"Look mom, a fox, wolf, husky!" - Zooming in on the appearance and character of the Japanese Akita Inu.
First impressions count, and in the case of the Japanese Akita Inu that is probably what started many people's attraction to it. Of course, there is more to the Akita Inu than just its looks, but that is still where this will start; zooming in on the breed’s majestic features.
Appearance
The world of the Akita Inu is a colorful one. Its coat comes in a variety of colors: aka (red), tora (brindle) and shiro (white). Based on registration numbers In Japan, these colors tend to be divided about 60%, 30%, 10%, with brindle having three more options: kurotora (black brindle), akatora (red brindle) and shimofuri (silver brindle). Next to that, the breed is known for its urajiro, a distinctive feature that refers to the whitish hairs on specific parts of the body. While the FCI’s breed standard speaks of “the sides of the muzzle and on the cheeks, at the under-side of jaw, neck, chest, body and tail as well as the inside of the legs”, technically speaking the first part of that definition is incorrect, as ura translates as “under” and therefore should not be used to describe the white in the face, which instead should be called omotejiro.
The Japanese akita inu - it's a colorful world
Furthermore, the Akita Inu’s coat not only comes in a diversity of colors, but also in a multiple of layers. Though commonly defined as a nijuuhimou (double coat), it consists out of three types of hair. Firstly, there is the outer guard coat, which is about 1.5 cm longer in length than regular coat and needs to stand out like needles. Secondly, there is the regular coat; coarse, tough and shielding the body against injuries and water-repellent. And thirdly there is its woolly undercoat, thick, fine and immensely soft. That latter part is extra thick during winter to provide with extra insulation and looses volume during the warmer months of the year. Also, it is worth mentioning that the coat of the Akita Inu nowadays often tends to be too soft. While this may seem desired—further increasing its cuddliness—in terms of functionality a more open and stiff coat is actually preferred, preventing the body from getting soaking wet during snowfall (as snow will lay on top of the coat instead of penetrating it).
So surely all that hair should go somewhere? Well yes, but unlike with some breeds, running into dog hair all the time will not be much of an issue. While the Akita Inu certainly does loose coat, most of this happens twice a year. Those that are new to the breed will often try to manage these periods by using only a brush, an approach that will take many weeks and likely a lot of frustration. More experienced owners, however, will combat this temporary explosion of hair a lot more effectively by giving their Akita Inu two or three baths—with about two or three days in between and each followed with an essential high velocity blaster session—cutting down the shedding period at least by half. During the rest of the year, the Akita Inu will still lose hair, though at a far more acceptable volume. And in our opinion, a price more than happily paid.
Character
While abovementioned color and coat form an essential part of the Akita Inu's attraction—added with the rest of its construction as can be seen in the illustration above—phenotype is just a part of the total package. An essential part, but a part nonetheless. Bringing up a relevant question: Is the Akita Inu just a good looking dog or is there more to its appearance?
“Whether it be the sweeping eagle in his flight, or the open apple-blossom, the toiling work-horse, the blithe swan, the branching oak, the winding stream at its base, the drifting clouds, over all the coursing sun, form ever follows function, and this is the law. ”
Whereas the quote above was made by an architect that had nothing to do with the dog world, it will surely enable better understanding of the Akita Inu as a whole. Its history has shaped this four legger into what it is today and form truly follows function here. Its beauty is the result of its (snowy and mountainous) birthplace and former use (hunting), explaining not only its exterior (double coat and lack of angulation), but also its character. While the Akita Inu's natural temperament is calm and composed, its origins also called for a dog that was full of spirit, fearless, courageous and bold. In Japan, the way these dogs were used for hunting was a rather independent one. A hunter would go into the woods with only one or two dogs that would then pinpoint boars and even bears. A different way of hunting (and in different surroundings) compared to its Western counterparts, which explains why they look nothing alike.
Also, the Japanese style of hunting asked for a dog that would be able to make decisions on its own and therefore could sometimes be—and still very much is—"a little" stubborn. And as these dogs were often flying solo, it did not necessarily call for the greatest social skills. So even though the Akita Inu can be friendly with others, do not expect Golden Retriever-like behavior. They will likely not be mr. Popular and instead be somewhat reserved towards strangers (humans & dogs). This Nihon Ken (Japanese dog) might even get into an occasional fight, due to its pride and often misunderstood body language (caused by its curled tail and upward ears). However, it will also thoughtfully share its love and attention with a selected few. And those receiving that will experience something truly special.
It is that total package why many owners say "If it is not an Akita Inu, then it's just a dog". Combined with its size and strength however, it is not necessarily a perfect fit for everybody. While having a dog like this can be a dream come true, when not guided properly it can turn into quite the nightmare just as well. Mind you, this does not mean the Akita Inu is some devilish beast. Not all. It just needs the right match. Many claim the Akita Inu is not a breed for first-time owners, and in general that is something we would agree with. There are, however, always exceptions to the rule. When needs and expectations of both dog and owner are met, even novice owners with the right mentality can offer a superb home. Perhaps even better than say a person who owned a Labrador 14 years before.
More Akita Inu ②
To gain further insight in the breed, watch this five-minute educational video from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan (including a “coincidental” cameo by yours truly and one of our puppies Hokuryuu Go at 4:02 - 4:07 😉).
