Akita | Dog, Description, Temperament, & Facts

Whether cities should enact breed-specific legislation (BSL, or “pit bill bans”) for dogs such as Akitas is widely debated. Some see BSL as a humane way of making communities safer by discouraging dog fighting and the breeding of dangerous dogs. Others argue there is no evidence that BSL makes communities safer and that other legislation would be more effective than expensive and controversial BSL laws. For more on the debate on pit bull bans, visit ProCon.org .

An Akita is a breed of working dog that originated in the mountains of northern Japan . In 1931 the Japanese government designated the breed as a “natural monument.” It was employed as a hunting and fighting dog and is now trained for police and guard work. The Akita is a powerful, muscular dog with a broad head, erect, pointed ears (small in relation to head size), and a large curved tail carried over the back or curled against the flank. Akitas are bred in a variety of colours and markings, including all-white, brindle, and pinto. Except for the white, all Akitas bear a distinct mask (dark area around the muzzle).

Akita, also called Akita dog, breed of working dog that originated in the mountains of northern Japan. In 1931 the Japanese government designated the breed as a “natural monument.” It was employed as a hunting and fighting dog and is now trained for police and guard work. The Akita is a powerful muscular dog with a broad head, erect pointed ears (small in relation to head size), and a large curved tail carried over the back or curled against the flank. It stands 24 to 28 inches (61 to 71 cm) tall at the withers and weighs 70 to 130 pounds (32 to 59 kg). Akitas are bred in a variety of colours and markings, including all-white, brindle, and pinto. Except for the white, all Akitas bear a distinct mask (dark area around the muzzle).

The first Akita was brought to the United States by Helen Keller in 1937, a puppy having been presented to her as a gift during a tour of Japan. Akitas were admitted into the show classifications of the American Kennel Club (AKC) in 1973.

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Akita breed factsother namesAmerican Akita and Great Japanese Dogarea of originAkita prefecture, northern Japanbreed groupworkingheight at withers24–28 inches (61–71 cm)weight70–130 pounds (32–59 kg)life span10–14 yrsDid you know?Perhaps the best-known Akita is Hachikō, who displayed incredible devotion to his owner, Hidesaburō Ueno, a professor at the University of Tokyo. Hachikō (affectionately called “Hachi”) would wait patiently at Shibuya train station for Ueno’s return home. On May 21, 1925, Ueno died at work, and for the next 10 years, until his own death on March 8, 1935, Hachi returned daily to the train station awaiting the return of Ueno. Bronze statues of Hachi were erected, and a popular memorial service is held annually on March 8 at the train station. The loyal canine is also the subject of Hachi: A Dog’s Tale (2009), a film starring Richard Gere.