Reflection Journal 4: Akita

AKITA

      Akita is a large spitz breed of dog originating from the mountainous northern regions of Japan. There are two types of Akita. Japanese Akita which is also known as “Akita Inu” and American Akita. Akitas are huge, curved-tailed, alert-eared dogs. They have a water resistant coat. They may be white, red, brown, black and bespeckled or stripe. However, their characteristic features are more important than their appearance.

     Firstly, Akitas are really strong dogs. Although they are not assailant dogs, they are stronger than many dogs. They also look like wolfhounds. They are approximately 35-55 kilograms and their height is roughly 60-70 cm. Their strength is one of the reasons why they are good watch dogs. They are also very healthy dogs. In Japan, people give a Akita statue as a gift. Japanese people think Akitas are the symbols of health.
     Secondly, Akitas are very trainable dogs. However, you need to train them when they are a puppy because it gets harder when they grow up. They can be trained in an apartment. However, they are pretty quicksilver dogs. That’s why they need to move too much within day. If you want to breed an Akita in an apartment, you need to take him out walking or you need to have a large apartment. However, a house with a large garden is the best choice so as to keep an Akita. There is another thing that you should not forget. Akitas cannot bear other pets. That’s why it is better not to have another pet at home if you will have an Akita.
      Lastly, Akitas are very friendly and loyal dogs. This is the most important feature of them. They are independent dogs and you cannot sometimes make him things. However, they are usually calm, clever and affectionate to their masters. They may be also jealous of their masters. (I will recommend you a movie that is inspired from a real incident about Akitas’ loyalty below.)
      In conclusion, Akitas are one of the best dog types in the world in the ways of their strength, trainability and loyalty.

     This video includes some parts from the movie “Hachiko” which an Akita type of dog. I shared this video because it is a good summarizing of the whole movie. The movie tells us real a story which happened in Japan.

    According to the real story, a Japanese professor Dr. Hidesabura Ueno pets a puppy and named him “Hachiko” which means “eight” in Japanese. This dog was accompanying his master to the subway train while Dr. Ueno was going to his work and he came to the subway again when his master came back from work. When this first happened, Dr. Ueno was really surprised. Hachiko did this every day for a year. However, one day Dr. Ueno did not come. Hachiko waited him for the whole night. Dr. Ueno did not come the following day, either. He had a heart attack and died. Hachiko did not give up waiting his master. He persistently waited him every night for nine years. After nine years, Hachiko died when he was eleven years old. Japanese people accepted this story as the symbol of loyalty and friendship. They put up a statue of Hachiko’s where he stand every day.
    In the movie, you can also see the characteristics of an Akita that I mentioned above. Hachiko is a dog which very friendly, loyal, clever and strong. That’s why I recommend you to watch this movie in order to learn more about Akitas.
    The reason why I wanted to talk about Akitas was this story that impresses me so much. The dogs are usually famous for their loyalty but this story shows us a loyalty which is beyond what we know.