FAQs

Generally, Akitas don’t do very well with other dogs. Akitas are a dominant, and in most cases, same sex aggressive breed. The “it’s all in how you raise them” notion is dangerously inaccurate. As our standard depicts, the Akita breed is often intolerant of other dogs. This should be expected by anyone who is considering owning the breed. Many new owners find themselves at wits end when their Akita matures to suddenly take a disliking to the canine housemates it has grown up with and used to love. Akitas can come into their mature temperament like the flip of a light switch and being notorious for same-sex aggression, it is common to see problems develop under a once harmonious household. Being a large and powerful breed, the Akita can do significant damage to or even kill other dogs it has altercations with. The Akita should always be well monitored and managed around other dogs.

Your Akita can be taught manners and impulse control around other household pets, but it’s important to remember that the Akita is first and foremost a hunting breed. They have a very high prey drive and you must always monitor your Akita around other animals. We do have cats here at Morrow Akitas and our Akitas are raised with our cats, generally maturing to have no issues living in harmony with them - though we do have a few adults who matured to be unsafe around the cats. Your Akita tolerating your cat does not mean it will tolerate all cats. It is also important to note that just because an Akita is raised around other animals does not guarantee it will always be safe around the other animals in your home and life. This is a breed who is a hunter and enjoys the hunt and the kill of smaller critters. This is a behavior that must be responsibly managed during the dog's life.

The Akita loves to spend time with its people. They are a brilliant and versatile dog. Many Akitas are successfully competing in the vast array of AKC dog sports across the country. We have Akitas titled in Barn Hunt, Lure Coursing, FCAT, Scentwork, Nosework, Tracking, Weight Pull, Rally, Obedience, Trick dog, Agility, Dock Diving, etc. Even for owners who do not wish to train in dog sports competitively, these are great opportunities to take classes and learn something fun with your dog. The Akita can also make a wonderful hiking, canoeing and camping partner.

Akitas are a double coated breed that was developed in and therefore thrives in a colder climate. It is not impossible to live in a warmer climate with the Akita, but having a strong AC will be important. During the hotter months, walks and outdoor activities will need to be limited to early mornings and late evenings and your Akita can and will overheat easily, so making sure they are not spending too much time in the hot temperatures is important.

We use a balanced approach to training in regards to the Akita breed here at Morrow Akitas. Akitas do not do well with heavy handling or harsh corrections. The best and most successful working relationships with this breed are founded on mutual respect and trust. Akitas are stubborn and head strong as well as independent thinking. Due to this, developing a clear structure and well known rules and boundaries early on and maintaining those throughout their lives is very important. The Akita is a primitive breed and is very different in its behavior and engagement with its handler than some of your more traditional working breeds like the German Shepherd or Belgian Malinois. An Akita is not a biddable breed. They do not have a "work to please you" mindset as many other breeds do. An Akita works WITH you, not FOR you. Training sessions with an Akita are most effective when they are done in short spurts more frequently, rather than long and repetitive. What motivates an Akita will be different dog to dog and finding that motivation will be an importance piece of building a working relationship with your dog.

Exercise is an important part of owning a dog. For puppies, a great rule of thumb for walking time is 5 minutes per month old. So a 4 month old puppy could have 20 minute walk a day. It is absolutely critical that you do not over-exercise your puppy, as this strain on their growing bones and joints can have a lasting impact on their lives and development. Adult dogs should be exercised to maintain a healthy weight and good muscle. Age, temperature and terrain all play a part in deciding what is appropriate exercise for your dog.

Akitas form very close bonds with their immediate families. This includes the children in the household. It is; however, extremely important that the children the dog is exposed to have been taught how to properly and respectfully interact with the dog. Akitas are not known to be an overly tolerant breed. Unlike other dog breeds, the Akita does not tolerate the antics of children well. Running, screaming, pulling on, picking at or sitting on the dog could end very badly. As with any dog and child scenario, any interactions between the Akita and children should be monitored. It is never safe to leave a child unattended with the dog.

Akitas are a large breed dog. The AKC standard for our breed is 24-26 inches for females and 25-28 inches for males. The Akita is likely to range between 90-120 lbs. This is a large and powerful dog with much substance and heavy bone. The Akita, while large, should always be kept in good condition and be athletic and well muscled.

Our dogs are fed Purina Pro Plan Sport 30/20 Salmon formula. Feeding is never a one size fits all, so sometimes it can be a trial and error to determine what your dog thrives on. Akitas often seem to have a chicken and poultry sensitivity, so avoiding poultry based foods is a good place to start. Our dogs also receive raw additives in their diet as well as supplements with each meal.

Truthfully, I wish we could come up with another word for this. People hear the word "socialize" and think social. This usually makes an owner think they are taking their dog out, and in an effort to make him social, introducing him to 400 people and 500 dogs and hoping this turns him into a human and dog social Akita. Flooding your Akita with interactions isn't helping you create a social dog, nor is it productive for what you really want - a neutral dog. Socialization for me means to expose my dogs to various environments and stimuli and create a sense of neutrality in each. You want to build a dog who is unbothered by the world around him. Let him see dogs, and crowds and cars and sports games. Expose him to as many environments as you possibly can, but don't make them exciting. What I want from any owner who is socializing their puppy is that they take their dog out and they work on control and engagement in different settings. Your dog is your dog. He is there to work with you and learn from you. Don't be afraid to tell Tom, Dick and Harry "I'm sorry, no. He cannot meet your dog or you right now. He is in training."

This is a breed that sheds at great volumes. An Akita needs regular brushing to help get the dead undercoat out and regenerate coat growth. A force dryer will significantly improve coat management, but an Akita should never be shaved unless absolutely medically necessary. The coat is beneficial to protect them in both extreme elements. When you shave the coat off in the summer, thinking you're helping the dog stay cool, you're actually removing their protective layer and leaving their skin more exposed and vulnerable. Shaving also does nothing to reduce shedding, as the coat just sheds smaller, shorter hairs. If you cannot handle dog hair and excessive shedding, the Akita breed is not for you.

Akitas can suffer from hip and joint problems, thyroid abnormalities, as well as genetic eye defects. Because of this, it is important that your breeder has cleared their breeding dogs in hips, elbows and patellas through the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals or a comparable testing lab, as well as regularly checking eyes and thyroid for abnormalities.

A well bred and properly socialized and managed Akita should not be outright aggressive, but the breed is often aloof and not always tolerant with strangers or other dogs. Early socialization and training is imperative to creating a balanced and stable adult dog, but it is important to understand that genetics cannot be trained away, merely managed. Do not go into ownership of the Akita expecting that all he needs is a loving home and a lot of socializing to be a dog friendly, stranger friendly dog. "It's all in how you raise them" is a dangerous myth. If you are in search of a dog who is a social butterfly and would be safely brought to dog parks, ball games and breweries without hands on management - the Akita breed is not for you.

Akitas are not suitable for bitesport or protection work. This is an independent thinking breed. They are also already aloof and wary with strangers by nature, much like LGD breeds; the Ovcharka, Kangal, etc. A good, solid protection dog is one that is comfortable in all settings and has a foolproof on and off switch. They’re stable. Suspicion shouldn’t be present unless handler directed. When it’s time to work it’s time to work & when it’s off time, it’s off. That’s what I adore about the American Bulldog. (Well bred ones anyhow) Akitas are known to not be the best distinguishers between threat and non threat. They don’t have that stability that better suited breeds have for THIS outlet. So it is a huge liability to teach your Akita that biting is acceptable in any circumstances, because they are independent thinking & when the guy in the big suit on the field turns into the lady in the puffy jacket at the park .. your dog may make that distinction on its own. This breed doesn’t have the genetic temperament for bitesport. Many bitesports and the training for them begin as a game. You utilize prey drive to begin teaching the dog. There is no game for the Akita. They work solely in defense drive & they are quick to be reactive when you start putting on pressure. Akitas are known for having a low threshold. This is where it can turn dangerous for a breed like the Akita. Now if you wanted a dog that was civil and will bite nasty and didn’t need your dog to be stable and collected in settings off the field, you *could* do it. I don’t want a dog I have to keep caged like a tiger until they come out to do bitework. Yes, the Akita will bite and they can be seriously nasty doing it, but once you start teaching that, you no longer have a dog who is versatile off field. Many trainers will argue that this lack of discretion and versatility off field is lack of training, but I'd challenge their experience actually working with primitive, independent breeds day to day. & With the Akita breed, it already takes extensive socialization and training to have them as comfortable in social settings as we want them as is. Bitework is one of those sports that truly takes the right genetics, the right dog, and the right mindset & respect from the handler and trainer going into it. When we are literally training an animal to bite a human, there has to be control and stability 110% of the time. A dog who is clear headed and biddable in every circumstance. Akitas don’t fit that bill.

BAD. The “They only shed twice a year” is a myth. Akitas are a double coated breed who blow their coats seasonally, so they will shed heavily twice a year and shed normally the rest of the year. Regular brushing and running a force dryer through the coat will minimize the amount of hair that falls on your floor, but be prepared to deal with a lot of hair. This cannot be overstated. You will live with intense amounts of dog hair and this is something you and your family must be prepared for. The coat does require regular grooming to maintain coat and skin health. This is not a "wash and wear" breed.

Early spay and neuter has been linked to both behavioral and structural issues. Those reproductive hormones are imperative to proper growth and development of your dog. 18 months is the earliest recommended time to alter your dog. Per our contract, companion puppies obtained from Morrow Akitas must be altered between the ages of 18 and 26 months. Keep in mind, unaltered females will come into season as early as 5 months old and can have cycles every 6 months. This means you will have to take extra precautions keeping your female safely away from intact males for the full 4 weeks of her cycle. You will have to keep any intact male you own safely contained and without access to females in season. Males can be very determined to get to females in season, with some even being known to scale 6 foot fences or chew through doors and barriers. It will be your responsibility to safely manage and maintain your intact dog.