Welcome to Western Great Lakes Akita Rescue (WGLAR)

Akita Breed Info

Akita's were initially bred for two purposes; hunting as a pair (male and female) and pit-fighting. Female Akita's typically weigh between 65-85 pounds, males 90-120 pounds. Large powerful dogs that are dominant by nature, they are often animal aggressive (especially to dogs of the same sex).

Please read the following to determine whether an Akita is right for you. Keep in mind that while each of these traits may exist in every dog, the degree to which the trait is evident may vary greatly. For the first time Akita owner, a female will most likely be a wise choice, especially if there are young children in the household.

1. Akita's are very family oriented dogs. They are not happy when kept apart from the family 'pack'. If you plan on keeping an 'outside' dog as a pet, you should NOT consider an Akita.

2. Akita's are a dominant breed. They like to take charge and may periodically challenge the human owner for the 'alpha' position. This occurs most often in males when they are between the ages of 8 months and 2 years. This behavior must be modified through training and obedience. Positive reinforcement and gentle persuasion is the best way to correct your dog. DO NOT HIT your Akita... aggression may very well be met with aggression. Earn their love and respect, and they will ultimately comply.

3. Akita's should be obedience trained by the owner/family and not sent away to a stranger for training. If you don't have time or patience to do it yourself, it may be perhaps best to forgoe owning an Akita. Akita's are extremely intelligent which makes training easy. They do however become bored easily (because they quickly learn commands) so keep training sessions to a maximum of 15-20 minutes. Be patient. Often times if the dog doesn't seem to understand, it's probably because you, the trainer, are sending confusing messages. Proper timing, tone of voice, and body language is crucial in training.

4. Akita's seldom bark... unless there is a good reason. When an Akita barks, pay attention! They are VERY protective of the family, especially children. They are wonderful watch dogs by nature and should not be trained specifically as a guard dog unless you are a professional K9 Security Specialist.

5. Some Akita's find comfort in 'talking' to their owner(s). They may grunt, groan, or woo woo. This is an endearing trait and should not be confused with growling. You will definitely know if your Akita is growling.

6. Akita's have a strong predatory instinct. They will acclimate to animals they have been raised with, like the family cat, but other animals (like the neighbor's cat) will be likely be considered prey. Be aware and be cautious!

7. Because of the predatory instinct, Akita's should NOT be allowed to roam freely off leash. A good leash, used religiously, will eliminate unneccessary risk of accidents and related liability. We do NOT recommend relying on invisible fencing for an Akita. Even if it does restrain the dog, it does not prevent people/kids/animals from entering the Akita's territory.

8. Not all Akita's are good with children. Be aware that even Akita's that do well with family children (part of the 'pack') may be considerably less tolerant of youthful strangers (i.e. neighbor kids, visiting relatives). Dominant dogs view children as subordinates, therefore young children should NEVER be left alone with an Akita.

9. Akita's do not like to be teased and may respond by biting. Unruly or unchaperoned children may be prone to treat animals unkindly (e.g., grabbing, pinching, screaming, kicking). These children should be kept away from an Akita whose large size, possible low tolerance, and ingrained predatory instinct can endanger the childs life.

10.. Akita's can be very food possessive. If you have other pets or small children, you will want to make sure that the Akita receives its food or treats away from the other animals and kids. Keep strangers away from the dog while he/she is eating.

11. We strongly recommend crate training. Akita puppies love to chew and a good crate can and will separate the teething puppy from your (not-so-edible) possessions. Never use the crate as punishment or as a reprimand. Like the dens of their ancestors, an Akita should consider a crate to be their 'private place' when they want to be alone.

12. When keeping another dog with an Akita, it is usually more harmonious to have opposite sexes (i.e,. male and female)

13. Some Akita's are escape artists. They'll either climb out, jump over, dig under, or go through a fence to get to something they really want. Keep in mind that Akita's are very agile and can jump 5 feet. While riding in cars, keep the window open only as far as the nose can fit. If the head fits, the body may follow.

14. Some Akita's have a propensity for digging. In these cases, you can expect your yard to resemble a lunar landscape.

15. Akita's blow coat (shed hair) twice yearly in vast quantity. This generally lasts 3-6 weeks, but longer periods are not uncommon. A warm bath and lots of brushing can limit the duration.

16.. Akita's can live up to 10-14 years with proper nutrition and exercise.