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     Shugotenshi Akita Inu

                Akita Inu Assessment               

The photographs and diagrams used for educational purposes on this page have been provided by the Japan Kennel Club and Akiho.  I thank them for making these items available to further the appreciation and understanding of the Akita-Inu within  the world  of dogs.  

The Main Features

I am not going to reproduce the FCI standard - that has been done all too often.  What I think would be of benefit would be to identify the main points of the breed and then discuss the desirable features of the main points.

When I first developed an interest in the Akita I was told by a much more knowledgeable person, at the time, that the breed was mainly a head & tail breed.  I accepted this statement without question but, after many years serving my own apprenticeship within the breed I have expanded on the statement given to me all those years ago.  Although the head & tail are salient features of the breed the other component parts cannot be omitted since what is the point of having a fantastic head and faultless tail set with a dog which has the legs of a Welsh Corgi or the body of a British Bulldog?  The Akita-Inu is made up of many interdependent parts and to have a good specimen all parts must reach a minimum acceptable standard.  To make allowances, especially in breeding, showing and judging this breed is of no benefit to anyone, especially the breed.

		The drawing above has been reproduced to not only identify the various parts of the Akita-Inu but also to illustrate the proportions and overall impression that the breed creates.  Without making any reference to size we can see that the animal should be well balanced, square in appearance and suggesting sturdiness without over exaggerated  front & rear angulation
		The photo above does not necessarily represent an ideal show specimen.  What the photo shows are the proportions and angulations desired in a good specimen.  We also gain an impression of size by comparison to the human legs.  The Akita-Inu should not be a large breed but a medium sized dog which is capable of negotiating varying terrain in a mountainous afforested environment.
		The Head
This sketch shows the correct proportions of muzzle to stop : stop to occiput.  Ideally the ratio should be 40 : 60.  The ear carriage is clearly shown and should approximate a parallel line with the angle of the neck. The photo below shows these points on an actual dog.  It also shows the muzzle and top skull to also approximate parallel lines.  Note also the correct shape and colour of the eye			The placement and shape of the eyes is very important and is clearly shown in this sketch.  Notice the position of the ears - they are carried toward the side of the skull and not on top of the head as a GSD. The points raised above regarding the ear and eye placement can be observed at quite a young age as the puppy shown below illustrates very clearly.
This sketch and photo illustrate a very important feature of the Akita-Inu eye which is often overlooked.  The bottom edge of the scalene triangle of the eye should approximate a 30 - 35 degree angle and the line should reach the base corner of the ear, if the ear placement is correct.
			The shape of the muzzle is also very important to create the correct Spitz look of the Akita-Inu.  The centre sketch is correct and does not just affect the look since dogs with this correct muzzle usually have correct bites and dentition.
Front and Rear Quarters
			When viewed from the rear the hind quarters should appear to be strong and the hocks should not turn either in or out. The far left view is correct.   If the tail is measured the last joint should almost reach the hock
			The front should not be narrow and there should be no turning in or out at the elbows.  Again the far left is correct.
			The front legs should be strong and straight with a 15 degree angle of the pastern.  The far left view is correct.
The Tail
The tail should be large and always curled.  Tails which are lacking in curve are called Nage-o and do not display the beauty of the dog.  There is an example of this type of tail on the left.  The tail on the right has a tail which is set too low and once more does little to display the nobility or beauty of the dog.  The centre tail is excellent and set high and forms an ellipse which compliments the regal appearance of the Akita-Inu.  However, not all curled tails are correct.  If a tail is too tightly curled it can ruin the majestic appearance of the combination of a well set tail coupled with the correct head with ears carried correctly.
The Standard - A Pictorial View
The print shown below is one of the best pictorial representations of the breed standard I have seen.  Although it shows pinto dogs we all know that pintos are no longer accepted although the Akiho Standard 1996 still says they are acceptable.  There are only three colours of the Akita-Inu allowed within the FCI breed standard i.e. White, Brindle and Red (which includes Sesame) .  All dogs except White should have Urajiro markings - as shown below.