What's the difference between Japanese akita/american akita Questions

This is going to sound like a dumb question, but, whats the difference between a Japanese Akita and an American Akita. I had never heard of American Akitas before coming to a UK dog forum. In America, we call them Japanese Akitas, or don't specify, just Akita.

Can someone enlighten me?

Mine are both American (far more of them around, especially in rescues!), but I never specify, I never call them Japanese though, just 'Akitas'. I prefer them - so bear like! And for some reason I love their black masks, never found on Japanese Akitas.

It was only around 5 ot 6 years ago that the kennel club recognised that there were two different breeds of Akita over here in the UK.

A few of my friends have rescued Japanese Akitas Inu's (there is actually no such breed as just a 'Japanese Akita' believe it or not) They just look far more Japanese, are often smaller/sleeker, they have a different eye shape, longer more tapered muzzle and smaller ears set more to the side of the head and inclinded forward.

To compare temperament wise purely from the ones I have met, quite a few now, they are BOTH aloof except to their families, very faithful to their own, the Japanese seem more docile/chilled whereas the American often appear more couragous and stand up for themselves/try to dominate other dogs a lot more?

You can also get long haired Akitas too! And 'tweenies' (half American, half Japanese).

Japanese Akita Inu:


American Akita(My Keisha):


I don't really know much about the history of it all, something to do with the Japanese Akita being nearly wiped out in the 1800's then when they did arrive in America, their breeding was influenced by American breeds which is how they got more bigger/heavy boned.

Let me just throw in again, (my pet hate when people get this wrong) that these dogs were never bred to fight (although used in fighting over the years of course), they were bred as hunters, the Akita was used to track large game and hold it at bay until the hunter arrived to make the kill.

Just out of interest, do you see many Japanese Akita Inu's in America?

I look after an American Akita during weekdays. His owner told me that originally Japanese Akitas were bred with St Bernards and that created the American Akita...not sure how true that is though.

I've only ever seen a couple of Japanese Akita Inu in this country.

This is Toby:

Beautiful! That yummy black mask is soooo scrummy, and a stripe too! wow His ears are still down! Is he only a baby?

He's coming up to 11 months old now so still a baby. I'm not clued up on the breed but I think his ears should have gone up by now? His owner is hoping a change in food might bring the ears up.

Aww bless, yeah I think they should be up by now, Keisha's came up when she was still tiny, a few months old! But his are soo cute, so I don't think it's a problem. I know a Kita which has one up one down and he's 5!

Not sure a change in food will make a difference, no idea but like I say, I wouldn't worry, he's so cute xx

The owner wants to use him as a stud though , and so far as I am aware the ears down thing would be classed as a fault which would be against the breed standard?

When my NI was little I thought one of his ears was never going to go up and stay up, but eventually at 6 months both were up and staying put.

That is interesting about the black mask. What about size differences over here? I see really tall ones, I see pretty short fat ones? I know the crufts bloke mentioned something about size but I can't remember which way round it was?

Kalasin, no he wouldn't be highly regarded as a good stud with those ears unfortunately . Lets hope he's just a late starter.

Werewolf, the Inu's tend to be smaller and slimmer, more athetic looking, whereas the American are more stockier. Their build is of more imprtance than height, as you do get small Americans, my female is really tiny, and she was from good American bloodlines apparently, so height is difficult to tell.

Their coat is significantly different though, the Inu's having a slightly longer and coarse coat whereas the Americans much softer and thicker. I couldn't believe the difference when I started meeting more and more Inu's.

Thanks. I know I fell in love with the one on in the film xxxx I am guessing that was an American, simply because it was an American film.

I just adore him:

http://hachiko-dog-story-movie-trailer.blogspot.com/

ps I love the look of the long haired ones but understand they are difficult to come by as it is a fault and throw back?

Looking at the dog...I'd say the film Haichi was a Japanese Akita Inu and not an American Akita because of the face shape and markings. Looks much more delicate than my monster Toby!

'Inu' in Japanese just means 'Dog' so I guess calling an Akita Inu an 'Akita' is just like calling a Northern Inuit Dog an NI.

Yeah it was a Japanese Inu, but can you believe it got flagged up that they used a SHIBA Inu! A mini 'Kita, entirely different breed and pretended that was the Akita pup! Clever! ;-)

I'm not sure :? I have only ever met one! Although odly enough, a litter of pups we had through the rescue last year had a mixture of long and short haired! Now THAT confused me!

Whatever he is and I daresay they used numerous dogs, they/ he were/was one fab dog xxxx

ps did you watch the film or just the advert?

The pup looked so cute and loveable xxxx

Awwww , bless them, hope they found loving, forever homes xxx

I haven't watched the film can't go to the cinema anymore...Kiba wont let me.

OHHHHHH! That makes sense. I feel like an idiot now. I HAVE seen Japanese Akita Inu's but silly me thought they were Akita X Shiba Inu - they do look very like large Shiba's. But no, by and large we see American Akita's here. We just call them Akitas. I love them and have met some really nice ones. A couple have been a bit grouchy with me, but can count on one hand the number of bad ones versus the dozens of good ones. I really like the look of the "american" style akita, but could never have a dog that big.

There is one we used to see on our walks, very tall, ginger and white, with no black muzzle? What would this one be at a guess?

Get him told!!! xxxxxxxxxxxxx