Akita Inu

Food for an Akita Inu should be selected for the individual dog. Activity and health are important parts of that choice. The breed is prone to allergies, so allergy history should be considered without assuming one diet suits every Akita Inu. A suggested feeding schedule is three meals a day for puppies and two for adults.

The Akita Inu has a medium-length double coat and is a heavy shedder. Twice a year it blows its undercoat, and it does so profusely, so expect tufts of hair everywhere during that stretch. A bath followed by a cold forced-air dryer and a comb-out helps speed the natural process of blowing coat.

For routine care, a slicker brush works well. Brush gently every few days, more often during heavy shedding, to keep the coat healthy and free of mats.

Keep the nails trimmed with clippers or a grinder. Regular teeth brushing and clean ears matter for your dog's health, not just appearance.

The Akita Inu does best with regular walks plus mental exercise to stay settled and engaged. With proper training and precautions, Akitas also make fine companions for outdoor activities such as hiking and camping.

This breed has a high prey drive and may be dog-aggressive, so keep your Akita on leash in public and around other animals or unfamiliar people. Steady management makes outings safer and easier for everyone.

The Akita Inu is intelligent but only moderately easy to train, and it responds best to positive methods that work with its natural smarts. Akitas bore quickly with repetition, so keep sessions short and varied, and add daily mental challenges and enrichment to keep your dog interested.

Given the breed's hunting background, many Akitas enjoy putting their instincts to use in activities like nose work, barn hunt, and lure coursing.

Because Akitas are aloof with strangers and not always easy with other dogs, early, ongoing socialization and consistent, respectful handling go a long way.