Okay so I have a Akita Puppy she is 5 months old tomorrow (Monday Nov.
the 8th). She is very friendly, she loves people and other dogs.
I've been taking her to the dog park at least once a week sense she
was 3 months old. She has done great there and has some made great
people. She usually doesn't bark unless something is wrong or she
wants to/is playing. She really does great when strangers come over,
she is just a happy puppy. She doesn't like feet thought, if she is
laying down she doesn't like to be touched by feet, and when she does
she snaps at the foot. I think this is okay, for now, because hey its
scary someone might step on her or something, is this normal, and how
should I go about fixing it?

I don't exactly know what her weight is but i know that she hasn't
really grown a great deal sense she was 4 months old. Her colors have
grown in a bit, and she's become a little bit more bulky, but that is
it. Should I be looking at a big growth spurt this month?

Height wise, she is just under 2 feet tall, is that normal?

She has a great temperament. She usually follows me around inside the
house and at the dog park she usually has me in sight almost all the
time. When she doesn't, or I lost her in my sight, I'll call her and
she'll come back into sight. She is a grand dog with really pretty
tri-coloring. She will sit and stay for my brothers, and me, but she
wont for my parents. She'll only go "down" for me, is that normal? I
understand that Female Dogs (Yuki is a girl) usually will only really
listen to one maybe two people, is that correct?

I'd like to train her up a bit, maybe get into shows with her. She is
AKC registered, and really pretty with "show like markings." She
currently knows Sit, Stay, Down, and Come, and Im trying to teacher
her Heel. What else should she know, and any good suggestions or
websites that could help me know how to better train her, and what
tricks she should know for the Shows?

I was also wondering about Search and Rescue. I am looking into that,
and I think it would be way fun. I heard, and read, that Akita's have
the strongest Jaw (bite power). They also have a great nose for
sniffing, because if something gets caught in it (some other bad
smell, such as urine) Akita's can get it out of there nose really
quick. Where other dogs take longer. Any views on that? Does anyone
know of a Akita Search and Rescue Dog?

Thank you in advance for all your help and info you have provided.

Travis Woodward

On 8 Nov 2004 08:04:46 -0800 Travis whittled these words:
Okay so I have a Akita Puppy she is 5 months old tomorrow (Monday Nov.
the 8th). She is very friendly, she loves people and other dogs.
I've been taking her to the dog park at least once a week sense she
was 3 months old. She has done great there and has some made great
people. She usually doesn't bark unless something is wrong or she
wants to/is playing. She really does great when strangers come over,
she is just a happy puppy.

This is excellent. But do understand that it would be perfectly normal
for her attitude to change as she matures. It is extremely unusual for an
adult Akita to be appropriate for the dog park setting. And you shouldn't
expect her to be any different from what the breed is. Dog to dog
aggression is normal for the breed.

She doesn't like feet thought, if she is
laying down she doesn't like to be touched by feet, and when she does
she snaps at the foot. I think this is okay, for now, because hey its
scary someone might step on her or something, is this normal, and how
should I go about fixing it?

No, it is not OK. She should not be snapping at feet. It is *normal* for
the breed, but it is not something you should allow. Look at it from her
perspective and make feet fun. With appropriate rewards (toys, treats,
praise) you should be able to get her to associate a *gentle* touch with
your feet with a fun game or treat or playtime with you.

I don't exactly know what her weight is but i know that she hasn't
really grown a great deal sense she was 4 months old. Her colors have
grown in a bit, and she's become a little bit more bulky, but that is
it. Should I be looking at a big growth spurt this month?

Height wise, she is just under 2 feet tall, is that normal?

That seems small for an Akita. How tall were her parents? Have you
discussed this with her breeder?

She has a great temperament. She usually follows me around inside the
house and at the dog park she usually has me in sight almost all the
time. When she doesn't, or I lost her in my sight, I'll call her and
she'll come back into sight. She is a grand dog with really pretty
tri-coloring. She will sit and stay for my brothers, and me, but she
wont for my parents. She'll only go "down" for me, is that normal? I
understand that Female Dogs (Yuki is a girl) usually will only really
listen to one maybe two people, is that correct?

It depends on the breed and how the dog has been raised.

I'd like to train her up a bit, maybe get into shows with her. She is
AKC registered, and really pretty with "show like markings." She
currently knows Sit, Stay, Down, and Come, and Im trying to teacher
her Heel. What else should she know, and any good suggestions or
websites that could help me know how to better train her, and what
tricks she should know for the Shows?

If you are talking about "pretty dog" shows - conformation - then you
need to take handling classes. Start out by going to some shows and
seeing exactly what the dogs are doing in the ring. Get some books on
conformation handling and read enough that you can ask thoughtful
questions at the shows. People are often willing to help out as long as
you do your part by learning the basics first.

I was also wondering about Search and Rescue. I am looking into that,
and I think it would be way fun. I heard, and read, that Akita's have
the strongest Jaw (bite power). They also have a great nose for
sniffing, because if something gets caught in it (some other bad
smell, such as urine) Akita's can get it out of there nose really
quick. Where other dogs take longer. Any views on that? Does anyone
know of a Akita Search and Rescue Dog?

Search and Rescue is a serious commitment on your part. You will need to
commit to 15 to 20 hours of training every week for at least a year. It
is not something you get into lightly. And you won't find anyone willing
to help you train in it without showing a high level of persistence and
dedication. If you give up easily they don't want you because of the
high level of time and effort to train a team.

If you like the idea of teaching your dog to follow a trail of scent you
can train in tracking. That is a perfectly appropriate activity for an
Akita. I would not count on your Akita remaining safe and reliable off
leash. It *might* turn out that way, but most responsible Akita owners do
not rely only on obedience to keep their dogs out of trouble.

I recommmend you get on some of the Akita discussion lists. Spend some
time going over this site http://www.akitaclub.org/ in detail. Join your
local Akita club so you can get the guidence of experience.

--
Diane Blackman
http://dog-play.com/
http://dogplay.com/Shop/