On March 8th, in 1935, the world lost an iconic canine. Hachiko, the beloved Akita whose fame arose from his unwavering loyalty to his owner, Professor Ueno, crossed the Rainbow Bridge on this day 87 years ago!
March 8th has now become a day that Akita parents celebrate this amazing breed. We remember all of the Akitas who have touched our hearts, now and in the past.
The Legendary Akita, Hachiko
Hachi was born in a barn in Odate, Japan and traveled via train to Tokyo as a gift from one of Professor Ueno’s students. The day he traveled, a large earthquake shook the region but Hachi made it safely and met his new master with whom he became inseparable. Each day, the man and dog would walk together to Shibuya Station where the professor boarded a train for the University.
One tragic day, Hachiko accompanied Professor Ueno to the train but at work, the professor suffered a stroke a passed away. Hachi waited as usual for his best pal to arrive back in the evening, but Professor Ueno did not return. Hachiko continued to visit Shibuya Station every day and tirelessly waited for the remainder of his life until on March 8th, 1935, the ever faithful dog passed away at age 13.
Hachi’s loyalty demonstrates the trait seen in the breed to this day. Those who have loved an Akita Inu know firsthand, the unbreakable bond that exists even beyond life. My husband and I can speak to this wholeheartedly having loved 5 Akita family members and suffering good-byes with 4. They are always in our hearts…
SUSHI, our 1st Akita The Lady BONSAI
Unforgettable, HAIKU the Chikita (chow-akita), forever love, Princess KIKO and our current sweet girl, WISHY!
About the Akita
Before bringing an Akita into your heart and your home, please learn about the breed to make sure this special dog will be the perfect match for your family for his or her lifetime!
Grooming
The Akita is a double-coated breed that ‘blows coat’ (aka sheds) twice a year for about 3 months at a time. Hair, hair, everywhere! Their coat requires regular grooming, at least twice weekly brushing can keep the shedding to a minimum and bathing can help your Akita feel and look his or her best! Nail trims too are very important as is brushing their teeth.
Exercise, Training & Socialization
Akitas must often be tricked into exercising although mine have always loved their daily walks and hiking in new places. Afterwards, they are often happy to relax. Many do have a high prey drive that is difficult to train out of them, so always walk your Akita on leash and have a secure fence at least 6 ft. high. Don’t however leave your Akita alone in the yard. They are very loyal to their people and like to be with them. Like other breeds, some like toys and some do not. Often the squeaky toys interest them due to their prey drive. As for throwing the ball…you Akita just might retrieve it, but I wouldn’t bet money on it. Your Akita is more likely to look at you as if to say, “You threw it. Go get it yourself.”
Obedience Training
Every pet parent thinks their breed is their smartest, and Akitas are no exception. A highly intelligent breed, they are also very independent and need stimulation and motivation to work. They will defy you, even use their big paws like suction cups and note move, if they feel what you are asking is not worth doing. Akitas PAWSitively can be trained and should be taught to work nicely on-leash, come when called, sit for a treat, stay and leave it, but you may just have to get a little more creative to show your Akita why it’s in their best interest (aka reward) to obey.
Socializing
When in the correct home with the right people, an Akita is a wonderful addition. With that being said, mixing them with kids and other dogs is an important consideration to carefully weigh the pros and cons before bringing one into your home.
Akitas can live harmoniously with children under some conditions. For example, kids that are a little older and have been taught how to properly respect and interact with animals may provide the right environment for an Akita.
As for other dogs, you must take into account that Akitas can be dog aggressive. Some Akitas can do well with dogs of the opposite sex. Others may be happiest on their own.
When introduced and brought into the family young, you can have success with your Akita integrating into the home with another dog of the opposite sex. Of course, it is possible to do it when they’re older, but you must be prepared if it turns out that the two dogs cannot live harmoniously together.
Having a plan is important, and understanding that Akitas can be dog aggressive, especially at maturity is important to know as well.
Nutrition
Akita Personality Traits
The personality of the Akita is different than that of other breeds. Not all breeds are built the same and come with their own sets of traits that make them unique and desirable to different groups of people.
If you’re looking into the Akita, it’s important to ensure that you’re prepared to live with a dog that has a mind of its own and isn’t afraid to use it. Here are some personality traits to consider when it comes to the Akita.
Loyalty
One of the most common traits to associate with the Akita is their loyalty. Loyalty has become synonymous with the Akita since the famous story of Hachiko.
Today, we can still see loyalty in our Akitas. They are very much loyal to their close families, those that they live with.
Typically, they get more attached to one member of the family a little more than the others. But rest assured, an Akita will protect the household if there is a threat.
Affection
Akitas are not overly affectionate. They typically won’t seek out cuddles and love, but will often be tolerant of it when it comes to their family. In all honesty, once an Akita bonds with you, you might be amazed about how soft and lovable the dog becomes 🙂
It’s important to be able to read your dog’s body language so that you know when you’re being imposing, or when they’re willing to accept it.
Akitas will often give you all the love and attention when you come home, but you’ll notice it start to waver quickly after the initial excitement.
Akitas often show their affection in other ways as well. They may linger near you or lay at your feet. They may also turn to you when they’re hungry or want to go outside.
These actions show that they are comfortable and happy to be with you!
Protection
The days of the Akita being used as a hunting dog are long behind us, but that doesn’t mean that they still can’t work. An Akita is a wonderful choice when it comes to keeping watch over their homes.
Protection of their home, family, and territory is in their nature. If a stranger enters your yard, you’re going to know about it.
While this is a highly desirable trait to have if you’re looking for a dog that will keep your home and family safe, it can be a double-edged sword if you don’t have control over it.
To keep in control of your Akita’s protectiveness, early socialization is a must. A great way to do this is to have your Akita on a leash when you have visitors to your home.
While it may be perfectly acceptable to you for them to give a few warning barks, it’s good to have them calm down quickly and accept the stranger into your home if they are welcomed.
Keeping them on a leash allows you to be in control. If they are not behaving properly toward the friendly stranger, try leading them away to calm down first. Once calm, reintroduce them to the stranger and try again.
Remember to reward them for good behavior!
This is just one method that you can try. Working with a great trainer that’s familiar with Akitas and their traits is another good option too if you’re not seeing progress.
Keep in mind that an Akita knows how to protect and will do so when needed. It’s your job as their owner to let them know when someone is not a threat and manage their behavior.
How Are You Celebrating International Akita Day?
On the day of Hachiko’s death, we celebrate the love that we have for our Akitas. Today, I’ll be remembering Professor Ueno, Hachiko, and Sushi, Rex, Bonsai, Haiku and Kiko while I will love and embrace our Wishy!
Hachikō is known in Japanese as chūken Hachikō (忠犬ハチ公) “faithful dog Hachikō”, hachi meaning “eight” and -kō which originates as a suffix once used for ancient Chinese dukes; thus, Hachikō could be roughly translated as either “Mr. Eight” or “Sir Eight”. A few years back, I literally took the number 8 as my mantra for the year . The numeral 8 is a circle on top of a circle. If you have a strong foundation, you can face the world. I can write so much about the number 8 but that is for another blog. Today…if you share your life with an Akita, spend special time together. If you have never met a dog of this breed, take away from this that Akitas are an often misjudged breed and if you take the time to know one, your life will be forever changed.
