This is just my nosiness but there is a chap who walks a really nice Akita bitch round our way. She is a lovely friendly dog with deep soft fur - wags her tail at Morse and he alows my kids to pat her gently, but he says he can't let her off lead to play even in a huge field. Why is this - is it due to Dangerous Dogs Act or what ? I really don't know so I hope Akita owners can tell me.:)

Probably it won't come when its called!
:)

From what I understand, Akitas can be hell to recall!!

Hi,

I know what you mean there is a beautiful akita by me, and never in the 4 years or so I've seen him beinmg walked have I seen him, off the lead. He is in constant movement though, the man woman and two sons wlak him in fact almost everytime you see one of them they have the dog weather over the shops or just waiting outside the school for the older sons children.

Very friendly and so well mannered with Sal, she likes him and a perfect ambasador for his breed.

But apparently they don't 100% trust him to some back. ALhtough he does run free in a secure field by us.

KAREN

Now I am not saying all Akitas are the same but I would be a bit worried if 2 males Akitas met off lead in an area they both considered theirs. And if they are like most normal spitz they are easer to send past than recall. They do not consider a send away in the same light as a recall, thinking the later a bit of a liberty, and will get round to obeying in their own good time, where as a send away was what they had in mind anyway.

I think also they are more dominant than ours, who can't be bothered with getting into an argument. Akitas tend not to suffer fools gladly, and are maybe less likely to be forgiving if they are challenged by another dog that is pushing their luck. It is the size thing too, as if a fight should break out, regardless of who strated it, the Akita and it's owner are the ones who will be seen to be at fault. My frinds with Dobes have the same problem, they have nice dogs who are good off lead, and mind their own business, but ever alert for some small dog that decides it needs to take on the big ones.

I know an Akita bitch that does Obedience to a good level and Agility. She does get let off the lead, but her owner is a very experienced trainer. They are not good in unexperienced hands :)

Daisy

Hi Dasey, a lot of my breed do obedience and some agility but with most spitz it is more work than most people wish to do so we settle for something a bit less than perfect. ;)

Thanks folks, I love hearing about all the different breeds :)

I think I'm right in saying that the Akita breed clubs recommend that Akitas are not allowed off lead.
Dawn R.

i have a 16 week old akita bitch and i have been told by the breeder never to let her of the lead in a public area because of their tendancy to dominate other dogs.i have started to take her short walks on the lead and every time she sees another dog she pulls to get at it and the hairs on her back stand up.i am taking her to puppy classes to try and get her socialised with other dogs but last week she went for a 6 month old kerry blue.hopefully she will get better with time.

I never let my 15 month old akita off the lead if there are other people around as she will only recall on her own terms.

I will let her off in fields/forests that I know because if though there are other dogs/owners around these people know their way round dogs and are not going to be fightened by a large dog bounding their way.

Not letting them of the lead is because of their lack of recall and energetic play. They are a large breed and if you could see mind player with my lab bitch (10 months) you would think that they are fighting and this could scare owners who do not know dogs.

They are not a dangerous act dog (and if I am right you cannot own one that is on that register anyway?)

They are beautifull animals and devoted companions