Akita (dog)

Akita

Other names	Akita Inu Akita Ken Japanese Akita American Akita Great Japanese Dog
Origin	Japan United States of America
Traits Weight Male Akita Inu: 60–90 pounds (27–41 kg); American Akita: 80–130 pounds (36–59 kg) Female Akita Inu: 50–80 pounds (23–36 kg); American Akita: 70–110 pounds (32–50 kg) Height Male Akita Inu: 25–27 inches (64–69 cm); American Akita: 26–28 inches (66–71 cm) Female Akita Inu: 23–25 inches (58–64 cm); American Akita: 24–26 inches (61–66 cm) Coat Akita Inu: Double coat; American Akita: Double coat Color Akita Inu: Red, brindle, or white, all with white fur on the ventral areas of the dog ( genetics variants can include black & grey )(urajiro); American Akita: All sable colors usually with black mask and pinto markings Litter size 3–12 puppies, avg. 7–8 Life span 10 years
Classification / standards FCI Group 5, Section 5 Asian Spitz and related breeds ##255 (Japanese), #344 (American) Akita Inu American Akita standard AKC Working Group standard ANKC Group 6 (Utility) Japanese American standard CKC Group 3 – Working Dogs standard KC (UK) Utility Japanese American standard NZKC Utility Japanese American standard UKC Northern Breed Japanese American standard
Notes	National dog of Japan, Prefecture animal of Akita
Domestic dog (Canis lupus familiaris)

Traits
Weight	Male	Akita Inu: 60–90 pounds (27–41 kg); American Akita: 80–130 pounds (36–59 kg)
	Female	Akita Inu: 50–80 pounds (23–36 kg); American Akita: 70–110 pounds (32–50 kg)
Height	Male	Akita Inu: 25–27 inches (64–69 cm); American Akita: 26–28 inches (66–71 cm)
	Female	Akita Inu: 23–25 inches (58–64 cm); American Akita: 24–26 inches (61–66 cm)
Coat	Akita Inu: Double coat; American Akita: Double coat
Color	Akita Inu: Red, brindle, or white, all with white fur on the ventral areas of the dog ( genetics variants can include black & grey )(urajiro); American Akita: All sable colors usually with black mask and pinto markings
Litter size	3–12 puppies, avg. 7–8
Life span	10 years

Classification / standards
FCI	Group 5, Section 5 Asian Spitz and related breeds ##255 (Japanese), #344 (American)	Akita Inu American Akita standard
AKC	Working Group	standard
ANKC	Group 6 (Utility)	Japanese American standard
CKC	Group 3 – Working Dogs	standard
KC (UK)	Utility	Japanese American standard
NZKC	Utility	Japanese American standard
UKC	Northern Breed	Japanese American standard

The Akita (秋田犬, Akita-inu, Akita-ken^?) is a large breed of dog originating from the mountainous northern regions of Japan. There are two separate varieties of Akita: a Japanese strain, commonly called "Akita Ken" in Japan, "Akita Inu" ("inu" means "dog" in Japanese), or "Japanese Akita"; and an American strain, known as the "Akita" or "American Akita". The Japanese strain called the Akita Inu comes in a narrow palette of colors, with all other colors considered atypical of the breed, while the American strain known simply as the akita comes in all dog colors. The Akita has a short double-coat similar to that of many other northern spitz breeds such as the Siberian Husky, but long-coated dogs can be found in many litters due to a recessive gene.

The Akita is a powerful, independent and dominant breed, commonly aloof with strangers but affectionate with family members. As a breed, Akitas are generally hardy, but they have been known to suffer from various genetic conditions and be sensitive to certain drugs.

In most countries, the American strain of Akita is now considered a separate breed. In the United States and Canada, however, the two strains are considered a single breed with differences in type. For a while, the American strain of Akita was known in some countries as the "Great Japanese Dog". Both forms of Akita are probably best known worldwide from the true story of Hachikō, a loyal Akita who lived in Japan before World War II.

There is debate among fanciers whether there are two separate breeds of Akita. To date, only the American Kennel Club, and the Canadian Kennel Club consider American and Japanese Akitas to be two varieties of the same breed, allowing free breeding between the two. The United Kennel Club, The Federation Cynologique Internationale,The Kennel Club, the Australian National Kennel Council, the New Zealand Kennel Club, and the Japan Kennel Club consider Japanese and American Akitas as separate breeds. Some countries refer to the American Akita as simply the "Akita" and not the American Akita. The issue is especially controversial in Japan. For the FCI's 84 countries, the breed split formally occurred June 1999, when the FCI decided that the American type would be called the Great Japanese Dog, later renamed the American Akita in January 2006.

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