Akita
Dog, Temperament, & Facts
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).
Hachikō
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.
| Akita breed facts | |
|---|---|
| other names | American Akita and Great Japanese Dog |
| area of origin | Akita prefecture, northern Japan |
| breed group | working |
| height at withers | 24–28 inches (61–71 cm) |
| weight | 70–130 pounds (32–59 kg) |
| life span | 10–14 yrs |
| Did 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. |
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