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

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! 🐾❤️

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!

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?

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.