Are Akitas High Maintenance Dogs?

Akitas are known as a breed for experienced owners but are they necessarily high-maintenance dogs?

Akitas are high-maintenance dogs, mostly because they need plenty of high-quality training. Akitas also require early socialization to counteract their strong prey drive and defensiveness. On the other hand, these dogs do not need any elaborate grooming and they are healthy dogs that do not need much veterinarian care.

It is important to be aware of the peculiarities of this breed to empathize with these pups’ need for experienced dog owners.

5 REASONS WHY AKITAS ARE HIGH-MAINTENANCE DOGS

1. High Activity Requirement

Akitas used to be hunting dogs in their historical past, they assisted with hunting very large animals too. That is telling of the physical abilities of these dogs – they are mighty and energetic.

These days Akitas are more likely to be companions and family pets than hunting dogs but they still have the strength and athleticism of their ancestors.

Providing your Akita with plenty of opportunities to exercise is one of the most effective ways to prevent any behavioral problems.

In addition, these dogs need physical activity to maintain a healthy weight, because they are prone to gaining weight excessively.

Akita’s moderate to high exercise needs are generally a positive attribute, as long as it is a match to your lifestyle. However, if you live in a particularly busy household, it could be hard to find the time for long walks, hikes, and other ways to keep your dog occupied and content.

2. High Training Needs

Akitas need to be very well trained and socialized to thrive among people and other pets in the community. They could require much effort and patience on behalf of the trainer to acquire the essential social skills.

A well-known canine psychologist Stanley Coren ranked about 130 breeds according to their working intelligence and obedience scores. The rankings are based on evaluations of multiple trainers and judges who scored different breeds independently.

According to Coren, Akitas are more trainable than one-quarter of all the breeds that were ranked. In other words, three-quarters of all breeds learn easier. That puts Akitas at the very bottom of the group with average working intelligence and right above the group that is considered fairly capable of being trained. In practical terms, your pet teaching a dog of this breed could take some time and skill.

It might take an average Akita up to twenty-five repetitions to somewhat understand a basic command.
The dog may need up to eighty repetitions to show consistency in understanding a command.

Akitas need to practice skills regularly, otherwise, they could forget even the skills they mastered well.
Teaching Akitas requires much patience because they often act very independently and are distracted during training.
The dog could listen and understand its owner very well but behaves differently when the owner is farther away.

It is also worth pointing out that many Akitas do not accept a new pet in the house unless they are raised together from a young age. Akitas may show aggression toward other dogs, especially large dogs of the same gender. Your Akita may need to be the only pet in your home.

3. Shedding And Grooming Needs

Akitas do shed a lot, and that is one aspect that adds to their reputation of being relatively high-maintenance. Spring and late summer are the seasons of heavier shedding because that is when the dog updates its coat in preparation for either the cold or hot season. Expect a moderate to high amount of dog fur around your house throughout the year.

On the other hand, these dogs do not require any elaborate grooming practices. Occasional baths are sufficient, and regular brushing with a shedding comb is recommended. Their fur sheds in clumps, so it is easy to pick up with a vacuum cleaner.

Many dogs love being brushed, so this is an opportunity to bond with your Akita. It could also be a fun chore for older school-age children if you have them in your household.

4. Feeding Your Akita

The ideal diet of an Akita is not unique to the breed but it should be suitable for a large canine, susceptible to excessive weight gain and joint problems.

Feeding your Akita high-quality food is crucial in the long run. Akitas are a breed that greatly benefits from balanced nutrition. If you are new to having dogs in your household, you might be somewhat surprised by how much food a dog as large as an Akita consumes. That is not specific to the breed – they are just large and muscular, so they need a great amount of nutrition.

5. Health Issues

Akitas have a relatively long life expectancy for a large dog: 10-14 years is typical. A large breed of dogs, they are fairly healthy animals.

They are susceptible to several acquired illnesses and genetic disorders, especially if the dog is purebred:

Hip dysplasia and other joint issues

Progressive retinal atrophy, which causes blindness
Von Willebrand disease, which is a bleeding disorder
Immune system disorders, particularly ones that affect the skin

Myasthenia gravis, which is not inherited but acquired
Like all large dogs, they can develop bloat – an extremely dangerous gastrointestinal condition, which requires surgical intervention.

The family’s pet’s health status is important for obvious reasons but, in practical terms, anticipating potential health issues helps plan for the financial expenses that are associated with visits to the vet.