Akita Inu

The Akita Inu is the national dog of Japan and is highly regarded in Japan. Its name derives from its place of origin, Akita Prefecture in Japan. It is said to be descended from mountain hunting dogs. In the past, it was a hunting dog specialized in capturing bears and now has become a beloved companion for families.

The Akita Inu has a gentle and friendly temperament, calm and courageous, sensitive senses, easy to train, full of emotions, and extremely loyal to its owner. It is smart and clever, responsible, but has hostility towards its own kind and other animals. If it is not taken out for socialization training and exposed to humans when it was young, it will also be wary of humans. Generally, if it is well-trained during puppyhood, it doesn't need to be tied with a thick rope when it grows up.

The Akita Inu has strong abilities to guard homes and houses, but also strong dominance. It is usually used as a fire alarm guard dog in Japan and has gradually become well-known in other countries around the world and is quite popular.

The Akita Inu originated in the 17th century. The early Akita Inu is a new breed that was gradually formed by breeding with the Chinese rural dog. The person who bred it was a Japanese nobleman who was exiled to Akita Prefecture at that time. Akita Inu mainly helped its owner hunt large prey such as bears at that time, and its excellent working ability was highly praised in Japan.

At first, there were only medium and small-sized Japanese dogs, without large ones. Later, starting in 1603, the medium-sized Akita Inu from Akita Prefecture was used for dog fighting. Later, in 1868, it was crossed with Japanese fighting dogs and Mastiff dogs, resulting in a larger size for Akita Inu and the appearance of a large breed, but the characteristics of the fox-like dog gradually became less prominent.

In 1908, dog fighting was banned, but this breed was still preserved and eventually improved into a large Japanese breed. In 1931, 9 high-quality examples of this breed were designated as "Natural Monuments".

During World War II, due to the huge demand for military supplies, the fur of dogs was popularly used to make military clothing. The government ordered the capture and requisition of all dogs except German Shepherds for making military clothing. In order to evade this order, some dog lovers crossbred this dog with German Shepherds.

Nevertheless, after the end of World War II, the number of Akita Inu decreased dramatically, including impure Akita hunting dogs, Akita fighting dogs, and Akita shepherd dogs. During the long years of restoring purebred Akita Inu, a breed called DewaLine Dog and Kong-go also appeared in people's sight and received warm welcome. They had characteristics of the Mastiff and German Shepherd, but their popularity lasted for a very short time because knowledgeable dog lovers did not recognize them as true Japanese breeds. Eventually, they eliminated foreign breeds with ancient bloodline characteristics by crossbreeding with Akita fighting dogs, attempting to restore the original purebred Akita Inu. The current fact proves that they succeeded, and in 1931, Akita Inu was officially recognized as a precious national animal of Japan.

Akita Inu is loyal to its owner, gentle and friendly in character, and very friendly to children. It is highly regarded by people and is the national dog of Japan, making it very suitable for modern family pets.

The price of Akita Inu is not low, and it belongs to the high-end type of large dog. It is suitable for those with better economic conditions, large living space at home, and sufficient spare time to accompany it.

1. Heart disease

Dog heart disease is often associated with obesity and old age. When a dog has heart disease, the main symptoms are fatigue and shortness of breath. It is difficult to detect heart disease in dogs, and by the time the owners notice, the dog is often very ill.

2. Infectious diseases

Canine distemper and parvovirus are common and deadly infectious diseases in dogs. Dogs that are not vaccinated in a timely manner are susceptible to these two diseases. Once they become ill, they may exhibit symptoms such as depression, loss of appetite, fever, vomiting, and diarrhea.

3. Kidney disease

When it comes to common diseases and symptoms in dogs, kidney disease must be mentioned. The terrifying aspect of dog kidney disease is its unconscious progression. By the time the owner discovers it, the damage to the dog's kidney cells is often more than 75%. When dogs have problems, the symptoms usually include blood in the urine, abnormal urine color, and changes in urination habits.

4. Parasites

Methods of raising Akita Inu:

Akita Inu is a large breed of dog that requires plenty of exercise. It consumes a large amount of energy every day, so its daily intake of nutrients and calories must match its physical needs.

It should be fed around 500 grams of meat daily, along with an equal amount of vegetarian feed such as oats and vegetarian biscuits.

The meat should be cooked and cut into small pieces, then mixed with cooked vegetarian feed before feeding. The meat should be fresh to avoid carrying a lot of bacteria. Leftover food from the previous meal should not be kept for the next. Feeding troughs and utensils should be cleaned in a timely manner and disinfected regularly.

Notes on raising:

1. Akita Inu was originally used for hunting, so it has a certain wild nature. Now that it is kept at home, it should not be kept indoors all the time. It should be taken out for three walks and runs every day to let it move freely.

2. Akita Inu is prone to heartworm disease. If it is kept outdoors, the hygiene of the dog's house environment should be taken seriously to prevent the dog from developing the bad habit of lying around everywhere.

3. Starting from the Akita puppy period, Akita Inu should be exposed to other dogs and humans and undergo necessary socialization training. This helps induce and cultivate a friendly and tolerant nature. If it is kept in isolation, its guard against humans will be heavier and it may even become hostile, which is not desirable.

4. Akita Inu has a thick and beautiful coat. To maintain the best condition of the fur, it should be regularly groomed, usually every 1-2 days. Especially after coming back from activities outside, it should be groomed in a timely manner to remove dirt and dust from the fur. In addition, it should be regularly bathed.

5. When going out, the dog should be equipped with a collar and leash. The owner should firmly hold the leash to prevent sudden wild behavior that may startle others.

6. Akita Inu has hostility towards other dogs and animals. It is unrealistic to expect them to get along well with each other. It is best not to have other pets if you have an Akita, and if you do, they should be kept separate.

Dietary considerations:

1. Akita Inu has different nutritional needs at different stages of age, so it is important to feed it appropriate dog food at each stage.

2. Avoid excessive consumption of snacks. They can be used as rewards during training. Do not give it human snacks, as they are not good for its digestive system. Especially avoid chewing gum, chocolate, ice cream, and cakes, as these desserts are not only harmful to its teeth and digestive system, but can also cause obesity, and chocolate can even be fatal.

3. When young Akita puppies are born, they only need to be fed mother's milk. When they start teething at around one month old, they should gradually be weaned and fed with liquid food, such as heated canned meat mixed with warm water to a paste-like consistency, or softened puppy food soaked in warm water. After two months old, they can be fed with puppy food.

4. Akita Inu is a large breed and grows quickly. It is advisable to add some nutritional supplements such as calcium powder to its regular meals, but it should be taken in moderation according to the doctor's instructions and the recommendations on the package, avoiding excessive consumption.

5. When transitioning to a different dog food after weaning, it should be done gradually. The dog's digestive system needs time to adapt.

Care for the fur:

Akita Inu's undercoat sheds twice a year, just like its outer coat. The frequency of grooming should be increased during the shedding period to promote blood circulation and facilitate the metabolism of the fur. Clean the earwax, tartar, and eye discharge once a week, and trim the claws regularly.

1. Cannot bathe too frequently

When bathing a dog, of course, it cannot be too frequent. Bathing a dog depends on the dog's hygiene condition. In hot weather, it can be bathed one or two more times, while in winter, it can be reduced one or two times. But in general, it should not exceed five times. Otherwise, it will damage its fur and skin!

2. Regular brushing

Dogs shed hair almost every day, especially in spring and autumn, when seasonal shedding is more severe. To keep the hair growing well, regular brushing is an important step. Pet owners can use special pet brushes to help the dog clean off naturally shed hair, avoiding tangling. Brushing once in the morning and in the evening for about five minutes each time is enough.

3. Sunbathing

Sunbathing is beneficial for the growth of a dog's fur and can make the fur more shiny. In addition, sunbathing can help kill bacteria. While sunbathing, pet owners can let the dog exercise a bit, which can help improve the dog's physical condition, promote blood circulation, and facilitate the growth of healthier hair.

4. Deworming

Poor fur condition is closely related to parasites. Parasites will absorb a large amount of nutrients from the dog's body, depriving them of nutrition. Therefore, deworming is essential. It is recommended to do both internal and external deworming. Also, deworming medication can cause significant damage to the dog's gastrointestinal tract. Therefore, it is advisable to feed probiotics regularly to alleviate gastrointestinal discomfort.

5. Pay attention to diet

In order for the dog to have beautiful fur, it must have a good nutritional foundation and pay attention to daily diet. On the one hand, feed the dog with nutritious and healthy dog food, choose a dog food that is suitable for the dog and is nutritionally sufficient to meet the dog's needs. On the other hand, you can also give the dog a moderate amount of lean meat, cooked egg yolk, and vegetable oil.