Akita
History
Akita
History
The Akita character is the result of centuries of breeding in Japan. Japanese history, both verbal and written, describe the Akita as one of the oldest of the native dogs. Centuries ago the breed was only owned by the shogun, the imperial leaders of the country. The Akita developed in the Akita Prefecture, the northernmost region of the island of Honshu. Bred to hunt, guard, and herd, this swift, agile, unswervingly tenacious dog tracked large game and held it at bay until the royal hunters arrived to make the kill. The Akita’s quarry included elk, antelope, boar, and the 800-pound Yezo bear. As a guard dog, the Akita was unsurpassed in it’s keen senses of sight, smell, and hearing. By nature a quiet dog that barked only when threatened, the breed needed no training in it’s guard duties. As a herding dog, it fiercely protected livestock from savage predators in the mountainous terrain of Akita Prefecture. During the late 1800’s, the Akita breed suffered two major setbacks. First, the Akita was crossed with the Japanese fighting dog, the Tosa. This crossbreeding resulted in a dog of imposing size and aggression used extensively when dog fighting was popular in Japan. Then, at the turn of the century, Japan had a fatal outbreak of rabies with more than 3000 cases reported. Dogs, both healthy and infected, were clubbed to death.