Is the Akita breed good as a guard dog? What are the characteristics of Akita Inu dogs? To answer these questions this blog post will talk about the Akita Inu dog breed.
Akita guard dog
The Akita Inu breed dogs can be considered excellent guard dogs. This breed possesses many qualities similar to hunting dogs such as strong hunting instincts, silent, observant and extremely territorial.
The Akita will hardly bark, he will only bark when he really needs to. Being an excellent dog to warn the tutors that something is wrong. Being a highly territorial dog, it will defend its territory and its tutors.
The Akita dog’s attack is extremely accurate and cautious, usually before attacking a person or other animals, he prefers to observe to be able to assess the situation well and then take action.
In addition, the Akita Inu has a nobility and vivacious posture, which puts fear in anyone. Especially when he starts growling or barking. Because they are companion dogs to tutors and angry with strangers, they are excellent dogs for guarding the house.
About the Akita Inu
Akita is a city in Japan and “Inu” means dog in Japanese. Due to its larger size than the average of other Asian breeds, this pet was used for home defense and hunting.
Physical characterizes
The Akita dog is known for its nobility and vivacious posture. With a large size, the dog has a straight and strong back, broad and muscular, in addition to a deep chest. The tail is high and thick, curled over the back.
Akitas have a robust, well-balanced and firm body. The Akita’s forehead is broad and the snout is moderately long and strong, but not pointed. The eyes are relatively small and triangular, as are the ears, which are thick and rounded at the ends. Hard and straight outer coat, soft and dense undercoat; tail hair is longer than the rest of the body. Common colors are fawn red, sesame (red fawn hair with black tips), brindle and white.
Behavior/temperament
The Akita has a calm, faithful, docile and independent temperament. He can be a very reserved dog, thus being a more serious and methodical dog, who returns the affection of the tutors with protection and companionship.
Health care
The Akita Inu are very healthy dogs. The main pathology that affects this breed is hip dysplasia and otitis, due to the ears conformation of this breed.
Hip Dysplasia is a genetic alteration, very common in several large breeds. Dysplasia is a malformation in the hip joint that causes discomfort, pain, can lead the dog to limp, and have problems with locomotion that get worse with age.
As it is a genetic characteristic, dogs with a high degree of the disease should not be bred. There are imaging tests that classify the dysplasia degree and can be performed even in puppies.
It is always recommended to buy animals in responsible kennels that aim at the genetic breed improvement, preventing the dogs proliferation with a high degree of hip dysplasia.
Dogs of the Akita Inu breed must undergo periodic consultations with a veterinarian due to the predisposition of this breed to present otitis. The most common clinical signs of otitis are itching in the affected ear, presence of fetid secretion in the ears, restlessness and pain.
As for reproduction, few reproductive problems are reported. Females tend to be very affectionate with their puppies. Because they are large dogs, the female canine can lie on the puppies, crushing them to death. Dogs and puppies must stay in specific parturition boxes to avoid this situation.
Before having a dog, it is essential to talk to a veterinarian to choose the ideal breed for your family. And once you’re with the animal, it’s important to regularly monitor the animal’s health with exams, vaccinations, and appointments.
Breed care
Below we will talk about some care for the Akita Inu such as:
- Health care;
- Skin care;
- Nail care;
- Teeth care.
Health care
Akita Inu needs to keep vaccination and deworming up to date, so it is advisable to visit the vet at least once a year. They tend to be very healthy, active and playful dogs.
Skin care
They are dogs that tend to clean themselves, so baths in this breed are recommended with specific shampoos for dogs every three months. The bath must be done very carefully, mainly to avoid the entry of water in the ear, thus avoiding otitis.
The animal must always be very dry after bathing, to avoid the growth of microorganisms that can lead to dermatitis. Brushing the hair should be done weekly. In periods of constant fur loss, these brushing should be daily.
Nail care
As for nail clipping, it is recommended to cut the dog’s nail once or twice a month. Clipping the nails prevents the animal from getting hurt or even hurting the tutor.
Teeth care
Dogs of this breed should brush their teeth every 48 hours with a dog-specific toothpaste. Constant brushing of your dog’s teeth helps prevent tartar buildup and the resulting problems.
Conclusion
In this blog post we learned how Akita dogs are excellent guard dogs. Topics such as the Akita’s physical characteristics, in addition to its sweet, intelligent and loyal behavior to its tutors. In addition, health and general care with the Akita breed were discussed.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): Akita guard dog
Is an Akita aggressive?
Akita tend to be aggressive towards other dogs, especially those of the same sex. In addition, he is cautious with strangers, but extremely loyal to his family. Aggression can be reduced if the animal is well trained as a puppy.
How big is an Akita dog?
The size of the dogs is measured by the height of the withers, to the Akita inu the ideal size is 67 cm for males and 61 cm for females.
Is Akita difficult to train?
Yes. In general they are stubborn dogs especially after they reach adulthood, but it is possible to train just need a little more time when compared to other breeds.
Reference
CBKC – Brazilian Canine Cynophilic Confederation, 2017 Official Breed Standard: AKITA. Available at: httpshttps://cbkc.org/application/views/docs/padroes/padrao-raca_102.pdf, Accessed 10th Jan 2022.
Picture from Pixabay.com
