Breed Standard & History
Akitas are large, heavy-boned dogs with thick necks, large heads, and erect, triangular ears. Their small eyes are alert and intelligent, watchful for signs of trouble or for commands from their owners. The Akita emanates a dignified and courageous quality, at rest and at play. Their stride is powerful and swift, and their distinctive, luxurious tail curls gracefully over their backs.
The Akita draws its name from the Akita Prefecture in northern Japan where the breed developed millennia ago as hunting dogs and the guardians of royalty. An Akita named Hachiko is a beloved historical figure in Japan because of his devotion to his owner, Professor Hidesaburo Ueno. At the same time each day, Hachiko waited at a Tokyo train station for Ueno to come home from work. After the professor died at work in 1925, the dog returned daily to wait for his owner until his own death almost 10 years later. Today, the statue honoring Hachiko outside Shibuya Station is a popular gathering spot.
The breed's popularity in the US began when Helen Keller learned about Hachiko during a trip to Japan in 1937. Her admiration for the dog led Japanese officials to gift her two Akitas, who were the first of the breed in the US. Pictures of Keller with her dog, Kenzan-Go, sparked American interest in the Akita. It wasn't until after World War II, however, that Akitas were brought to the US in significant numbers. In America, the dog would become slightly larger than its Japanese cousin through breeding, and today they are considered separate breeds.
AKC Breed Category
Working Group