American Akita

The American Akita (formerly Great Japanese Dog) is a dog originating from Japan, not to be confused with the Akita Inu (Japanese). It was in 2006 that this dog was named “American Akita” by the FCI.

Descendant of the Akitas Matagis (purebred), he was crossed with the Karafuto Ken, the Tosa Inu, the Saint-Bernard, the Chow-Chow, the Tibetan Mastiff but also with the Mastiff. They were subsequently used extensively as fighting dogs when this was still a popular sport in Japan until 1909, when the Governor of Akita Prefecture, very concerned about dog crossbreeding and in an effort to preserve the purity of the "inu" race, prohibited interbreeding and founded in 1927 the Akita Inu Preservation Society. World War II pushed the Akita to the brink of extinction, they ran out of food, many were killed to be eaten by the hungry crowd and it was common to use dog skins to make clothing. The Police captured all the dogs except the German Shepherds, reserved for military duties. Some owners tried to circumvent the law by crossing their American Akita with them as well as hiding them in the mountains, where the hardiness and their hunting instinct helped them to survive. Independent, proud and calm dog, it is a good companion. Distrustful of strangers, vigilant but not a barker, he turns out to be an excellent guardian by nature. Dominant, he has difficulty cohabiting with his congeners. He must be educated with firmness but above all without brutality. Apartment life only suits him if he can exert himself daily. There is no particular care condition, a brushing during moulting can be beneficial to the Akita.