General characteristics of the animal, the ancestors of the breed, the development of the variety in the United States, the reasons for the separation into a separate species, the recognition of the dog and the change in its name. The American Akita or American akita is larger and heavier than the common Akita. The dog was developed in the middle of the 20th century. Its roots go back to fighting dogs, now called Akita Inu and brought from Japan. Although both the American and Japanese types come from a common ancestry, there are distinctive features between them. The most obvious difference, apart from size and structure, is the color of the coat.
For representatives of Akita Inu, only red, fawn, sesame, white or tiger colors are allowed, while for their "cousins" almost all colors are acceptable. In addition, American-born Akitas can be piebald or have a black mask, unlike Japanese dogs, which are prohibited by the standards and will be considered a marriage. Such individuals are unconditionally disqualified from exhibitions in the show ring. As a rule, a much “diligently” built American akita, in general appearance it looks more like a bear, on the other hand, akita inu, with its graceful delicate features, resembles a fox.
The American Akita is a sturdy, large, heavy and strong dog. It can easily be included in the group of giant rocks. These canines have a huge, compact and muscular body, covered with a lush and short double "coat". The hair is slightly longer on the lower neck, belly and on the hind legs, but on the tail it is more noticeable. The color can vary in shades, combinations and markings.
Representatives have a wide, large head, very reminiscent of a bear. The slightly tapering muzzle with a black nose and strong jaws is deep and broad. This dog has straight, triangular ears that are relatively small in comparison to the head. Its rather small triangular eyes are dark brown and deep set.
The neck is of medium length, very muscular and thick. The chest is broad and deep, with well defined ribs, which creates an impressively powerful appearance. A large and sturdy tail is often carried curled up on a straight and strong back. The forelegs are straight and firm, while the hindquarters are very muscular, strong and sturdy. The hard-padded cat's feet are well formed and webbed.
The history of the appearance and ancestors of the American Akita
The origin of this variety is rooted in the akita breed, which is indigenous to Japan. The progenitors of the american akita came from the Akita province of the Japanese island of Honshu, from where they get their name. They are the largest representatives of the spitz type. Their origin is very ancient. This is evidenced by numerous archaeological finds that date back to 8000-300 BC.
In the distant times of the past, people kept them as pets, used them to catch prey while hunting and called them "matagi ken", which means "hunting dog for large animals" in translation from the Japanese dialect. The name speaks for itself. With the help of the ancestors of the American Akita, who possessed remarkable strength, they hunted wild boars, deer, bears and other animals.
Who started the appearance of the American Akita?
The rise of the species in the United States (the great Japanese fighting dog) actually begins with the famous American writer, lecturer and political activist Helen Adams Keller. Initially, it was she who was credited with importing the first specimens of the akita breed from Japan to the United States of America.
Adams went on a tourist trip to this East Asian state in 1937. During the trip, she visited a prefecture in the Tohoku region and heard the story of a dog named "Hachiko" - a famous member of the breed who died two years later, in 1935. The dog had been waiting unsuccessfully for nine years at the station for the return of its deceased owner. His devotion amazed the woman and, impressed by the story, she said that she really dreamed of having just such a pet.
Mr. Ogasawara, who was an employee of the Akita City Police Station, agreed to donate a two-month-old puppy named "Kamikaze-go" to the writer. After Adams Keller returned to his native American lands, it so happened that the dog fell ill with the plague and died a month later. After such a tragic event, in July 1938, the Japanese government made an official gift to the writer, as another puppy from the same litter, which was named "Kenzan-go".
After the Kamikaze-go dog left, Keller wrote in the Akita Journal: “If there ever was an angel in furs, it was Kamikaze. I'm sure I probably won't feel the same affection for any other pet. The Akita dog has all the features that appeal to me - she is gentle, calm and loyal."
Development of the American Akita breed in the USA
When the occupation began after the end of the difficult period of World War II, many American soldiers stationed in Japan fell in love with the Akita. Time passed and when they finished their "tour" they were brought back to the USA. As the breed grew in popularity, more and more of its members were imported from the Japanese state to the United States of America, although most of these dogs were of the german shepherd or fighting akita types.
In America, breeders and hobbyists alike were more attracted to the large and significantly imposing-looking battle akitas from Japan than to other canines, although a small number of "matagi type" (hunting type) Akita were also imported. This is also the main reason why there are very significant differences between the American Akita (great Japanese dog) and the Japanese Akita Inu.
Akita Club of America (AKA) began operations in 1956. In early 1973, the American Kennel Club (AKC) officially recognized the breed and then on March 1, 1974 closed the breed register for any new "imported" breeds. The AKC did not recognize the Japanese Kennel Club.
The ACA Registration Rules are true for akita, and the source books for all registered members of a variety born in America. The ACA breed recording was closed on January 28, 1974, after which all American Akitas were to be recorded directly with the AKC.
The date of birth of the first officially marked litter by the American Kennel Club in the USA is July 2, 1956 and the last one on October 30, 1972. Before the AKC took over the management of the breed book, there were already five hundred and eighty-eight litters recorded in the ACA register, for a total of about two thousand one hundred and fifteen individual Akitas. When you look at the original book of ACA, the growing popularity of akita becomes abundantly clear.
Recorded young stock data are as follows: 1950s (13 litters), 1960s (180 litters) and between 1970-1973 (321 litters). There were 139 imported Akitas in total: 76 males and 63 females. The overwhelming majority of these imported breed stock had close genetic links with each other. They were either littermates (from repeated breeding), or half brothers and sisters, or cousins.
The closure of the AKC studbook in 1974 created the basis for the current divergence in the regulatory criteria that exist between the American Akitas (the great Japanese dog) and the Akita Inu. As mentioned above, the vast majority of the representatives imported into the United States of America were of the type of German shepherd or fighting dog. By interrupting registrations, the AKC made these dogs a base stock - the core of the American akita. In 1992, the American Kennel Club recognized the Japanese Kennel Club (JKC) and reopened the akita book for imported animals. Akita breeders in the United States considered them rather exotic, and some amateurs imported them specifically to cross the American type. However, the discrepancy between these two species is this: crossing usually does not yield anything other than creating a hybrid that is not similar to its parents. Several breeders in the United States took advantage of the new Akita Inu import permit and began work to breed the true Japanese type in America.
Isolation of the American Akita into a separate breed
Despite the fact that both akita species descend from a common ancestor and have closely related blood, fifty years of breeding on different sides of the Pacific Ocean have given their significant differences between them. American Akitas are much larger and more powerful. Their head has a completely different shape. For such dogs, almost all colors are acceptable. But Japanese Akita is allowed to be, according to the standard, only fawn, red, sesame, white or brindle.
The 1990s also marked a time of change. The problems with acceptable breeding criteria for Akita in the show ring and the official register have begun to work around the world. Confessions by the American Kennel Club of the Japan Club (JKC) confirmed their version that the Akita Inu is a purebred dog. In the organization FCI (International Cynologique Internationale), which includes representatives of 84 countries, there is a letter of agreement with the AKC on cooperation. The specialists plan to "share the general goals of protecting and promoting purebred dogs."
The Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI), an organization that provides show shows, has politically adopted the breed standard of its home country of origin. Thus, the JKC's recognition of the AKC opened the door to push the FCI to referee according to the standards set by the origin of the variety, Japan. Unfortunately for many akita enthusiasts and breeders around the world, the vast majority of the species came from the United States and was of the American type.
Work on the process of evaluating the updated standards and criteria began gradually. Initially, it didn't seem to matter as much. However, as the show judges were forced to adhere more strictly to Japanese Akita Inu standards, a problem arose for those fans and breeders who possessed the American type of Akita. Their pets were endowed with a peculiar coat color. They could have black masks and colors other than red, white, and brindle. Such representatives no longer received excellent marks, and ultimately could not be used even for breeding. It was in that period, after such a state of affairs, that an acute question arose about the division into two separate and unique typical types of Akita.
Working hard to recognize the American Akita
In 1993, breeders around the world began flooding the FCI with complaints and suggestions to separate the breed into two unique types. Since many of them owned and bred individuals that later became known as American Akitas, this meant that they could no longer display their pets at exhibitions, and in some situations even recorded in herd books.
To answer these inquiries, the first World Akita Conference was organized. The event was held by the Japanese Kennel Club (JKC) in December 1996 in the city of Tokyo. Representatives from fourteen countries took part in these "gatherings". All participants came to a common agreement that the American Akita and the Japanese Akita are two completely different dogs. Also, experts announced that they should be presented at the shows each separately and at the same time, in any case, not overlap.
However, the Akita Kennel Club in America (the breed's parent club in the United States) maintained an unresolved stance on the split of this canine species, which prevented the AKC from making its own changes. Thereafter, the American Kennel Club was forced to change its position because the demands of a majority of the parent club's membership (at least two-thirds of the votes) were necessary to influence any change. Likewise, the Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI) found it difficult to come to a final decision as the AKC did not do the same.
Thus, the JKC's desire for the FCI and AKC to split the breed at the same time was effectively stopped by the indecisiveness of the Akita club of america. The whole problem eventually turned into a highly congested, dead-end situation within the FCI organization.
Representatives and amateurs of the breed from twenty four countries on June 10, 1998 sent a signed letter to the FCI Council. This was partially confirmed: “Since the Japanese Kennel Club has officially recognized before the current FCI General Assembly that there are two different versions of Akita, and since one of these two types was not developed in Japan, but in the United States, it became necessary to publicly recognize the developed variety., under the auspices of the FCI”.
Such requests led to the organization of the 2nd World akita conference, which was held in Haama, Germany, in December 1998. Just as at the first event, it was again decided by the representatives of the participating countries that the Akita should be divided into two breeds within the framework of the official participation of the International Cynological Federation (FCI), as soon as possible. The JKC then submitted a public proposal to the FCI for a split of the variety, which was unanimously approved by both the scientific committee and the FCI standards committee.
American Akita dog name change
This formal proposal and final decision on the division of these canines was then submitted to a vote by the FCI General Assembly. On June 1, 1999, at the World Dog Show in Mexico City, the FCI officially announced its decision to breed as separate breeds. Much to the disappointment of the breeders and breeders of the United States of America, the FCI member countries changed the name of the American type akitas "Great Japanese Dog or GJD", while the Japanese Akita became later known as the "Akita Inu".
The name "Great Japanese Dog" for the American type was not politically motivated and did not make America's breeders and breeders satisfied and happy. In July 2005, the FCI General Assembly met at the World Show in Buenos Aires. An announcement was made there that the title "Great Japanese Dog" was unfounded and very restrictive.
The International Cynological Organization has publicly renamed the separated variety "American Akita" since January 2006. This was done at the request of JKC, the official Akita Inu breed club in Japan (country of origin for both Akita species). In addition, the American Akita changed the classification of the group competition from the second group to the fifth category "Spitz and primitive types" (Spitz and primitive types).
More about the American Akita breed:
