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Akita
The Japanese are very proud to
have produced this magnificent dog. It is a large and very
strong dog with a tenacious spirit.
History:
Originally the Akita was
restricted to the nobility because of its excellent hunting
skills. At first it was bred to hunt deer and wild pigs.
Later, when it was discovered just how formidable the Akita
could be, it was even used to hunt bears. The breed has
remained essentially the same for the past 300 years.
Physical
characteristics:
The Akita is a large stocky
dog and is one of the three Spitz types of dogs from Japan.
Height: for the adult male 26 - 28 in (66 - 71 cm). Weight: 88
- 110 lb (40 - 50 kg). Both the eyes and ears are triangular,
and the triangular head is broad and flat with a powerful
short muzzle. The general appearance of the body is one
conveying power, with a rounded well-muscled chest, shoulders
and flanks. The two-layered coat is made up of a thick
undercoat and a coarse outer coat.
Behavior:
This magnificent dog was
originally bred by the Japanese to be a powerful hunting dog.
Over its 300-year history, the breed has changed very little.
During feudal times, the Akita was used extensively for
dog-fighting. Either as a result of dog-fighting or because
fewer were bred after this practice was outlawed, Akita
numbers went into steep decline. The remaining dogs regained
popularity and were once again used extensively, but this time
as police and guard dogs.
The
Akita can make a wonderful pet, especially for those people
who insist on keeping the dog in its place from the beginning.
This noble and truly magnificent animal is certainly not for
the faint-hearted. However, once the dominance hierarchy is
well-established, the Akita can be a wonderful companion. The
Akita should be given a lot of exercise and responds very well
to training. As this dog has a lot of muscle, it requires
slightly more than the average amount of food. It is
especially important to provide the young growing Akita with
sufficient food and exercise. The dog's coat will benefit from
regular brushing and infrequent bathing.
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