Fun Akita Facts For Kids

Have you ever seen dogs that look like snow teddies? It is none other than the Akita dog. It is a large breed of Spitz-type dog and the name 'Akita' means 'a rice field.' It is an excellent watchdog and a loyal companion. It is one of the most intelligent dog breeds. Make sure not to leave your Akita dog alone for a long time as this breed does not like being apart and gets bored easily. The Japanese Akita dog breed is difficult to train due to its dominant personality, which can make it aggressive toward other dogs. The Akita dog breed was officially recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1972.

They have some special characteristics that will make you even more curious. Here are some fun, engaging, and interesting facts on Akita dogs. Afterward, do have a look at our other articles on English bulldogs and Catahoula bulldogs as well.

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What type of animal is an Akita?

Akita is one of the spitz-type dog breeds that are large in size and sturdy in appearance. This dog breed can be found in the mountain regions of Japan and got their name from the region in Japan. Akitas are excellent watchdogs and very loyal to their owner. These dogs were used for hunting bears and wild boars in Japan during the 1950s. But Akita dogs have become good companions in modern times. Akitas are very affectionate towards their family and friends and do not easily form a relationship with strangers and bark only when something really happens. It is one of the dog breeds that love the presence of their owner and gets bored easily if kept alone. Akita dogs are also used as therapy dogs.

What class of animal does an Akita belong to?

The Akita dog belongs to the mammalian class by its ability to give birth to young ones. It comes under the Carnivora order of the Canidae family. Its scientific name is Canis lupus familiaris. The name of the breed originated from the region in Japan. These dogs are often called working dogs and also make for a popular police dog breed. There are two varieties of this dog breed; one is Akita Inu or the Japanese Akita and the Akita or the American Akita. Akitas were used as hunting dogs in Japan during the '50s and now serve as loyal and excellent companions to their owners.

How many Akitas are there in the world?

There are no accurate and rough estimates of the total number of Akita dogs in the world, but the total number should be really high. They are common in the regions of Japan and do not face any extinction threat.

Where does an Akita live?

Akita dog is a pet dog and lives with its owner to take care of its grooming needs. Since Akitas are loyal and energetic companions, they naturally live in a house or any hospitable environment. Akita Japan's habitat comprises cold or moderate climate as they are unable to stand warm temperatures. They are found in northern Japan and the USA.

What is Akita's habitat?

Akita dogs prefer to live in cold climate habitats and cannot tolerate hot weather. Its body is adapted to live in cold weather conditions and is usually owned by people living in cold climate countries. As they are faithful pets, they easily live with their owner and are used to guard the house.

Who do Akita live with?

As Akita is a pet dog, it can live with people. They are very loyal and affectionate towards humans and enjoy their contact. Akitas don't form any relationship with strangers. They will always follow the owner and keep the company as they are very affectionate and being alone makes them bored easily. Their only motto is protecting their dear ones. Akitas only show aggression towards the other dogs of the same sex.

How long does an Akita live?

The Akita dog has an average life span of 10 years and can live up to 13 years if provided with a suitable environment like proper hygiene conditions, food habits, and exercise.

How do they reproduce?

Akita dog breeders wait for female Akita dogs to reach 18 months of age for breeding. Females should have completed one heat cycle. 24 months is the best age to breed them as Akitas should have become sexually mature, and the heat cycles become regular. The reproduction process starts between a male Akita and a female Akita dog when the male Akita dog tends to mount the female from the rear side. After a firm connection, they will stay in this position from 5-30 minutes before disengaging. The pregnancy period may range from 60-68 days and give birth to 7-8 Akita puppies.

What is their conservation status?

Akita dogs are abundantly found in the regions of northern Japan and the USA. Their population is increasing significantly. Hence, Akitas do not face any extinction threats.

What do Akita look like?

The Akita dog is a large breed of spitz-type dog with regular grooming requirements. Its body is adapted to live in cold climate conditions. These dogs have small eyes and erect ears with a broad chest and neck, which serve as the base for their head. Its body is very muscular and with a medium-length coat, that is very dense. The outer coat is a bit coarse and long, whereas the inner coat is soft, which protects them from cold weather. It has a long curly tail that is curled over the body. They are usually white, black, gray, and brown in color. Their faces look similar to a fox and have a scissor-shaped jaw which is extremely powerful. Because of this, they are often considered dangerous.

How cute are they?

Akita dogs are very loyal and affectionate towards their owners. The pet dog breed with a high energy level has a grand and majestic appearance, thanks to the shiny outer coat. They always like to follow their loved ones as their main aim is to protect them. They are an excellent companion and love the presence of humans. They are definitely cute in their appearance and loyal behavior.

How do they communicate?

Being a pet dog, Akita Inu understands human feelings. Akita dogs are very loyal and affectionate towards their owners. This pet dog breed with a high energy level uses common auditory communications like barks, howls, whines, and howls. They also communicate using smell. Wagging its tail to its owners is also a sign of communication.

How big is an Akita?

Akita size ranges between 26-28 in (66 - 71 cm) for male Akita dogs and 24-26 in (60 - 66 cm) for female Akita dogs.

How fast can an Akita run?

Akita dogs do not like to run much. But Akita Inu dogs can run at a speed of 25 mph (40 kph) which is impressive. Proper pet care can help improve this speed even further.

How much does an Akita weigh?

On an average scale, a male Akita weighs around 100-130 lb (45 - 59 kg), and a female dog weighs around 70-100 lb (72 - 45 kg). This may differ depending on food habits, exercise, and surroundings.

What are the male and female names of the species?

Akita is a large-sized Japanese dog breed. A male Akita is called a dog, and a female Akita is called a bitch.

What would you call a baby Akita?

A baby Akita dog is called an Akita puppy.

What do they eat?

As Akita dogs live with humans, these Japanese dogs are adaptable. They are omnivores and eat rice, vegetables, and fish. This Japanese dog breed cannot tolerate salt, sugar, and preservatives. They also eat green beans, potatoes, and chicken. Akitas were originally used for guarding royalty and hunting. They also tracked black bears, wild boars, and often deer.

Are they slobbery?

Akita dogs can be extremely slobbery. The Japanese Akita breed dogs drool a lot, especially when they see humans eating. Even though they are slobbery, they are indeed cute.

Would they make a good pet?

Akita dogs are excellent watchdogs and good companions. These Japanese pet dogs like to follow their owner and protect them. They are very affectionate and loyal towards their friends and family. They do not form any relationship with strangers and bark only when something really happens. These Japanese pet dogs are very courageous too. All these reasons make them good pets. But as a responsible owner, you must have complete knowledge of pet care before adopting this cute dog breed.

Did you know...

Akita figurines are gifted to each other in Japan as these dogs bring good luck and wealth. These Japanese pet dogs are known to spread happiness wherever they go.

These dogs are more talkative than the other dogs and communicate when it is necessary. They feel very happy to see their loved ones listening to them.

An Akita is banned in many US cities because they are considered to be aggressive.

An Akita has a stronger bite force than a Pitbull. If a trained Akita fights with a Pitbull, it can take down the dog.

Different types of Akita

There are two different varieties of Akita dogs; one is the Japanese Akita or Akita Inu, and the other is the Akita or American Akita. The Japanese breed has limited colors, whereas the American Akita comes in a variety of colors. They are called two separate breeds in every country except the United States. They consider it as a single breed with different types.

The popularity of this pet dog breed has led to several Akita mix breeds as well, with the most popular one being the Akita Husky. The price of the Akita puppies depends on the reputation of the Akita breeders and generally varies between $800 - $2000.

How to pet and take care of an Akita?

Akita dogs are loyal and intelligent dogs and should be taken proper care of. Train them to adapt to the environment. Reward them when they do something as told. They should be groomed with love and care. The coat of Akita dogs should be brushed regularly. Common health issues are hip dysplasia, sebaceous adenitis, hyperthyroidism, and progressive retinal atrophy. Akita dogs should be given extra care and exercise as they are prone to fall sick easily.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! For more relatable content, check out these Labradoodle facts and Pitbull Lab facts pages.

You can even occupy yourself at home by coloring in one of our Akita coloring pages.