Akita or Akita Inu

The Breed Split

The above is a question that comes up a lot in the Akita breed – a great deal of confusion remains over the breed split. 

The following should clarify some of the differences: 

Firstly, there is no such breed as a Japanese Akita, there are TWO types of Akita, an ‘Akita’ and an ‘Akita Inu’.

Back in 2004 the Kennel Club finally acknowledged that there were infact two breeds of Akita, until this time the UK and America were the only countries in the world that only had one registered breed of Akita. It took a further two years for the KC to split the breeds – to register an Akita Inu, three generations of pure Inu (Japanese) blood lines must be provided. There are still breeders today in the UK that are still very much for one breed and believe that the KC made a huge mistake in splitting the breed. The Kennel Club of America still refuse point blank to make this split, their reasoning is that both breeds (they use the term type) have the same DNA, therefore they cannot be different breeds – whether or not they will ever make the split will remain to be seen, it’s unlikely to happen anytime soon.

This is an Akita Inu:

Akita Inu Breed Standard:

General Appearance
Large, well-balanced, sturdily built dog of Spitz type. Very slightly longer than high.

Characteristics
Dignified. Broad head with relatively small eyes. Thick, triangular ears pricked and inclined forward. Distinctive tightly curled tail and markings.

Temperament
Aloof, docile and faithful.

Head and Skull
Head appears as a blunt triangle when viewed from above. Broad skull, free from wrinkle, with cheeks moderately developed. Defined stop with a distinct furrow. Muzzle straight, of good depth, tapering gradually. Lips tight. Nose large and black, except in white dogs where flesh coloured nose is acceptable.

Eyes
Relatively small, almond-shaped, moderately set apart and dark brown. Eye rims dark and tight.

Ears
Relatively small, thick, triangular, slightly rounded at tips. Set moderately well apart, pricked and inclining forward.

Mouth
Jaws strong, with a perfect, regular and complete scissor bite, i.e. upper teeth closely overlapping lower teeth and set square to the jaws.

Neck
Thick and muscular, of moderate length, without dewlap. Pronounced crest blending with back of skull.

Forequarters
Shoulders well developed, moderately laid back. Elbows close to chest. Well boned. Forelegs straight when viewed from the front.

Body
Length from point of shoulder to point of buttock slightly greater than height at withers. Level back. Chest deep, fore chest well developed, ribs moderately sprung. Well tucked up. Loin broad and muscular.

Hindquarters
Strong, muscular with moderate angulation. Well developed thighs. Moderate turn of stifle. Strong hocks, well let down, turning neither in nor out.

Feet
Round, arched and tight with thick pads. Turning neither in nor out.

Tail
Set high. Thick, full and of good length. Tightly curled over the back. Uncurled tail highly undesirable.

Gait/Movement
Free flowing, vigorous and powerful with moderate length of stride. Stilted gait undesirable.

Coat
Outer coat coarse, stand-off and straight. Slightly longer at withers and rump. More profuse on tail. Undercoat soft and dense. No indication of ruff or feathering.

Colour
Red-fawn; sesame; brindle; white. All the foregoing colours except white must have whitish coat on the cheeks, the sides of the muzzle, the inside of the legs and also the undersides of the jaw, neck, chest, body and tail (Urajiro).

Size
Height at withers: dogs 64-70cms (25 ¼-27 ½ ins); bitches 58-64 cms (22 ¾-25 ¼ ins).

This is an Akita:

Akita Breed Standard:

General Appearance
Large, powerful, alert, with much substance and heavy bone.

Characteristic
Large, broad head, with relatively small eyes and erect ears carried forward in line with back of neck; large, curled tail, in balance with head.

Temperament
Dignified, courageous, aloof; tends to show dominance over other dogs, though the trait is not encouraged.

Head and Skull
Large, in balance with body, skull flat, forehead broad, defined stop and clear furrow. Head forms blunt triangle when viewed from above, free from wrinkle. Muzzle broad and strong, cheeks well developed. Nose large and black, bridge straight. Lips tight and black. In white dogs flesh colour pigmentation is permissible on nose and lips. Length from nose to stop is to length from stop to occiput as 2 is to 3.

Eyes
Relatively small, almond-shaped, clean, moderately set apart and dark brown. Eye rims dark and tight.

Ears
Relatively small, thick, triangular, not low set, carried forward in line with the back of the neck when viewed in profile. Moderately set apart, slightly rounded at tips.

Mouth
Jaws strong, with a perfect, regular and complete scissor bite, i.e. upper teeth closely overlapping lower teeth and set square to the jaws.

Neck
Thick and muscular, comparatively short, widening gradually toward shoulders. Pronounced crest blends with back of skull.

Forequarters
Shoulders strong and powerful, moderately laid back. Elbows very tight. Forelegs well boned and straight when viewed from front. Pasterns inclining at approximately 15 degrees.

Body
Longer than high, as 10 is to 9 in males, 11 to 9 in bitches. Chest wide and deep, depth of brisket is one-half height of dog at shoulder. Well developed forechest. Level back, firmly muscled loin, moderate tuck up. Skin pliant but not loose.

Hindquarters
Strong and muscular with only moderate angulation and turn of stifle. Well developed thighs, strong hocks, well let down turning neither in nor out.

Feet
Thick, well-knuckled, very tight, turning neither in nor out. Pads hard. Nails hard.

Tail
Large and full, set high, carried over back, full or double curl, always dipping to or below level of back. On a three-quarter curl tail, tip dips down flank. Root large and strong. Hair coarse, straight and full with no appearance of a plume. Sickle or uncurled tail highly undesirable.

Gait/Movement
Vigorous, powerful and fluent with strides of moderate length. Back remains firm and level. Hindlegs move in line with front legs, whilst gaiting may single track.

Coat
Outer coat coarse, straight, and standing off body. Undercoat soft and dense. Coat at withers and rump is approximately 5 cms (2 ins), slightly longer than on rest of body more profuse on tail. No indication of ruff or feathering.

Colour
Any colour including white brindle or pinto. Colours are brilliant and clear. Markings are well defined with or without mask or blaze.

Size
Height at withers: dogs: 66-71 cms (26-28 ins); bitches: 61-66 cms (24-26 ins).

Tell-Tale Differences:

Many people think that the main differences between the breeds is the size, thinking that if an Akita is slender and leggy that it is in fact an Akita Inu, where as large and chunky denotes Akita, this is unfortunately not the case and the reason why many dogs are thought to be Akita Inus when in fact they are just slender or small Akitas. The Akita Inu does tend to be smaller and much more athletic looking, there is little difference in height but stood together you see a noticeable difference in their build.

The head is where both breeds really differ, The Akita has a ‘bear face’, whereas the Akita Inu has a much more triangular face, with a longer thinner tapered muzzle, ears are small, set much more to the side of the head and inclined forwards with almond shaped eyes.

Colouring is also where the breeds differ, any dog with a black mask is not an Akita Inu. An Inu is either sesame, red, white or brindle in colour. All the foregoing colours except white must have whitish coat on the cheeks, the sides of the muzzle, the inside of the legs and also the undersides of the jaw, neck, chest, body and tail – this is called Urajiro. Pinto colouring is also not acceptable in the breed standard, although some dogs will have a white collar partially or completely around their neck – many brindles do not have a white face but have a self coloured face, this should not be mistaken for a black mask either.

Coat texture is another area that differs in both breeds, the Akita Inu coat is coarser and slightly longer than the Akita, who to touch has a much plusher softer thicker coat

With thanks to R. Cook for her help in compiling this information, thanks again to R Cook and also to E Bell for the kind permission to use their photographs

Friends of Akitas Trust (UK)