What is the Size of a Akita?

A large dog breed that originated from Japan, the Akita is also called by other names such as the Japanese Akita, the Great Japanese Dog or the Akita Inu. It has a straight coarse coat with a soft undercoat. It comes in various colors including pure white, fawn and red. Its average lifespan ranges from 11 to 15 years. Aside from these facts, there are many other interesting things to know about this specific dog breed including the size of an Akita.

The Size of an Akita

What is the size of an Akita? At the withers, this dog breed has an average height of 24 to 26 inches or 60 to 66 centimeters. The males have an average weight of 75 to 119 pounds or 35 to 54 kilograms. On the other hand, the weight of the females ranges from 70 to 100 pounds or 30 to 45 kilograms. It comes in five different colors, namely pure white, brindle, sesame, fawn and red.

Additional Facts and Other Important Details

The Akita is a special breed of dogs characterized by superior intelligence and loyalty. Although quite playful, these dogs show aggressiveness towards other dogs of the same sex, smaller animals as well as strangers. Based on the results of a UK Kennel Club survey that was conducted in 2004, the most common causes of death amongst these dogs were gastrointestinal problems, cardiac diseases as well as cancer.

Thanks to its double coat, these dogs are waterproof, which makes them well equipped for extremely cold winters. Daily grooming is very important. Likewise, owners must be aware of the heavy shedding of these dogs particularly during warm weather conditions.

There are certain diseases that greatly affect this specific breed of dogs. These include pemphigus, gastric dilatation volvulus and canine herpes-virus. The other dreaded diseases affecting these dogs are sebaceous adenitis, UveoDermatological Syndrome and progressive retinal atrophy. They are also at risk of other illnesses such as hyperkalaemia, hypothyroidism as well as canine hip dysplasia.

Amongst these serious health problems, one of the most dangerous is gastric dilatation volvulus, which can cause significant amount of pain and suffering to these dogs. The common symptoms associated with this disease are cyanosis, cardiac problems and hypersalivation. Once affected by this illness, the dogs can also experience breathing difficulties, depression and weakness. Furthermore, they can also feel extreme discomfort, distended abdomen and gagging.

Today, the Akita is considered one of the most ancient breeds of dogs. Due to insufficient food, a great number of these dogs were lost during World War II. During that period, orders were released to capture all kinds of dogs, with the exception of German shepherds.