Japanese Akita Dog

The Japanese Akita dog is not for the faint hearted owner. It is a large strong powerful dog with a regal bearing and a sense of its own superiority. It's a loyal dog. Which, when trained to a high standard, makes a wonderful companion, but training is crucial to successful ownership of this dog.

It's a large spitz type dog, full of muscle and latent power, easily recognised by the tail which curls over the back. It has a thick powerful neck and powerful shoulders. The coat is a thick top coat and a soft undercoat. Like most spitz breeds it is a surprisingly quiet dog that is not prone to nuisance barking. Akitas only tend to bark if it senses trouble. When it does bark however it can be frightening.

The Japanese Akita dog is by nature a loner and does not mix well with other dogs.? Especially male dogs. If you are going to own an Akita then extensive socialization is need to get it used to other dogs and even then it's not the kind of dog you can allow to run free on a public park. It requires extensive supervision at all times.

The dog is very territorial and will guard its home space against strangers. This can cause problems when friends or neighbours call to your home, the Akita may not like this. You will need to put him away in a crate or socialize him to frequent visitors.

It is also a very intelligent dog that will become bored easily. You need to keep it engaged when at home. During training the dog will soon become bored if the training is repetitive; if it becomes bored it will just walk away. Stubbornness is also one of its characteristics.

Think very carefully before committing yourself to this dog, do plenty of research. Many Akitas end up in rescue centres because their owners found that looking after the dog was too much for them and owning this dog is a challenge. Don't even consider getting an Akita if you are not a dominant person.

The dog will sense your weakness in no time and seek to take control. It is a natural leader and will only submit to your authority if it senses you are strong, show it weakness and it will take control, if this happens your ownership of the dog will not be pleasant.

If you're thinking of buying a Japanese Akita dog then do your homework. This is not like any other dog. Be prepared for plenty of challenges and to spend a lot of time training the dog. A well trained Akita can make a great and loyal companion for years that will be protective of you and your family but the dog does require extensive training.

About Japanese Spitz

The Japanese Spitz are developed in Japan in the 1920s and 30s by breeding a number of other Spitz type dog breeds together. They are recognized by the vast majority of the major kennel clubs, due to its being similar appearance to the American Eskimo and Samoyed dog from other country. A Japanese Spitz is a small dog around 33 cm at the withers, with a somewhat square body, deep chest, and a very thick, pure white double coat.

The Japanese Spitz has wedge-shaped face. It is an intelligent breed and will quickly learn what is required of them if gentle consistency is applied. They are also playful, alert, and obedient, and particularly excellent and loving towards children. They are small enough to enjoy being a lap dog, but do possess an independent nature and a strong will of their own so new owners need to be firm with their pups, but not that harsh because harsh handling and strong verbal and physical discipline are harmful and may be met with resistance. Positive reinforcement of treats and praise will bring out their eagerness to learn and their willingness to please. Socialization at a very early age can introduce the puppy to various people, places, noises, situations and other animals. This will mature into a friendly, confident, well mannered adult. This kinds of dogs are a type of companion dog and prefer to be an active part of the family but they can act as reliable watchdogs.

Although the Japanese Spitz might appear fluffy, they are a low maintenance breed as the coat has a non stick texture often compared to Teflon. This kind of dogs requires weekly care and grooming because a regular routine also ensures that any potential health problems are identified as quickly as possible. But grooming consists of not only brushing out the coat and bathing but also giving attention to the eyes, teeth, ears, feet and nails

The Japanese Kai Dog

The Japanese have six native Spitz type dogs that are unique to their part of the world. Among these six, the Kai Dog or the Tora Dog is the Shika Inu which means "medium sized" as opposed to Shiba Inu which is smaller. The Kai Dog has the typical Spitz type of short stand-off brush coat and the tail curled tightly over the back, while the head has the wedge shaped look of a fox and the ears are prick.

In the early 1900s there was an influx of western dogs into Japan due to the opening of their borders after the first World War. The Japanese were impressed greatly by the larger size of the dogs and the unique hunting abilities. The two breeds in particular which made a big impression were the German Shorthair Pointer and the Alsatian. For some time the Japanese abandoned their own breeds in favor of the newcomers. In 1930 a Japanese breeder by the name of Haruo Isogai attempted to revive the interest in breeding of these dogs. At that time he developed the categorizing of the native breeds by size and somewhat by function.

The function of the Kai Dog has always been that of a hunter. It is recognized by the F.C.I. as a member of Group 5 (Spitz type). The Kai Dog hunts deer and boar and small game. The alternate Japanese name of this breed "Tora Dog", which means "Tiger Dog", signifies the common coloring of the coat, which is often striped like that of the Tiger. Some breeders will also say that the name implies the disposition of the dog also, for it is a strong willed and cunning hunter and will not pass up the opportunity to hunt independently of its master.

The common colors of the Kai Dog are brindled with black, red, or a generally dark brindle, sometimes with white markings on the legs. However the white markings should not extend above the knee on the legs. Size is usually about 18-22 inches at the withers. The dog should be rather square in appearance and without legginess or ranginess. The Kai has made only a few inroads into other parts of the world. It wasn't until 1990 that there were the first imports into the United States. It is now recognized as a member of the United Kennel Club in the U.S.A. and is a member of the group of dogs which are listed in the F.S.S. registry of the A.K.C.

If its function is that of a household pet the Kai will be very affectionate and strongly loyal and requires a strong owner or it will take over the alpha position in the household. The Kai Dog in Japan is usually found in a hunting dog kennels but may be in the house as a pet more frequently in the United States, in which case it is very often a "one man dog". This is a breed which gets along well with other dogs. The Kai Dog also functions as a guard dog, although it is usually within a fence for it will definitely run off and hunt if allowed to roam free. The Kai is a good household pet when introduced as a puppy to the household, being very affectionate and loyal.

Go Oriental With Japanese Breed Dogs

Dogs have a long history even in distant places like East Asia particularly in Japan. One of the most popular Japanese dog breeds is the Japanese Spitz characterized by its petite height, pointed muzzle with slanted oval eyes. Another interesting feature of the Spitz is that its hairs have the tendency to stand and tailor long from its back and its hind legs. It is also an excellent security animal as it suspicious of strangers and will bark repeatedly at first sign of doubt. Children also love having a Japanese Spitz at home as they are very friendly and patient with the child's playful actions. Keeping the Spitz nice and healthy is not a problem as it only requires minimal bathing and its coat barely catches a serious amount of dirt.

On the more ancient side of Japanese dog breeds comes the Shiba Inu which are said to breed from the mountains of Japan where they are very susceptible to the cold climate. It is also quite remarkable that Japanese authorities are able to save the almost extinct Shiba Inu in the 1920's The Shiba Inu's part wolf appearance makes it a revered animal to Japanese. Recently, this type of dog is considered as a national treasure in their country due to its early cultural existence.

Finally, another example of these Japanese dog breeds is the Akita Inu or Akita Ken which also stems from the Spitz family. It currently holds the title as the largest dog coming from Japan.