So I have a 6 months old akita bitch. Training is going well, she's very stubborn and persistent to chew to sofa but other that she's doing really well. Only problem is she is a really nervous pup, I have no idea why were never too harsh with her, she never gets smacked or anything like that just a firm telling to which she responds quickly. She doesn't pull on the lead but as soon as a car drives past at speed she's in every direction possible, she has pulled me and her onto the floor of a main road before while freaking out and we nearly got hit by cars, we've only managed to slightly overcome this by allowing her to put her head in between my knees until it's safe to cross then she runs across taking me running with her. If it's dark out when we are out every person that walks past she hides behind my legs and growls. When I swat a fly, shake a carrier bag to open in or anything that makes noise she's runs outside and will cower from me refusing to come back inside. She let's me pet her fine though so I don't think she thinks it's me directly she should be scared off. I don't know. Anyway it's just so crucial we get this right with her, of course for her to become an all round happier dog but also because I have just found out I'm pregnant. Of course I want to keep Arya and we still have 6 months before the baby is due so plenty of time with the correct socialisation. But obviously I'm scared how nervous she is will cause her to react negatively to a new arrival causing big problems in the future. Please help... thanks!
Hiya, Did you get her from a family home? Maybe she wasn't given a chance to adjust to the normal sounds of everyday life, keep going with the socialisation, taking her everywhere possible. Akita's are very much a pack dog and look for the leader for reassurance, if your not worried she will soon sense that and begin to feel more comfortable. We try to take Miko to different environments and walk her different times of the day that being said she still won't approach new people unless I show her they're not a threat. I think it's just the breed. She's still a baby. Are you taking her training classes? We take Miko once a week more for her to socialise with other dogs and people. I'd research a lot about introducing a new baby, I've got a 4 year old son and Miko adores him but obviously he was here first lol. Good luck and your dog is stunning!
Some background info would be helpful, have you had her from a puppy? Stay away from busy roads for now, walk where there’s little to no traffic and/or you can Try getting her used to cars by finding somewhere to sit at a comfortable distance from them, walking round car parks are also good as the traffic is not moving so fast repeat two or three or four times a day BUT only for 10/15 minutes at a time. Socialising is very important but if she is really that fearful id do it gradually, go slow Reward for checking things out, encourage her to sniff bags, once she is confident with that then start rustling them gradually building up to shaking them open, don’t coddle, but don't force her either
From your avatar, it looks as if you have her on a harness. This is only my opinion, and others on here will possibly disagree, but I would not use a harness on a such strong but nervous dog unless it was in combination with a collar, or a headcollar such as a Halti. A harness allows the dog to generate more power, (think sled dogs), and can make the front end of the dog harder to control and direct. Congratulations on your pregnancy, but unless you get to grips with this problem within the next few months, you are going to have a difficult time handling your Akita and a pram. Here I agree with Yazmin's post about joining a training class, and getting someone with greater experience to teach you the best way of handling your puppy. Combine this with Vee's excellent socialisation advice, and you should have a well balanced dog by the time your baby arrives! Good luck.
thanks for your advice guys, really appreciate it. just a little more background on her, she was born in a pub. Her owners loved on top of the pub so I guess maybe she never got a chance to socialise properly with them working long hours. I have had her since she was 7.5 weeks. we got advised about the harness and she is now back to the basic collar which is working a lot better for her. she is fine to sniff bags and things and will actually rip them to pieces, she just hates noise I think. she's isn't going to training class as the ones I have been able to find that fit around pur schedule only made her more nervous. She was just frantic and refusing everything I tried to do and became snappy with the trainer when they tried to do anything with her. Even took her with my brother Akita who she knows to see if that helped and he was a model student but she even got snappy with him so we thought it was vest to just do it ourselves. the vet was not much help either, I explained about her and her always having the poos basically and she was quite dismissive and said oh yeah that's just cause she's nervous all the time.
If you have had at from seven and a half weeks and socilised her well it sounds like her fear is mostly genetic, if that is the case she may never be completely cured, you can help her become less fearful but only to the level she can sustain. Make no mistake it is going to take a lot of patience and consistent hard work, as dogs as fearful as her can end up being ‘fear aggressive which she has already shown signs of at the training club. I personally suggest you find a good behaviorist who understands the breed. PS did you get her pedigree?
I think a lot of her fear has came from another dog. My friend used to come round with her dog to visit, at first they got along then the other dog started picking on her loads. Despite correcting the dog it ended up in a fight a few times. The dog no longer visits but I think its whatever happened between then that may have made her fearful. I did not straight away recognise when play had gone too far so it was a mistake on my behalf, my dog never got hurt or anything as they were both only pups but that's all I can think of as to why her behaviour changed. She still interacts well with other dogs at the park and is always off lead. She's even good with little dogs which I was surprised at given their prey nature. so I don't know if the fighting with the other dog was relevant or not but if its not as you say genetic that's the only thing I can think of. She is fear aggressive, which is what I am very worried about given the expected baby. I have not managed to find a behaviourist that knows about them, loads say they do then when I go see them and test them a little I know more about the breed than they do they just want the business. Yes she is pedigree. Not papered but has had a blood test done and I met both her parents.
I take it that you have had her out and about from getting her? If so, has she always reacted in this way or has it just started/become worse recently? She is in a fear period of development at the moment so she will need careful introductions. Throwing her in at the deep end won't work. Training classes are likely to make things worse rather than better if they are indoor and/or there are a lot of other dogs and people in attendance. If you can find an outdoor class that has plenty of space and a trainer who is willing to let you start off a little distance from the main group, you'll find they work better for you. Alternatively, some one to one training on the specific issues may be good. A lot of trainers don't fully understand Akitas and have difficulty reading them. With this breed, the most telling way of gauging their intentions is in their eyes which are very expressive - far more so than most of their other body language signals
I doubt her experience with the other dog has made her this nervous, especially as you say she is fine with other dogs,. Are there any Akita rescue/welfare organisations in your area that may be able to help advise a good behaviourist. I see you are in Liverpool; these two seem to have good reports and might be worth a try. http://www.problempaws.co.uk/ http://www.pet-behaviour.co.uk/erica.php
or give Helen Roberts a try (she's extremely good) Telephone: 0151 722 3767 Email: FastTrackPups@aol.com Website:www.FastTrackDogTraining.co.uk
Hey guys, thanks for the replies. I haven't been able to access internet in a while but I'm having a look at the resources now. My dog just seems to be getting worse. Some members of the family are allowed to stroke her head and some are not. My brother is 8, arya is normally very good with him but all of a sudden when he goes near her head she barks and snaps at him. She does it pretty much anyone that's not me or my partner. Had her all checked out medically and its nothing like that. She is very selective with food she will eat one day the not for two days then will again. And will only eat about half of her recommended feeding amount. We have taken her on trains since she was 6 weeks old, she has always led down at my feet happy. The last three train rides have resulted in her barking the entire time and trying to lunge for nearby people. I'm starting to get really worried, as I have mentioned we are expecting a baby early next year. I need my dog to be comfortable with everything if I'm even going to accept her being in the house with a newborn. So hopefully I can find a trainer with experience with akitas to help her!
Lots of dogs don’t like being petted on the head, just as some don't like being hugged. All dogs are different so it's important to just see what your dog is comfortable with and what she isn't. I wouldn’t try to push or force her into doing what she clearly dislikes and is uncomfortable with. One of mine didn’t mind being stroked on the head while the other didn’t like it at all. I would just ask people not to stroke her at all, if she wants a fuss she will go to them if not best they leave her alone, it sounds like she could also be going through a fear period, which can change temperament.It is important that you are patient and act very matter of fact and never force her into a situation she’s not happy with.
It may well be worth asking your vet about thyroid problems. A reasonable overview here: http://vaakitarescue.org/assets/the-akita-and-hypothyroidism.pdf It's well worth ruling out
Yeah I guess she just doesn't like being stroked on the head. Its just odd that she's snapping at my brother. Arya spends at least 3 days of every week with him, he's never tormented her or anything like that. They used to play together and now its like she just doesn't accept him as a member of the house. The thyroid thing is definitely something I'll look into as she does fit a good few of those symptoms. Especially the lethargy one, I mean one what puppy has to be helped up when you say 'din dins' because they can't be bothered moving. She turned 7 months yesterday and someone has suggested she may just be an early bloomer and be having personality changes due to puberty. Which does seem to make a lot of sense, I just thought she was far too young for that.
@Chris B Thank you for posting this VERY interesting article, which I doubt I would have otherwise come across. As Eddie suffers from lymphocytic thyroiditis, (and other autoimmune conditions), I already have the Dodds & Laverdure book, but found this article far more concise, and therefore much easier to jump to the key points. Though I have a different breed, I have noted some of those symptoms in my own lad. I had to push for a thyroid test, based on a change in his coat texture - it had become dense and soft, he also had tender feet, inflamed eyes, and reduced concentration. The vet was staggered when his T4 reading was just 6, as the minimum level should be 35! Though he was just over seven when he was diagnosed, I am sure that some of his temperament symptoms began much earlier in life, but had just became attributed to his other autoimmune complaint.
