Akita vs Japanese Akitainu
The two published breed profiles side by side: size, energy, grooming, lifespan, temperament ratings and health.
| Akita | Japanese Akitainu | |
|---|---|---|
| Size class | Large | Large |
| Adult weight | 31.8 to 59 kg | 24.9 to 34 kg |
| In pounds | 70 to 130 lb | 55 to 75 lb |
| Adult height | 61 to 71 cm | 57 to 70 cm |
| Energy | High | Moderate |
| Grooming | Moderate | Moderate |
| Coat | Medium double | Medium double |
| Shedding | Moderate | High |
| Lifespan | 10 to 14 years | 10 to 12 years |
| Good with children | Fine with supervision | Fine with supervision |
| Good with other dogs | Not recommended | Not recommended |
| Country of origin | Japan | Japan |
The main differences
- The Akita is the bigger dog: 31.8 to 59 kg against 24.9 to 34 kg for the Japanese Akitainu.
- The Akita needs more exercise: high energy against moderate for the Japanese Akitainu.
- Grooming is moderate for both.
- The Akita usually lives longer: 10 to 14 years against 10 to 12 years.
Temperament
Akita: The Akita is a heavy boned spitz type guardian, quiet and fastidious at home but wary of strangers and often intolerant of other dogs. They are independent minded and need consistent training and wide socialisation from puppyhood.
Japanese Akitainu: Dignified, quiet and intensely loyal to their own household, aloof with strangers. An independent Japanese hunting spitz with a strong prey drive and little patience for unfamiliar dogs.
Health worth asking about
Conditions each breed is reported to be predisposed to. Predisposed does not mean inevitable: it means ask the breeder for the parents' test results.
Akita
- Gastric dilatation volvulus, a surgical emergency the breed is particularly prone to, so owners should learn the signs
- Hip dysplasia, screened by hip evaluation of breeding stock
- Progressive retinal atrophy, an adult onset cause of blindness, picked up by an ophthalmologist evaluation
- Thyroid disorders, screened by a thyroid evaluation on breeding stock
Japanese Akitainu
- Hip dysplasia, screened by x-ray evaluation, which the national breed club requires of breeding stock
- Inherited eye disease, found by an ophthalmologist examination, also required by the club
- Autoimmune conditions such as sebaceous adenitis and uveodermatologic syndrome, diagnosed by a vet from skin or eye signs and biopsy, with no genetic test available
- Amelogenesis imperfecta, or enamel hypoplasia, which can be screened for
- Patellar luxation, detected on orthopaedic examination
- Autoimmune thyroiditis, screened by a thyroid blood panel
Common questions
Which is bigger, the Akita or the Japanese Akitainu?
The Akita. Adults weigh 31.8 to 59 kg, against 24.9 to 34 kg for the Japanese Akitainu, going by the published breed profiles.
Which lives longer, the Akita or the Japanese Akitainu?
The published life expectancy is 10 to 14 years for the Akita and 10 to 12 years for the Japanese Akitainu. These are typical ranges across the breed, not a promise about one dog.
Is the Akita or the Japanese Akitainu better with children?
They score the same: fine with supervision with children. Any dog needs supervising around young children, whatever their breed rating.
Related comparisons
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Not veterinary advice. Breed information is general. Your own dog, and your own vet, always win.
Sources
Every figure on this page comes from the two breed guides, which cite:
- akc.org for adult weight and height, life expectancy, energy, grooming, shedding and the temperament ratings, coat type and health notes
- fci.be for country of origin
- akc.org for adult weight and height, life expectancy, energy, grooming, shedding and the temperament ratings, coat type and health notes
- fci.be for country of origin