What should be the weight and size of an Akita Inu: parameters of an adult dog and a puppy

• Dogs

Akita Inu are Spitz-shaped dogs bred in northern Japan (Akita Prefecture). They have a muscular build and thick, short hair. The character is dominant, independent, requiring persistent training and respectful attitude. This breed is suitable for experienced dog owners, calm and self-confident people. There are two lines, sometimes classified as different breeds: the Akita Inu (the "authentic" subspecies) and the American Akita.

Breed card

• Famous breed names: Akita Ken, Japanese Akita, Akita, Akita Matagi
• FCI breed number: 255
• Description of the standard on the FCI website: link
• Height at the withers: males - up to 67 cm, females - up to 61 cm
• Weight of an adult dog: for males - up to 65 kg, for females - up to 45 kg
• Color options: white, brindle, red-fawn, sesame
• Lifespan: up to 12 years
• Cost of a puppy: about 50,000 rubles
• Size: 4 out of 5
• Learning ability: 3 out of 5
• Attitude towards children: 3 out of 5
• Shedding intensity: 5 out of 5
• Protective and guard qualities: 5 out of 5

How it develops day by day in the first month

Experts divide the development of Akita puppies into stages:

1. From birth to 10 days, primary adaptation to external conditions occurs, including unfamiliar smells and temperature changes. After 48 hours, babies' coats begin to become shiny and they look plump. During the first 7 days, the doggies double their weight. Weak and strong individuals are determined by activity.
2. Up to 20 days - after opening their eyes, babies try to walk unsteadily and perceive extraneous sounds better. The formation of baby teeth is activated, the puppies make their first attempts to leave the nest and relieve themselves outside the bed.
3. Until the 30th day - dependence on the mother decreases, puppies are introduced to complementary foods in the form of liquid food. 2 to 3 additional feedings are allowed per day.

Important! After 1 month of life, the young animals begin to be transferred to standard nutrition.

Akita Inu puppies

Characteristic

Akita Inu is a companion dog of a discreet nature, in the FCI classification it belongs to Spitz and related primitive breeds. There are no performance tests for dogs.

Breed standard FCI No. 255

Akita Inu is a balanced dog, quite large and noble in appearance. He behaves with restraint and obedience, without aggression.

Head size in proportion to the dog's body. The frontal part is wide, without folds. There is a pronounced groove on the Akita's forehead, and a stop line is also noticeable. The muzzle is of moderate length - the base is wide, slightly tapering towards the black lobe. Partial depigmentation of the lobe is acceptable for light-colored dogs. The teeth are moderate, even, covered with dense lips - a scissor bite.

At the level of the stop, the eyes are almost triangular in shape. The outer corners are raised relative to the inner ones. Eye color is dark brown. The erect ears are set moderately wide at the top of the skull and covered with a layer of dense, soft hair. Slightly inclined towards the muzzle.

The neck is thick, without dewlap, covered with a voluminous collar, flowing into the line of a strong back. The chest is deep, the ribs are slightly curved, the belly line rises up from the chest to the groin area. The croup is completed by a thick tail set high. It is twisted into a ring and thrown as far as possible onto the back.

The paws are thick and strong, the toes are arched, gathered into a dense ball. The elbows of the forelimbs are tightly pressed to the body, the hock joints of the hind limbs are developed, due to which the dog moves elastically and quickly.

Akitas have pronounced gender differences, and any physiological deviation based on gender is considered a defect, when females are similar in appearance to males and vice versa.

Other deviations leading to disqualification:

• snack, undershot;
• incomplete dental formula;
• short tail;
• aggressiveness, timidity;
• blue or black spots on the tongue;
• excessively long hair;
• drooping ears;
• black mask on the face;
• spots with white color.

Dimensions, weight and height of the breed

The permissible weight for Akitas is not specified in the standard - breed experts focus on the proportionality of the animals. The height for males should be up to 67 cm, for females - up to 61 cm, while the body proportions are as follows - the height is 10/11 of the length of the body.

Breeders note that the weight of males reaches 59-65 kg, females - 32-45 kg.

Possible colors

The Akita Inu has a straight coat - the guard hair is coarse, and the undercoat is soft and downy. The length of the coat is medium, slightly higher on the tail, withers and rump area.

Types of colors allowed for Akita Inu:

• white;
• brindle;
• red-fawn;
• sesame is an analogue of red-fawn, with dark ends of hair.

With all types of color, representatives of the breed have whitish hairs on the face - in the area of ​​the cheekbones, lips and lower jaw. There are also such hairs on the body - they are called “urajiro”.

Puppy weight by month

Weight differences between Akita Inu females and males appear from childhood. The owner must monitor the development of the puppy and, if necessary, adjust the diet.

Weight-to-height ratio for Akita females:

• 1 month – 2.7 kg;
• 2 months – 5 kg;
• 3 months – 9.5 kg;
• 4 months – 12.5 kg;
• 5 months – 15.5 kg;
• 6 months – 17.5 kg;
• 7 months – 19 kg;
• 8 months – 20 kg;
• 9 months – 21.5 kg;
• 10 months – 21.5 kg;
• 11 months – 22 kg;
• 12 months – 25 kg.

Weight-height ratio for male Akita Inu:

• 1 month – 2.7 kg;
• 2 months – 7.5 kg;
• 3 months – 15 kg;
• 4 months – 20 kg;
• 5 months – 25 kg;
• 6 months – 30 kg;
• 7 months – 32.5 kg;
• 8 months – 35 kg;
• 9 months – 36 kg;
• 10 months – 37 kg;
• 11 months – 37.5 kg;
• 12 months – 38 kg.

Indicators are approximate and vary depending on the physical parameters of the puppy’s parents.

Lifespan

Akita Inus live 10-12 years, which is slightly less than the average for large breeds. Experts say that the war contributed to the reduction in life expectancy - before it, Akitas lived 14-15 years. Today, females live longer than males by 2-6 months.

Allergenicity

Akita Inu has a pronounced seasonal shedding, and the undercoat collects dust. It is believed that the dog is not suitable for allergy sufferers - there are known cases when representatives of the breed caused allergies. To make sure there is no negative immune reaction to the undercoat or guard hair, it is recommended to take allergy tests.

Price of a small dog

You need to purchase a puppy of this noble Japanese breed from experienced, trusted breeders. Who will sell a healthy dog ​​and help, if necessary, with advice.

The price of Akita Inu puppies depends on several factors:

1. Exterior.
2. The origin of the puppies and their pedigree.
3. Compliance with the standard.
4. The level of the nursery and its remoteness. For example, buying a dog of the same level in the region is cheaper than in Moscow.

Japanese breed puppies can be purchased for 2500-7000 rubles . With veterinary passport and puppy card for 4000-9000 rubles.

But in elite nurseries or clubs, pet-class puppies will already cost from 30,000 rubles.

Puppies for exhibitions or breeding are 3 times more expensive. In the regions, prices for Akita dogs will be 20% lower.

How to choose the right pet?

Now in Russia the Akita Inu breed is very popular. Therefore, purchasing a pet will not be difficult . To do this, you must first decide for what purpose you need the dog and choose a good breeder.

In order to choose a puppy, you need to consider several factors:

1. study the pedigree of the parents;
2. ask the breeder whether the animals have undergone the necessary health tests;
3. carefully familiarize yourself with the advantages and disadvantages of puppies.

Cost in Russia

The price of a puppy depends on the purpose for which it is purchased . There are three varieties:

1. Show class - strong dogs with a healthy psyche and excellent temperament. Excellent for exhibitions, but not always for breeding. Price in Russia – from 80,000 rubles.
2. Breed class – intended for breeding. But they too are exhibited and receive champion titles. Price in Russia – from 40,000 to 80,000 rubles.
3. Pet class – puppies that were born in a planned litter and have some disadvantages for show:
   • absence of one or two testes;

   dental defect;

4. The color does not match the standard.

Such dogs are not allowed for exhibitions or breeding, but this does not prevent them from becoming a wonderful pet. Cost – 15,000 – 30,000 rubles.

History of the breed

Japanese Akitas, bred in the district of the same name, were initially medium in size - there were no large representatives of the breed. Dogs have been used since 1603 for bear hunting and fighting. The fighting animals were called Akita-Matagi - they were crossed with mastiffs and Tosa Inu to obtain the desired character traits, while the external resemblance to the Spitz was lost. 200 years later, when fighting was officially banned, they did not stop breeding Japanese dogs - selection was directed towards enlarging the breed.

During World War II, Akitas and others were raised for their pelts, which were used to make warm fur clothing. The exception was service shepherd dogs, mainly German. Japanese Akitas were crossed with “Germans” to prevent them from being killed and to hide their origin. After the war, three breed types of dogs emerged:

• fighting Akita;
• Akita-Matagi;
• Akita Shepherd.

The situation with the purity of the breed was unclear. The breeders identified one male named Kongo-go, the most typical in appearance, and made every effort to restore the line. Matings were carried out with Matagi-Akita - as a result, a population of dogs was obtained that were stable in characteristics and brought “pure” offspring.

Feeding dry food

The main requirement for the composition of dry food:

• lack of vegetable protein – soy (not digestible by the breed);
• no chicken;
• absence of corn and wheat, orientation to fig.

When choosing food, you need to focus only on premium and super premium classes. Suitable food labeled:

• “natural” - contains only natural ingredients;
• “holistic” - suitable for dogs prone to allergies;
• “human grade” - the marking means that it is made according to human nutrition standards.

Feed comparison

ACANA Wild Coast

Universal food for all breeds and ages. Rich in complete fish protein (50% fish). Contains low-glycemic cut oats, which help regulate blood sugar levels and prevent the development of obesity.

DUKE'S FARM grain-free with lamb

The absence of grains will help avoid allergies in your pet. During production, a special technology is used to process the granules with steam, which allows you to preserve all minerals and vitamins. Contains: high protein content, prebiotics MOS and FOS, bone meal. Does not contain soy.

DUKE'S FARM with venison

Akita Inu digest meat from wild animals well. This brand's grain-free food contains dietary protein, prebiotics, powerful antioxidant mulberries, salmon and omega-3 fatty acids.

ROYAL FARM sensitive with salmon

Designed for dogs with sensitive digestion. Does not contain soy, millet, preservatives or dyes. Omega-3 and omega fatty acids will provide the dog's coat and skin with proper care.

We also performed a detailed analysis of the following feeds: Proplan, Monje, Dog Chow, Brit.

This is how the owner feeds the Akita food with apples, although they must be given separately so as not to cause fermentation in the animal’s stomach.

When to change food

• changes in the physiological state of the dog: growing up, pregnancy, lactation, illness;
• there are signs that the food has been selected incorrectly: the fur is shedding and looks dull, claws are peeling and breaking, bald spots have appeared;
• allergic reaction: the dog is constantly itching, severe scratching on the skin, rash, “running eyes.” Such severe manifestations require immediate contact with a veterinarian and discontinuation of food;
• The dog has seriously gained weight. It is worth reducing the serving size.

In any of the above cases, it is better to contact a specialist so as not to waste time and not undermine the health of your pet.

Character

Akita Inu are calm and sociable dogs of a reserved nature. They are not inclined to show aggression and bark loudly. They are clean and do not smell like “dog,” which is why their owners compare them to cats.

Akitas are independent, independent and have a strong hunting instinct. They are possessive, so they can be jealous of other animals and require early socialization.

For a dog, the Japanese Akita is unusually cunning - it does not act at the level of reflexes, like others, but remembers and generalizes situations and actions that are beneficial to itself. The dog sees when the owner is happy, and with pleasure repeats the actions that delight him. Having done something wrong, she prudently uses her abilities to evoke pleasant emotions in her owner and avoid punishment.

Akitas are different in character, despite the common breed characteristics. Among them there are lazy phlegmatic people, excitable choleric people, stable sanguine people and even cowardly melancholic people. Negative temperaments are formed through improper breeding, when undesirable qualities are accidentally or intentionally maintained.

Raising puppies

Despite its cute, plush appearance, the Akita Inu is a temperamental dog . You need to start raising your pet from an early age, otherwise the animal will later become uncontrollable.

A devoted pet that sincerely loves its owner remains a proud representative of the Japanese breed. He will never agree to submission. Therefore, to build a good relationship with an Akita, you need to treat him as an equal.

From the first months of life, the animal must understand how to treat its members and how to treat guests. By nature, the Akita Inu remains a predator and is ready to show its fighting traits at any moment.

In order for a dog to best accept a family, it must constantly communicate with members of the household, especially with children. In an atmosphere of love, the Akita Inu will quickly get used to its new home , fall in love with its surroundings and become an excellent protector.

Learning ability

Akita Inu easily adapt to living conditions and are trainable. Rumors about their stubbornness and destructive behavior appear more likely due to incorrect actions of trainers, reinforcing undesirable behavior during classes.

Akita Inu training rules:

1. Form desirable behavior from the moment the puppy arrives in the house. Observe discipline strictly - persistently and patiently explain to the puppy exactly what actions are unpleasant to you.
2. Prevent dominance on the part of the dog. Akita gets excited in an unusual situation, demanding the owner's attention, and in moments of boredom, it barks and whines. This behavior should be stopped by providing the dog with sufficient exercise and requiring commands to be followed. If security qualities are undesirable, stop their manifestation.
3. Conduct training consistently, bringing each command to automaticity and only then introducing a new one.
4. Be tougher than a dog. Having driven her out of bed once, patiently repeat the procedure every time the Akita jumps onto the bed. If you expose him to unwanted behavior once, the dog will feel like a leader and will manipulate the owner.
5. Understand the dog’s way of thinking and demand only doable things from it.
6. Reinforce positive actions with a treat or game - always!
7. Take breaks if the dog is tired. But do not confuse fatigue and the desire to cheat.
8. The strength of punishment should be chosen in accordance with the offense. Hitting the dog is prohibited!

You need to react the same way to the same actions. If today you were happy when a dog jumped into your arms, and tomorrow you forbade it and cursed, it ceases to understand what is true.

How to care

Care is directly related to age characteristics; it is necessary to take into account the standards of education and nutrition. Its unpretentiousness and thick coat make it possible to keep animals in enclosures or ordinary apartments.

The coat does not require special care; it is enough to brush your pet weekly. This approach helps prevent the formation of tangles. During seasonal shedding, dogs are brushed daily.

Important! Removing dead hair helps the coat renew itself faster.

Combing when shedding

Content

Akita Inu is not suitable for apartment living, although some breeders claim that this is possible with sufficient stress. In the house, the dog is taught that the owner’s things are inviolable, and he can take any “animal” belongings.

Need for physical activity

It is better to walk Akita Inu in public places on a leash - it is prone to aggression towards other dogs. At the same time, two hours of active walks a day are required. If there is a place in your city where you can normally walk with your pet without fear of loss or unexpected aggression, the dog will take root in the apartment.

Excessive stress is unacceptable for a dog.

Why you should train your Akita to walk on a leash:

• correct excessive tension on the leash with sharp and short jerks, repeating “don’t pull” or “quiet”;
• step over a trailing leash tangled between the paws;
• bypass obstacles - pillars or trees, on command.

Appearance care

The Japanese Akita's coat sheds seasonally and requires grooming once a week. It is also important to trim your dog's nails and wash him occasionally.

To care for an Akita Inu, you will need the following tools:

• slicker;
• furminator;
• zoo shampoo;
• large claw clipper;
• Toothbrush;
• massage brush.

A puppy's teeth change at 4 months and require cleaning every two to three days. The plaque is removed with a brush with a special paste. Once a week, the dog is given chewing bones and cartilage to clean its teeth. The eyes are wiped with a cotton pad moistened with water or lotion, such as “Diamond Eyes”. Ear wax is removed 3-4 times a month with a piece of cotton wool wrapped in a bandage. Excessively long claws are carefully trimmed using a nail clipper.

Nutrition

When feeding Akita Inu, you can use a mixed type of food, adding dry food to natural food. But it is easier to use ready-made food of a balanced composition. Akitas are picky eaters, so choosing food can be difficult. In some cases, dogs refuse to eat due to allergies. When changing food or type of food, it is important to monitor the condition of the dog’s skin, coat, and digestion. The number of feedings determines the age of the dog - two-month-old puppies are fed 5 times, four-month-old puppies - 3 times, adults - 2 times a day.

Diet for babies

For the full development of puppies of this breed, a proper diet . Which will include meat, fish and dairy products.

Since the breed originally lived on the island, the predisposition to feeding on seafood is inherent at the genetic level. But at first, when such products are introduced, the puppy may refuse them. There is no point in insisting. The best solution would be to try again after some time. In about 7 days.

You can even add seaweed to your daily meals, for example in tablet form. This will give the body the required amount of iodine.

The Akita Inu's diet must certainly consist of:

1. Fermented milk products: kefir, yogurt, cottage cheese, yogurt.
2. Unsalted cheeses.
3. Boiled eggs, but no more than 2 per week.
4. Raw meat: rabbit, horse meat, lamb. If the animal is not allergic, you can include beef, veal, and poultry.

Before feeding your dog raw meat, it must first be kept in the freezer. This will destroy all parasites that are usually killed by heat treatment.

Bones must be carefully removed, especially when it comes to feeding a puppy. But, since fish bones are a source of calcium, the carcass itself along with them can be ground in a blender or meat grinder. The amount of fish served should be double the portion of meat.

Typical diseases of this breed

There are no diseases specific to the Japanese Akita. She is susceptible to typical diseases that most dogs suffer as they age.

List of possible diseases:

• infections (plague, leptospirosis, hepatitis, parvovirus);
• gastrointestinal diseases (diarrhea, helminths, constipation, poisoning);
• skin problems (allergies, scabies);
• eversion of the eyelid;
• umbilical hernia;
• joint dislocations;
• ear diseases;
• cataract and glaucoma.

To what age do they grow?

• Dogs grow slowly, reaching their final development by three years. At first, puppies actively gain weight.
• Up to six months they are very large, not much like adult animals.
• Six months of age brings changes in the appearance of the puppy. The dog becomes more fit, breed characteristics are more clearly visible.
• At one year of age, bitches begin to go into heat, but for an Akita this is not a sign of “adulthood.”
• From one to two years the animal grows very slowly, but changes in appearance continue. The shape of the head changes noticeably.
• At two years of age, growth stops, but physical development continues.

Buying a puppy

You need to choose a puppy exclusively from a nursery.

It is worth carefully examining the dog.

Characteristics of a purebred Akita:

• the ears are thick, proportional to the muzzle;
• the eyelids are thick, the eyes are dark brown;
• dense bones;
• limbs are harmonious;
• lively and adequate character;
• tendency to gregarious behavior.

Be sure to ask the breeder for kennel documents, a puppy card and a veterinary passport with stamps on the vaccinations given.

Feeding after childbirth

The lactating bitch continues to be fed according to the scheme in which she was fed in the second half of pregnancy.

With a ready-made diet, choose a product intended for puppies or that has special labeling.

Natural food should be exclusively fresh. Increase the amount of fruits, dairy products, and add vitamins.

Photo: maxpixel.net

How to feed correctly and how often

Feeding takes place twice a day, portions are gradually increased. After six months, the daily amount of food varies from 0.5 to 0.7 kg.

Pets are predisposed to rapid weight gain, so the daily menu should be balanced and agreed upon with a veterinarian. With a natural diet, meat is regularly replaced with fish, and instead of whole milk, the baby is given cottage cheese or fermented milk products.

Important! When the dog turns 9 months old, the amount of dairy products in the diet is reduced to three meals per week, the rest of the diet includes vegetables and cereals with meat. Veterinarians recommend giving preference to ready-made industrial feeds - when using them, animals do not need additional multivitamin supplements.

How to toilet train

Babies are initially taught to relieve their natural needs using a special diaper. It is impossible to immediately teach them to go to the toilet - babies will not be able to go for walks twice a day.

Important! The ability to tolerate and defecate outside the home is developed in young animals after six months. Slowly developing individuals cope with the task closer to the first year of life.

First walks

Differences from Japanese

Japanese Akita Inu.

The main differences between American Akitas:

• the standard allows any coat color and the presence of a mask on the face;
• representatives of this breed are larger than Japanese Akitas;
• they have a softer undercoat and hard outer hairs.

Also, “Americans” are distinguished by pronounced leadership qualities and a tendency to fight.

Distinctive features

Breed standards:

• The head is positioned in proportion to the body. Wide forehead without wrinkles, with a clearly defined transition from forehead to muzzle. Nose with a large black lobe. It is not desirable, but it is acceptable that white dogs have a lighter and more diffuse color. The muzzle is wide, tapering towards the nose.
• The eyes are small brown, with slightly upturned outer corners, giving the impression of a triangular eye shape. Moderately wide apart. It is believed that the closer to black the shade of the eyes, the better.
• The ears are in the middle, thick, triangular in shape with semicircular tips. Standing, leaning forward. Moderately wide apart.
• bite , powerful lips and close-fitting lips.
• They have a muscular and thick neck without a dewlap, located in proportion to the head.
• The paws are powerful and well developed, thick and round in shape. The movements in the gait are elastic.
• The body is balanced, the physique is strong. The height at the withers relative to the length of the body is 10:11, and the female looks more elongated than the males. Has a straight back, deep chest and a well-shaped belly.
• The coat has guard hairs - hard and straight, as well as a soft, thick undercoat. Guard hairs grow in two layers: the outer one is long, the inner one is shorter. Together with the undercoat, three layers of wool are obtained. The function of the layers is as follows: the undercoat warms the dog, the water-repellent outer hair protects it from getting wet by snow or water. Therefore, Akitas tolerate cold and rain well. The hair on the “pants” and shoulder blades is longer than on other parts of the body. The hair on the tail is the longest.
• They have a thick, high-set tail, curled over the back .

How to choose

The popularity of the breed allows you to choose a pet to your liking. Initially, the future owner must determine for what purpose the puppy is being purchased, then the search for a reliable breeder begins. Beginners should:

• believe the pedigrees of both parents;
• obtain information about tests and vaccinations performed;
• find out how the birth of this American Akita went.

Important! It is better to buy young animals from a veterinarian, who will quickly identify sick individuals.

Choosing a pet