I was a little kid when my family got an Akita, she soon decided I was dumb and needed her CONSTANT care. She was more like a nanny than a dog to me. I miss her so much everyday.

I got an Akita and it was the best decision of my life

I got an akita about a year ago. He was 6 weeks old and I've never had a puppy before. He developed food and play agression around 4 months old. I've dedicated myself to him and put in a lot of work. He has no people agression and gets along well playing with other small dogs and no longer has that extreme agression. Hes a sweetheart and worth the work. He is now almost a year old. Keep in mind I did not know what an akita was when I got him. I just happened to stumble upon him by chance and had to be his mom.

We adopted our 10 month akita from an abusive home and shes calm with our neighbors, birds, and the baby. Shes sitting with me rn.

Great advice on getting an Akita. For those that are ready for one, I highly recommend the breed. We got a beautiful female Akita puppy. Had a very wonderful 14 years with her. Would always come up to my bed and nudge me with her nose to wake me up for a morning walk. Miss her so much and it's been years since we had to put her down.

I was 12 years old when my parents decided to get an Akita, and I *love him to death,* but I don't think it was the right choice for our household. He's happy and healthy, but it's undeniable that he's poorly socialized and has some behavioral issues. I've done my best to correct where I can, but there's only so much I can do when the other members of the household aren't on the same page regarding training. (Not to mention, I'm the kid of the household) I really, really think my dad's ego got in the way of his reasoning when it came to choosing a breed for our household. My buddy is near and dear to my heart and I will always love him deeply. He's the first animal we got that I was old enough to watch grow up from a baby and I have a special bond with him, but I can admit that my parents messed up, and I'm going to learn from that mistake. I plan to adopt a dog of my own someday when I move out, and I've already been looking at what breeds would go best with my personality.

I have raised Akitas for the past 40 years and I have always found them to be very loyal, loving and protective. It's not the Akitas fault that they get unqualified owners that are not willing to educate them,socialize them, keep them healthy, train them or even spend time with them by walking them and socializing them with other dogs or persons. They must be taught how to behave and act when they are puppies, they are very intelligent and fast learners. Like all dogs they require time and a loving relationship with their owners. I would not have any other breed of dogs. I just love them.

My roommate has an akita. She found her mother and her siblings in a ditch. It's crazy, full-blooded beautiful American akita. She is friendly towards strangers, other dogs, and she does fine in an apartment. She really does break the mold, she's an amazing animal.

I have a 3 year old akita and she’s my baby girl. I love her so much! She still has the playful nature of a puppy but at the same time she’s so caring. Last week I forgot about a cake in the oven and she smelled that it was burning and saved me from a fire! Akitas are great 🥺

JUST MY OPINION,THE BEST DESIGN FRONT TO REAR,THE MOST LOYAL,COURAGEOUS, AND INTIMIDATING COMPANION YOU COULD EVER FIND!!!!!!!!!

I found myself on my own as a widower, I made the decision to find for the first time a canine friend, I looked on my local Dog Trust site, picked a couple of older dogs, I am 70. Whent to visit, I was only given one choice, an 8 month Akita , bitch, I knew nothing about them but she was gorgeous, so in ignorance I said ok, I had her for a trail day, as I am on my own ,the pub ,lunch time is a social time, she fitted in so well. She is 2 next Jan , We have climbed a hill together, She is the best ever. She is an Akita,

Best choice I ever made was getting my Akita. His 12 now & he will forever be my best friend ❤❤

Never owned an Akita before (definitely had other breeds in the past) and I adopted my first one almost three years ago. He’s the most well behaved, smartest, and chill dog I’ve ever owned. I’ve always been calm and always work with him even to this day. I get so many compliments on him. my favorite is when I bring him into the groomer and they are nervous to work with him then I pick him up and they rant and rave about him and his knack for remembering routine. Such an amazing dog, but they do require exercise, A LOT of time to train, and patience.

we had an akita for 14 years. he was literally a part of the family and i pretty much grew up with him. i went overseas to do a 4 year undergrad far from home. he was already getting kinda old and started having heart problems. i was only able to come back home 3 times in that total 4 years. the last time i came home before going away for my final year, i was only home for 2 weeks. i took him for walks, played with him a lot, spent a lot of time with him. right before i left, he had another stroke and never woke up. it really felt like he was just waiting to say goodbye to me. i will never forget him.

They're great family dogs and protectors....I remember taking bear for a walk and about 20 rowdy drunks parted like Moses parted the sea.

I had Akita's for over 30 years . When I first started out with Akita's they were not yet recognized by the American Kennel club. I started out with the old Japanese bred Akita which is much different then the more modern Japanese type today. I wanted a natural guard dog that was a man stopper if I needed one, but also could be socialized to be around strangers (tho they always remained aloof). I was a young female that traveled a lot around the country by myself. My Akita's over the years saved my life more then once from a would be predator . I had seen them do amazing things. At the time I owned them some Akita lines were more aggressive then they are now. You never had to teach them how to guard , but you had to teach them when not to guard or over react to a simple pat on the back, But they are highly intelligent and learned the difference quickly, especially if you socialize them around different people from the time they are pups. They are the bravest breed of dog I have ever owned and dogs have protected me my whole life since I was a little girl. I am still alive today as an very old women because my Akita's saved my life more then once through out the years that I traveled alone around this country. It is amazing just how many men think a women by herself is easy prey, but this women always had her Akita back up, and that Akita back up made many a man back down. My Akita's were better then having a gun for protection. I could tell you amazing stories, but then again I lived a different kind of life then most women and I needed a different kind of dog I knew I could rely on. But for sure this breed is not a breed of dog for everyone, tho many breeders have bred a lot of the dogs natural protection out of them, especially the show dog people have. I love this breed and my next runner up which I also had for many years is the Tibetan Mastiff. But I am too old now to have either. It takes money and strength when anyone of these big dogs gets sick. Everything about having big dogs is more expensive. I was very fortunate to have had these breeds in my life that I depended my life on. They were my friends and protectors , they were what God gave me as earthly guardian angels to see me through this life. Akita's are wonderful and loving and loyal to their family and your family pets if they were raised with them, but they can be fierce with intruders or animals that do not belong to the family. They may love your cat they were raised with but will kill any other cat they were not raised with, and Akita's will hold a grudge like no dog you have ever known. Akita's were not only hunting dogs but also protected the Japanese villages from bears at night, and also in their evolution they were also used in the fighting ring. Akita's working dogs are a tough breed and what this man says about them is true, especially with some lines of Akita's. Tho they are beautiful, Most people do not need to own one of these. They are more dog then you can imagine.

We got our what we learned later was an American Akita 20 years ago, well before videos like this was available and not much was known about them. We picked our female up when she was 9 weeks old and to this day she is still the most beautiful puppy I have ever seen. We have always had a small pack of dogs and usually have 3 at any one time, we have had a Rhodesian ridgeback, Doberman, border collie, German shepherd and lots of mixed breeds. When we got the Akita ( kira ) we already had a lab mix and a Yorkshire terrier with 2 cats, Kira loved all of them instantly a became what we thought was the perfect dog, excellent with all people loved our dogs and cats and was extremely gentle. We socialised her from day one with everything and I mean everything with zero problems, she got to 9 months old and OMG she turned for no reason at all, any strange dog she didn't just want to attack, she would try and kill them. The first time she did it was with a male black lab that she had known since a baby and it wasn't because the dog had hurt her in play it was as soon as she was unleashed. Kira never changed with people or the family pets and being honest the perfect family pet, sadly my mother was diagnosed with MS and her health deteriorated quickly not being able to walk, Kira was magnificent and her intellect levels, sensitivity levels and kindness was mind blowing. Unfortunately I could tell you lots of stories of her costing us vets bills through using that intelligence to be able to get to strange dogs. We lost Kira when she was 15 so she was an old girl and as you can imagine the family was devastated and my mum was lost for a long time. When Kira was 13 we got a Russian ovcharka Mishka who thankfully is one of the best natured dogs I have ever encountered. Sorry for the long comment but I love to talk about Kira as she is the dog the family will always look upon as the best dog we have ever had 😊

I appreciate your clear teaching and honesty about this breed. One of my best friends had an Akita. It manifested a lot of aggression with anyone outside the family. She spent thousands of dollars sending it away to training. The training was supposed to have broken its aggression. Now I wonder about that. Anyway, One day when I was visiting I was sitting quietly in the room. I had no problem with letting her have the dog come in because it had been through training school. I sat still and did nothing to this dog. It took one look at me and jumped at my face, teeth bared. My friend shouted "off" and thank God all I got was a slight scratch above my lip. I remained calm so as not to aggravate the dog further and she took it back outside. We had a long talk. My friend had to make the hard decision to have the dog put down. I told her thank God it was me because we're friends and I didn't blame her. I know how hard she tried to do the best for this dog. He could have killed someone...literally could have killed someone. Some years later I had a boss who owned two Akitas that she brought to work. I have to admit I was a little hesitant because of my past experience. But the dogs were beautiful and well socialized. She had done a good job with them and apparently knew how to handle the breed. They are amazing dogs but as you say they are challenging. I will share one other quick thing. My father was gifted a couple of Chow Chows from a client of his. I would say they're the Chinese version of an Akita. They're also bred to be guard dogs. My parents had no clue how difficult they were. The bottom line is that our male had to be put down. He was like Jekyll and Hyde when it came to humans. Sometimes he was sweet and other times he would go off and try to bite. He also hated other dogs to the point of wanting to kill them. There was no telling what he would do. Needless to say I have never owned Chows or Akitas and I never will. I don't hate the breeds I just realized they're difficult. And truthfully any large powerful breed of dog is dangerous if not trained. I mean let's face it, Cockapoos, beagles and Chihuahuas might inflict a nasty little bite but they can't kill you! LOL!

I rescued a 2 year old Akita because the owner was unable to come home from abroad because of the lockdown due to COVID19, the dog became weak and starving. Now with us he is very behaved dog, as if he has been with us since birth, very adorable dog, I have no regrets.

I got two Akita’s. I love them. They are soooo chilled.

I have a 13 year old male Akita that is our best buddy and let's me know that I am going to have a migraine or a seizure. We have a 160 acre farm in Oklahoma and Rigor is at my side 24/7. Our cattle love and respect him.

I rescued an Akita he died in January the age of 16 and now I got a 9 mth old Akita what is a little nutcase

I have two American Akitas (an absolute bull moose male weighing 140 LBS and a female weighing 105 LBS) and before these 2 American Akitas, I owned 4 Chow Chows (3 males and 1 female (65 to 80 LBS)) and a Basset Hound and Chihuahua over the previous 20 years. Whereas only 2 of my 3 male Chow Chows were highly territorial and dog aggressive, both my male and female Akitas are instinctively territorial and same sex dog aggressive and such aggression can come roaring out in 1 second with no warning as they can and will fight another same sexed dog on sight. Because Akitas are silent hunters and fighters, there is usually no verbal warning given to a foe by an Akita before it attacks. Even the best socialized American Akita is not going to turn the other cheek if provoked or challenged - in fact they seem to enjoy a challenge and they can and will win a fight often before you can even react because they will literally explode and attack and kill in seconds with their amazing power, speed and fighting instincts. They will instantly overpower and straddle a canine opponent and grasp the dog by the back of the neck to pin it or kill it depending on the mood of the Akita. So any responsible owner and decent human would do anything to avoid such tragic situations by avoiding dog parks and off-leash activities around other dogs and animals. You can train your Akitas and socialize them, but it will never be enough to overcome their innate genetic programing to fight, hunt and kill as most are like cats such that it does not pay to let your cat sit outside by the bird feeder with the expectation that no birds will be harmed. Think of the Akita as a big hunting cat or a bird of prey and you begin to understand their essence. Yes they are great looking drop dead gorgeous incredibly intelligent dogs but perhaps not the best family dog for small kids as they are definitely not pack dogs and they are seldom safe or good in dog parks or in homes with many other pet dogs because many seem to enjoy fighting and some will actively seek out rumbles and even those who are not aggressive will usually play rough and if another dog growls or barks at them, the American Akita may respond with a sudden violent ferocity usually only seen in wild animals. The # 1 trait in an American Akita is their inability to turn the other cheek and tolerate disrespect and/or any form of physical abuse from any dog, animal or human. So never under any circumstances strike one of these dogs in anger as it can and will trigger the dog and these dogs are like the Hulk comic book character, extremely well behaved right up until they "go off" after being triggered. When these dogs attack, it is like witnessing a bear or big cat go all in. It is total shock and awe. These are loving, sensitive, intelligent, playful, gentle souls but make no mistake, when the stuff hits the fan, they will mop the floor with Chow Chows, rottweilers, dobermans, pitbulls and GSDs and just about every other breed commonly found in a dog park or neighborhood running off leash. Their fighting prowess makes chow chows look like angry kittens - these dogs are the real deal and in a league of their own on an instant aggression level akin to a rabid wolf. A 130 LBS to 140 LBS male American Akita will have a massive bear like head shaped like an anvil with a bite force of over 300 PSI attached to a 30 inch neck with legs as thick as baseball bats and such a dog is easily 2 to 4 times stronger than a very fit 200 LBS man and if they are red zoning, they are oblivious to pain and can and will kill another dog or wild pig or coyote(s) in literally just seconds. I have seen mine go after coyotes, run them down and kill them in what seemed like just seconds and I mean it was a horror show and blood bath for the coyotes who were outclassed badly and had no chance. These are what I would call extreme hunter--killers and very much like big cats in terms of how they hunt and ambush and protect their territory with explosively violent lethality. These dogs do not take prisoners and will not back down or cut and run - they will stand their ground and fight no matter how hopeless the odds are. Calling these dogs brave or courageous is an understatement as these dogs have a fighting spirit which is off the charts. Yet these dogs can be as loving and gentle as kittens with family but usually with an appetite of a lion when it comes to food. These dogs are big and bold and bossy and they have minds of their own and they see you as fulfilling their agendas to play, walk, eat etc. These dogs are not going to be ignored when they want something. When you are surrounded by such dogs, you will never be safer as these dogs will take down any would be aggressor in literally a second with a bone crushing bite that is like getting hit by a sledge hammer and nail gun. In sum, as guard dogs go, there are very few more imposing breeds. Most Akitas behave 99.9% of the time but because they are so strong, fast and powerful, it only takes seconds for such a dog to fill body bags with other aggressive dogs in a dog park. American Akitas are not dangerous if well socialized, leashed, fenced and always handled correctly but in the wrong hands, even a well socialized dog can literally become a hand grenade with the pin pulled in a crowded bar, street party or dog park. These dogs need their space and they will not always tolerate some drunken bar patron with a lit cigarette in his mouth laying hands on them. Many will stop tolerating other same sexed dogs they previously co-existed with as they sexually mature around 8 to 15 months for females and at 18 to 30 months for males. Once they fight another dog, they will not stop and suddenly return to peaceful coexistence. I love my American Akitas but they can be total bullies and assholes to other dogs and they will hunt and kill coyotes, possums, raccoons and other animals on sight. While some people have multiple same sexed Akitas in the same home without issues, most people can only keep two opposite sexed dogs at one time. IF you are a commando, this is the dog for you as these dogs are very much like special forces soldiers-as in they are silent and stealthy and innately lethal and have razor sharp hunting and killing instincts such that in combat these dogs are like samurai - absolutely fearless and explosively violent and ferocious. They are very cat like and I would compare them to tame cougars - they can be sweet and affectionate and then one minute later they can be lethal. Their environment and interactions must be always managed and you must maintain situational awareness at all times with these dogs and never let them roam free in public spaces as while they may ignore other dogs initially, if the other dog behaves aggressively, the Akita will engage in a firefight and in my experience American Akitas once provoked do not take prisoners. They don't mess around and 99% of other dogs will have no chance against these dogs. The aggression coupled with their ferocity is something that has to be witnessed to be understood as mere words don't convey just how combustible an American Akita is in combat mode. These are clean odorless dogs who have big bold personalities and many are very talkative but all of them have a darker edgy side to some degree, more or less, such that in the wrong circumstances or in the wrong hands, they can be a disaster. You must be a Commando capable of grappling with such powerful beasts as sometimes verbal commands will not suffice to recall an Akita or cause it to break off conflict. These are great dogs for big tough people who are committed to responsible dog ownership but absolute disasters in the wrong hands. These are not suitable dogs to be walked by children as no child can manage such a dog if things go sideways on a leash walk and another dog comes charging in, the Akita will square up and prepare to do combat and will likely overpower any child's attempts to restrain it. My male can if it so desires literally drag me across the street much like an out-of-control horse ...so giving a 10 year old a 105 to 140 LBS American Akita to walk on a leash unsupervised is a very bad idea as these dogs can be an absolute handful for even the most physically fit adult. You cannot treat these dogs like you would treat a nice tame lab or retriever, as while some Akitas will tolerate strange dogs if they are not aggressive, more will not tolerate any strange dog in their territory and that territory is wherever the Akita happens to be at any given moment. Their territorial ambitions have no boundaries which is why they need to be fenced and leashed (as well as to protect them as many are clueless about streets and vehicular traffic). Akitas will not recognize any territorial limitations on their authority and so they are always like an invading army wherever they go. That said, other than their infrequent propensity for extreme sudden violence, these dogs have few if any faults. If you can handle living with an absolute "tiger of a dog", look no further. Just never forget what the dog is and what it was bred for and don't let down your guard, lose situational awareness or take foolish risks around other dogs and strangers as many of these dogs don't provide for any margin of error. Your first mistake with such a dog can become a homicide crime scene so you have to bring your A game every day.

I've owned two in my life and both were the best friends I've ever had, along with the best decision ever made.

I got a Shiba Inu. Best decision ever. Expensive but such a good, smart,loyal, playful dog. Can be stubborn but that’s what make them so unique!

These can be challenging dogs, my family got one when I was a kid and they were wholly unprepared for the dog agression, hunting the cat, and guard behavior. I assumed responsibility of her as much as a 14yr old could [and shouldn't have had to] , She was my best freind and sparked my love of dog training and interest in dog behavior. Really she was the most 'aware' dog I've had the honor of knowing. I've come to adore the breed and hope to get another one in my thirties

I agree this is not for novice dog owners but. I got my first Akita 5 years ago, I love him so much and the breed so much so I got my second a year ago. Just takes dedication, patience and the right owner.

This was SO helpful. Thank you for the effort you put into this.

Grew up around Akitas my entire life. My uncle had 3 in his Pittsburgh apartment and also bred akita puppies. He gave us one, Cesar. Beast of a dog! ABSOLUTELY could not have anyone around him besides my immediate family. Bit my best friend (gave him 50 stiches, chunk of meat missing from his arm). LITERALLY ripped my neighbor's dogs head off! He scratched my dogs nose thru our fence, and while walking him when i was only 12, he seen him and the lady walking their dog, remembered him biting his nose, drug me, and well.. killed him. I can still remember the neighbor screaming. Afterwards he just sat next to the dead body. Gotta say i was a bit traumitized at 12. We would often walk my uncles 3 Akitas on the railroad tracks in Pittsburgh, and a pack of stray dogs came out of nowhere once. I'd say no less than 6 or 7 strays. They IMMEDIATELY ran after and killed all the strays. We searched for our Akitas for an hour, walked back to our car and they were patiently sitting by our car covered in blood (not theirs btw). Very independent dog. You can see them thinking, rationalizing. Can be very stubborn. Very cat like animal. RARELY ever barked. Super hyper protective. Also bit my cousin. My sister (she didnt live with us when we got him). He was on house arrest TWICE and was prescribed Prozac once (all facts!) as an alternative to putting him down. They don't like strangers or any other animals for that matter. Very strong willed and very powerful. Even with all my experience with the animals (I'm 34 now) Im not sure I would get another one, although they are by far my favorite. When he says they can sense your weaknesses, THEY CAN. And will take advantage whenever possible. Luckily my father was a great leader for him and rarely disobeyed him. Thanks for all the great videos!

We had an Akita for 13 years. Majestic, loyal, loving, great sense of humour , fantastic dog and companion. We were always firm but fair with her and she was always well behaved and obedient although could sometime be stubborn and defiant but could be talked round. As the video says care and thought needed to own one but a beautiful, fantastic and intelligent animal - miss her every day.

Honestly mate this is one of the most informative videos I've ever seen on a topic. Fast, accurately conveyed information and extremely well made points. Thanks for making this.

I have 4 so its a lil to late for that

I agree with all of that. When you're ready and taken all of that into consideration, get one. Tsunami lived until he was 11 years old. Chokichi will be 5 on Valentine's Day. Loved them both but two entirely different temperaments. Wonderful breed if you know what you're getting.

So I have 2 akitas which are my first 2 dogs. Yes they are a challenge but you need to spend time with them. My dogs are definitely not aggressive towards any human. My dogs know exactly who my family is and they definitely respect them. I also have a 3 year old son which my dogs never act aggressive around. They are actually quite chilled around him. Yes if someone is maybe walking up to the property they will act aggressive but apart from that they are not. They will be people aggressive if your a complete a hole of a dog owner. Also these dogs are big and HEAVY. Yes you can actually tire them out on a lead as they are a big heavy dog. A good walk about 45 mins which is around 3 miles will be perfectly fine in the morning. Yes they are expensive to feed and yes you definitely need good space. And it is good to have them off the lead in an enclosed space just to be sure but they tire out quickly when they are running around of lead. I have a pure bred and a cross and the pure bred is always tired out way before the cross breed is. And my dogs also prefer to be inside either in my bed or in my couch. My dogs are pretty chilled. Same as when I go round to my parents. They usually jump straight up onto sofa and chill beside them. I can tell you if your ready to put that time into your dog and you have the time to do it then yes you can have an Akita. I don't think you should have 5 reasons on why you shouldn't own an Akita. If that the case then you should have 5 reasons on why you should never own a dog because every dog can be what you have just said if your not a responsible dog owner. Just my opinion tho

Had a akita for 13 years since i was 6 and literally couldnt ask for better dog sadly he died 3 weeks ago

I've raised 3 Akita's and they are the most loving breed I have ever owned.

Sit on your hands mate so we can hear you

Im decided to get an Akita for my first dog. After doing tons of research i feel this is definitely the breed for me. If anyone has any advice for me it would be much appreciated. I have the time and plan to train with the dog virtually everyday. Wish me luck!

I am a first timer American Akita owner and I absolutely agree with you especially on Nr1. We live in the city in a small apartment but I have socialised him well (by chance) by going to the dog zone 3 times a day and letting him play with all the other dogs there. Eventually we started going less and less and by the age of 1 year we stopped. I also went to two dog courses but he was too young to want to really obey to any of the exercises (it was a school for GS). I walk him 3 times a day for a total of 3 to 4 hours. We have play dates 1 a week. He is now 5 years old and everyone in the district loves him. He even learned to not react to other dogs when we walk and we can now great almost all of them. I put a lot of time and effort (training everyday, games, boundaries, being consistent) rasing him and it pays off. Also the pandemic helped our relationship as I stayed in home office for 3 full years. This was a game changer in our relationship. He challenged me several times over the years to see who is the boss at home but about 2 years ago he stopped doing it. Now he is the most amazing dog I could ever wish for but the first 2 to 3 years are serious work and commitment.

Will, thank you so extremely much for this video. I have tons of experience with powerful Guardian breeds, due to my dog training background. The Akita has always been a breed that has had a special place in my heart oh, I've been looking to adopt an Akita for ages oh, but I've never felt financially ready to care for 1. I also understand the need for Akitas to have a large yard and tons of mental and physical stimulation, when I have previously trained or fostered Akitas, this need has always presented itself. I am anxiously awaiting the day that I can adopt my first Akita puppy. Thank you so much for your continued educational videos!

Can this be said for an Akita Inu? Aren’t they both technically different breeds

Our six months Akita is amazing super intelligent. Our whole family was on the same page when it comes to training her. She’s not food aggressive, we had to constantly pet her while eating and drinking. Lots of petting and hugs. Please learn how to read your Akita behavior and their reactions when meeting ppl. Respect them if they don’t want ppl approaching them. They do have separation anxiety but they make such great loyal house pets if train properly

Great videos, not bothered by your hands😊. I’m on Akita #4 & 5. My wife and I have had a male & female for over 15 yrs. the latest pair are brother (125lbs) and sister (105lbs) they are 3 years old. As they are brother and sister, seems the dog aggression goes way up walking them together. Separately, it’s much easier. Regardless, we will never own a different breed. Our past male lived to 14, female almost 15. Both my daughters were raised with Akitas, we have lots of kids around, zero issues. There really is a special bond with this breed, at least with our family. Great information, and quite consistent with my experience 👍👍👍

I was around dogs all my life, owned a lot of different breeds of dogs, but none of them were actual guardian dogs. 3 years ago we adopted our Japanese Akita, he was already 1 year old when we took him from the streets. We heard a lot of negative comments about this breed and were prepared for a hard time (back then we watched Ceasar Milan and copied him) , but it all went very smoothly. He learned how to walk on a leash and go potty outside within days (2 weeks max), the socialization with other people was pretty smooth, he is excellent with children as well (although we always made sure the parents and the children knew how to behave around him) , no destruction in the house (or very minimal, some pillows maybe). We were amazed how good he fitted in. That being said, it's not all smooth sailing even today. He is very selective about other dogs, his recall is still very bad, he is still very stubborn if there isn't a calm and sturdy boss around him. I always have an eye on him, reading his body language and reacting right away when i see he is getting nervous or aggressive. This might be long but my point is: they are truly the most amazing companions people can have, but the are constant work and you HAVE TO be there for them, to guide them so they can relax. Why is it crucial to know that? Because they are beautiful, especially when they are puppies, it's easy to buy one, but people get in big trouble once the dog grows up, and then they just toss them on the street. There's a ton of grown up akitas on the streets, just suffering because people bought them just for their beauty. Whenever people see my dog, how calm and happy he is around them, and ask what breed he is, where they can get one, I always say that's not a dog for them, and i try to explain how demanding they really are. Akitas need someone that knows how stubborn and strong they are, only then the owners can se how wonderful and amazing they can be.

As a previous Akita Owner, I completely agree with everything he says. They are the best breed dog I have ever had (Had over 10 different breeds before) the most rewarding by far, but challenging to raise if you never had a dog before, do not cheap out on food for them because they require good food. And avoid real bones they are not yard dogs... real bones will shred their stomach.

Great video, really helpful and well made, you deserve more subscribers!

I adopted an akita who was abused by a college frat. He is protective (his) his home. If you are in it you have no worries. I and my family rule the house. My akita knows his role. Playmate and protector. They will love you forever.

I did 3 years research before I got my Akita, best dog I have ever had. Unlike any other dog

My husband loved German Shepherd’s. Our last boi turned out to be a Shepkita. He was the best dog. He rarely barked. Loved people, hated dogs, and had an extreme prey drive. I’d love to have another.

I have an japanese akita and it is a wonderful dog, great with kids. Socialisation is a must with dogs and people as well. However, you must learn about the breed before getting one.

Would you say that it's impossible to have an Akita if you live in an apartment? I live in an area with a plethora of hiking trails, some within walking distance of where I live. They are spacious, few trees, and can be deserted at certain times of the day. I also run and bike regularly, and could take an Akita with me on my runs. Would this circumvent any apartment problems or no?

I appreciate this video so much, thank you! My girl is "Kiyomi" an American Akita, 3 years old now. The light of my life! And yes!!! They need, and need, but compared to what they give back, no comparison. Lots of work, lots of exercise, lots of stimulation, so in the evening....they love watching documentaries related to animals. Mine will watch a complete show, it's amazing! I can guarantee should would give her life for me, would I ever put this in front of her? Hell no, not if I could help it. LOVE your Akita!!!

I have 4 beautiful akitas and they all can be walked off the lead but they have a lot of energy but they love when we take them hiking

I still want one and I'm gonna name it hachi

Straight to the point, i love it.

I have an Akita he was brought up with 3 cats he’s my best friend and a wonderful companion

I have an Akita and black mouth cur mix puppy. He is the best. Still alert around strangers but don’t bark as much anymore. He shown aggressiveness towards others since I got him so these dogs really need a lot of time and patience. He looks like an Akita with a short coat. Gets along with my cat and other dog. If you have a cat they both need to be socialized or you might come home to no cat lol.

My Akita found me on her own 5 blocks away when I ran off once, she was only 7 months old.

I’ve got my third Akita now. Would never have anything else. They’re magnificent but certainly not for everyone. Seems a pretty fair list of reasons. They’re not prone to many disorders tho, quite a hardy breed provided the breeder is breeding for the correct reasons.

Absolutely correct advice. Owner must establish and maintain themselves as LEADER OF THE PACK. I got very lucky and was offered a unintentional cross bred Akita/Golden as a puppy. I have had 3 Akitas. I am a single older male. Akitas are given to Japanese families as a gift at childbirth, Japan has declared them a national treasure. There is a movie solely about an Akita. They were originally bred to kill bears. The Akitas I have had do not bark. They will give a warning growl. have seen that growl stop man and beast in their tracks. They are called "dogs" but their intelligence, loyalty and spirit is at an entirely different level. Akitas hate other dogs. Actually more likely "dislike". It's like they can't stand any other dog because they are so stupid and insufferable. If you do not understand and appreciate the underlying need for dogs to have a pack leader then DO NOT HURT THESE BEAUTIFUL CREATURES BY EXPOSING THEM TO YOUR IGNORANCE. Big heavy dog, annual sheds over coat but has almost a "downy" undercoat. Super intelligent - at least your equal. I would only have females, as all 3 have been. For fear the males may be uncontrollable in a pinch. This is a dog that, if you connect with an Akita on an individual spiritual level, you will fully understand what a best friend really means.

Great videos man, does all this apply to american akitas aswell?

Based on these comments, it seems pretty clear that it’s relatively unimportant if you are a first time dog owner or not. What matters the most is that the person is dedicated to training their dog to the best of their ability, and beyond that, their Akita would develop fine. Also, I’m seeing that some of these people’s dogs may not have even been aggressive to begin with, which made training them easier. This reminds me of when everyone warned my mom about getting a German Shepard; she was a first time dog owner, never owned a dog before, and never trained one before. German Shepard’s are extremely smart, so these people reasoned it’d be difficult for a first time dog owner. Well, Jack was our lil baby. He was perfectly trained, a great guard dog, and so lovable he never threatened us. He was also kinda a himbo dog, not the brightest but he made up for it with his dopey cuteness. It’s almost like… despite a dogs breed, they each have unique personality traits that may go against the expectations of what you’d think they’d be like. Well, my mom was very dedicated to his training. Did a lot of research before, during and after he passed. She loves dogs, German Shepard’s in particular. I think someday I would love to have several dogs, and one of them would be an American Akita. I take your warnings to heart, but it’s because of my willingness to listen and learn that I believe despite being a (kind of) first time dog owner, I would excel at raising an American Akita someday.

On point 💯 Walk mine ever morning Then run him on leash on my bike Then no leash time in the middle of woods Continue training 🥰 thank god I’m active

My relative got an Akita shears couple years old, trained, and she doesn’t do anything she’s very friendly

Great information but my Akita is 3 years old now. He is very bossy and always hunting any moving objets. Will the E-collars help his obedience better? Thanks.

Great video, have an Akita, looking to get another one but waiting on that! Yes Dogs are money!

i have akita,and after she is six month old,she sometimes attack my pomerian who used to be the dominant one,what should i do? i love them both

I like you man this is very important for a lof of people!

I have 2 American akita and there not allowed to come off the lead but my dogs can they at always at my horse Field and if I fall off my horse they help to take my horse to stable I walk while my dogs are taking my horse to the stables

Bloody Bang On - I have a Japanese Akita X Rottie Male, 51.5 KG. This man is bang on - Absolutely.

This a very valuable channel and service you are providing. Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge and experience.

Do you think two Akita’s can come bake after fighting a few times? Those time apart heal?

Can you please help me I got an a German shepherd, lab and a little atika. My mom wants to get rid of did cause she thinks it to dangerous and showed aggressive but he’s just puppy that is about 2-3 months. Will he get over the puppy biting stage. Also did he ever turn on you because my mom is afraid of that. Plz respond

The rewards outweigh the negatives. I had bulky kuttas early on in life so the Akita was not a problem for me. Great dogs.

My husband and I recently purchased an Akita, he’s six months now. My three year old loves him. I had a German Shepard before but the Akita stole my heart.

Too bad I can't post picks, you'd understand. I have had Akitas for years. I've had very good luck with the breed. My 2 live in the house all the time. Except for snowstorms.😉

I have one first time. He has been the best dog ever.

What if I have always had pits and trained them since I was a child? Would an Akita be good to have?

We’ve had 3 Akita’s (currently have 2) and love them! Yes, they need training just like any other dog and need to know where they rank in the pack, but they are so great! Ours are amazing well behaved, do well with other people and dogs and are just so chill and relaxed! Big lazy bums! Lol

I couldn’t agree more with this video! It’s a beautiful breed and can be a great pet, but there’s a lot to consider. My brother is a big guy and wanted a big dog, so at 21 he got an American Akita as his first dog. Bear was his best friend, but he was huge and a force to be reckoned with. He could be very aggressive towards me and my parents, to the point where I was genuinely afraid of him. My brother couldn’t travel anywhere because he didn’t have anyone that could handle or take care of him. Over the summer we found out Bear had a very aggressive cancer and was bleeding internally, so my brother made the heartbreaking decision to put him down. He was only 7 years old and it was devastating to say the least.

I have an Akita Dutch Shepherd cross that a dog trainer rescued and gave to me. I would like to get a second but I decided not get a German Shepherd instead of an Akita. I have cats plus the rescues and shelters have a lot of adult Akitas right now that are owner surrenders. I have been warned that they are very animal aggressive. Is there is a difference in the temperament between the Japanese and the American Akita?

I have an Akita Shepherd mix that was rescued from a shelter by a dog trainer. He is a great dog but he did have training before I got him. I take him everywhere with me to socialize him

It all depends on how they’re brought up, I have a male and female. I think having siblings helped them learn manners, how to play etc. because they are brother and sister, there are a lot of things they prefer doing with each other than with me. They aren’t very playful with me but they love chasing each other and playing tug-o -war. Perhaps they are more aware of their strength when growing up alongside another Akita? Not sure but they’re amazing and even simply watching them interact is breathtaking. One Akita per human is certainly more than enough though lol. But I don’t ever regret taking responsibility for two.

I got my akita puppy two months ago, she was two months old and she isn’t hard to train. She gets along with all other dogs and kids.

Hello! I don't know if anyone willa answer this but my sister and I have been thinking about owning an Akita Inu, I've had a Rotweiller (1 year old) and an German Shepherd (6 years old), and the are fine. The thing is, I'm moving to an apartament with my sister, we have a cat and she has been wanting a dog since her Boxer died, I've read that Akita Inu's do well in apartments as long as you are able to take them out once a day at least, but you've said they need more space, my question is... Are you speaking about Akita Inus too or the american Akita? Hope you can answer and thanks for the information (Just in case you are wondering, my other dogs are going to live with my mom because I know neither of them are suited for apartaments)

I have 3 huskys but I’m looking for a guard dog. Do you think an Akita can fit in with them and get along?

Lol I literally got an ad from you on this video's start! :D

Nice video I have a Pomsky but I really love the way Akitas look and want one but now I'm really debating on if I should get one now because I don't really have time to raise the dog from the puppy stage again and you've put it in my head that there really a challenge so I'm just sitting here contemplating

My Akita, samurai, was the best babysitter ever. Also had amazing judgement of people.

i have one. and i love him :d

what would you say about getting an akita that’s an adult and already trained?

I've got a pug and I'm thinking about getting an akita too I wondering if they'll be ok with each other 🤔 My pug is quite chill but idk if an akita is a good choice :c

I have a American Akita and she is the best dog I’ve ever owned and will continue to have only American Akita’s for now on

Dude really i completely understand where your coming from. I want an other Akita so bad it damn near makes me cry from missing my boy and watching this. In the 90s my dad bought an akita. He ended up getting parvo as a puppy and almost died. He got through it and ended up being the best dog in the world to me. His name was Hanz. He was my best friend. Unfortunately he developed.....I dont remember the name of the illness. It was something along the line of 1 in every 2500 akitas get it. Had pigment issues on his nose and eye issues....thyroid pills and so much more in his later life. I remember feeding him and having to give 3 drops in one eye and 2 in the other because of this supposed accent Japanese disease in dogs. I want and need another akita because of my Hanz.

I’m getting an Akita soon it will be the first puppy I’ve ever trained and raised I’m aware they are difficult to raise but I absolutely love them I understand the risk and I’m willing to take them thank you so much for the advice.

I got an Akita a few months ago. He's more energetic than Usein Bolt, he destroys everything, bites and chews and barks and poops on the carpet. I also regret nothing

I know many Akitas and Akita owners. Akitas can be very one-person-only dogs. They are very protective of their owners and be very aggressive towards others.

Great information on the Akita breed, the title of the video seems a bit damaging for them but honest information dog owners need to consider. Short story long, my best friend Akita was unfortunately hit by a vehicle when he was a year old on Christmas Eve of all days. He had a $12,000 emergency surgery to amputate on of his hind legs and had a plate bolted on his hip to hold him together. Within 2 months he showed me what dogs are capable with proper care and attention. He is currently 7 years old and shows no signs of slowing down soon

My akita has had to go to a specialist to get some knee surgeries done. They told me they have it on his record that he is the nicest akita in the world and that made us so proud of him.

I had a Akitaxcollie. She was very clever would figure out anything just by watching. She loved other dogs cats people and kids but she showed them she was the dominant one. She only ever really listen to myself my partner had trouble with recall and many other issues . But went towork with her in a horse stud and we found any day she was there she was a lot more well behaved I would love to get another but will be waiting 4-5 years as work and travel commitment.