BREED HISTORY

An Akita named Hachiko symbolizes this breed's loyal character. Hachiko continued the habit of meeting his master every night at the train station even after the owner's death. The dog waited each evening until midnight and continued this practice for nine years, until the dog also died.

An ancient breed that represents health and happiness, the Akita also hunted bear and boar. At one time, only the Imperial family could own Akita's, who had special leashes and caretakers. Today, the Japanese government lists the dog as a national monument and will subsidize the care of a champion. As pets, they are intelligent, protective and
patient with children, but is reserved and aloof with strangers.

IDEAL BREED CHARACTERISTICS

Size: Males 26 to 28 inches, Females 24 to 26 inches (at the withers).

Appearance: Large, pOverful, alert, with much substance and heavy bone. The broad head, forming a blunt triangle, with deep muzzle, small eyes and erect ears carried forward in line with back of neck, is characteristic of the breed.

Coat : Double-coated. Undercoat thick, soft, dense and shorter than outer coat. Outer coat straight, harsh and standing somewhat off body. Hair on head, legs and ears short. Length of hair at withers and rump approximately two inches, which is slightly longer than on rest of body, except tail, where coat is longest and most profuse. Fault-Any indication of ruff or feathering.

Color: Any color including white; brindle; or pinto. Colors are brilliant and clear and markings are well balanced, with or without mask or blaze. White Akita's have no mask. Pinto has a white background with large, evenly placed patches covering head and more than one-third of body. Undercoat may be a different color from outer coat.

Head: Massive but in balance with body; free of wrinkle when at ease. Skull flat between ears and broad; jaws square and pOverful with minimal dewlap. Head forms a blunt triangle when viewed from above. Muzzle-Broad and full. Distance from nose to stop is to distance from stop to occiput as 2 is to 3. Stop-Well defined, but not too abrupt. A shallow furrow extends well up forehead. Nose-Broad and black. Liver permitted on white Akita's, but black always preferred. Ears- They are strongly erect and small in relation to rest of head. If ear is folded forward for measuring length, tip will touch upper eye rim. Ears are triangular, slightly rounded at tip, wide at base, set wide on head but not too low, and carried slightly forward over eyes in line with back of neck. Eyes-Dark brown, small, deep-set and triangular in shape. Eye rims black and tight. Lips- and Tongue-Lips black tongue pink. Teeth-Strong with scissors bite preferred, but level bite acceptable.

Tail: Large and full, set high and carried over back or against flank in a three-quarter, full, or double curl, always dipping to or below level of back. On a three-quarter curl, tip drops well down flank. Root large and strong. Tail bone reaches hock when let down. Hair coarse, straight and full, with no appearance of a plume.

Akita's : Everything About Purchase, Care, Nutrition, Breeding, Behavior, and Training (Complete Pet Owner's Manual)
by Dan Rice, Michele Earle (Illustrator)
List: $6.95
Our Price: $5.56
Paperback Published by Barrons Educational Series

Book of the Akita/H-1075
by Joan McDonald Brearley
List: $39.95
Our Price: $27.97
School & Library Binding, 272 pages Published by TFH Publications