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 All About
Akitas
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From
the American Kennel Club
General Appearance
Large, powerful, alert,
with much substance and heavy bone. The broad head,
forming a blunt triangle, with deep muzzle, small eyes
and erect ears carried forward in line with back of
neck, is characteristic of the breed. The large,
curled tail, balancing the broad head, is also
characteristic of the breed.
Head
Massive but in balance
with body; free of wrinkle when at ease. Skull flat
between ears and broad; jaws square and powerful with
minimal dewlap. Head forms a blunt triangle when
viewed from above. Fault--Narrow or snipy head.
Muzzle--Broad and full. Distance from nose to stop is
to distance from stop to occiput as 2 is to 3.
Stop--Well defined, but not too abrupt. A shallow
furrow extends well up forehead. Nose--Broad and
black. Liver permitted on white Akitas, but black
always preferred. Disqualification--Butterfly nose or
total lack of pigmentation on nose. Ears--The ears of
the Akita are characteristic of the breed. They are
strongly erect and small in relation to rest of head.
If ear is folded forward for measuring length, tip
will touch upper eye rim. Ears are triangular,
slightly rounded at tip, wide at base, set wide on
head but not too low, and carried slightly forward
over eyes in line with back of neck.
Disqualification--Drop or broken ears. Eyes--Dark
brown, small, deep-set and triangular in shape. Eye
rims black and tight. Lips and Tongue--Lips black and
not pendulous; tongue pink. Teeth--Strong with
scissors bite preferred, but level bite acceptable.
Disqualification--Noticeably undershot or overshot.
Neck and Body
Neck--Thick and
muscular; comparatively short, widening gradually
toward shoulders. A pronounced crest blends in with
base of skull. Body--Longer than high, as 10 is to 9
in males; 11 to 9 in bitches. Chest wide and deep;
depth of chest is one-half height of dog at shoulder.
Ribs well sprung, brisket well developed. Level back
with firmly-muscled loin and moderate tuck-up. Skin
pliant but not loose. Serious Faults--Light bone,
rangy body.
Tail
Large and full, set
high and carried over back or against flank in a
three-quarter, full, or double curl, always dipping to
or below level of back. On a three-quarter curl, tip
drops well down flank. Root large and strong. Tail
bone reaches hock when let down. Hair coarse, straight
and full, with no appearance of a plume.
Disqualification--Sickle or uncurled tail.
Forequarters and
Hindquarters
Forequarters--Shoulders
strong and powerful with moderate layback. Forelegs
heavy-boned and straight as viewed from front. Angle
of pastern 15 degrees forward from vertical.
Faults--Elbows in or out, loose shoulders.
Hindquarters--Width, muscular development and bone
comparable to forequarters. Upper thighs well
developed. Stifle moderately bent and hocks well let
down, turning neither in nor out. Dewclaws--On front
legs generally not removed; dewclaws on hind legs
generally removed. Feet--Cat feet, well knuckled up
with thick pads. Feet straight ahead.
Coat
Double-coated.
Undercoat thick, soft, dense and shorter than outer
coat. Outer coat straight, harsh and standing somewhat
off body. Hair on head, legs and ears short. Length of
hair at withers and rump approximately two inches,
which is slightly longer than on rest of body, except
tail, where coat is longest and most profuse.
Fault--Any indication of ruff or feathering.
Color
Any color including
white; brindle; or pinto. Colors are brilliant and
clear and markings are well balanced, with or without
mask or blaze. White Akitas have no mask. Pinto has a
white background with large, evenly placed patches
covering head and more than one-third of body.
Undercoat may be a different color from outer coat.
Gait
Brisk and powerful with
strides of moderate length. Back remains strong, firm
and level. Rear legs move in line with front legs.
Size
Males 26 to 28 inches
at the withers; bitches 24 to 26 inches.
Disqualification--dogs under 25 inches; bitches under
23 inches.
Temperament
Alert and responsive,
dignified and courageous. Aggressive toward other
dogs.
Disqualifications
Butterfly nose or total
lack of pigmentation on nose.
Drop or broken ears.
Noticeably undershot or overshot.
Sickle or uncurled tail.
Dogs under 25 inches; bitches under 23 inches.
Approved December 12,
1972
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