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Breed profile

Akita

A big, dignified spitz guardian. Devoted to its own people, aloof with strangers and often intolerant of other dogs.

A red and white American-type Akita with a black mask stands side-on in a garden, tail curled over its back
Big, dignified and very sure of itself.Photo: Cozmo / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Weight
32–59 kg71–130 lb
Height
58–71 cm23–28 in
Lifespan
10–13 yrs
Group
Utility / Working
Origin
Japan & United States
Popularity
#62 US#88 UK · 2025

Known for: WatchdogsCold climates

Energy
Shedding
Trainability
Barking
Good with kids
Flat-friendly

Temperament

Dignified, Loyal, Reserved, Protective.

Health problems to know about

  • Immune-mediated disease (sebaceous adenitis, uveodermatologic syndrome)
  • Hip and elbow dysplasia
  • Bloat (GDV)
  • Hypothyroidism
  • Progressive retinal atrophy

Ask breeders for the parents' health test results, and check what your national breed club recommends screening for.

Daily care

Daily walks and structured training, with wide socialisation from puppyhood and supervision around other dogs. Brush weekly and daily during the heavy twice-yearly moult. Check local breed rules and insurance terms.

A good fit for

Experienced owners, adult homes, people who want a calm, watchful one-dog household.

Probably not ideal for

First-time owners, homes with young children or other dogs, busy dog parks, small homes.

Sources

  1. Royal Kennel Club: Akita breed information
  2. VCA Animal Hospitals: Akita
  3. Wikipedia: Akita

Popularity: AKC 2025 registration rankings (US); Royal Kennel Club 2025 registrations (UK, ranked by us). Breed traits are tendencies, not guarantees. Individual dogs vary, and mixed breeds and rescues can be wonderful fits too.

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A Himalayan guardian with a lion's mane and a mind of its own. Calm by day, watchful (and loud) at night.

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A big, bearded Soviet working dog bred to guard. Calm and affectionate with family, serious about strangers.

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Kuvasz

A large white Hungarian guardian. Devoted to its own family, suspicious of everyone else, and inclined to make its own decisions.

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