Akita Forum:
Not For Homes with Small Children

Ive noticed the trend of some young couples with young children wanting to purchase an akita to be in their home. When we were breeding (and, yes, weve owned several top champions!)our policy was not to sell to anyone with children under 5 years of age due to the dogs prey drive. Do your homework this breed was, at one time, a fighting dog. They are very dog aggressive and hard to train (kind of like a cat). They are a clean dog and good watch dog but ONLY with RESPONSIBLE ownership. Dont know why they are in the working group as percentage with working titles: very low. They are fun to show and relatively easy to win with.Many novice owners show their dogs and get a CH. title.

I have to disagree with most of what you have to say about this breed. I have had this wonderful breed for 20+ years.

I dont believe children should be left unattended with ANY dog no matter what the breed is. Things can happen no

matter how good the dog is with kids-after all they are dogs. As far as you saying that they are very dog aggressive

is misleading. Yes, they CAN be animal aggressive but I am a firm believer that with good breeding and socialization

this doesnt have to be. I can take any one of my 5 Akitas any where with me and I dont have to worry about them

being aggressive towards other dogs/animals. They can be hard to train to certain things if the trainer/owner isnt

aware of the fact that Akitas bore easily and its necessary to make learning FUN for them. The trainer needs to be

inventive about training and they will learn about anything that you want. If you try to take the bully approach with

them then theyll put the brakes on and you

I am no Akita expert, however I have certainly read that Akita's need to be exposed to young children (well behaved children) from puppyhood in order to be tolerant and loving of children. My dog, a mixed breed Akita, is NOT well tolerant of my 3 year old son, but she has NEVER hurt him. She, rather, treats him like I imagine she would treat a puppy, she nudges him out of the way, nips his hands if he threatens her, etc. Akitas with good dispositions should love children!

I can't believe you use to breed Akita's and yet seem to give misleading information. I've been around this breed for 10 years. My mother runs a day care center and Pandy loves all the children. She was not around young children as a pup though. My big boy Jake is an angel with children although my own are all adults. This breed was not breed for fighting but rather to hunt wild boar and bear. They are extreamly loyal and loving but need to know the pack order..ie you are alpha! Jake is like the mayor of my town. No one walks by him without getting a friendly greeting and often kisses. It's all in the socialization they get at a young age. They need training but training with lots of love. By the way my daughter just had her first baby. Her father has a golden lab that growls and carries on around baby. They have to put him outside. I had baby overnight and Jake never left his side and for 120 pounds was truly a gentle giant lying next to baby on bed. L