aronoiiel Posted July 11, 2011 Report Share Posted July 11, 2011 If you have the chance I would see about meeting some even if it's in a shelter and seeing how they act. Granted each dog is different and what not based on a lot of factors but the advice here and meeting a few Akitas myself I decided it just wasnt the breed for me especially in my living situation. I ended up getting a GSDXHusky and he's been a wonderful addition to our family. It all boils down to what you learn and what you and your living situation can handle. I wish you luck in your decision and remember no matter what WE WANT PICS Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kissu & Aara Posted July 11, 2011 Report Share Posted July 11, 2011 Kissus best friend at the dog park is an akita. Though, his temperment goes 99.9% againt the breed standard. They can be aggressive, and they are protective. My best friend growing up was a german shepherd x akita, and she never once even snapped at anyone. She was a huuuuuge dog, so people were afraid of her just cause of that. She would protect us by placing herself between us and the person she didn't like. And snarl to intimidate. One person she really didn't like was the fiance of one of my moms friends. She would growl lightly at ANY male in a uniform. She also didn't like drunk people. Well, he was both drunk and in a uniform. So she placed herself between my mom and I and him. She was snarling and biting the air. As others have said, akitas are generally a dog that is best as an only dog. Unless you get one as a pup. But even then I wouldn't suggest having more that two dogs. And definitely no cats if you have an akita and a husky. We found shasta a few times with our cat rajas head in her mouth. She would never bite down or shake. She would just let him chill in there. But yeah. Cats would be bad. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
raindog Posted July 11, 2011 Report Share Posted July 11, 2011 The most important thing for anyone thinking of bringing an Akita into a household where there are existing dogs is that they are very prone to same-sex aggression. We had an Akita, Holly who was the most beautiful, softest dog you could ever hope to meet. She grew up with our huskies and formed a particular bond with Chrystelle who was the same age. Suddenly, when they both had their first season, Holly decided (quite literally - no exaggeration) that she wanted to kill Chrystelle. After their first fight, which came out of the blue, we kept them separated but Holly's same-sex aggression soon transferred to all our females. Twice more she broke through two lots of double fencing to get to Chrystelle and on the final occasion, I sustained bites needing 35 stitches just separating them. None of the normal methods for separating fighting dogs had any effect and my only alternative to a dead dog and a badly injured dog (Chrystelle was outweighed but giving it her best shot) was physically separating them. This didn't worry me as a few scars were preferable to a dead dog, but I am forever grateful that I was at home when it kicked off and Terry and/or the kids didn't have to deal with it. We sadly felt we had no choice but to return her to her breeder where she remains happily to this day. Holly was a well brought up, well socialised Akita with a wonderful temperament (with humans) but despite our best efforts, hard-wired instinct kicked in and her hatred of other females came to the fore as she matured. I love Akitas, but would never have another while I've got other dogs. Holly - Mick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ehosputnik Posted July 29, 2011 Report Share Posted July 29, 2011 so, thought i should update my opinion on huskies and akitas (and akitas in general) from above. akitas might deserve their rep as tougher and physically capable dogs in some ways, while i've always admired them and loved my akita before and missed her horribly when she passed away; yet i thought i'd maybe not adopt another akita since i thought they were too difficult to have around other dogs. well...i wound up adopting the akita i'd mentioned above that i was thinking of adopting, and it's working out amazingly. the akita is older (~3 years of age) and female; my husky's an 8 month old boy. the AKITA is completely tolerant of the HUSKY. he eats her food out of her food dish and takes her toys (while akitas are sort of known for being very possessive of all the above) and rough houses with her regularly and she just rolls with it; i'm more concerned about HER much of the time, though she can seem to hold her own just fine; incredibly athletic, strong, and agile so can dole it back and handle it from what i always see, yet it ALWAYS looks good natured and like nice play and she's like the best big sister he could have. other than the fact that she OUGHT to be annoyed by him sometimes, they're an incredibly compatible match, basically hit it off right away, and seem to have a great time together. she (the akita) is even quite good with dogs at the dogpark and random dogs we come across out and about (though she IS pretty forthright - as is he - they both basically just make friends with everyone after the initial forthright "ya HI-ya"). so anyhow, i have to admit, things really are more case by case than i'd figured as far as this goes; i'd never met an akita so friendly (though I've always loved akitas otherwise since i've known them and adored my girl that passed before). of course - they're opposite sexes, the husky was here first, etc.. but so far, the akita's been quite good with other dogs including females - though VERY eager to get RIGHT there in front of them almost invariably yet quite friendly given their response isn't to go get aggressive with her "forthright" at the dogpark and otherwise. haven't seen the aggressive response from another dog yet, and i definitely discourage her "forthright" and talk her through each interaction very reassuringly...while i'm sensing so far she might not even need that. from what i can tell, she's almost totally easy going and sweet. sort of blowing my mind. another perspective fwiw. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Removed #5 Posted July 29, 2011 Report Share Posted July 29, 2011 I haven't really been following this but a couple of times I've looked and said I should know this dog (breed). While I was stationed in Japan, one of my friends (and my mechanic) was an Ainu who had a really great (big!) dog. In retrospect, his was quite probably an Akita and that would have been my first introduction to them. The one time he took me up to the "tribal grounds" (it was treated as if it were a national park) they had a couple of caged bears (their gods) and a whole slew of the same type of dog running loose all over the place. Not friendly, but there they definitely were not aggressive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tan J P Posted July 29, 2011 Report Share Posted July 29, 2011 we did a lot of research about Akita's a long while ago i think they are amazing dogs but the guarding instinct regularily mentioned helped us decide iit wasn't for us i have a very busy house,people popping in and out all the time and that includes little people too i'm just glad i did read up on them and actually went to meet one and didnt just go out and get one. maybe we'd have made great owners and had a beautiful dog,but it wasnt a risk i was prepared to take. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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