After much reading and conversation I've come to expect a change in my dogs behaviour around the 2-3 year old mark due to hormonal changes.

Anybody who has an Akita or knows about them have any advice on how to handle this behavioural change in it's early stages? My dog's 16 months old at the moment, and still as daft as a brush, but I know that will soon come to an end.....

Don't think Akitas are much different to other dogs - it just takes longer for them to grow a brain!!! The main thing is to make sure he knows who's boss right from the beginning. Don't let him get away with anything & you shouldn't have much trouble. Akitas are very trainable with a little persistence (sp?)- and a sense of humour helps! The main problem with Akitas is dog to dog aggression. You may be lucky and have an Akita who isn't bothered about being top dog over the whole canine race - but that's unusual. Just be aware that your boy may not welcome close encounters with other dogs as he gets older. Akitas won't usually start a fight - but they'll certainly finish one & their potential for damage is so much greater than with most dogs that you just can't take the risk.

Thanks for that, I've noticed this has already started dog to dog aggression is the only bad thing about him, oh and I'd say dog to WINDOW CLEANER'S as well haha!!

At first it was simply dogs that he'd want to provoke and be the 'boss' over, but bitches are on the receiving end now, only when 'invading his space' however!

Do you have any info on past Akita 'attacks, violence etc'...? I've been unable to take him to obedience classes, ringcraft or anything as yet, as I have no transport, but I'm learning to drive now and will hopefully be able to get him, and my new bitch to classes ASAP.

There has been so much rubbish talked about Akita attacks etc. Not so bad as spread about Rotties, GSDs etc. in the past, but bad enough. As with other breeds, a few bad breeders & irresponsible owners have done the breed no favours! One of the problems with Akitas is that they are FAST. People don't expect such a large dog to react so quickly, whether to another dog or someone doing something they don't like. They are very orientated to their own family and are usually wonderful with children but they will protect their OWN children. Suposing someone has children & some visiting children who are playing. The resident children start shouting or screaming. The Akita may think that they are being hurt by the visiting children & attack to protect HIS children. He's only a dog with a dog brain after all!! Dog aggression is the main downside of Akita ownership - but the advantages of owning an Akita more than make up for this! I don't think socialising them with other dogs makes much difference either - he'll either accept other dogs or he won't. Mine lives with 3 bitches (smaller breed) and adores all 3 of them, even puts up with being snapped and growled at by them BUT he won't tolerate my other male even though he (the little one) has been castrated and is 13 yrs old. You just have to accept that you can never let your Akita off the lead where he might meet up with other dogs.
Akitas should be 100% with people and children - they should never be bred from if they are not. Fortunately our boy loves the whole human race. He's only once growled at someone. That was a neighbour who later turned out not be as nice as he first seemed - maybe the Akita's brain isn't so small after all!

I agree they are FRIGHTENINGLY fast and strong, and I don't think any other dog really stands a chance if attacked. Your boy sounds pretty much the same as mine, I have a bitch who he tolerates completely, and he gets on with dogs he knows but any dog anywhere near his house he will NOT tolerate, even in 'his' park or on 'his' field....which is why I never do let him off lead. As for people, he's got a sixth sense, he was going ballistic one day in the kitchen nothing was there I let him out he ran jumped at the wall and at that exact moment a man comes jumping over my wall?????? He hasn't attacked a person, on this occassion he simply grabbed his leg until I told him to attack or let go (let go obviously haha).......also the window cleaner, I stupidly opened the door while  he was in the back once but he didn't attack, just pinned him against the wall, again awaiting instruction??

They are loveable yet ferocious, only a few weeks ago a dog tried to come by him with a bone and with one quick nip to the throat he'd punctured every layer of skin in this dog's throat?? But he's not this killing machine...it's just when provoked, and, as you say, it's SO fast!

Another question I'd like to ask is about my bitch. I've bought her at 16 weeks old, we've had her for about 4-5 weeks now and she still hasn't fully settled. You can tell she's not used to 'everyday' noises, as when she does finally settle and walk around the room, things as little as me getting off couch, or turning on TV make her run back for her corner!!

As a result of this, as you can guess, the tail is permanently down. When outside though in the back the tail comes up, I guess she's used to the outdoors. But I don't know whether to get her out a lot on the lead (as when I do she's terrified of cars and buses etc running on the lead, as she came from a breeder in the countryside) or wait until she's settled with the house aspect of life, and completely at ease around me and my partner, then introduce her to the new sounds of the outdoor world when she's in 'trusted' company??

Hi Lee, can't really help you with your bitch as I've only owned the one Akita and he was so totally self possessed as a puppy I couldn't believe it. He was born & raised in a flat in the country - he didn't even go outside until we bought him at 7 1/2 wks (his breeder didn't want the puppies getting cold!) & I thought he'd be really nervous, but the only problem we had was with traffic & he soon got over that once he realised they weren't just noisy metal boxes but had people (potential friends!) inside. I have seen a few nervous bitches (more so than dogs) at shows & most of them seem to grow out of it as they mature. How is your bitch in the car? Could you take her out in the car & let her view outside life from a distance? Obviously at 4 months she's too big to carry around shops!!  Presumably she was raised in a kennel & so hasn't been accustomed to normal family life - what a shame but, hopefully, being an Akita, she'll soon get her confidence up, sounds as if you'll need to be very patient with her and not push her into situations she's not happy with.
HTH

I'm being really gentle and patient with her, how it can be both rewarding when she relaxes and enjoys walking around the house yet annoying when you mean no harm, yet you know she's thinking you may!!

I REALLY want to start getting her out over the parks and fields every night but I feel I'm betraying her trust as she's relaxed in the house then I'm grabbing her and throwing her out the house, into the deep end if you like?? I'm feeling that I need to keep her indoors for now, letting ehr explore and getting completely comfortable with everything to do with her home, and THEN, when she completely trusts me, letting her explore her new outside world. But some people are telling me to get her out as much as possible?? Taking her on the lead you can see she's absolutely petrified, although I'm holding her back, her legs are going as fast as they can, as if she wants to run off and find a quiet corner, I just don't know what way to work it?

As for the car, I have no car so I cannot take her in one, although I will give it a try.

I am not sure how different Akitas are to Elkhounds, but if I waited with an Elkhound re socialisation the stubborn little dear would be happy to never do what it found unpleasant!!!

I have found that you have to be quite no nonsense with my own breed, ignore any unwarranted (but understandable) fears.  Take them out and act ery upbeat, no reasuring just very bright and breezy.  Start with just standing wity her on lead and watching the world go by, ignore her fear.  Then encourage her to take a few steps, but be inssistent if she slams the brakes on.

My own dogs are utterly bomb proof regarding the outside worls, but a pup from my last litter was allowed to take her own time and got into a silly habit of refusing to walk sowj the owners road, because she would find it to much to make her so she would go the way the pup prefered.

Now if I take this pup after trying it on a bit she will realise that I will not have it, and almost shrugs her shoulders and trots along quite happily.  Unfortunately she stioll digs her heels in for the more elderly of her owners, even though it was quite obvious when I had her to stay with me for a week that this was just a bad habit, and hse had no fear of busy traffic or the outside world anymore.  Her sister who I kept did not like going out at first, but she had no option.  She will travel happily on bus, train or anyones car, as these are things I have done as much as possible, as I too do not drive.       

So your advice is to get her out as much as possible..? I'll take that approach then, I understand where you're coming from.

As I live in a built up area though, I'll take her out late at night, less traffic and people to handle, as well as being in a 'whole new world'???

Will this be best?

No take her out in the day, most dogs wil be more woirried/less confident at night.

I would start6 with takeing her outsied your house, take a chair and just sit with her allowing her a loose lead.  Tske a book even.  Ignore her, judt let her sniff the ground, adn if she tries to hide behind you ignore her completely and do no offer her any solace, but praise her a little when she shows a little more curiosity.

At some point people are bound to come over and want to speak to her.  Now if she is frightened then ask them just to ignore her, and not touch her.  If she want to say hello give them a treat to give her but suggest they do not look directly at her and not overface her.

At this age it is the natural curiuosity that will gradually overcome her reserve, whcih makes the process easier than waiting until she is older.  I beleive they are a more reserved bred than mine so I think the sooner she gains confidence in people and the world outside the better.

Hi Lee

I also have an akita male which is just a bit older than yours at 19 month old, I have been talking to the breeder about hormone changes she also assures me that strong leadership right from the beginning is the key if the dog respects you and understands its position in the chain the hormone change should become easier to cope with but like I said he's only 19 month and he hasn't started yet LOL, as for aggression although I respect the akita for his strength, speed  and aggression I have never had much of a problem as yet I did take him to socialisation classes he was also for the first year brought up with my older rottweiler dog with no problems, he will greet any dog with the intent to play I do keep him on a lead at all times just in case but iv never had any problems with aggression towards people oh apart from the bin men who take his bin that he pee`s up, im sure he thinks they take it to mark over his scent because as soon as the bin comes back he marks it again LOL, but apart from a few training problems which I have now starting to make good progress thanks to the advice from members of this board his temperament is great although I know this can change as he matures with age, I will keep an eye on this post as the advice is great and will also benefit me as he will go through the same changes

Good luck
Hope we make it to the other side without to much trouble

Just to add a little bit to this, I have a 17 month old Akita-inu (japanese type) and for the most part she is very settled and non-aggresive,but upon meeting another dog the only thing she seem's to do is to try and punch them with her paw's!!!! very amusing to watch,but most dog's don't like getting hit round the head by another dog.
Is this a common trait in Akita's or is mine just a tad mad....I keep telling her ....you're an Akita,not a boxer!!

By the way this is not a wind up....just read my post and it looked a little suspect...but it is serious.

I think this is common in many Spitz breeds, Elkhounds do this too :D

So do Malamutes :D

When my Akita was a puppy he sent a passing Sheltie into orbit with a good left hook :D

Yea it's normal for Akitas to do this with their paws. If you watch them fight, they use their paws in a more aggressive manor than a human uses their fists!!!

They have very sharp claws on the inside of their leg which they use to puncture, and then tear for maximum damage. Quite frightening really. On the other hand they use them for friendly play.

But yes my Akita uses his paws a lot, and I've noticed my bitch does exactly the same.

hi i have just recently bought a 6 month old akita she is lovely i have had her 2 weeks and she as only just started to come into lounge which is a big change to back door in kitchen, she is due her 1st season and for the last few days she wont even go for a walk i am pulling her to go out.is this normal also since she comes into lounge she dont like going into kitchen that is were she sleeps i dont want her to destroy my lounge, she is very nervous dog wont come to you if you call her can anyone give me some advise on what to do

Hi sophie!

So how's she doing now??

The best piece of advice I can give is 'DON'T TRY TOO HARD' do your encouragement/stimulating exercises yes, it'll do her the world of good, but don't try too hard, just do it once or twice a day!

Also try to avoid a lot of eye contact, this can be seen as a threat.

It's funny because I was in exactly the same situation as you 2 weeks ago. These words will come as a bit of comfort to you, I've had my 6 month old akita bitch for about 10-12 weeks now and she is only now slowly but surely coming out of her shell! She was EXACTLY the same as you're describing yours, the best thing you can do is to let her come to terms with the world in her own time, as 'forcing' her to come out the kitchen etc will only re confirm that the world is scary, and you're scary......and you don't want that. I guarantee you, if you pay her LESS attention (not none at all, just a bit less) she'll come around eventually!

Is her tail constantly down and not curled over???

I really am no expert with behavioural problems but if you go back onto the behaviour forum, and scroll a bit past this topic enter the post called 'Fear'......I think you;ll find it's EXACTLY the same situation as you, and it'll give you all the help you need.

Have a look, let me know how you get on

hi akita lee thanx for replying yes i have read your post last week, her tail is down indoors but as soon as we go out its straight up, she dont like noises she runs for the corner in the lounge, she as a new corner i usually leave her there but when i go to bed i leave her in kitchen but she dont like to go in here anymore i dont know why as her food is in there, i think she is in season seen a few marks on her,i have bought a battery radio so she dont feel alone that was some advice i got,she as come on in the 2 weeks we'v e had her i was just after as much info as poss

She'll come around eventually, it seems hard to believe doesn't it when you look at her now? But take it from someone who has JUST been through what you're going through! And still am slightly. You'll have to be patient and again, don't try too hard because it only p*sses you off and dogs DO sense frustration very well so I've been told! Just make sure you say her name and praise her as much as possible when she does something like come out etc....and DO try to avoid eye contact!

Referring back to my post, did you see the part about the 'Rescue Remedy'?? It's called 'Bach Floral Remedy'...now I don't know whether this is some kinda magic potion or she's simply coming round with time but I've been giving her it and it seems to have worked wonders!!!

Get it at The Health Rack for about 4 pound takes a few days applying it to the tongue 2 or 3 times a day but it doesn't half relax them!

Being an Akita she's naturally a dominant, proud dog, so once she becomes that tiny bit more confident and tiny bit less afraid, you'll see how fast she'll start to become what you want her to be.....when this happens though, start to train her ASAP as you don't want her to become TOO dominant!! haha

Where did u get her from and what does she look like??

hi we got her from wigness cheshire she is pure white lovely cudldly i do have photos of her but i dont know if you can put them on here she was born in april