Breed

Akita: Your Complete Guide

BY DOGACADEMY PUBLISHED: January 7, 2025 UPDATED: January 30, 2025
17 minutes

Akitas are large Japanese dogs that can trace their ancestry to ancient and medieval times. These dogs have been around for a long time due to their loyalty, hunting skills, and kindness towards members of their family. While these traits can be mistaken for stubbornness, it’s no surprise that these dogs have a little bit of sass since they spent a few hundred years sitting next to Japanese royalty

Today, akitas make great pets, watchdogs, and members of the family. While you’ll have to spend time socializing and training them, building a bond with an akita is well worth the effort. Still, this takes a lot of work, so the akita might not be right for everyone. Plus, they’re on the large side, so you need to have the right amount of space before you consider adopting one.

While this can seem overwhelming, don’t worry, we’re here to help. This article covers everything you need to know about the akita breed. We cover their size, appearance, temperament, how to care for them, and much more. Read on to learn more.

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Quick Look at the Akita

Below is a quick glance at the akita breed in terms of their physical characteristics, lifespan, temperament, and grooming needs. 

Weight/Height 86-130 pounds, 26-28 inches 
Coat Type Medium-length, double coat, coarse
Grooming Needs three green bones two grey bones
Shedding five green bones
Temperament  Playful, loyal, affectionate, alert, stubborn 
Good With Kids four green bones one grey bone
Good With Other Animals three green bones two grey bones
Intelligence five green bones
Easy to Train five green bones
Energy Level three green bones two grey bones
Barking Habits three green bones two grey bones
Lifespan 10-14 years 

What Is the History of Akitas?

Akitas have been around for a long time, with some early breeds of akita dating back to 1,000 B.C.E. Their ancestors, the Matagiinu, were medium-sized dogs that served as hunting companions in Japan. Not only were these dogs great hunting companions, but they had the skill to track, hold, and even kill their prey. During this period, these dogs were cherished and popular due to their loyalty, trainability, and ability to hold slightly larger prey like wild boars. In fact, many of these traits are present in the akita breed today.

Akitas remained this way throughout most of Medieval Japan, but during the Tokugawa Shogun era, things started to change. While the Matagiinu was still used to hunt animals by the lower classes, Japanese nobility started to breed larger Matagiinua to scare off rivals. From this point, the akita breed was born, and the first preservation society started in 1927. 

Unfortunately, things changed again for akitas during World War II when citizens struggled to care for them. Additionally, the Japanese military began using these dogs in the war, so their numbers started to dwindle. Thankfully, after the war, many breeders in Japan and the United States began to breathe new life into the akita breed.

Today, akitas are recognized by the American Kennel Club and continue to grow in popularity around the world. In fact, there are Japanese akitas and American akitas, both of which have similar traits. Many modern akitas are used as pets or watchdogs.

What Do Akitas Look Like?

Akitas are spitz-type dogs, so they share many traits with other spitz breeds. This is what plays into their burly and strong appearance, along with their massive size. Additionally, their head is broad and large, which matches the rest of their body. In fact, with the right color scheme, they can look like a miniature panda or black bear based on the shape of their face.

When it comes to their coat, don’t let the medium-length fluffy coat fool you. It’s a hardy double coat that keeps them warm in cold climates and safe from the prey they used to hunt. When it comes to the color of their coat, it can come in most colors, including patches of white. Some akitas also have multi-colored heads that can range from light brown and white to fawn and almost black. 

Some other notable features include their fluffy and curly tails, pointy ears, and large nose.

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black fur sampleblue fur samplewhite fur samplered fur samplesilver fur samplefawn fur samplecream fur samplebrown fur sample

What Size Is an Akita?

Akitas are big dogs. Male akitas tend to weigh around 100-130 pounds, and female akitas tend to weigh 70-100 pounds. Therefore, there is a slight disparity between males and females, with males being slightly larger. This also applies to their height. Males are 26-28 inches, and females are closer to 24-26 inches.

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What Is an Akita’s Coat Type and Length?

Akitas don’t just have a single coat like some other dog breeds. Instead, they have an undercoat and an outer coat. The undercoat is short, thick, and dense, while the outer coat is straight and coarse. While they may seem like big balls of fluff, their coats will feel rough if you don’t let them in the direction that their hair falls. 

black curly wavy corded wiry lines green straight lineblack short hair green medium hair black long hair

What Is an Akita’s Temperament?

Akitas are calm, loyal, and protective dogs. While they’re suspicious of strangers, once they open up, they adapt well to family life. Akitas are also smart, curious, and playful, so they get along with children and other animals well – socialization is necessary for cohabitation with other animals, though, because they can get territorial. Akitas aren’t usually aggressive, and they’re not the most vocal dogs.

Are Akitas Good With Kids?

Akitas are great with kids! They’re big enough for kids to play with, and your child will have a hard time accidentally hurting them. Akitas are also gentle and protective over children, so you don’t have to worry about them accidentally hurting your child. That said, you should always watch your children when playing with dogs, especially if they’re the size of an akita.

Are Akitas Good With Other Animals?

Akitas are okay with other animals. Without proper socialization, they may become aggressive and territorial around similar-sized animals. Additionally, they have a bit of a prey drive, so they might not be a fan of your cat. That said, you can always focus on socialization training from a young age to prevent these issues. Plus, once akitas becomes comfortable with other animals in your home, you shouldn’t have any problems; it’s that initial adjustment period that causes the most chaos.

Are Akitas Aggressive?

Aggression is never an acceptable behavior for dogs, and with the proper training, you shouldn’t have to worry about aggression in akitas. That said, akitas aren’t naturally aggressive and won’t growl, bark, or try to intimidate people unless they feel threatened. The only time akitas tend to display aggression is when they’re around other animals or strangers. 

Thankfully, you can get around this through socialization from a young age. Taking them to dog parks or bringing them around other members of the family at a young age can help them adjust and adapt.

Do Akitas Bark?

Akitas Bark, but only when they have to. You won’t find akitas that bark all the time or have to worry about them barking randomly because they only do so when they feel threatened. While they don’t bark often, that doesn’t mean they’re a good fit for apartments with noise restrictions. This is due to their loud bark, so even if they only bark sometimes, that may be enough to anger your landlord or other tenants.

Are Akitas Affectionate?

Akitas are affectionate dogs, but they tend to show their affection through loyalty and protection as opposed to cuddling. That said, you might find some akitas that act like giant lap dogs; just make sure they don’t crush you, because these guys can weigh more than 100 pounds. 

However, some akitas are suspicious of strangers and may take a while to warm up to them. This also applies to new families that adopt them, so give your akita some time and space to open up if they’re a new addition. 

Are Akitas Intelligent?

Akitas are smart dogs. They were bred to handle complex training, so it’s no surprise that they’re intelligent enough to function as service dogs. Akitas are also great at picking up on emotional cues, so they don’t have any issues with emotional intelligence. 

Furthermore, akitas are curious and easy to train for a wide range of commands, so you don’t have to worry about any limitations with this breed. In fact, they were smart enough to rise through the ranks to become companions of Japanese nobility. Additionally, they fought in several world wars and continue to serve alongside police forces around the world.

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Are Akitas Energetic?

Akitas are energetic dogs that can sometimes be high energy as puppies. That said, once they reach a year or two, their energy levels tend to level out. To satisfy their energy levels, you should have them exercise for at least one hour daily. You can accomplish this through walking, playing, or spending time at dog parks. Hiking, running, and more intensive activities can also help you tire out your akita, though they generally shouldn’t give you too many issues or keep you up at night.

black sitting dog green standing dog black running dog

Are Akitas Easy to Train?

Akitas aren’t hard dogs to train. You shouldn’t have to worry about too many issues with them once you get past their initial stubbornness. While they may be stubborn at first, once they respect you, there won’t be any problems teaching them complex commands. Many akitas have even gone on to perform in agility shows, so these dogs have the mental capacity to handle all sorts of training. Most working roles and watchdog jobs are also easily picked up and well-executed by akitas.

If you don’t know where to begin with an akita, a basic obedience training program is your best option. These training courses will help you develop a foundation of training that will stick with an akita forever. From there, you can get into the more advanced stuff.

Are Akitas Good Watchdogs?

Akitas are some of the best watchdogs that you can find. They’re great watchdogs due to their loyalty, size, and loud bark. In fact, akitas were historically used as guard dogs for Japanese nobility for centuries, so it’s no surprise that you can train them to watch over your property. 

Akitas are also brave, so they have no problem running into danger to protect their family. Furthermore, akitas are alert and suspicious, so if they see something wrong, there’s a great chance that they’ll alert you to it. Plus, you can hear their bark from across large properties with no issues.

Are Akitas Good Service Dogs?

Akitas can be great service dogs! They have all of the traits that you want in a service dog, ranging from the ability to bond with a single person to trainable skills. Plus, they’re alert, protective, and loyal, so you don’t have to worry about them abandoning the person they’re caring for. Akitas are also excellent service dogs due to their size. These dogs are huge, so they have no problem performing complex tasks for people who have physical disabilities. Some things they can do include opening doors, pushing wheelchairs, fetching medications, and much more.

Akitas are also emotionally intelligent dogs, so they can also help people who have mental health disabilities. They can apply deep pressure therapy, help with mental health conditions, and even remind someone when it’s time to take medications. Guiding people who have anxiety is also something an akita can handle with ease. 

Akitas are also big fluffy dogs, so they can be great therapy or emotional support dogs. However, you’ll want to ensure they have some type of training for these roles to prevent any problems.

How to Care for an Akita?

Caring for an akita comes down to being an active caretaker and understanding when it’s time to help an akita dog. They need to be professionally groomed every few months, and you have to keep their teeth healthy in addition to taking them to a good vet regularly to prevent or treat health issues. As long as you feed them a healthy diet and help them get plenty of exercise, you shouldn’t have too much else to worry about with this hardy breed.

Do You Need to Groom an Akita?

Yes, like other dogs, you have to groom an akita. Thankfully, their grooming needs aren’t too crazy compared to some other high-maintenance breeds. You should bathe them every six months, keep an eye on their nails if they don’t naturally wear down, and focus on brushing their teeth a few times per week. 

Other grooming needs include brushing a few times per week, checking their ears for infections, and removing anything that’s stuck in their coat – this happens more than you think because they’re active dogs.

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Do Akitas Shed?

Yes, akitas can do some shedding. These dogs can shed a lot and will often shed even more during seasonal changes. These dogs tend to shed a lot due to their dense undercoat, which changes with the seasons. However, their top coat will also shed throughout the year, so expect a lot of hair in your home if you plan on adopting an alita.

black small fur pile black medium fure pile green large fur pile

What Health Problems Do Akitas Have?

Akitas aren’t prone to many health problems, or else the Japanese nobles who used to breed them would’ve abandoned them long ago. While they’re typically healthy, that doesn’t mean they’re immune to any health conditions. For example, due to their large size, Akitas may develop joint problems later in life, especially conditions like patellar luxation. These problems can be made worse with obesity if they become less active as they age. Thankfully, you can mitigate these problems through medications, less exercise as they age, and a cleaner diet to keep any extra pounds off.

Aside from obesity and joint problems, akitas are also prone to some genetic conditions. One of the more common issues they may face is hip dysplasia, which is the malformation of the hip joint at birth. This condition is chronic and can’t be cured, but with the right medical attention, your akita can still live a happy and healthy life. 

Another chronic condition that akitas may face is hypothyroidism. This develops when the thyroid doesn’t produce enough thyroid hormone, and you can discover this problem by looking for issues with their coat, such as dry skin, infections, and hair loss.

Akitas are also at risk for other chronic conditions that most dogs can face. Examples include eye problems, ear infections, heart disease, and parasites if you feed them a raw diet. The best way to keep your akita healthy is to ensure they’re getting the proper nutrients, exercise, and annual checkups with a vet.

How Long Do Akitas Live?

Akitas can live a long and healthy lifestyle if you take them to the vet, feed them a healthy diet, and help them get plenty of exercise. While they can develop chronic conditions later in life, stay on top of them to prevent obesity and other inflammatory conditions. Ultimately, expect your akita to live for 10-14 years.

What Should an Akita Eat?

Akitas needs to eat a healthy diet that incorporates protein, carbohydrates, and healthy fats. You can find most of what they need in kibble and wet food that’s formulated for big dogs. This is usually available at your local pet store, but online options like Chewy can also help you find what you’re looking for. 

Akitas may also need to be fed less as they age to prevent obesity due to their size. You can also feed them a home-cooked diet that incorporates meats like lamb, beef, and chicken. Vegetables and carbohydrates are also important, so keep this in mind when searching for the right dog food.

Is an Akita the Right Dog for Me?

Akitas make great pets. Once they interact with your family for long enough, you shouldn’t have any issues with their behavior. They’ll also share their affection with members of the family and focus on giving their companions plenty of attention. Due to their standoffish temperament to strangers and other animals, they’re also good watchdogs that will alert you to any potential threats.

That said, akitas aren’t for everyone. Without proper socialization, they can be a menace if you have other animals around. Additionally, they might not be open to interactions with strangers, so if you have a lot of company, expect barking, growling, and jumping. You’ll also need a lot of space if you plan on caring for an akita because of their energy needs. Keep this in mind before you consider adopting for the best results.