Akita Breed Standard
American Kennel Club - Working Group
Approved Dec. 12, 1972
(revised 2009 - link below)
History
The Akita is one of Seven
Breeds designated as a National Monument in his native country of Japan.
Bred as a versatile hunting dog in the rugged mountains of Northern
Japan, the breed is a wonderful combination of dignity with good nature,
alert courage and docility.
There is a spiritual significance attached to the Akita. In Japan they
are affectionately regarded as loyal companions and pets, protectors of
the home and a symbol of good health, when a child is born, the proud
family will usually receive a small statue of an Akita signifying
health, happiness, and a long-life. If a person is ill, friends will
send a small statue of an Akita to express their wish for a speedy
recovery.
The renowned Helen Keller is credited with bringing the first Akita into
the United States in 1937. The breed's popularity in the United States
following World War II may be attributed to American servicemen of the
occupational forces, who so admired the noble dogs that they took them
home to their families. They were attracted to the Akita because of the
breed's intelligence and adaptability to different situations.
General Appearance
Large, powerful, alert, with much substance and heavy bone. The broad
head, forming a blunt triangle, with deep muzzle, small eyes and erect
ears carried forward in line with back of neck, is characteristic of the
breed. The large, curled tail, balancing the broad head, is also
characteristic of the breed.
Head - Massive but in balance with body; free of wrinkle when at
ease. Skull flat between ears and broad; jaws square and powerful with
minimal dewlap. Head forms a blunt triangle when viewed from above.
Fault - Narrow or snipy head.
Muzzle - Broad and full. Distance from nose to stop is to
distance from stop to occiput as 2 is to 3.
Stop - Well defined, but not too abrupt. A shallow furrow extends
well up forehead.
Nose - Broad and black. Liver permitted on white Akitas, but
black always preferred. Disqualification - Butterfly nose or
total lack of pigmentation on nose.
Ears - The ears of the Akita are characteristic of the breed.
They are strongly erect and small in relation to rest of head. If ear is
folded forward for measuring length, tip will touch upper eye rim. Ears
are triangular, slightly rounded at tip, wide at base, set wide on head
but not too low, and carried slightly forward over eyes in line with
back of neck. Disqualification - Drop or broken ears.
Eyes - Dark brown, small, deep-set and triangular in shape. Eye
rims black and tight.
Lips and Tongue - Lips black and not pendulous; tongue pink.
Teeth - Strong with scissors bite preferred, but level bite
acceptable. Disqualification - Noticeably undershot or overshot.
Neck - Thick and muscular; comparatively short, widening
gradually toward shoulders. A pronounced crest blends in with base of
skull.
Body - Longer than high, as 10 is to 9 in males; 11 to 9 in
bitches. Chest wide and deep; depth of chest is one-half height of dog
at shoulder. Ribs well sprung, brisket well developed. Level back with
firmly-muscled loin and moderate tuck-up. Skin pliant but not loose.
Serious Faults - Light bone, rangy body.
Tail - 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. On a three-quarter curl, tip drops well down flank.
Root large and strong. Tail bone reaches hock when let down. Hair
coarse, straight and full, with no appearance of a plume.
Disqualification - Sickle or uncurled tail.
Forequarters - Shoulders strong and powerful with moderate
layback. Forelegs heavy-boned and straight as viewed from front. Angle
of pastern 15 degrees forward from vertical. Faults - Elbows in or out,
loose shoulders.
Hindquarters - Width, muscular development and bone comparable to
forequarters. Upper thighs well developed. Stifle moderately bent and
hocks well let down, turning neither in nor out.
Dewclaws - On front legs generally not removed; dewclaws on hind
legs generally removed.
Feet - Cat feet, well knuckled up with thick pads. Feet straight
ahead.
Coat - Double-coated. Undercoat thick, soft, dense and shorter
than outer coat. 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 tail, where coat is longest and most profuse. Fault -
Any indication of ruff or feathering.
Color - Any color including white; brindle; or pinto. Colors are
brilliant and clear and markings are well balanced, with or without mask
or blaze. White Akitas have no mask. Pinto has a white background with
large, evenly placed patches covering head and more than one-third of
body. Undercoat may be a different color from outer coat.
Gait - Brisk and powerful with strides of moderate length. Back
remains strong, firm and level. Rear legs move in line with front legs.
Size - Males 26 to 28 inches at the withers; bitches 24 to 26
inches. Disqualification - dogs under 25 inches; bitches under 23
inches.
Temperament - Alert and responsive, dignified and courageous.
Aggressive toward other dogs.
Disqualifications - Butterfly nose or total lack of pigmentation on
nose. Drop or broken ears. Noticeably undershot or overshot. Sickle or
uncurled tail. Dogs under 25 inches; bitches under 23 inches.
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Akita Breed Standard
United Kennel Club - Northern Breed Group
Recognized in 1980
(revised 2009 - link below)
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.
General Appearance
A large dog of the Spitz family, heavy bones, broad head, double coated, tail
carried over the back, in any color.
Characteristics
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.
Head and Skull
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.
Neck - Muscular and thick, comparatively short, widening gradually toward
shoulders. A pronounced crest blends in with base of skull.
Forequarters - 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.
Body - 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.
Hindquarters - 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.
Feet - Cat like, well knuckled up, with thick pads. Feet straight.
Dewclaws - on front legs generally not removed but on hind legs generally
removed.
Tail - 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.
Coat - 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.
Color - 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.
Height and Weight - 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.
Gait - Brisk and powerful strides of moderate length. Back remains firm, strong
and level. Rear legs move in line with front legs.
Disqualifications - 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.
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