Large, powerful, and sweet is what describes the Akita. This Japanese dog initially found numerous job opportunities as guardians of Japanese royalty and hunters of deer and wild bears.
The Akita is courageous and not afraid of a challenge. He is also extremely affectionate and respectful.
He can be stubborn and quite aloof with strangers- all good traits that make for an excellent watchdog.
If you are up for the challenge of raising an Akita dog, he will shower you with adoration and love for the rest of his life.
How Much Does The Akita Cost In India?
On average, the basic Akita puppy costs Rs. 40,000-Rs. 50,000 in India. The price of a KCI registered Akita puppy is Rs.55,000-Rs.75,000.
For a show-quality Akita puppy, the price ranges between Rs.75,000-Rs.120,000. Only get your Akita pup from a reputable breeder.
Factors Affecting the Cost of The Akita Dog In India
Characteristics & Physical Attributes
Japanese Akita and American Akita are two different categories of Akita that can influence India’s breed price.
An American Akita is a black and white coat, while the Japanese Akita is commonly brown and white.
Generally, Akitas are costlier than other dog breeds because of their rare breeding in India.
Breeder Reputability
Breeders that are not highly rated sell their dogs at lower prices than reputed breeders.
While you think it is a good idea to buy from unaccountable breeders to save a few pennies, it is not the best option because they can’t guarantee your pup’s health status and genealogy.
Reputed breeders guarantee the health and quality of their canines.
Mix or Pure Breed
A purebred Akita costs more than a mixed breed.
Purebred pups have fewer chances of developing hereditary health issues than mixed-breed ones.
Age and Gender
Breeders often sell male pups at a higher cost than female ones. Furthermore, puppies are costlier than mature or senior canines.
Category
The Akita dog can fall under three categories: Basic, show quality, and KCI registered.
The Basic category consists of canines that aren’t registered to any kennel club. A basic Akita pup is the cheapest to buy.
KCI stands for Kennel Club of India. A canine that is KCI registered meets the club’s standards and can participate in KCI dog contests in which you will get a KCI registration certificate.
A show-quality pup is the most expensive because it meets Breed Standards. Show-quality pups are the best for those who intend to participate in dog shows.
Otherwise, a basic Akita dog would do if you only want a home companion and nothing more.
Availability and Location
Since Akita is a rare breed in India, its average price is higher than many dogs.
If you find a local reputed breeder to buy from, the cost will be a bit lower than getting your pup from a breeder in a remote location.
Additional charges like shipping and traveling will add to the overall dog price.
Miscellaneous Factors
The price of the Akita can increase if it has been microchipped. The microchip is a small pet permanent ID that helps to track your pup when or if he gets lost.
Akitas of champion bloodlines cost higher than the normal ones. Champion bloodline means the puppy’s predecessors were champions of dog events.
Things To Consider Before Getting an Akita Dog In India
Can Akita survive in India?
In general, Akitas don’t adapt suitably to the hot and humid Indian climate. Their double coats help them to thrive in cold and snowy regions like Japan, where they originated. If you must keep an Akita in India, always provide him with a cool environment and avoid taking him out during the day when the sun is at its peak.
This breed isn’t suitable for novice dog owners. If you’ve never raised a dog before, the Akita should not be your first choice.
Akitas can be quite a handful and a challenge to train, so you should go for a less stubborn breed unless you have the energy or money to hire a dog trainer.
The Akita needs more room than a small apartment. A fully grown Akita can reach well over 70cm, thus requires a spacious room to play and roam around.
About & History
This breed originated from Akita, a province in Northern Japan, hence its name.
Their existence dates back to the 1600s where they used them for hunting fowl, large games, and guarding Japanese nobility. Today the Akita is trained for guard and police work.
Between the 1500s and 1800s, the Akita was great samurai companions. However, in the 20th century, the breed began to lose its popularity because of cross-breeding with St. Bernard, the German Shepherd and Mastiff.
The breed was restored by mixing an indigenous Japanese breed called Matagi with the Hokkaido Inu breed.
Modern-day Japanese Akita is a mix of Western dogs and the Spitz, though the American Akita is much larger and descends from the cross-breed Akita before the breed was restored.
American Akitas are therefore mixed and not considered authentic Akitas by the Japanese criteria.
During the Russo-Japanese War, Akitas were widely used to track lost sailors and prisoners. They were also used during World War II as guards and scouts.
World War II saw the near extinction of this breed due to a lack of wholesome foods.
Also, many starving soldiers killed the Akitas for food and used their fuzzy fur as clothing. The government ordered the murder of the remaining Akitas to prevent infection.
Some concerned owners released their beloved Akitas to the wild in an attempt to rescue them. In return, the canines were bred back with their ancestors, the Matagi.
After the war, the breed’s population began to rise again under the efforts of a man called Morie Sawataishi.
Later, Akita lovers in Japan started breeding the canines, accentuating their original features by crossing them with other breeds.
Appearance
The Akita first-glance appearance reflects chilly weather adaptation characterized by a thick fluffy coat. The breed is double-coated, with the topcoat being short while the undercoat is dense and plush.
This heavy-boned breed has a sizeable bear-like head with alert triangular ears set at a slight tilt from the neck’s arch. The eyes are tiny, dark, triangular in shape, and deep-set.
Akitas have cat-like feet and a tail that curls gently over the back or double-curls down the hind. A fully grown male Akita measures 26-28 inches and weighs 110 pounds (50 kilograms), while the female measures 24-26 inches and weighs around 80 pounds (36 kilograms).
The American Akita’s coat colors range from a black mask, white, brindle, white mask, and varying undercoat colors and overlay.
The Japanese Akitas are restrained to brindle, fawn, red, sesame or pure white coat colors.
Akitas have two types of coats, namely short and long coats. Akitas with longer coats (3-4 inches in length) are recognized for having a softer temperament than short-coated Akitas.
American Akitas are usually bigger and heavier and come in several colors, frequently consisting of a black face mask.
On the other hand, Japanese Akitas are smaller and commonly come in pure white, brindle, orange and white with no black face mask.
Moreover, the American Akita has a larger head, a less slightly curled tail, and looser skin than its Japanese counterpart.
Temperament & Character
The Akita is renowned for unshakable love and loyalty to his caregivers, like the great Hachikō who would accompany his owner Professor Hidesaburō Ueno to the Shibuya Train Stations every day as he went to work.
Even after his owner died at work and failed to commute back home, Hachikō continued to wait tirelessly for his return, going to the train station every day for nine years until he died. That’s how fiercely loyal Akitas are.
The Akita was born to serve his masters. They are therefore courageous guardians of their families.
Akita can also be willful and stubborn. They don’t bark aimlessly unless there is a reason. However, they are vocal, making grunts, mumbles, and moans as if talking under their breath.
Sometimes the Akita can amuse you by offering his view on various matters such as what kind of shoes you should put on to which TV shows to watch.
While Akitas are talkative around their family, they can be aloof and standoffish with strangers. They can, however welcome newcomers home as long their family is around.
Akitas are famously mouthy. They often carry things in their mouths, including your wrist, as they guide you to their leash or ball to signal that they want to walk or play.
Because Akita loves to carry things, you can send him on errands such as fetching your newspaper or the household keys, and he will gladly do so.
The Akita exhibits certain feline traits, such as licking himself like a cat or silently stalking his prey with the body laid flat on the ground. Such tiger-like characteristics are what make the Akita an exceptional hunter.
Despite their slightly reserved personality, Akitas is very social and benefits from family time.
They don’t thrive when kept alone in the backyard or the kennel. A lonely and unstimulated Akita can be aggressive and destructive.
Trainability
At 50 kilograms, the Akita can be powerful and overbearing if you allow him.
Adequate training is a must with this breed. We recommend training yourself to foster the bond between you and your Akita, making him endlessly loyal to you. If you board him with a trainer, this bond might break.
Akitas don’t respond to harsh training through shouting or tough reprimanding. Simply respect him, and he will respect you back.
Though intelligent, Akitas are quite strong-willed, meaning that training will take longer than it does with other canine breeds.
Do your homework thoroughly on training the Akita before you even purchase one, keeping in mind that Akitas are not for the faint-hearted.
If you invest effort and time in research and consistent training, your reward will be a loving pup with unwavering loyalty.
The Akita’s impeccable hunting prowess translates into several activities such as retrieving waterfowl, tracking, and agility training.
Don’t be deceived by the notion that Akitas are not good field players because of their stubbornness. More and more Akitas and their caregivers are taking home rewards, meaning there is a certain thrill of accomplishment in working with this breed.
Grooming
Weekly brushing of the Akita’s fur helps to reduce shedding and keep his coat healthy. Despite this, Akitas are heavy shedders, so you must be prepared to vacuum your home almost every day if you choose to get this pup.
Regardless of their cat-like grooming habits, Akitas still need bathing every couple of months or so. More bath sessions are okay if your pup rolls in the dirt.
Other than that, trim his nails once a month, inspect his ears for signs of infection and clean them with a cotton ball moistened with ear cleaner.
Is Akita an aggressive dog?
A well-trained Akita isn’t aggressive. Even so, this breed is more suited for adults rather than families with toddlers.
Akitas can be aggressive if not appropriately tamed because they were originally bred for guarding and protecting.
Is Akita easy to train?
Though Akita’s self-grooming habit makes it easy to housebreak, his stubborn and independent nature makes it challenging to train.
Positive reinforcement training helps you not to conflict with your pup and make it a fun experience for both of you.
Is the Akita hypoallergenic?
No, this breed is not hypoallergenic. Many people assume that fluffy dogs like the Akita trigger allergic reactions due to the abundance of dog hair. As double-coated canines, Akitas shed twice a year, which is likely to trigger your allergies.
Be prepared for lots of cleanups if you are sure the Akita is the doggy for you. Remember, consistency and assertiveness during training will guarantee a well-rounded pup who will bend over backward for you.