Akita

Independent and calm, it is a dog with a precise personality

  • 80%
  • 80%
  • 30%
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  • 40%

Group 5

Large

10-12 years

Originally Japanese dogs were small to medium in size and no large breeds existed.Since 1603 in the Akita region, Akita Matagis (medium-sized bear-hunting dogs) were used as fighting dogs.From 1868 Akita Matagis were crossed with Tosas and Mastiffs. Consequently, the size of this breed increased but characteristics associated with Spitz type were lost.In 1908 dog fighting was prohibited, but this breed was nevertheless preserved and improved as a large Japanese breed. As a result, nine superior examples of this breed were designated as « Natural Monuments » in 1931.During World War II (1939-1945), it was common to use dogs as a source of fur for military garments. The police ordered the capture and confiscation of all dogs other than German Shepherd Dogs used for military purposes. Some fanciers tried to circumvent the order by crossbreeding their dogs with German Shepherd Dogs.When World War II ended, Akitas had been drastically reduced in number and existed as three distinct types;1) Matagi Akitas,2) fighting Akitas,3) Shepherd Akitas.This created a very confusing situation in the breed.During the restoration process of the pure breed after the war, Kongo-go, a dog of the Dewa line, which exhibited characteristics of the Mastiff and German Shepherd.However, sensible learned fanciers did not approve of this type as a proper Japanese breed, so they made efforts to eliminate the strain old foreign breeds by crossbreeding with Matagi Akitas for the purpose of restoring the original pure breed.They succeeded in stabilizing the pure strain of large sized breed as known today.
The Akita is a bold and willful dog, naturally wary of strangers but extremely loyal to their family.They are alert, intelligent, and courageous.They tend to be aggressive toward other dogs, especially those of the same sex.They are best suited to a one-dog household.

GENERAL APPEARANCE

Large-sized dog, sturdily built, well balanced and with much substance; secondary sex characteristicsstrongly marked, with high nobility and dignity in modesty; constitution tough.

IMPORTANT PROPORTIONS

The ratio of height at withers to length of body (from the point of the shoulders to the point of thebuttock) is 10 : 11, but the body is slightly longer in bitches than in dogs.

BEHAVIOUR – TEMPERAMENT

The temperament is composed, faithful, docile and receptive.

  • Head - cranial region

    Skull: The size is in proportion to the body. The forehead is broad,
    with distinct furrow. No wrinkle.

    Stop: Defined.

  • Head - Facial region

    Nose: Large and black. Slight and diffuse lack of pigment
    accepted in white dogs only, but black is always preferred.

    Muzzle: Moderately long and strong with broad base, tapering but
    not pointed. Nasal bridge straight.

    Jaws/Teeth: Teeth strong with scissor bite.

    Lips: Tight.

    Cheeks: Moderately developed.

    Eyes: Relatively small, almost triangular in shape due to the rising
    of the outer eye corner, set moderately apart, dark brown: the darker, the better.

    Ears: Relatively small, thick, triangular, slightly

  • Neck

    Thick and muscular, without dewlap, in balance with head.

  • Body

    Back: Straight and strong.

    Loin: Broad and muscular.

    Chest: Deep, forechest well developed, ribs moderately well sprung.

    Underline and belly: Well drawn up.

  • Tail

    Set on high, thick, carried vigorously curled over back; the
    tip nearly reaching hocks when let down.

  • Forequarters

    Shoulder: Moderately sloping and developed.

    Elbows: Tight.

    Forearm: Straight and heavy-boned.

    Forefeet: Thick, round, arched and tight.

  • Hindquarters

    General appearance: Well developed, strong and moderately angulated. Hind feet: Thick, round, arched and tight

  • Feet

    Thick, rounded, compact

  • Gait / Movement

    Resilient and powerful movement.

  • Coat / Hair

    Outer coat harsh and straight, undercoat soft and dense; the
    withers and the rump are covered with slightly longer hair; the hair
    on tail is longer than on the rest of the body.

  • Coat - colour

    Red fawn, sesame (red fawn hairs with black tips), brindle
    and white. All the above mentioned colours except white must have « urajiro ».

    (Urajiro = whitish coat on the sides of the muzzle, on the cheeks, on the underside of jaw, neck, chest, body and tail and on the inside of the legs).

  • Size

    Height at the withers:

    Dogs : 67 cm,
    bitches : 61 cm.

    There is a tolerance of 3 cm more or less.

  • Faults

    Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree and its effect upon the health and welfare of the dog.

    • Bitchy dogs / doggy bitches.
    • Undershot or overshot mouth.
    • Missing teeth.
    • Blue or black spotted tongue.
    • Iris light in colour.
    • Short tail.
    • Shyness.

  • Disqualifying faults

    • Aggressive or overly shy dogs.
    • Any dog clearly showing physical or behavioural abnormalities.
    • Ears not pricked.
    • Hanging tail.
    • Long hair (shaggy).
    • Black mask.
    • Markings on white ground.

Valutare:

Akita
Akita
Group 5
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