How To Select an Akita Inu

When you make the decision to add an Akita Inu to your home, be sure to select yours from a reputable breeder rather than buying from a pet store. A good breeder will be more than happy to help you select an Akita Inu and talk to you at length about their dogs.  They will also discuss any concerns you may have about your new puppy. When you visit the breeder, ask to see how the dogs are housed and look over the other dogs and their housing to make sure your dog comes from a healthy home.

The Akita Inu differs from the American Akita in that only five colors are acceptable as the breed standard: red, fawn, sesame, brindle, and pure white. The Akita Inu must not have a black mask, as is often seen on the American Akita.  The coat be should coarse and straight with a soft undercoat. An Akita Inu's temperament is intelligent, loyal, playful, and energetic, and they prefer to live in homes with no other pets, though they can share the house with other dogs and with cats or other small animals if raised with them from puppyhood. Due to their intelligence and energy, they are easily bored; ensuring you will have time to walk and play with your Akita Inu every day is very important, as a bored dog can easily become destructive.

Apart from conditions that plague most large dogs - such as hip dysplasia - the Akita Inu is known for having a high incidence of gastric dilation vovulus, or GDV. GDV is an emergency situation caused by excess gas becoming trapped in the dog's stomach and the stomach beginning to twist. Owners of an Akita Inu should always know the location of the nearest emergency vet facility and be familiar with the signs of this condition.

Any time an Akita Inu appears to be in distress, GDV should be suspected. Symptoms of GDV include gagging or vomiting foam, pacing or whimpering (particularly when pressure is applied to the abdomen), panting or excess salivation, difficulty breathing, and weakness, depression, or listlessness. In severe cases, the gums may appear to be blue due to a lack of oxygen.

Overall, the breed is typically very healthy, and getting your new Akita Inu from a breeder who truly loves dogs will help ensure your new puppy has gotten off to a good start and will be your companion for many years to come.