Akita Shepherd

Characteristics

Health & Longevity

Average Life Span: 10-13 years
The Akita Shepherd is a hybrid breed of the Akita and the German Shepherd. When it comes down to the health of your pup, it is important to look at both of the parent breeds and understand each one’s health history. This breed is considered to be relatively healthy and the only major medical concern is bloat. There are some secondary concerns including hip dysplasia, dry eyes, and corn allergy. If you want a healthy pup, it is important that you work with a reputable breeder who screens the parents and blood lines to ensure that inherited diseases and genetic conditions are flushed out.

Bloat is a possibility in the Akita Shepherd and it is a serious condition. If not treated quickly, this condition can be fatal to your pup. Bloat occurs when there is too much gas/air in your pup’s stomach. This air cannot be released and thus causes the stomach to expand. When there is no room around the stomach, its expansion places additional pressure on the surrounding organs and this can lead to trouble with blood circulation as well as cause other problems.

Hip dysplasia may occur in your Akita Shepherd and occurs when the hip joint is not formed correctly or the hip joint does not properly fit into the socket. If the joint does not fit correctly or is deformed, the cartilage that covers and protects the joint becomes worn down quickly and places pressure on the joint. This additional pressure on the hip joint causes pain for your pup and you may notice that he or she has trouble getting up and down.

Your Akita Shepherd may occasionally get dry eyes, which can lead to redness and irritation. It is important that you monitor the health of your pup’s eyes and report any problems to your veterinarian. If dry eyes are a reoccurring problem, your vet may prescribe eye drops for your Akita Shepherd.

Lastly, the Akita Shepherd sometimes has a corn allergy. This means that when they ingest food with corn in it, they may have an allergic reaction. You should avoid dry dog food made with corn to be on the safe side.

The Akita Shepherd’s life expectancy is 10 to 13 years.

Temperament & Train-ability

The Akita Shepherd is a brave, alert, and intelligent breed of dog. You will find that your pup likes to look around and learn more about his or her surroundings, however you will find that he or she is never asleep while on the job. Your Akita Shepherd is a good watch dog and remains alert at all times.

This breed is known to listen to his or her owner and become a close companion. You will find that your pup likes to show affection, but not as much as some other breeds do.

Since this breed is always alert, they also have a strong drive to protect those they love, so it is important that all strangers are properly introduced to the dog before they can come and go in your home.

The Akita Shepherd is tolerant of children, but better suited for older children. It is vital that your Akita Shepherd is properly trained and socialized otherwise he or she may become aggressive and not do well with others.

You will find that the Akita Shepherd needs room to run around and he or she will enjoy being outside and not cooped up in your home. You should walk your pup for at least 30 minutes per day, twice a day.

One thing that you do need to make note of is that the Akita Shepherd likes to dig and is very smart, so he or she will attempt to get out of the fence. You must make sure that your fence is secure so he or she cannot dig under it and leave.

Your Akita Shepherd will be easy to train, but may have a difficult streak now and again. You should remain consistent and firm when you train your pup. You may notice that he or she tries to be the pack leader, so you must assert yourself as such.

Grooming

You will find that the Akita Shepherd sheds a lot and you need to brush him or her daily to remove loose hairs. You will also find that shedding picks up twice per year as the seasons change. You NEVER want to shave your pup in an attempt to stop the shedding because his or her coat protects him or her.

You do not need to bathe your pup on a regular basis and should only do so when it is absolutely needed. When you do bathe him or her, make sure to choose a shampoo that is mild.

You also need to make sure you clean your pup’s ears once per week and trim his or her nails every month or as often as needed.

Diet

Your Akita Shepherd will eat anywhere between four and five cups of food per day. You need to make sure you choose a high quality food that is packed with protein and low in calories. You want to avoid foods that contain fillers, chemicals, and by products.
 

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Cost

An Akita Shepherd puppy will cost you anywhere between $400 and $700. When it comes to the cost of your puppy, you should also factor in any of the supplies and products you need to purchase when you buy your pup. Also, you should factor in the cost of the veterinarian, vaccines, and medical emergencies.

Paws ‘N’ Pups Ranking

Paws ‘N’ Pups ranks every breed out of 4 with 1 being easiest to integrate into your life and 4 being the toughest – The lower the ranking the better.

Ranking takes into account a few basic factors including cost, skill level needed, high vs low maintenance and how critical regular training is to success. The Akita Shepherd is a fierce and strong dog that is loyal to its owner and will protect them if needed. This breed does not do well with small children and can be aggressive if not trained properly. This breed ranks a 3.5.

 

Akita

German Shepherd

Vizsla

Weimaraner