Japanese Akita Inu

Lifestyle needs

Japanese Akita

The Japanese Akita Inu (Akita) is a large, strong dog, capable of endurance.  He needs plenty of exercise and early socialisation with other dogs and people.  He can be strong willed and is not suitable for a first time dog owner.  His thick coat requires regular grooming and care should be taken to keep him cool in hot weather.

Inbreeding coefficient – COI

(should be as low as possible)

The breed average COI is 1.4%

See A Beginners Guide to COI.

Health and welfare problems due to conformation

(body shape and physical characteristics)

• Bloat/torsion (stomach fills with air and twists – a painful and life threatening  condition needing urgent vet treatment)  Common in deep chested breeds.

 BVA/KC Health Schemes  http://www.bva.co.uk/chs

• Hip dysplasia (breed mean score 12.7)
• Elbow dysplasia (should be as low as possible, ideally 0:0)
• Eye disease: Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) gradual loss of sight

Estimated Breeding Values (EBVs) are now available for Hip Dysplasia

DNA tests available

         None available

Unofficial (breed club) schemes

        None known

Ask the breeder to show you the certificates for the above tests/screening for both parents (or check the KC’s health test results finder). If any of the above tests have not been considered necessary by the breeder (and there may be good reasons), ask her to explain why.

Other diseases

(for which there are currently no genetic or screening tests for sire or dam)

• Sebaceous adenitis (inflammatory disease affecting the sebaceous glands)
• Vogt-koyanagi-harada-like syndrome (an aggressive immune mediated disease which attacks melanocytes – the pigment producing cells of the skin and eyes)
• Panosteitis (painful bone inflammation)
• Cranial cruciate ligament rupture (severe acute lameness)
• Patellar luxation (dislocated kneecap)
• Heart disease: ventricular septal defect (can cause heart failure)
• Haemophilia A (blood clotting disorder)
• Entropion (inward growing eyelashes which cause irritation and to the eye)
• Eye disease: glaucoma; multiple ocular defects

Ask the breeder about the medical history of the parents, grandparents and great grandparents. Consider carefully whether to purchase a puppy if some of these or other diseases are in the family line.

Ask about the breeder’s policy in cases of serious genetic diseases occurring to your puppy in later life. Good breeders will request to be informed of such events in order to improve future breeding decisions. Some breeders will also agree to contribute towards medical costs or refund purchase price.

You are strongly advised to buy from a breeder who uses (or is prepared to use) the RSPCA / BVA AWF Puppy Contract and Puppy Information Pack (PIP):  www.puppycontract.org.uk

You are also advised to buy from a breeder who follows the Dog Advisory Council’s Standard for Breeders: http://www.dogbreedhealth.com/dac-breeding-standard/

List of Dog Breeds