What we really love about this breed here at Yappy is their comical ability to mutter under their breath, as if voicing their own opinions on domestic matters in the house! It is very unusual to hear one of these dogs bark unless it is for very good reason, meaning you're left headache-free! They are not exactly what we would call a ‘party animal’, they are very wary of strangers and have an extremely ‘sober’ presence, but they do have a very affectionate side. Many of these dogs will attempt to carry your wrist around in their mouth as a sign of love, often in the direction of their lead or the door. What is most strange about this breed is their unique way of licking themselves as a form of grooming – almost like a cat! If you’re thinking of getting an Akita for the first time, we recommend that you do plenty of research as these dogs can become very aggressive and destructive if not looked after properly.

These beautiful creatures have gotten pretty close with the likes of Japanese royalty due to their gallant and powerful presence. They have also been known to hunt down bears and are extremely fearless when it comes to guarding their families, but even these hard-shelled beasts can’t hide their soft centers. If trained properly, they can become extremely affectionate and humorous family pets. They are extremely loyal but at full size can weigh more than 100 pounds, so ‘hoomans’ need to assert their dominance as the owner to avoid any unwanted behavior. It’s also important to note that there are two variations of Akita; the American and the Japanese, with the latter being a lot smaller and weighing in at 30 pounds less than its American cousins.