Question:

Most conscientious breeders of ANY breed try to discourage new parents from taking on a puppy until the children are older.   In the case of an Akita, most breeders should REALLY be hesitant to place a pup in such a situation except in extenuating circumstances, like a family that’s had Akitas for decades or someone with extensive experience with another powerful breed and children who are growing up within the dog-centric culture, where appropriate behavior around dogs is compulsory from toddlerhood and the household is set up in such a way that visiting children would not accidentally interact with any dog without direct adult supervision. The fact that you appear somewhat naive about the challenges you’re facing prompts some questions about the breeder you got your pup from, and whether the puppy you got comes from a line of stable temperaments.  (Note: a stable temperament in an Akita is quite different from a stable temperament in traditional "family" dogs.  It doesn’t mean worse, but it’s far more complicated) It doesn’t mean the dog you have will become Cujo — it just means that you must be doing everything you can to ensure that it’s developing properly socially.  Your best bet might be to link up with an online Akita discussion group and see if you can arrange to meet a local experienced Akita person who can visit with your pup and give you some feedback about how hard or soft he appears to be, and serve as a mentor in the coming months as the dog grows.  These folks can also steer you to obedience groups and maybe some playgroups that are supervised by experienced people who can assess the dog’s interactions with other pups and give you more hints on what to nurture and what to work on. Best of luck to you and your pup! kassa

Response:

I know this will sound harsh, but an Akita was probably not the best choice given that you will have small children around for many years to come.  I owned an Akita for 15 years, (R.I.P, dottie-girl).  They’re a wonderful breed, but really shouldn’t be around strange children.   They’re very protective, and can misread child’s play.  Read up on this breed and socialize the dog extensively.  Be VERY firm in your training, and never allow the dog around ANY child, even your own.. unsupervised. MM

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> | Hello all!  My husband and I bought an Akita puppy about a month ago. She > | is three months old now, and aside from a few minor problems > (housebreaking, > | digging), she really is a wonderful addition to our family.  We did a lot > of > | reading on various breeds and couldn’t decide between a Samoyed and Akita. > | I read that Akitas are very gentle with children, but they are very > | protective of their owners and property.  We read so many positive things > | about Akitas, that we decided that the breed would be perfect.  We have a > | fifteen-month-old baby, and I was wondering if there is anything negative > | that we should specifically be aware of.  Reading a few books ultimately > I’m surprised your reading didn’t reveal the common view that Akitas are > dangerous to children.  The books that leave this out are usually books on > the breed, which are not to be trusted to point out the negatives. > Akitas and Samoyeds are night and day. > Paws to Consider, a book on choosing the right dog for your family, lists > Akitas in the ‘not recommended for most owners’ category. > The Right Dog for You, by Daniel Tortora, Ph.D., lists Akitas as one of the > most aggressive breeds, and further states that they are dangerous to > children they are not raised with. > At this point, you should either place your dog with a more ideal home, or > you should do the following. > Read extensively on socializing your puppy.  Take her to play with gentle > children as frequently as you can.  Never let her be frightened by children. > Discourage rough playing, tug-o-war, etc.  Give her lots of attention when > around your baby and others so that she associates them positively.  Etc. > Read up.  Maybe consult a recommended dog behaviorist. > Also check on the pup’s parents to see if they are gentle and good with > children.  Genetics plays a big part in this facet of Akitas.  Also, puppies > pick up behavior cues from their mother.  If she growled at someone, a child > perhaps, around the puppies, she may have influenced them. > I rescued an Akita at about 7 months.  My girlfriend and I gave her tons of > attention and took her to meet people of all ages whenever possible.  She > still turned out prone to growl at strangers, even when we were signaling > they were friends. > She’s a great dog, though very willful.  But I would not trust her with > strange children. > Jeff > Jeff Harper > jeff#doplay.com

Response:

| Hello all!  My husband and I bought an Akita puppy about a month ago.  She | is three months old now, and aside from a few minor problems (housebreaking, | digging), she really is a wonderful addition to our family.  We did a lot of | reading on various breeds and couldn’t decide between a Samoyed and Akita. | I read that Akitas are very gentle with children, but they are very | protective of their owners and property.  We read so many positive things | about Akitas, that we decided that the breed would be perfect.  We have a | fifteen-month-old baby, and I was wondering if there is anything negative | that we should specifically be aware of.  Reading a few books ultimately I’m surprised your reading didn’t reveal the common view that Akitas are dangerous to children.  The books that leave this out are usually books on the breed, which are not to be trusted to point out the negatives. Akitas and Samoyeds are night and day. Paws to Consider, a book on choosing the right dog for your family, lists Akitas in the ‘not recommended for most owners’ category. The Right Dog for You, by Daniel Tortora, Ph.D., lists Akitas as one of the most aggressive breeds, and further states that they are dangerous to children they are not raised with. At this point, you should either place your dog with a more ideal home, or you should do the following. Read extensively on socializing your puppy.  Take her to play with gentle children as frequently as you can.  Never let her be frightened by children. Discourage rough playing, tug-o-war, etc.  Give her lots of attention when around your baby and others so that she associates them positively.  Etc. Read up.  Maybe consult a recommended dog behaviorist. Also check on the pup’s parents to see if they are gentle and good with children.  Genetics plays a big part in this facet of Akitas.  Also, puppies pick up behavior cues from their mother.  If she growled at someone, a child perhaps, around the puppies, she may have influenced them. I rescued an Akita at about 7 months.  My girlfriend and I gave her tons of attention and took her to meet people of all ages whenever possible.  She still turned out prone to growl at strangers, even when we were signaling they were friends. She’s a great dog, though very willful.  But I would not trust her with strange children. Jeff Jeff Harper jeff#doplay.com

Response:

I breed Akitas, and the problems I see come from teasing the dog.  Also messing with him/her when he/she is eating.  I have no problems with my kids around the dogs, but I generally keep the male away from strange children. I would worry about small children who do not respect your dog.  Neutering and sociallizing it with the child when it is still a puppy will likely increase your success.  Also, determine the agressiveness of the line.  Some of my dogs are more aggressive than others. Good luck.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Hello all!  My husband and I bought an Akita puppy about a month ago.  She > is three months old now, and aside from a few minor problems (housebreaking, > digging), she really is a wonderful addition to our family.  We did a lot of > reading on various breeds and couldn’t decide between a Samoyed and Akita. > I read that Akitas are very gentle with children, but they are very > protective of their owners and property.  We read so many positive things > about Akitas, that we decided that the breed would be perfect.  We have a > fifteen-month-old baby, and I was wondering if there is anything negative > that we should specifically be aware of.  Reading a few books ultimately > does not replace personal accounts, and I’m wondering if any Akita owners > out there could give us some advice.  Thanks! > Kristin Cole

Response:

oh boy, if you chose an akita over a samoyed for a family with a baby, thats a real lack of education on your part. I would absolutely get involved with a) a puppy school b) some akita people, so you can ENSURE that this dog remains a wonderful addition to your family. — -Beth, Pseudo usenet cop Merlin MTB, BikeE AT, RANS gliss and Trek R200 Owned by Kavik (Samoyed Boy) Anchorage, Alaska

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Hello all!  My husband and I bought an Akita puppy about a month ago.  She > is three months old now, and aside from a few minor problems (housebreaking, > digging), she really is a wonderful addition to our family.  We did a lot of > reading on various breeds and couldn’t decide between a Samoyed and Akita. > I read that Akitas are very gentle with children, but they are very > protective of their owners and property.  We read so many positive things > about Akitas, that we decided that the breed would be perfect.  We have a > fifteen-month-old baby, and I was wondering if there is anything negative > that we should specifically be aware of.  Reading a few books ultimately > does not replace personal accounts, and I’m wondering if any Akita owners > out there could give us some advice.  Thanks! > Kristin Cole

Response:

Hello all!  My husband and I bought an Akita puppy about a month ago.  She is three months old now, and aside from a few minor problems (housebreaking, digging), she really is a wonderful addition to our family.  We did a lot of reading on various breeds and couldn’t decide between a Samoyed and Akita. I read that Akitas are very gentle with children, but they are very protective of their owners and property.  We read so many positive things about Akitas, that we decided that the breed would be perfect.  We have a fifteen-month-old baby, and I was wondering if there is anything negative that we should specifically be aware of.  Reading a few books ultimately does not replace personal accounts, and I’m wondering if any Akita owners out there could give us some advice.  Thanks! Kristin Cole

Response:

>Reading a few books ultimately > does not replace personal accounts, and I’m wondering if any Akita owners > out there could give us some advice.  Thanks!

I believe I’d be searching Yahoo groups and getting on a good Akita email list. These are huge powerful dogs, and asking questions like this after actual acquisition tells me you need a good support group <g>. These email list put you in constant contact with experienced folks who can help you lay a proper foundation for this puppy. A child that is 15 months old now will have hordes of friends running around in 4-5 years, and you need to be secure with all aspects of your dogs behavior. A well bred Akita can be a wonderful dog… and the breeder of such a dog would be available to help and put you in touch with Akita folks in your immediate area. Has your breeder suggested anything? — Toni http://www.irish-wolfhounds.com

Response: