Akita
Akita
- Sizelarge
- Weight31.8–54.4 kg
- Lives10–12 years
- Popularity in Mexico★★★
Character
Akita temperament
A large dog from the working group, in twelve traits from 1 to 5:
- Energymarathoner
- Affection with familymiddle of the road
- With kidsmiddle of the road
- With other dogslone wolf
- With strangerswary
- Playfulnessmiddle of the road
- Guarding instinctborn guardian
- Adaptabilitymiddle of the road
- Trainabilitymiddle of the road
- Barkingnearly silent
- Mental stimulation it needsmiddle of the road
- Prey drivechases anything that moves
Distinguishing features
Akita characteristics
- Ears
- erect
- Height
- 56–69 cm
- Weight
- 31.8–54.4 kg
- Muzzle
- medium
- Coat
- double coat
- Coat length
- medium
- Colors
- any color
- Life expectancy
- 10–12 years
- Sheddingmiddle of the road
- Coat caremiddle of the road
Life expectancy
How long does a Akita live?
10–12 years
The breed sets the range; how long each dog lives depends on its weight, its exercise, its teeth and its check-ups with the vet.
The long profile
Long profile, in Spanish for now
The long version of this breed — character, care and origins, in Lord Chucho's voice — exists in Spanish and hasn't been translated yet. The hard data on this page (traits, features, lifespan) is the same in both languages.
Buying guides
What to buy for a Akita
What to buy, by what it needs:
What we'd give Choco
For a dog like this one
Affiliate links: it costs you the same. How they work (in Spanish)
AI image: the real product may vary KONG Classic
The classic that survives teenage-Labrador jaws. Stuff it with frozen treats and you just bought an hour of peace.
AI image: the real product may vary Chuckit! Ultra Ball
A ball that bounces evenly, floats and doesn't fall apart on day three. If your dog lives for the ball, this is THE ball.
AI image: the real product may vary FURminator for double coats
On double-coated breeds it pulls out loose hair by the kilo. Your couch will thank you more than the dog will.
AI image: the real product may vary Front-clip (no-pull) harness
If the walk looks like water skiing, the chest clip redirects without hurting. It doesn't replace training, but it gives you control while training arrives.
What people ask
Frequently asked questions about the Akita
How big does a Akita get?
An adult Akita stands 56–69 cm at the withers and weighs 31.8–54.4 kg.
Does the Akita need a lot of exercise?
The Akita scores 4 out of 5 on “Energy”: marathoner. On that scale, 1 is “couch potato” and 5 is “marathoner”.
Is the Akita good with kids?
The Akita scores 3 out of 5 on “With kids”: right in the middle of the scale. On that scale, 1 is “better without kids” and 5 is “excellent”. Even with a 5, no dog should be left alone with small children: supervising them is the adult's job.
Does the Akita get along with other dogs?
The Akita scores 1 out of 5 on “With other dogs”: lone wolf. On that scale, 1 is “lone wolf” and 5 is “life of the dog park”.
Is the Akita easy to train?
The Akita scores 3 out of 5 on “Trainability”: right in the middle of the scale. On that scale, 1 is “negotiates every command” and 5 is “learns on the fly”.
Does the Akita bark a lot?
The Akita scores 2 out of 5 on “Barking”: nearly silent. On that scale, 1 is “nearly silent” and 5 is “reports everything”.
Is the Akita a good guard dog?
The Akita scores 5 out of 5 on “Guarding instinct”: born guardian. On that scale, 1 is “not a guardian” and 5 is “born guardian”.
Does the Akita shed a lot?
The Akita scores 3 out of 5 on “Shedding”: right in the middle of the scale. On that scale, 1 is “barely sheds” and 5 is “hair everywhere”.
Can a Akita live in an apartment?
The Akita scores 3 out of 5 on “Adaptability”: right in the middle of the scale. On that scale, 1 is “needs its space and routine” and 5 is “settles anywhere”. An apartment is fine, being shut in is not: every dog needs to get out every day.
Health
We only publish each breed's health topics after reviewing them carefully. We guide you, but we're not your vet: if something about your dog worries you, the internet doesn't replace a visit to the vet.