$20

Estimated Total one time cost:

$1510 – $10580

Estimated Total Yearly cost

:

$590 – $1005

However, you may begin to see additional charges racking up in the form of vet bills once your dog reaches its senior years (or if you purchase from an unreputable breeder that does not promote healthy dog reproduction). Keep in mind that many one-time costs for your pet will include items like leashes, food bowls, etc. and these will be absorbed in the first-year costs.

After this, the cost of your American Akita can vary depending on the luxury that you provide to your pet. While some argue that certain dog items are privileges for their pets, others will argue that a luxury bed and blanket are essential for a dog’s happy and healthy life. Just remember, the more you invest in your dog- especially with time, patience, and love- the greater reward you will experience in return of affection from your loyal American Akita.