A Bit About Us:
We are registered breeders and the owners of the first ever mating pair of the Japanese Akita Inu breed to arrive here in Australia. We have started to introduce this wonderful breed to our shores through an ethical breeding program so that more people in Australia can have the chance to experience the love, devotion and ultimate loyalty from this magnificent and amazing breed! We
are members of Dogs NSW and our registered breeder's prefix and kennel name with the ANKC is 'FIREANDMIST'. Let us know if you're interested in a puppy from a future litter and hopefully our plans will make your dream of owning a Japanese Akita Inu a reality! :)
SOME INFORMATION ABOUT THE BREED:
The Akita dog is one of the oldest breeds coming from the Japanese
line. It is highly revered as a guard dog in Japan, and was used by
the imperial soldiers to protect the country. Over the years, the
Akita breed was domesticated and has now become a favoured house
dog for many. But despite the years of breeding and domestication
the Akita has retained its characteristics of loyalty, protectiveness,
and intelligence. AKITA INU BREED:
(source: wikipedia)
The Akita Inu (秋田犬?) is a Japanese breed of large dog. Named for Akita Prefecture, where it is thought to have originated, it is sometimes called the Akita-ken based on the Sino-Japanese reading of the same kanji. In most countries (with the exception of the Australian, American and Canadian Kennel Clubs), it is considered a separate breed from the American Akita and is also colloquially known as the "Japanese Akita". "Inu" means "dog."[1]
Breed standards state that male Akita Inus height should range from 64-70cms (25 ¼-27 ½ ins), and females 58-64 cms (22 ¾-25 ¼ ins) at the withers.[2]
COLORS:
The Akita Inu comes in only five colors: Red, Fawn, Sesame, Brindle, and Pure White. All except white must have whitish hair on the sides of the muzzle, on the cheeks, the neck, chest, body and tail, known as "Urajiro". Black masks, as seen in the American Akita, are not permitted in the Japanese Akita Inu. COAT TYPES:
There are two coat types in the Akita, the standard coat length and the long coat, which is not eligible for showing. The long coat, also known as 'Moku' is the result of a autosomal recessive gene and only occurs phenotypically if both sire and dam are carriers. The loyalty of an Akita named Hachiko established the breed as truly loyal to their owners.[3] The famous Akita Hachiko spent nine years waiting daily at the Shibuya railway station for his deceased master to return home. Hachiko's popularity brought back the Akita from the brink of extinction. Because of their intelligence, Akitas get bored very easily and as a result, they often become destructive and aggressive if not given anything to do. Akita Inu can live happily in apartments as long as they are given plenty of exercise. They need to be socialized as puppies so they are friendly dogs and should have experienced owners. Although they love human companionship, they are quite happy to be outside dogs as well, but should still be taken out for walks to prevent destruction of the yard. Akita Inu often become excitable when seeing their owners, often wiggling around and making happy grunts. Akita Inu are very good with youngsters from their own family, and often quite playful, although they should be watched around other people's children as they could knock them over during play.[4]
The Akita Inu have a reputation for sometimes being aggressive towards smaller animals or other dogs, particularly those of the same s*x. However, they can live happily with other dogs and animals providing they are socialized well. They are excellent guard dogs and naturally protective of their home and family. The Akita Inu has a reputation for being an excellent house dog. They make great family dogs with the right training and socialization.[5]
HISTORY:
Japanese history, both verbal and written, describes the ancestors of the Akita Inu, the Matagi dog, as one of the oldest of the native dogs. The Akita Inu of today developed primarily from these dogs in the northernmost region of the island of Honshū in the Akita prefecture, thus providing the breed's name. The Matagi's quarry included wild boar, Sika Deer, and Asian black bear. This swift, agile, unswervingly tenacious precursor dog tracked large game and held it at bay until the hunters arrived to make the kill.[35]
Recent DNA analysis found that the Akita was among the most ancient dog breeds.[36]
During World War II, the number of Akita dogs greatly diminished because of the lack of food. There were also orders to capture all dogs except German Shepherds in order to use their fur for warm army uniforms.[35]
During the occupation years following the war, the breed began to thrive again through the efforts of Morie Sawataishi and others. For the first time, Akitas were bred for a standardized appearance. Akita fanciers in Japan began gathering and exhibiting the remaining Akitas and producing litters in order to restore the breed to sustainable numbers and to accentuate the original characteristics of the breed muddied by crosses to other breeds. US servicemen fell in love with the Akita and imported many of them into the US upon and after their return. Helen Keller is actually credited with having introduced America to the Akita Inu. Miss Keller loved large dogs and was very impressed with the Akita's faithfulness.[1] When she expressed the desire to meet (have) an Akita, action began to arrange for her to do so. A young Akita Police Department instructor, Master in the art of Kendo, Ichiro Ogasawara, who owned Akita dogs, was asked to arrange for Keller to get one. Soon after having arranged for an adult dog to be taken to her, he learned it was not appropriate for her needs, so he decided his own new puppy, "Kamikaze-Go", should be introduced to her. Keller was so enchanted by this little sesame-colored puppy that with the agreement of his family, Ogasawara decided to make Kamikaze-Go a gift to Keller and a formal presentation took place on June 14, 1937, the pup then just 75 days old.[37]
[edit] Breed Split Debate
Debate remains among Akita fanciers of both types whether there are or should be two breeds of Akita. To date, the American Kennel Club (AKC),[38] Canadian Kennel Club (CKC) and Australian National Kennel Council (ANKC),[39] guided by their national breed clubs, consider American and Japanese Akitas to be two types of the same breed, allowing free breeding between the two. The Federation Cynologique Internationale (FCI),[40] The Kennel Club (UK),[41][42] New Zealand Kennel Club (NZKC)[43][44] and Kennel Clubs of some other nations including Japan consider Japanese and American Akitas as separate breeds.[1][45]
Formally the split occurred June 1999, when the FCI voted that the American type would be called the Great Japanese Dog,[45] this was later changed to the American Akita. The Japanese style Akita Inu and American Akita began to diverge in type through the middle and later part of the 20th century with the Japanese Akita fanciers focusing on restoring the breed as a work of Japanese art and American Akita fanciers selecting for the larger, heavier-boned dogs that emerged from the post-war times. Both types derive from a common ancestry, but marked differences can be observed between the two.[1]
HACHIKO...The Loyal Dog. Hachikō (ハチ公?, November 10, 1923–March 8, 1935), known in Japanese as chūken Hachikō (忠犬ハチ公?, "faithful dog Hachikō" ('hachi' meaning 'eight', a number referring to the dog's birth order in the litter, and 'kō', meaning prince or duke)), was an Akita dog born on a farm near the city of Ōdate, Akita Prefecture,[1] remembered for his remarkable loyalty to his owner, even many years after his owner's death. n 1924, Hidesaburō Ueno, a professor in the agriculture department at the University of Tokyo, took in Hachikō as a pet. During his owner's life, Hachikō greeted him at the end of each day at the nearby Shibuya Station. The pair continued their daily routine until May 1925, when Professor Ueno did not return. The professor had suffered from a cerebral hemorrhage and died, never returning to the train station where Hachikō was waiting. Every day for the next nine years the golden brown Akita waited at Shibuya station. The permanent fixture at the train station that was Hachikō attracted the attention of other commuters. Many of the people who frequented the Shibuya train station had seen Hachikō and Professor Ueno together each day. They brought Hachikō treats and food to nourish him during his wait. This continued for nine years with Hachikō appearing precisely when the train was due at the station.[2]
That same year, one of Ueno's students (who had become an amateur expert on the Akita breed) saw the dog at the station and followed him to the Kobayashi home (the home of the former gardener of Professor Ueno — Kikuzaboro Kobayashi[3]) where he learned the history of Hachikō's life. Shortly after this meeting, the former student published a documented census of Akitas in Japan. His research found only 30 purebred Akitas remaining, including Hachikō from Shibuya Station. He returned frequently to visit the dog and over the years published several articles about Hachikō's remarkable loyalty. In 1932 one of these articles, published in Tokyo Asahi Shimbun, threw the dog into the national spotlight. Hachikō became a national sensation. His faithfulness to his master's memory impressed the people of Japan as a spirit of family loyalty all should strive to achieve. Teachers and parents used Hachikō's vigil as an example for children to follow. A well-known Japanese artist rendered a sculpture of the dog, and throughout the country a new awareness of the Akita breed grew. Eventually, Hachikō's legendary faithfulness became a national symbol of loyalty. Each year on April 8, Hachikō's devotion is honored with a solemn ceremony of remembrance at Tokyo's Shibuya railroad station. Hundreds of dog lovers often turn out to honor his memory and loyalty.[11][12][13]
