Working Group
Akita
Champion Pedigree
Loyal
Dignified
Guardian
A large, powerful spitz breed from the mountains of northern Japan, the Akita was originally bred to guard nobility and hunt bear, boar, and elk. Dignified and famously devoted to family, the breed is also reserved with strangers and requires an experienced, consistent owner.
Lifespan
10–13 years.
Did You Know?
The Akita is honored in Japan as a symbol of health, happiness, and long life, and small Akita figurines are traditionally given as gifts to new parents.
Breed Traits
Size
Males 26–28 in. tall, 100–130 lbs; females somewhat smaller.
Energy Level
Moderate — daily walks and mental engagement suit it well.
Coat & Grooming
Thick double coat, heavy seasonal shedder; weekly brushing, more during shedding season.
Good With Families
Deeply loyal to its own family; can be wary of other dogs and unfamiliar people.
Registry Record
Also Known As
Akita Inu, Japanese Akita
Origin
Japan, in the mountainous Akita Prefecture.
Typical Litter Size
3 to 8 puppies.
Club Recognitions
AKC, FCI, JKC, KC (UK)
Disposition
Courageous and dignified, intensely loyal to family, often reserved or wary with strangers and same-sex dogs.
Coat Colors
White, brindle, and pinto, often with a distinctive facial mask.
Working Roles
Historically a guardian and big-game hunting dog; today mostly a devoted companion and watchdog.
Health & Wellness
A generally robust breed, though hip dysplasia, hypothyroidism, and a serious autoimmune skin condition are worth screening for.
Notable Akitas
Hachikō
A famously loyal Akita from 1920s Japan, still commemorated with a statue at Tokyo’s Shibuya Station.
Registry Champions
The breed remains prominent in Japanese and international working-dog shows.
National Symbol
Designated a Japanese natural monument in 1931.
Related Reading
Akita Gifts
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