JAPANESE AKITA a purebred Japanese Working dog. Japanese Akita Dog Complete Owners Manual

Transcription

1 JAPANESE AKITA a purebred Japanese Working dog Japanese Akita Dog Complete Owners Manual Japanese Akita book for care, costs, feeding, grooming, health and training. by George Hoppendale and Asia Moore 1

2 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. This book contains material protected under International and Federal Copyright Laws and Treaties. Any unauthorized reprint or use of this material is strictly prohibited. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical or otherwise, including photocopying or recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system without express written permission from the author. Copyrighted 2015 Author: George Hoppendale Author & Dog Whisperer: Asia Moore Published by: IMB Publishing 2

3 Table of Contents Table of Contents Table of Contents... 3 About the Authors... 4 Chapter 1: Introduction... 5 Chapter 2: The Japanese Akita... 6 Chapter 3: Choosing a Breeder Chapter 4: Vital Statistics Chapter 5: Temperament Chapter 6: Before You Buy Chapter 7: Choosing the Right Dog Chapter 8: Health Problems Chapter 9: Daily Feeding and Care Chapter 10: House Training Chapter 11: Medical Care & Safety Chapter 12: Grooming Chapter 13: Socializing Chapter 14: Training Chapter 15: Poisonous Foods & Plants Chapter 16: Caring for Aging Dogs Chapter 17: Rescue Organizations Chapter 18: Resources & References

4 About the Authors About the Authors George Hoppendale is an experienced writer and a true animal lover. He enjoys writing animal books and advising others how to take care of their animals to give them a happy home. Asia Moore is an animal lover, professional Dog Whisperer and experienced Author who has written more than 100 breed specific books. Asia lives on Vancouver Island, off the west coast of British Columbia, in Canada, and believes that with the right training, all humans and dogs can live together in harmony. She and her dog whispering detective team, which includes an 9-yearold Shih Tzu named Boris, train humans and rehabilitate canines by teaching dog psychology to human guardians, in order to prevent or help alleviate problem behaviors that arise through common as well as unusual misunderstandings between humans and their canine counterparts so that everyone can live a happy and stress-free life together. Visit Asia and her dog whispering team online at: and 4

5 Chapter 1: Introduction Chapter 1: Introduction ather as much information as possible before you take the plunge to share your home with a furry friend. The Akita Manual will answer the questions you may have when researching this purebred canine. If you are considering sharing your home with the self-confident, powerful and territorial Akita, this manual is for you. Learn all about this canine with the hunting and guarding background including facts and secrets, and how to care for every stage of the Akita This book contains all the information you need, from choosing a breeder and finding the perfect puppy to how to care for an aging dog. In addition, you will learn about transitioning through house breaking, adolescence, daily care, health problems inherent in the breed, feeding, grooming, training, first commands and beginner hand signals as well as the end of their life, so that you can make an educated decision when deciding whether or not the large and dignified Akita is the breed for you and your family. As well, this manual contains valuable information, tips and tricks that can easily be applied to any breed of canine. 5

6 Chapter 2: The Japanese Akita Chapter 2: The Japanese Akita The dignified and territorial Japanese Akita is a courageous, largesized purebred canine that is a member of the Working category. While the Japanese Akita is more often seen with the reddish coat coloration, the appearance and size of the Akita will largely depend upon the appearance and size of both parents, and we will learn more about this in the following chapters. There are two varieties of strains of this Spitz breed of double-coated, northern dog including the also referred to as the and the Japanese simply referred to as the The Japanese Akita is a smaller boned dog that looks more fox-like. This friendly, alert and courageous, double-coated, working type of dog is well suited to colder climates and loves to be out in the snow. The Akita is a clean dog that is quite cat-like in their self-grooming routine and they are usually calm and docile when indoors. When considering this breed for yourself or your family, please be aware that the powerful, independent and often dominant Akita is considered a in some countries. 6

7 Chapter 2: The Japanese Akita While affectionate with family members, this dog has a naturally dominant and fiercely protective temperament that will display itself as commonly aloof, suspicious or standoffish with strangers. The Akita can be a difficult dog before they decide to challenge or attack another dog or animal. The Akita is a sturdy, powerful and generally hardy breed that is known to suffer from various genetic conditions affecting large breed working dogs as well as a shorter lifespan. Statistics indicate that according to 2015 American Kennel Club (AKC) registrations, the Akita holds the #45 popularity position amongst the 179 registered breeds. 1. History/Origin of the Japanese Akita Japanese history clearly indicates, both verbally and in written records, that the ancestors of the Akita were the Matagi dog, one of the oldest of the native dogs, which is a large breed of winter hunting dog traditionally used in the northern Japanese region of Tohoku for hunting wild boar, black bear and deer. Today's Akita developed primarily from dogs in the northernmost region of the Japanese island of Honshu, where this dog is named after the region's capital city of Akita. It is also believe that the Akita breed has been influenced by the crossing of other large breeds, such as the Great Dane and St. Bernard during times when creating a superior fighting dog was very desirable. As well, many Akita were culled during war times as only military dogs were saved, and in an effort to save some of them, the German Shepherd was also crossed with the Akita. The story of the most famous Akita (Hachiko), who was owned by a professor who lived near a train station, helped to save this dog from extinction. This dog walked with its master every day to and from the train station and when the professor suffered a fatal brain hemorrhage at work and did not return on his usual 4:00 pm train, Hachiko continued to travel to and from the train station every day looking for his master for the next nine years. 7

8 Chapter 2: The Japanese Akita to the train station of this incredibly loyal dog became known world wide and near the time of his death Hachiko was so famous that a bronze statue was erected at the train station to honor his loyalty. Every year since 1934 there has been a ceremony at the train station to A few years before Hachiko died, the Akita was declared a Japanese National Monument in 1931 and three years later, in 1934, the first Japanese Akita breed standard was created. In 1937 the first Akitas made their way to the United States by way of a gift presented to the travelling Helen Keller who expressed a strong interest in the breed. As what happened with many breeds that were just beginning to stabilize, when World War II broke out, the Akita became dangerously close to extinction when many were eaten by the starving masses, their pelts were used for clothing and the remaining dogs were ordered to be shot on sight to prevent the spread of disease. A few dogs that were turned loose into remote mountainous regions survived while some were bred with German Shepherds to conceal their lineage so that they could be considered necessary military dogs. The breeding efforts of one man (Morie Sawataishi), is largely responsible for saving this breed from extinction. At the end of the war, several servicemen returning to the United States chose to bring the larger, more impressive, bear-like, fighting Akita home with them, while the Japanese chose to focus on restoring the smaller framed, more foxlike Akita Inu to status. In the United States, Akita fanciers chose to breed the larger, more intimidating looking Akita and thus the two different types born from common ancestors came into existence, with the heavier, more bear-like Japanese Akita and the lighter, more fox-like Japanese Akita having their differences. 8

9 Chapter 2: The Japanese Akita For instance, the Japanese Akita is only acceptable in brindle, fawn, red, sesame or white coat colors, while the American Akita is permitted in all colors. First recognized by the American J in 1972 and by the United Kennel Club (UKC) in 2012, the Japanese Akita is a highly loyal and courageous dog with a dominant personality. 2. Japanese Akita Secrets The Japanese Akita is known by several different names, including the Japanese Akita, the the (inu is Japanese for dog), and the Japanese. At one time, the American Akita was known as the which is now an obsolete name. The Akita is one of six other breeds designated as a national monument in the breed's native country of Japan. The Akita is the national dog of Japan. In their native country of Japan, the Akita Inu is considered to be a symbol of health. Akita "Tachibana", which is one of the few Akitas to survive the Second World War, has earned the honor of being pictured on a 1953 Japanese issued postage stamp. The Akita was originally bred to stalk, like a cat, with low, ground hunting techniques. The Japanese Akita has retained their pure bloodlines, at least up until the onset of World War II, because this breed was jealously guarded. An all white Japanese Akita is given the highest reverence in their native country of Japan. please understand that much of the content written in this book can be applied to EVERY dog, because when it comes right down to it, a dog is a dog no matter what size, shape, color, price tag or fancy purebred or hybrid name we humans might ascribe to them. 9

10 Chapter 2: The Japanese Akita Every dog has a uniquely wonderful set of gifts to share with their human counterparts, if only us humans would listen. when they are unhappy, when they are bored, when they are underexercised, yet often we do not pay attention, or we just think they are being badly behaved. Many humans today are deciding to have dogs instead of children and then attempting to manipulate their dogs into being small (or large) furry children. This is having a seriously detrimental effect upon the health and behavior of our canine companions. In order to be the best guardians for our dogs, we humans need to have a better understanding of what our dogs need from us, rather than what we need from them, so that they can live in safety and harmony within our human environment. Sadly, many of us humans are not well equipped to give our dogs what they really need and that is why there are so many homeless, abandoned and frustrated dogs. As a professional dog whisperer who is challenged with the task of finding amicable solutions for canine/human relationships that have gone bad, once humans understand what needs to be changed, almost every stressful canine/human relationship can be turned into a happy one. The sad part is that many humans are simply not willing to do the work and devote the time necessary to ensuring tha Almost all canine problems are a direct result of ignorance or unwillingness on the part of the canine guardian to learn what the dog truly needs. First and foremost, our dogs need to be respected for their unique canine qualities. For millennia, dog has been considered when we want to do the best by our canine companions and create a harmonious relationship, we humans need to spend more time receiving the proper training so that we can learn how An Akita or providing that we do the above. because if the human treats the dog well and understands what the dog needs, the dog will be happy and the owner will be happy. This is a universal truth that applies to any dog, whether an Akita or any other breed. 10