They are unique; they are powerful, beautiful, and majestic. Like all other breeds, the Akita can be a family companion, sweetheart, or an aggressive and deadly attack dog.
When you look at an Akita, you can probably see a mix of a few other dog breeds that make up their overall appearance, but Akitas are a breed to be reckoned with, and this page will cover the reasons why.
If you or a loved one has been attacked, injured, or killed as a result of an Akita or other dangerous breed of dog, you should first seek medical attention to ensure the health and safety of the victim.
Next, follow up with our team of skilled and experienced dog bite lawyers. Call (800) 561-4887 today for a free consultation and case evaluation.
Akita Dog Breed Resources
History of the Akita Dog Breed
Originally, Akitas are thought to have originated from Japan in the 1600s. Helen Keller brought the first Akita over and into America. Although Keller was extremely satisfied and delighted with her Akita, Kamikaze-go, he died at an early age due to distemper.
The Japanese government heard this news and gave Helen Kamikaze’s older brother, Kanzan-go,. Keller wrote that the Akita breed was a wonderful companion, being gentle and trustworthy.
American soldiers who were stationed in Japan during WWII brought back more Akitas with them. The first Akita Stud was created by Thomas Boyd, in 1956.
The Akita breed developed into a much larger and robust dog than the original Akitas from Japan, which throughout time and even today is a controversial topic. While many are true to the Japanese standard of the smaller version of the breed, the larger American version of the Akita were and are valued by many for their larger size and more powerful features.
In 1972, the American Kennel Club (AKC) accepted the Akita breed officially and the Akita Club of America was founded in 1960.
The Akita breed has become known and respected for its loyalty and companionship. Akitas are also known for their fearlessness. These traits were put to the test when the London Zoo had a Sumatran tiger cub that was orphaned and needed help being raised. The London Zoo decided to put an Akita puppy in with the young orphaned cub to help raise each other. The Akita had enough fur to protect him from the cub’s sharp claws and had the power, toughness, and companionship to be a loyal friend, for roughhousing and building each other up for adulthood. Once the cub started becoming of adult-age, the couple was separated, for obvious safety reasons.
Suppose you have been attacked or experienced a dog bite from an Akita or other dog breed. In that case, you are always urged to seek medical attention immediately and to contact a team of skilled and highly experienced dog bite lawyers.
Call us for a free consultation at (800) 561-4887.
What Reputation Do Akitas Have?
Akitas may be the type of breed where you ask the owner, “What kind of dog is that?” Because they are not as mainstream or as popular as
- Labrador
- Boxer
- Pit Bull
- Staffordshire Terrier
- Doberman Pinscher
- Rottweiler
- Alaskan Malamute
- Chow Chow
- Mastiff
- Great Dane
Akitas have a blend of looks from other dogs, but maintain a solid and significant presence in the breeds to be reckoned with.
Strong, powerful, and smart, these impressive and beautiful dogs come from Japan. Although the true Akita breed from Japan is significantly smaller than most of the Akitas in America and other countries around the world.
As with many other breeds, Akitas were used for herding and protection/security, Akitas are a favorite among households, especially with women and children because of their loyalty, ability to adapt to many types of environments, situational factors, and confidence.
Although this Akita breed can be loving, caring, and protective over their family, Akitas also have the ability, like every dog breed, to become or turn out aggressive and hostile.
If neglected, abused, or presented with an environment that is suggestive of aggressive behavior, these dogs can become vicious, presenting serious dangers due to their mindset, power, and agility.
Even though these beautiful dogs have the ability to be sweet, kind and loving, aggressive, and dangerous, or somewhere in between, Akitas carry a reputation of being somewhat of a “novelty dog.”
By definition, novelty means the quality of being new or original, or unusual, and even though these dogs are not different enough to be considered a different species, Akitas have very unique traits and a rich history filled with culture, responsibility, and praise.
Akitas are considered an honorable breed and are often taken in as one of the family. A large reason due to Akitas not being inexpensive or easy to take care of. It takes hard work, determination, dedication, love, and support to keep an Akita happy, properly exercised, fed, and kept healthy.
Like many other dogs, Akitas are prone to many health problems, as described below in ‘Owning An Akita’.
Temperament of an Akita
Akitas are very well-known for their beautiful and fluffy coat, striking eyes, and bold personality, as well as:
- Typically averaging between 10-12 years life span
- Normally between 70-130 lbs
- Shoulder height approximately 2 to 2 1/2ft
The Akita resembles a mix of a few breeds; you could say their appearance resembles that of a Labrador, Siberian Husky, Mastiff breeds, and depending on the mother and father, looks can range into features similar to other breeds.
Although Akitas have a very strong presence, with a bold mindset, strong mentality as well as a physically strong body, stance, and obvious confidence in their stance and body language, Akitas have a very strong loyalty, dedication, and responsibility to protect their owners, handlers, and family/loved ones.
Akitas are very gentle with children and have been known to rescue or save people in trouble. There is a famous story about an Akita that was so loyal to its owner, that when its owner passed away, the Akita still traveled every day to greet its owner, even when it found nobody to greet. The Akita continued this until they passed as well. Loyalty and dedication values are strong with this breed.
But, as with all types of dogs and animals, no two animals are alike. When dogs or any type of other animals experience neglect, a poor or dangerous environment, or are abused at any age, it can cause their temperament to fluctuate dramatically.
Even if an Akita has not shown any previous signs or history of aggressive behavior, they can still suddenly become hostile and dangerous.
If you have experienced an aggressive Akita or another dog breed, and have been injured or severely traumatized, seek medical attention as soon as possible and follow up with a Free consultation with one of our skilled dog bite lawyers. Call (800) 561-4887.
Owning an Akita
Owning any dog is a massive responsibility. Not only are you in charge of feeding, bathing, playing training, and taking care of them, but you must maintain their access to others, making sure they do not pose a risk to others in any way.
Akitas have a lot of energy, which means lots of exercise. If you are thinking about getting an Akita, here are some points to consider:
- High levels of energy and the need for consistent exercise
- Not for apartment lifestyles
- Very loyal and affectionate towards family/loved ones
- High levels of shedding/grooming maintenance
While Akitas are highly playful, their ability to have their energy plus playfulness/roughhousing get out of control as a result of their bold mentality and strong physique. This is a potentially dangerous situation.
Full-size puppies or young adults can confuse playtime with a sudden rush of excitement which could potentially result in an accidental bite or attack from nervousness. Even though they are puppies, their muscles and strength are not far behind an adult Akita.
Photo courtesy of Dogtime.com
Are Akitas More Aggressive Than Other Breeds?
Is there a solid way of identifying if this breed is more aggressive than other breeds? Typically this is done by identifying breed characteristics, breed-specific statistics, and comparing them. But there is a problem with this process, in all fairness.
When a dog bite occurs, the majority of the time it is only reported if the injury is serious enough to seek medical treatment or some sort of traumatic experience was encountered.
But when analyzing the aggressiveness or level of hostility in specific breeds then compared to one another, the process should be different, and more realistic.
Many little dogs bite or are very aggressive. Most of their “aggressive behavior” is harmless and actually quite funny from time to time. Smaller dogs bark and growl based on a few things:
- Territorial
- Feeling Threatened
- Confusion
- Fear
- Over-Excitement
- Abuse/Neglect
- Being a stray
Akita dog bites are more likely to cause serious damage than a smaller dog, but that doesn’t mean that the Akita breed is more aggressive than other breeds, like say Chihuahua’s for example. Chihuahua’s can be very “yappy” and are known to be ankle biters.
Not to say that Akitas are not dangerous or are dangerous, it’s important to remember to stay aware of your surroundings, body language, and possible signals that you could be unintentionally giving to an aggressive Akita or any other dog breed.
Akitas are not a breed that can stay indoors for long periods of time. This breed is very energetic, carries lots of power and boldness. They need to be able to get as much exercise as possible otherwise run the risk of becoming aggressive and even violent.
Another good reason to have outdoor space for these dogs is that they are known to be very vocal. Whether they are barking, howling, whimpering, or “talking,” they run a high risk of having the police or animal services called if your neighbors get annoyed easily.
Medical Attention After an Akita Dog Bite
Not everyone feels they need to go to the hospital, go to urgent care or even follow up with a doctor after being attacked or bitten by a dog. The problem with not seeking medical attention is that you run the risk of dangerous side effects and symptoms of dog bites.
After getting bitten or attacked by a dog or Akita, make sure you do the following:
- Make sure your environment is safe to call for help (Do your best to not endanger others)
- Give as much information about your attack experience as possible
- Be honest and do not downplay anything
- Listen to your doctor/health care provider
- Treat as directed
- Document everything, especially throughout your treatments
- Follow up with a skilled dog bite lawyer
How To Document Your Akita Dog Bite Injuries
Not only is it important to ensure you and your loved one’s safety and wellbeing, but this is a perfect way of having your injuries documented in association with your dog bite experience.
Later on in your dog bite case, it can become very difficult and complex to prove that the “injuries” you state are a result of the dog bite if you have no proof of them being associated with each other.
You can start by collecting and saving as much evidence from the scene of the Akita attack, any video or photos you can capture of the incident, injuries, location, and this information will also be beneficial for many reasons.
How To Win Your Dog Attack Case
A dog bite or Akita attack case can become complex and difficult to win if the proper preparations and organization are not taken care of. Here are some examples of the crucial information you will want to make sure you have, to give you the best chances of winning your case and receiving maximum compensation:
- Documented medical information
- Police report
- Photos/video (where the incident took place, injuries, those involved, etc.)
- Any Evidence
- Eye-witnesses accounts
- Be organized and prepared: have a statement identifying the date, time, location, those involved, a summary of what happened and any other information your lawyer identifies is an important piece of information for your case
No Win No Fee Dog Bite Lawyers
Have you or a loved one experienced an Akita attack or bite? If so, you could be entitled to compensation, medical costs, and other financial obligations to be covered. Just call (800) 561-4887 for your free consultation and case evaluation with one of our skilled dog bite lawyers.
Our team of legal professionals and experienced dog bite attorneys have been representing, fighting, and winning dog bite cases for over 40 years. With over $750 million won, we have established an impressive 99% success rate and would like the opportunity to represent your case.
If you are concerned about the cost of our representation, know this – if we don’t win, you don’t pay. All costs are discussed in the beginning and you will not be surprised with any hidden fees or costs.
If you have financial obligations you need taken care of now, we are happy to help you in any way we can. Discuss your case with us at no charge or strings attached, just call (800) 561-4887.
