I am plannning to add a new member to the family and my husband would like an Akita. Having met my relations' pack of 4 and my children loving every minute they spent with them i have agreed.
However, my relations' Akitas have been ring trained and are very very obedient as well as living with their children which is why they were so good.
After reading several breed books, going to crufts last year and one of two champion shows with my family i have found any information aboput the Akita with children to be a little bias.
Do any of you people here have any advice for me regarding the Akita with children before i book a puppy from my relation's next litter?
Thank you in advance,
Jillian Butler

We have an Akita she as always been great with kids. We have had her 7 years when my youngest child was just 2. In all that time she as been perfectly fine with any child who she as met.

I would say if you put the same time and effort into correct training and socialisation as your relatives, and would be having one of their pups (whose mother at least has proven to be so good) then you should have as much luck with the dogs and kids as they do.

What you should not forget is that these are large an powerful animals and the normal common sense should be used with dealing with children and dogs.  Never leave children and dogs unsupervised, as both can inadvertently cause har to one another, and the dogs have teeth and claws, and kids can forget that these are not animated toys, and are generally unable to read 'dog' and unlikely to ilicit the respect given by the dog to adult members of the family.

I would be very careful from whom you buy one. Well-bred, well-trained ones are very nice dogs (though all the owners I know say they should never be let off the lead as they don't mix well with other dogs). However I have just got back from the vet (two of my dogs needed their annual MOT) and we were trapped in the surgery by a large male Akita in the waiting room. The vet told me of another client with 17 Akitas who has at least one dog in for stitches due to fights most weeks, and the owner's arms are badly scarred from where he's intervened ...

As I say, good ones, from sensible breeders and sensibly reared are very good dogs. You need to choose your breeder wisely. That applies to all breeds of course, but these are very big, powerful dogs.

As an Akita owner I totally endorse JG's remarks. Temperament is of paramount importance. Make sure you see lots of breeders before buying, that you meet Mum & any other Akitas the breeder may have, don't be taken in by any excuses if they won't let the dogs out to meet you. I would never recommend a 1st time dog owner to get an Akita, they are wonderful dogs but not for the inexperienced. Personally if I had young children around I wouldn't buy one, not because they are any more untrustworthy than any other breed but the potential they have for damage is enormous. They may be fine with your children, but may misinterprete a situation where they think they need to protect your children against the visiting children. (They are very clever, but they are only dogs!!!) However well trained they are you should never allow a child to walk an Akita - yours may be fine but if a fight does break out a child wouldn't stand a chance.

I couldn't agree more with Anwen about Akita's misinterpreting a situation.  A friend of mine, who new a family well and their dogs, walked up to their son at a Dog Show, he was holding one of their Akita's.

the dog must have thought she was going to harm the boy when she was only putting her arm round his shoulder, and launched an attack, she ended up with dozens of stitches and unfortunately the dog was pts!!!!

I wouldn't be worried about your own children but their friends visitng would worry me.

Yes I do agree with all thats been said. As said mine is great with all children but I never leave them with the dog. If me and hubby are out and any of the kids friends are going to be calling I always tell them to keep the dog penned up.
You have to be aware of the damage such a big powerful dog could do.
They are also very protective and territorial.