AKITA
Northern Breed Group
Official U.K.C. Breed Standard

Copyright 1991, United Kennel Club, Inc.

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History

The Akita is the largest of Japan's native breeds, medium (Kai, Kishu, Ainu, Shikoku) and small (Shiba). It is a member of the Spitz family. The breed goes back many centuries to the polar regions. The Akita was originally bred as a fighting dog. The nobility later found alternate uses for the breed, such as hunting deer, boar or even black bear.

The Akita was recognized by United Kennel Club in 1980.

A large dog of the Spitz family, heavy bones, broad head, double coated, tail carried over the back, in any color.

Often aggressive toward other dogs and will defend its territory against animals and humans. He is a good companion and guardian. Robust, needing firm discipline. He can be obstinate. Once he understands, he is quite cooperative. Hardy, can withstand extremes in climates.

Massive, but in balance with the body. Skull flat between the ears, and broad. Jaws square and powerful, with minimal dewlap. Head forms a blunt triangle when viewed from above. Muzzle is broad and full. Distance from nose to stop is to the distance from stop to occiput, as 2 to 3. Stop is well defined, but not too abrupt. A shallow furrow extends well up to the forehead.

TEETH - A full compliment of strong white teeth meeting in a scissors bite is preferred, but level bite is acceptable.

Disqualification: Excessive overshot or undershot bite.

EYES - Dark brown, small, deep set and triangular in shape. Eye rims black and tight.

Disqualifications: Excessive entropion or ectropion.

NOSE - Black and broad. Liver permitted on white Akitas, but black is preferred. Lips black and not pendulous. Tongue pink.

Disqualifications: Pink noses, eyelids, or rims, butterfly nose.

EARS - Held strongly erect and small in relation to the rest of the head. If folded forward the tip can reach to the upper eye rim. Triangular shaped, slightly rounded at tip, wide at base, set wide on head but not too low.

Disqualifications: Drop or broken ears. Deafness.

Muscular and thick, comparatively short, widening gradually toward shoulders. A pronounced crest blends in with base of skull.

Shoulders strong and powerful, with moderate layback.

FORELEGS - Forelegs are heavily boned, and straight when viewed from the front. Angle of pastern is 15 degrees forward from vertical.

Faults: Elbows in or out. Loose shoulders.

Longer than high, as 10 to 9 in males, 11 to 9 in females. Chest wide and deep. Depth of chest is one half the height of the dog at the shoulders. Ribs well sprung, brisket well developed. Level back with firmly-muscled loin and moderate tuck-up. Skin pliant but not loose.

Serious faults: Light bond. Rangy body.

Upper thigh well developed and powerful. Muscular development and bone comparable to forequarters.

HIND LEGS - Hocks less angular than many breeds, 145 to 160 degrees. Stifle moderately bent and well let down, turning neither in nor out.

Cat like, well knuckled up, with thick pads. Feet straight. Dewclaws on front legs generally not removed but on hind legs generally removed.

Large and full, set high and carried over back or against flank in a three-quarter, full or double curl, always dipping to or below level of back. Large root and strong. Tail bone reaches hock with let down. Hair coarse, straight and full, with no appearance of a plume.

Disqualifications: Uncurled or sickle tail.

Double-coated. Undercoat thick, soft dense. Outer coat straight, harsh and standing somewhat off body. Hair on head, legs and ears short. Length of hair at withers and rump approximately two inches, which is slightly longer than on rest of body, except on tail, where coat is longest and most profuse.

Disqualification: Altering of coat or general appearance by clipping or scissoring.

Any color including white. Colors are brilliant and clear, and markings are well balanced, with or without mask or blaze. White Akitas have no mask. Pintos have a white background with large, evenly-placed patches covering head and more than one-third of body. Undercoat may be different color than outer coat.

Males, 26 to 28 inches at withers. Females, 24 to 26 inches. Weight in proportion to dog's height.

Disqualification: Adult males under 25 inches or females under 23 inches.

Brisk and powerful strides of moderate length. Back remains firm, strong and level. Rear legs move in line with front legs.

Unilateral or bilateral cryptorchid. Viciousness or extreme shyness. Excessive overshot or undershot bite. Pink noses, eyelids, or rims, butterfly nose. Excessive entropion or ectropion. Drop or broken ears. Uncurled or sickle tail. Altering of coat or general appearance by clipping or scissoring. Albinism. Adult males under 25 inches or females under 23 inches. Deafness.