In this article, we will find out if Akitas are good with babies; how to improve the relationship between your child and your dog, and how to prevent conflicts between Akitas and family members.
Are Akitas good with babies?
Akitas can be good with babies, they can manage to have good relationships with children, but your child’s safety should always come first. It all depends on the socialization of your Akita, its character, the character of the child, and you. The right questions to ask yourself are:
- Does your Akita socialize well with children?
- Has your child learned to respect your dog?
- Do you, as an adult, know how to deal with their relationship?
Here’s how to start a healthy and peaceful relationship between your child and your Akita:
First, ask the breeder or shelter if your dog or puppy has ever met children and how it went. You can take your child to the breeder or to the shelter afterward to visit the dog and get a feel for it.
Always think about your child’s safety. In the case of an adult dog, always follow the recommendations of the breeder or the shelter. They will tell you whether or not the dog is suitable for a family with children.
For a puppy, you will have to work on socialization even if you don’t want children because your dog is sure to meet someone one day and as many as everything goes well.
When you bring your dog/puppy home, you can resume, continue, or start socializing.
The relationship between your dog and the child
You will have to prepare your children for the arrival of the dog. Your child will be disoriented and will need a few weeks to feel completely comfortable. During this adjustment period, ask your children to be calm and patient with the dog.
Here are some examples of dos and don’ts to ensure a safe cohabitation:
To be done by adults:
- Work on dog socialization
- Teach the dog basic commands
- Manage space so the dog feels safe
- Teach children the basics of dog language (at least see the difference when the dog is happy and when he feels discomfort)
- Always monitor child/dog interactions
- If you see the dog getting excited during play (loud biting, brutality), calm him down right away. When excited, dogs do not realize their strength and can accidentally injure or drop a child.
To be done by children:
- Feed the dog by asking for a sit and wait before
- Play calmly with the dog (treasure hunt, hide and seek, throw the ball, etc. Stop the game if the dog gets too excited)
- Teach the dog tricks by rewarding him
- Go for a walk with a parent and the dog (the child should not hold the leash alone, he can hold the leash with the adult if the dog does not pull)
- Caress him without hugging him (at least at the very beginning of the relationship).
Don’ts:
- Do not play with or near the dog’s bowl (especially when he is eating)
- Do not take a toy or dog food by force. Work the trade or the “Leave it” order.
- Do not hug the dog
- Do not disturb the dog when it is sleeping (the dog may wake up surprised and bite)
- Leave the dog alone when he is in his corner or in his basket. If the child wants to interact with the dog, he can call him to have the dog come to see him.
- Do not look at the dog intently in the eyes
- Running after the dog screaming
- Hit the dog even to play
- Ride on the dog’s back.
With unknown children:
- If children come to visit you, ask them to ignore the dog completely at first and leave it alone when it is in its bed. If you are unsure of the children’s behavior or your dog’s reactions, send him to his basket at the start of the visit or put him in a safe place in a closed room.
- Outside, manage presentations. That is, protect your dog and children by teaching them to ask permission before touching an unfamiliar dog.
- If your dog is social, educate the children who come to you by teaching them how to safely pet a dog or give treats.
- If your dog doesn’t like strangers, put him behind you or have a “sit-down” on your side and keep children (and adults) from touching him.
Are Akitas dangerous for children?
Although in many countries the Akita Inu is considered a potentially dangerous dog and it is necessary to obtain the corresponding license, in reality, it is tremendously affectionate with children, remaining impassive to the many mischiefs that they can carry out in the hours of play, such as throwing it ears, hair, etc …
The Akita Inu is a little barking dog, so it is perfect if small children in the house require many hours of sleep. It will only bark if something out of the ordinary happens, so it should be given your utmost attention in this case.
In order to carry out correct and effective training, it is very important to have specific accessories for this task. Both the accessories and the use made of them will be Tog factors for the Akita Inu training.
Are Akita dogs good family dogs?
Akita dogs are good family dogs. The Akita Inu adapts very well to family life, it can live in an apartment, as long as it has a wide space to move freely and rest and sleep peacefully.
The Akita Inu, being an athletic and active breed of dog, requires a great deal of physical exercise daily (more if you live in an apartment) and a great deal of food, which is an expense remarkable for the family. Find high-quality feed on trusted online sites.
The Akita Inu tends to prefer a member of the family, its owner, but it protects the rest of them in the same way since these dogs are very protective both with their family and with their belongings.
It is also a fairly independent type of dog and at certain times it will tend to be dominant, but they are very docile and easy to train dogs.
If he is not properly educated and you have other pet companies or another dog, it is likely that you will see him running after any animal that is in every corner of the house. Surely you will not like that, apart from the stress that everyone in the house will have for it.
The Akita is one of those breeds that can have a strong character and being a poorly educated specimen or somewhat unbalanced in their behaviors can make them prone to aggressiveness with other dogs, usually, they are of the same sex.
The Akita Inu is not usually recommended as a companion to people or family groups who are first-timers in having a dog, although one can always take it as a challenge if you wish because the furry one is a while.
Finally, is the dog and child relationship complicated?
Yes and no, again it depends on your family and the dog. There are many families for whom everything is going well without too much special effort. There are also families who will have to question their relationship with their dog and others who will have to work with the dog to make him more tolerant.
The main rule is to supervise as much as possible the relations of your dog and your child and to educate them in the respect of all. So, teach your dog that he can trust you and your children, that he can respect you. And that the whole family ensures their well-being and safety.
Likewise, it is important to respect the dog for what he is. That is an animal that has its own codes and language, which is neither a soft toy nor a toy. Getting to know him and to communicate with him will give you the keys to a wonderful relationship and great enrichment for your children.
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FAQ on Are Akitas good with babies?
Are Japanese Akitas good with babies?
Japanese Akitas are known to be good and gentle with babies, and they are considered good family dogs. However, be careful and never leave the baby alone with the dog.
Are Akitas good for families?
Akitas are good for families, as they can love and protect their owners with their own lives. However, Akitas also tend to be aggressive towards other animals and strangers, so keep that in mind while training your Akita.
Are Akitas really that bad?
Akitas are not that bad, but like any other dog that is not properly trained, Akitas can be dangerous. Also, Akitas in particular are very easy to provoke and almost deadly to smaller animals. You have to make sure you socialize the Akita from puppyhood.
Why are Akitas dangerous?
Akitas are dangerous when not properly trained, neglected, abused, or badly trained. They are capable of causing great injuries to those who it perceives as a threat.
How do Akitas show affection?
Akitas show affection by jumping on you and licking you. Even though you don’t like it, it is a sign of socialization and affection for Akitas.
Can Akitas live with small dogs?
Akitas do not often live with small dogs as they like to be the “only” puppy in the house. The answer is: it depends. Whether the Akita is the first or the second dog in your home, and also depends on how well you trained it.
References
Petful.com
Wikipedia.org
Dogtime.com
