American Akita
The American Akita is a large, powerful and independent breed, separate from the Japanese Akita Inu: larger and heavier, with a bulkier head and any colour. Devoted to its family and reserved with strangers and other dogs; it needs an experienced owner.
Weight
32–59 kg
Height at withers
61–71 cm
Life expectancy
10–13 years
Size
large
Activity
moderate
Shedding
high
Barking tendency
low
Apartment friendly
Possible in an apartment with regular exercise, but a house with a yard suits it better; needs space and firm training.
Care
Brush 2–3 times a week and daily while shedding. Needs daily walks and early socialisation; may be aggressive toward dogs of the same sex.
Health
Hip dysplasia, autoimmune diseases (Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada syndrome, hypothyroidism), bloat, progressive retinal atrophy
Coat
Thick medium-length double coat, sheds heavily twice a year
Travel
Travels calmly after enough exercise; stop every 2–3 hours and never leave in a hot car
Carrier size
An XL carrier or cargo-hold travel; exact dimensions depend on the individual dog
Harness size
Choose a harness by chest girth, usually 65–85 cm; try it on before buying
Leash
A strong 1.5–2 m leash and a Y- or H-style harness; retractable leashes are not recommended
Airline cabin travel
usually not
Hani Walk — walk tracking, a digital pet passport and vaccination reminders, always at hand in the app.