This short informational piece will give you a background on the genetic makeup and history of Akita dogs. In doing so you will gain a better understanding of why they act, move and look the way they do. Like all domesticated dogs the Akita have been bred to look and act the way they do. All pedigree breeds have over time been bred to have the genetic makeup that they do.

Whether it is for appearance or function, there are a lot of dog breeds that have basically been "designed" by humans. Akita dogs are no different; their original breeding design was for strength, awareness and aggression. This suited them to being guard dogs and watch dogs. They are patient, intelligent and alert.

The Akita breed we know today can be broadly separated into two different strains. They are the Japanese Akita and the American Akita. The differences between the genetic strains are mainly aesthetic. One of the main distinguishing features is the color of the coat/fur. The traditional Japanese Akita dogs only have certain colors of fur. These colors are pure white, red, sesame, brindle and fawn. In addition to these "primary" fur colors Japanese Akita dogs can have white/cream fur on the face, neck, muzzle, underside and tail.

On the other hand the classifications for American Akita dogs are much looser. They can consist of any color or combinations of colors. There are consistencies between the two strains, these consistencies are to be considered a pure pedigree they must have a short coat. The longer coat appears from a recessive gene amongst pedigree dogs.

In general there are several evolutionary functions that can be observed in the Akita appearance. For example they are obviously a dog that has genetically adapted to living in cold and hostile conditions. This can be seen from their thick and dense fur coat. Their fur is designed for survival in severe conditions that leave them exposed to long periods of cold weather. Their body structure also gives away clues as to how evolution has adapted them. These dogs have been build for hunting and predation with a dense muscular and bone structure. They are build for power and speed, which in a natural habitat allows them to have a physical advantage over their prey. One notable feature of the Akita breed is that they have a lot of height. That is their bodies are lean and stand high above the ground.

Although these dogs are naturally aggressive in their makeup, they have adapted well to domestication. With proper training from birth and regular exercise these dogs should cause no more problems than any other breed. It is simply a matter of channeling their high energy levels into non-aggressive activities.