Akita Purpose and Proportion:  The Akita Breed Standard specifies the Akita has moderate angulation and a level topline.  The elbows are under the point of the shoulder and at all ages, should be at the brisket.  Rear feet are only slightly behind the hip joint.  With weight thus distributed and supported, he (or she) is perfectly "balanced" as a strong, agile hunter or a quiet, capable family protector.

Length of back to leg ratio serves a distinct purpose in all breeds.  The Akita is not as high on leg as say, an Airedale Terriers but he should never be low-stationed like a Rottie.  Body proportion is that of the Nordic (spitz) breeds; Keeshond, Elkhound, and yes, even the Pomeranian.  Not a draft dog, not sight nor scent hound, the Akita was developed to confront bear, boar, and other dogs.  And to appear noble!

The male shown here proved himself as the ideal Akita, both in the ring and as the #1 Sire of all Working breeds with 101 Champions and countless ROMPX progeny.  Ch. Okii Yubi Sachmo Of Makoto remained in the Top Five Breed and Group stats for 5 consecutive years, owner handled, not campaigned but rarely ever defeated, and at a time when an Akita was seldom considered at Group level.  Sachmo was and remains, a legend in the Akita breed.  So what made him so great?  His charisma, dominance, assertiveness; his physical qualities and powerful movement - but most of all, it was the daring and brilliance of judges who recognized and awarded his impeccable TYPE.

An Akita must have supreme agility, stability, and balance when the quarry turns to fight.  The Akita was a mighty hunter and sorry, but he was a fighting breed.  Note the level topline, proportion, length of leg to body ratio, the deep strong body, where the brisket is, and the perfect angles of a top-winning, top producing "plain fawn" Sachmo daughter. 

When you see a “high in the rear” Akita let's hope it is a puppy, not an adult.  Straight stifles are no longer as common in the Akita but neither should you award the over-angulated rears that are becoming popular among breeders.  The correct shoulder assembly can not balance an over-angulated rear and the Akita dog becomes unsound for his purpose.  (see discussion on character and temperament)  As regards rear angulation, think of it this way.  If you placed a Doberman's back feet where they belong (a plumb line from point of buttocks would touch the toes), he could not have the incorrect rear angulation and sloping topline so fashionable today.  We must hope that the Akita breed doesn't drift from "moderate" to over-angulated or lose his upstanding structure (and character) but then that is up to you the judge because breeders will bring you what you most often award. 

The Akita, like many breeds, is in danger of becoming just another generic dog in profile and personality, i.e. Americanized.  Re-designing a breed is not up to the judge. You can and should help improve a breed by guiding novice breeders according to the AKC Breed Standard and the purpose of the breed.  It should never be about fashion or personal preference, particularly if your background is in breeds such as the GSD or Irish Setter.

The Akita Head is one of the most distinguishing features and rightfully takes precedence in the Akita Breed Standard containing 3 of the 5 disqualifications.  The skull is "flat between the ears," with powerful jaws capable of exerting enormous pressure.  In profile, the muzzle is shorter than the backskull and the stop is "well defined but not too abrupt" as in the mastiff breeds.  The Akita shown in profile has excellent head proportion and stop.

None of these ideal examples are "narrow or snipy."  The Akita needs a large, tight-lipped mouth with tremendous grip as in the Bull or Staffordshire Terrier and for the same reason.

Note the required "shallow furrow" extending from between the eyes well into the backskull. You should not have to feel for it; the furrow should be clearly visible.  Dogs that lack furrow often have “ski-slope” stops, lack jaw development, and the heads tend to be "narrow or snipy" and overall, weak. 

The eyes are "small, deep set" (less likely to be injured in a fight) and "triangular".  They should not be too small!  You don’t need to measure the ears. Ears will be "small in relation to the rest of the head" but to measure long ears against a long backskull, meaning a long way from the base of ear to the eye rim, is a give-away that you read the standard but don’t understand the breed. The drawing  used in the Judges' Guide Book shows the correct eye shape, size, and placement in relation to length of backskull and base of ears. 

Think chow-small ears in relation to the head and carried "slightly forward over eyes in line with back of  neck" as in this lovely white puppy with perfect pigment. Akita ears are thick leathered, rounded on the tip, and wide apart but not low set.  They should be well furred - this is a northern breed.  The strength of the head, depth of muzzle, and mass of the skull, should be awe-inspiring but never "wet" as in the mastiff breeds. 

Bone and Substance is demanded in both sexes.  In World Of The Akita, I characterized the female as an “iron hand in a velvet glove,” an oft-quoted term today.  The red female exemplifies that description.  Straight in stifle, she is otherwise impossible to fault.  She excels in powerful body, well developed shoulder and chest, thick muscular neck.  Her strong head with forward-slanting ears in line with her arched neck perfectly balance the required big, fat, "bottle-brush" tail, fully curled, resting on a strong, level back.  She has bone, not legs full of chalk or back-brushed coat.  Actually, she has just discarded her summer coat preparing for a full off-standing winter coat.

Neck and Body form a unique and distinctive profile when looking at your lineup.  The outline should be almost square in the male Akita, bitches only a fraction longer.  There has been controversy about length of body but please, study this old drawing which I included in the Judges Guide Book.  The Akita, UNLIKE the Rottie, is measured from the sternum, not the point of the shoulder.  The back is level and the leg-to-body ratio quite different than the Rottie which was a draft dog.  The Akita underline has moderate tuck up but he is not “dumpy”.  He should have plenty of daylight under him.  There should be visible fore-chest indicating proper shoulder placement and ribcage.

The thick neck flows into moderately laid back shoulders, continuing on to a level topline, finished off by a generously coated "bottle brush" high-set well curled tail that balances the big head. 

Study the male Akita on the left.  Ch. Jake finished novice owner-handled in a total of three shows.  He was never campaigned, which is a shame because he was a shining example of a strong, masculine, perfectly proportioned Akita.  Note the massive head with ideal ear set, blending into a crested neck, perfect shoulder and rear quarter – solid muscle and bone right down to his cat-feet.  Put a mental ruler on his proportion.  This is an Akita in perfect balance, perfect height to length body ratio balanced by a huge head and big full-curl tail that rests on top of the back.  “Big Jake” was 28 inches.  A tower of power, a gentle giant, and a classic example of the Akita.

"Light bone, rangy body" is the only serious fault in the Akita Standard.  The brisket is deep, body powerful, with a short tight loin because body length is in the rib cage.  The stance is powerful, balanced and capable of instant action propelled by a well-developed stifle, upper thigh, and strongly defined hocks.  Well developed tendons and muscle give the mature dog a powerful, tight body with only moderate tuck-up. The legs should not be extended rearward in order to set the hock perpendicular to the ground.  If the dog is stacked that way, there is too much rear angulation and he is "out of balance" for both his utilitarian and his symbolic purpose.

You can feel the power in that thick, muscular neck.  Run your hands over the "well-sprung ribs."  (You noted the chest was wide and deep as you approached the dog).  Do not lean over the dog.  Do not push him around!  (If you haven't read Judging Temperament and Character, do so now so that you don't take liberties that could result in embarrassment for you and the breed.)  You will note that the Akita's skin is pliable, not loose but you probably should not pinch him to determine that! 

Akita Movement Send ‘em around!  Hopefully there were several that caught your eye on the lineup.  Now you'll see if your first impression holds together.  Akitas will tend towards boredom as you begin individual examination but right now, the males are mentally claiming turf on the go-around.  Hopefully those that initially filled your eye will not disappoint when moving.

The head will not be held high, this is a serious dog that intends to get where he’s going and to do it with the least amount of effort (don't forget that chow ancestor.)  A seasoned campaigner may not move with as much purpose as a young dog that is still of the opinion he can take the lead away from the dog in front.  Even so, the Akita dog should move with power, determination, moderate reach and drive, and solid topline.  A dark “saddle” or large marking on the mid-back may make the back appear to roll.  In fact, if it is fat as so many are shown, or it has loose skin, or if it is a gangly puppy, the dog will roll.  It is to be faulted.

BIS winner Ch. Rambo demonstrates ideal movement.  Note head carriage, solid topline, big full tail, and moderate stride that still shows plenty of footpad.  He clearly shows that a short-coupled torso does not cause an Akita with proper angulation to interfere or overreach.

Movement is not the long floating strides of the GSD, nor the long ground covering stride of many sporting or herding breeds.  Indeed, the Akita's gait is "brisk" as in stepping out at a faster pace.  It is never choppy because the topline remains firm and level if the back is short. "Strides of moderate length" emphasizes two things.  !.) it is not a long stride, and 2.) it couldn't be if the Akita is short backed, close coupled and of moderate angulation.  The close-coupled "hooded" bitch is moving with the correct reach and drive, hocks flexed but not over-extending or with too much kick behind. 

The Akita standard assumes that we know the chest is "wide and deep"  when it states simply that "rear legs move in line with front legs."  So does the Akita single track?  NO!  Only if he lacks the well developed chest with well sprung ribs, i.e. he has a narrow body, with a narrow center of balance which would be pretty unhandy in a breed meant to do close combat.  Again, do not confuse this "hunter" with hounds, pointers or setters.

Examining The Akita You may have been a bit disappointed when they went around, possibly you have the class narrowed down already, but let’s be sure that all the parts are as they should be. 

JUDGING TIP:  Glen and Jean Fancy first assess a dog from the profile stack position, then step to the front and approach calmly, in a friendly, but non-excitable “hello doggy” manner.  They stroke (check) the head, quickly move on to the rest of the body, and then check teeth last after the dog has accepted the non-intrusive "petting" exam over the rear quarters which includes checking testicles while stroking the thigh or buttocks area. There is no need to engage in a wrestling match or cause the dog to move out of a carefully arranged pose by examining the bite first.  This is great technique because even If you ask the exhibitor to show the bite the dog invariably comes unstacked.

The bite can be level but scissors is preferred.  Do not check molars.  You don’t count teeth in this breed so neither the handler or dog will be prepared for a full mouth exam.

The Akita Tail is so important that it has its own section in the Akita Standard.  It is "large and full."  That means strongly boned and well-coated, it should look like a fat bottle brush.  It must be long enough that it can curl.  But as with measuring ears, bear in mind that two wrongs don't make a right.  A short tail pulled down to to reach a long straight hock, well, it will.  It has to be "set high" in order to be "carried over the back."  Now here comes the part about which some judges have been (deliberately) misled by folks that just couldn’t breed a tail to conform to the Akita standard.  That is their problem, it should not become yours!

There is only one thing to remember here.  If it is looser than a full circle (curl) it must be long enough to "drop well down the flank."  Now that makes it easy!  Here's why.  If only the tip touches the back it can not be a full curl so it is to be disqualified.  As depicted in the Judges' Book, (illustration) it is an "uncurled" or "sickle tail" and either one is a disqualification.  I have had judges say they attended a seminar in which they were told “as long as it touches the back, it’s okay.”  It is not.  The Akita Breed Standard says the tail must be a "three-quarter, full, or double curl," and here's the key phrase, "always dipping to or below level of back" but keep reading if you think just “touching the back” is okay because the standard further explains: "a three-quarter curl, tip drops well down flank." 

The standard does not leave it up to interpretation.  A full curl or a double curl dips to or below the level of the back, but a looser three quarter curl must drop well down the dog’s flank as in Jagger, the black dog below.  Only if it is a "full or double curl" can it just reach/touch the back.  There are only three acceptable tails.  #1, A full curl, which is NOT a partial curl or half circle.  A full curl can rest on the back (note is does not say "touch" the back) as in the white dog "Orca" and "Victor" below.  #2 A double curl, may also rest on the back as in BigSon (left), a multi-group winner and All Time top sire .  #3 A three-quarter curl must drop well down the flank as in Jagger and Joker, both multi-BIS Akitas shown below.  Period.  That's it.  The Akita tail is a unique breed feature, that's why there's no in-between.  It is a full curl (circle), a double curl, either of which may rest on the back or on the side, or it can be a 3/4 (looser) curl which, because it isn't coiled up, will be long enough to drop well down the flank.  Not just "touch" the back.  Check this against the standard (exact quotes) and then don't let anyone confuse you.

Forequarters and Hindquarters need little explanation.  The Akita must have round, dense bone that does not break easily in a physical confrontation. Fat is not muscle, nor is it substance.  It is a cover up for a dog that lacks both!  The feet are important to a dog that must travel rough terrain without breaking down.  They are thick, cat feet, well knuckled up.