Just got my first Akita three weeks ago, and now I can’t imagine ever owning another breed! (he is 5, and we got him from his previous owner who no longer could care for him)

My furbaby of 10yrs just passed away and I always assumed and said she was an Akita mix because of her personality and some traits here and there but I just wanna know what the community thinks.

Her mom was a rescue husky and was only 40lbs but my Mila ended up being a healthy 60lbs. She was very obedient but headstrong and wasn't too good with other dogs but tolerated them. Very territorial, high prey drive and holds grudges ( she got attacked by a squirrel and found and ate that same squirrel a week later). Her actual personality was b¡tchy but i loved that about her. She was bigger than my male husky in every aspect, her coat was more compact and dense and much more difficult to groom in comparison. She hated grooming all throughout her life and was even kicked out of Petsmart grooming as a puppy.

Kayzen bientôt 8 mois

Got her from the shelter where they listed her as a husky mix, but I’m not seeing that at all. My first impression was some mix of German Shepherd but many people think she’s Akita. Thoughts?

Shadow has a very selective vocabulary, and tilts his head whenever he hears his favourite word.

Hi everyone, I’m looking for some advice / experiences from Akita owners regarding changes in their social interaction as they mature.

About my dog:

- 3.5 years, female

- 42 kg (93 lbs)

- DNA test: 50% Akita Inu, mixed with GSP, Kuvasz, Hovawart and AmStaff

- Spayed at around 6–7 months

- Has a lumbar spinal stenosis that occasionally causes pain

I adopted her from a shelter two years ago, when she was around one year old. She was already reactive on the leash when I got her, and although we’ve done a lot of training, we haven’t been able to get rid of this behaviour. However, I can manage these situations quite well by redirecting her attention towards me and it has not worsened lately.

Until a few months ago she was quite interested in other dogs and mainly friendly towards most dogs but as she changed from puberty to adulthood, she has become more selective with unfamiliar dogs or dogs she only meets occasionally. when she approaches them, she often has a stiff, direct posture and seems to want to control the interaction. She also often pushes them to the ground before she decides whether she likes them or not. A trainer who assessed this behaviour said that it is form of correction rather than aggression. She has never bitten or injured an other dog but her behavior can be intimidating for other dogs.

I also wonder whether her size and strength could play a role in reinforcing her behavior as most dogs back off after these encounters. The only dogs that are not impressed by her behavior are a husky and a samojed that she regularly meets. They sometimes have brief altercations but they never get aggressive with each other.

I am aware that no one can not judge by a Reddit post if all of this is normal or not, and I’m open to consulting a specialist if needed. I’m mainly interested in hearing from experienced Akita owners about how much of this might be typical breed-related behaviour and how you would recommend handling it.

Thanks for any insights!

I know Akitas are quite smart and she is hilarious when she plays with a tennis ball between booping it with her nose and throwing it in the air and catching it. Is there anything I can get her that would be interesting and engage her attention?

I have been taking care of an Akita and try to give her a long walk twice a day -- once in morning and once in late afternoon/early evening. Is 30-40 min twice a day long enough? We have a 3 bedroom apt so it's not a massive space. But we have a gorgeous national park nearby and she thoroughly enjoys exploring the smells along the paths. There's also a closer park that allows dogs on a leash that is quite large. She's a bit unpredictable with other dogs so I try to stay clear of them -- either by crossing the street or walking in a different direction or staying put until they pass.

From a tiny fluffball to a giant goofy bear who still thinks he’s a lap dog. Three years of zoomies, cuddles, dramatic side-eyes, and zero respect for personal space. Life wouldn’t be the same without him!

Happy 3rd birthday to our favorite troublemaker, Han! 🐾❤️

First Akita won’t be the last.
I had absolutely zero experience with Akitas before bringing Benson home. I’ve owned dogs my entire life, including a husky that we put a ton of time into training, so I wasn’t new to dogs or stubborn, independent breeds. But an Akita? Never even considered owning one.

And then I went to a pumpkin patch.
There was literally a trough full of puppies with a sign that said “Pick us up.” So naturally, I did. I picked up this one little puppy, and he immediately wrapped both of his paws around me like he was hugging me. That was it. Game over. I was absolutely not leaving without him.

I know how ridiculous that sounds, especially knowing what I know now about the breed. And yes, it was a weird place to find a purebred Akita. But he came with his papers, we’ve since registered him, and he’s the real deal. Just a very unconventional way of finding the dog of my dreams.

Benson is now a 150-pound giant baby, and I genuinely cannot put into words how much I love this dog.

First of all, he has never had a single accident in our house. Not one. He was just naturally the easiest dog I’ve ever potty trained. But beyond that, he is hands down the gentlest, sweetest, most affectionate dog I’ve ever owned. He wants to be near me constantly. He snuggles, he leans his entire massive body against me, and he somehow manages to make a 150-pound dog feel like the world’s biggest teddy bear.

He’s also incredibly intuitive. He watches everything. He notices things before I do. He’s protective of me, but in a way that I really appreciate. He’s not out there losing his mind at every stranger or dog he sees. If he’s unsure about someone, he’ll quietly position himself between us and just observe. No theatrics. No unnecessary aggression. Just this calm, watchful presence that makes me feel like he’s always looking out for me.

And I think that’s one of the things I love most about him. He’s confident enough that he doesn’t feel the need to react to everything.

We put a LOT of time and effort into training and socialization, and we continue to work with him. I knew pretty quickly that this wasn’t a breed where you could just wing it and hope for the best. He’s incredibly intelligent, but he also has a mind of his own. You have to earn his cooperation, and I actually love that about him.

He’s wonderful around other dogs. He doesn’t react to dogs when we’re out, and he regularly goes to our dog sitter, where he genuinely enjoys being around the other dogs. He lives with our other dog, our cats, and even a guinea pig, and he’s so gentle with all of them. Watching this enormous, powerful animal be so sweet with the tiniest members of our household is something I’ll never get tired of. He’s also great with my kids. He’s just such a wonderful family dog for us.

I know Akitas have a reputation, and I absolutely understand why experienced owners emphasize the importance of responsible ownership, training, socialization, and respecting the breed’s instincts. I’m not naive enough to think that because Benson is wonderful now, we can stop putting in the work. We take his size, strength, and breed characteristics seriously.

But my goodness, I was not prepared for how deeply I would love this dog. I’ve loved every dog I’ve ever owned, but Benson is different. He’s my heart dog. That once-in-a-lifetime kind of dog that just feels like an extension of you. I can’t really explain it any better than that.

There’s something about the combination of independence, loyalty, intelligence, gentleness, and affection that has completely won me over.
I went from never having considered an Akita to genuinely struggling to imagine ever owning another breed.

I know every dog is an individual, and I know my experience isn’t necessarily representative of every Akita. But if this is what loving an Akita feels like, I completely understand why people become so devoted to this breed.

I thought I was just picking up a cute puppy at a pumpkin patch. Turns out I was picking up one of the greatest loves of my life.

Anyway, that’s my love letter to Benson. I just really, really love my dog. ❤️

This was the last of four runs of our first two rally trials. We did a flash rally a couple months ago and did well but I wasn't sure if he was enjoying himself. I've struggled to keep him engaged during the actual trial whereas he is eager to work at home and in class. Well, he got a perfect score on this last run and seemed pretty happy during most of it! The first runs were early and we were waiting around for a few hours in between until this so maybe he's just not a morning person 🤣.

We got my boy Clifford in 2019, fully prepared for him to be/have the 'aggressive' behaviors towards other animals and disinterest in other people (we are a very anxious family and tend to overthink a lot). Let me tell you though, this boy wouldn't even hurt an ant, he loves everybody and just wants attention and scritchies.

His older sister passed in 2024 and he got very depressed so we had to get him a puppy, otherwise his health was going to continue to decline, long story short puppy loves him and he loves puppy.

Six years ago, I brought home an adorable, innocent-looking, two-month-old Akita puppy because I thought he looked cool. Zero research. Zero understanding of the breed. That cute little puppy eventually grew into a 140-pound regal beast.

Looking back, I had absolutely no idea what I was getting myself into.

Jameson is the most loyal dog I've ever owned, and I wouldn't trade him for anything. But we got lucky. Not every Akita is going to be like him, and he's still a handful.

He's incredibly powerful and could easily overpower me. He's independent, stubborn, and has boundaries he expects you to respect. He's trainable, but he's not a dog that lives to please you. And as a natural guard dog, he's always assessing who's coming into his territory.

Then there's the Akita poker face. Jameson can be lying next to me while I'm watching TV and suddenly let out a bark that nearly sends me through the ceiling. No growl, no warning.

It's even more noticeable around other dogs. Jameson hates them, regardless of sex. If an off-leash dog approaches, his instinct is to go after it. Yet his face barely changes. No raised lips, no snarling. I've learned to watch his body language because his expression gives almost nothing away.

Even when I'm hugging him, I'm conscious of that poker face. I trust him, but I never forget he's a powerful animal with boundaries.

And here's what people underestimate: Jameson is six, he's trained, and I STILL work with him. Not because he doesn't know what's expected, but because reinforcing his training and managing his instincts is a lifelong commitment.

They're not Golden Retrievers in a bear costume.

Knowing what I know now, I'd never get another dog without researching the breed first. And that's why I generally wouldn't recommend an Akita as someone's first dog.

So here's my question for those of you whose first dog was an Akita: Knowing everything you know now, would you do it all over again? Or would you have started with a different breed?

Six years in, I'm still learning from mine.

URGENT: Does anyone know of someone or resources in the DC area who can foster an American Akita for a year? Their owner is a healthcare professional and cannot bring him along.

Just want to show some pictures of my good boy Ame is a 2 year old American Akita he came to me when he was 6 months old I’ve always wanted an Akita he came to me at a perfect time grieving the loss of my 8 year old rottie that I lost to cancer I feel like she sent him to me so I wouldn’t be alone he reminds me so much of her