Overview
Akitas were developed in northern Japan as hunting and guarding dogs, and the American type you meet most often in Britain is larger and heavier than the Japanese Akita Inu. Both share the same core: quiet, loyal to their own people, reserved with everyone else and prone to taking a dislike to other dogs.
This is not a breed for a mixed group walk. Many Akitas are fine with dogs they grew up alongside and hostile to strange ones, particularly of the same sex. Owners who know their dog will tell you this plainly. Listen to them.
Exercise and walking needs
An hour to ninety minutes a day in two walks is plenty. Akitas are not high-drive runners; they like a steady, purposeful walk with time to sniff and survey. A brisk hour on a lead keeps most of them fit and content.
The double coat means summer heat is a real limit. Walk early, carry water and shorten the route rather than push on.
On the walk
- Other dogs: The main risk. Give every other dog a wide berth, cross the road early and never let an off-lead dog run up to an Akita on a lead. Carry yourself calmly and keep moving.
- Strength: Forty kilos of muscle that can brace against a lead without effort. Walk with a harness, a short lead and both hands free of phones.
- Body language: Akitas are quiet. They do not growl much before acting, so watch for a hard stare, raised hackles and a still tail rather than waiting for noise.
- Recall: Independent to the bone. Even owners with well-trained dogs rarely trust them off a lead outside a secure field.
Tips for professional walkers
- Walk the Akita alone or with a dog the owner confirms it already lives with and likes.
- Pick quiet times and wide paths so you can control distance from other dogs without drama.
- Keep greetings with the dog low-key. It will accept you on its own timetable, not yours.
- Brush out loose coat during the big seasonal sheds if the owner wants it, and check the thick fur for ticks.
What to ask the owner
- How does the dog react to other dogs, on and off the lead, and has it ever been in a fight?
- Is the dog same-sex aggressive, and are there particular dogs or routes to avoid?
- How does it handle strangers approaching you on a walk, and what do you want done if someone wants to pet it?
- What temperature is too hot for a walk, and how long does it cope in summer?