Dog Breed Guide

Akita

Profile

Size

Large

Country of origin

Japan

Origin

Ancient

Bred for

Hunting, Watchdog (formerly fighting)

Height

male 64 - 70cm (25 - 28in), female 58 - 64cm (23 - 25in)

Weight

35 - 50kg (77 - 110lb)

Life span

10 - 13 years

The only large breed among the native Japanese dogs. A solid, heavy-boned body, a thick double coat, a thick curled tail and small triangular ears are its hallmarks. Colors are red, brindle, sesame and white, and all colors except white have pale "urajiro" markings on the muzzle, chest and belly.

Calm and composed, the Akita is intensely loyal to its owner. It shows deep affection for its family but may be wary of strangers and other dogs. It is independent, so training requires patience and consistency.

It tolerates cold well but not heat. It sheds heavily in shedding season. It is strong, so practice walking without pulling from puppyhood.

Good to know

The most famous Akita is Hachiko, the faithful dog of Shibuya Station in Tokyo. After his owner, Professor Hidesaburo Ueno, died suddenly, Hachi waited at Shibuya Station almost every day for more than nine years for his master to come home. Newspaper reports of his devotion touched hearts across Japan, and a statue was erected in front of the station while Hachi was still alive. He died in 1935. His story reached a worldwide audience through the 2009 film Hachi: A Dog's Tale, starring Richard Gere.

The story moved the American activist Helen Keller. When she visited Akita Prefecture in 1937, she said she would dearly love to have an Akita, and the puppy she was given, Kamikaze-go, became the first Akita to go to the United States.

In 2018 the Akita preservation society gave a puppy to the Russian figure skater Alina Zagitova, who had just won gold at the PyeongChang Olympics. Named Masaru, meaning "victory," the dog made headlines as a symbol of friendship between Japan and Russia. The Akita was designated a Natural Monument of Japan in 1931.