Soft, dense undercoat. Active, independent, dignified, bold. Daily exercise is essential. Sheds twice a year. Bath only when necessary.
Early obedience is necessary to prevent aggression against other dogs.
A house with a fenced yard is essential. Hip dysplasia and eye problems. Dates back over three hundred years and takes him name from the prefecture of Akita in northern Japan. In 1931 the Japanese government designated the Akitas as a National Monument and one of Japan's national treasures.