The Country of origin
for the Akita Inu is Japan. After WWII
there were very few original specimens of the
Akita in existence. In an effort to save their
breed and natural monument from extinction, Japanese breeders
out-crossed their surviving Akitas with
several other breeds. It is written that the
wartime dogs that were readily available for
this task were: German Shepherds, Saint Bernards
and the Tosa. Therefore, these were the
primary breeds used.
The influence of these
other breeds can still be seen in many of the
American type, Akitas of today. In January of 2000, the
Japanese delegates / JKC elected to split their
breed. The name; "Great Japanese
Dog" was given initially to the American
type Akitas or the Akitas that did not carry the correct color patterns
that were specified in the original Japanese
Akita breed standard. Initially, the Akitas that
did exhibit the correct color patterns,
whether or not their pedigree was entirely
Japanese in origin, would continue to carry the name Akita. The
original recognized color patterns were: Red /
White faced with correct "urajiro"
or white markings. Self masked brindles, with
correct white markings or Solid white.
In order to make
this work it was decided by the Japanese
delegates/JKC that, in Japan and in all of the participating FCI
Countries, they would form a selected
panel or committee
to view and categorize all puppies that had owner
applications submitted for registration. Each
puppy would be selected in
accordance to phenotype or correct color
patterns. Upon review, each of these puppies
would be given the breed name of, " Akita"
or "Great Japanese Dog" and from that point on,
would only ever be bred to the same breed name
that they themselves were given.
As
2010 approaches, we feel that there may now be
enough specimens in the USA for the
"Japanese" type of Akitas to make a
go of it on their own, as long as the AKC/
United States were given the same opportunities as
the FCI Countries were, i.e. the first
generation of the new Japanese Akita breed
would be allowed to include current AKC
registered Akitas that bore the correct
Japanese color patterns. This way, the new
Japanese Akita breed would not end up loosing
their AKC Championship titles, etc. to the
"miscellaneous class".
Below, are some
photo examples of the
two types of Akitas that exist today.
The differences in the
American Standard and
the Japanese type Akitas of today are more visible when viewed in this context.
Below, are
typical Japanese type
Akita heads.
Picture, left, provided by BayCrest Akitas.
Right pic. by, Patricia Kogan.
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Below, are some
pics. of typical American type Akita heads.
Picture above provided by Mike O'Conner.
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The 2
pics. above are
of 100% Japanese lineage Akitas at a dog show in
Japan.
Note: The
differences already showing up in the body and
head type on the young Japanese, brindle male
above, verses the young American type male
below.
Photos above courtesy, Cindy
Carlson.
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Below, are some example
of more Japanese body types.
Photo courtesy Debra
& Roy Anibal.
Photo above provided
by Cindy Carlson.
Below, and
throughout our site, are some photo examples of:
blends of the
two types.
Above, 2 yr. old, 3/4
Japanese female.
A young 3/4 blend Akita.
Photo, courtesy Cindy Carlson.
Above, a 3/8 blend Akita.
photo, courtesy Michael Libert
Kazari, hunting on the
ranch, 5/8 Japanese lineage Akita.
Shinju, taking one of
many BOB's. 7/8's Japanese lineage
Akita. Thank you Rod Masnica for all your
expertise in showing and training so many of
our dogs.
Above, Maximus, an Aki X Riot
Akita puppy with a 15/16 blended Japanese lineage.
Upper left, 1/2 Japanese lineage
Hanko Akita. "Karat"
Above, 1/4 Japanese
Akita puppy, out of Nitro X Dreamer.
Left & right, 1/2
Japanese "GJD" pups
out of Shinjitsu and
Tiko.
Above, 3/8 Japanese
Akita puppy, out of Nitro X Krystal.
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Below, are photos of
Akitas that resemble, either in color or
stature, the original out-crossed types that
are now known, outside the USA and in the FCI
Countries, as the American Standard Akitas
or Great Japanese Dogs.
Above , American type Akita,
Above, American type Akita. Photo,
courtesy Carol DiRosa.
Above:
100% American lineage, Nitro X Mimi daughter,
"Cleo"
While it is true that some of these specimens
have experienced a breed name change, outside
the USA and in the FCI Countries, both types
originated in Japan and we love them
all. We hope we've been of some assistance
to you, regarding the JKC and FCI breed split and
with regards to the
differences of the American and Japanese types
of Akitas and how it
all evolved.
