AKITA

 
FCI-Standard N° 255 
ORIGIN : Japan. 
DATE OF PUBLICATION OF THE OFFICIAL VALID 
STANDARD : 13.03.2001. 
UTILIZATION : Companion dog. 
FCI-CLASSIFICATION : Group 5 Spitz and primitive type. 
Section 5 Asian Spitz and related breeds. 
Without working trial. 

BRIEF HISTORICAL SUMMARY : Originally Japanese dogs 
were small to medium in size and no large breeds existed. Since 
1603 in the Akita region, Akita Matagis (medium-sized bear-hunting 
dogs) were used as fighting dogs. From 1868 Akita Matagis were 
crossed with Tosas and Mastiffs. Consequently, the size of this 
breed increased but characteristics associated with Spitz type were 
lost. 
In 1908 dog fighting was prohibited, but this breed was nevertheless 
preserved and improved as a large Japanese breed. As a result, nine 
superior examples of this breed were designated as « Natural 
Monuments » in 1931. 
During World War II (1939-1945), it was common to use dogs as a 
source of fur for military garments. The police ordered the capture 
and confiscation of all dogs other than German Shepherd Dogs used 
for military purposes. Some fanciers tried to circumvent the order by 
crossbreeding their dogs with German Shepherd Dogs.
When World War II ended, Akitas had been drastically reduced in 
number and existed as three distinct types; 1) Matagi Akitas, 2) 
fighting Akitas, and 3) Shepherd Akitas. This created a very 
confusing situation in the breed. 
During the restoration process of the pure breed after the war., 
Kongo-go, a dog of the Dewa line, which exhibited characteristics of 
the Mastiff and German Shepherd. FCI-St. N° 255 / 02.04.2001
However, sensible learned fanciers did not approve of this type as a 
proper Japanese breed, so they made efforts to eliminate the strain 
old foreign breeds by crossbreeding with Matagi Akitas for the 
purpose of restoring the original pure breed. They succeeded in 
stabilizing the pure strain of large sized breed as known today. 

GENERAL APPEARANCE : Large-sized dog, sturdily built, well 
balanced and with much substance ; secondary sex characteristics 
strongly marked, with high nobility and dignity in modesty ; 
constitution tough. 

IMPORTANT PROPORTIONS : The ratio of height at withers to 
length of body ( from the point of the shoulders to the point of the 
buttock) is 10 : 11, but the body is slightly longer in bitches than in 
dogs. 

BEHAVIOUR AND TEMPERAMENT : The temperament is 
composed, faithful, docile and receptive. 

HEAD 
CRANIAL REGION : 
Skull : The size is in proportion to the body. The forehead is broad, 
with distinct furrow. No wrinkle. 
Stop : Defined. 
FACIAL REGION : 
Nose : Large and black. Slight and diffuse lack of pigment 
accepted in white dogs only, but black is always preferred. 
Muzzle : Moderately long and strong with broad base, tapering but 
not pointed. Nasal bridge straight. 
Jaws/Teeth : Teeth strong with scissor bite. 
Lips : Tight. 
Cheeks : Moderately developed. 
Eyes : Relatively small, almost triangular in shape due to the rising 
of the outer eye corner, set moderately apart, dark brown : the darker, 
the better. FCI-St. N° 255 / 02.04.2001
Ears : Relatively small, thick, triangular, slightly rounded at tips, set 
moderately apart, pricked and inclining forward. 

NECK : Thick and muscular, without dewlap, in balance with head. 

BODY : 
Back : Straight and strong. 
Loin : Broad and muscular. 
Chest : Deep, forechest well developed, ribs moderately well sprung. 
Belly : Well drawn up. 

TAIL : Set on high, thick, carried vigorously curled over back ; the 
tip nearly reaching hocks when let down. 

LIMBS
FOREQUARTERS : 
Shoulders : Moderately sloping and developed. 
Elbows : Tight. 
Forearms : Straight and heavy-boned. 
HINDQUARTERS : 
General appearance : Well developed, strong and moderately 
angulated. 
FEET : Thick, round, arched and tight. 
GAIT : Resilient and powerful movement. 

COAT 
HAIR : Outer coat harsh and straight, undercoat soft and dense ; the 
withers and the rump are covered with slightly longer hair ; the hair 
on tail is longer than on the rest of the body. FCI-St. N° 255 / 02.04.2001 

COLOUR : Red fawn, sesame (red fawn hairs with black tips), 
brindle and white. All the above mentioned colours except white 
must have « urajiro ». 
(Urajiro = whitish coat on the sides of the muzzle, on the cheeks, on 
the underside of jaw, neck, chest, body and tail and on the inside of 
the legs). 

SIZE : 
Height at the withers : Dogs : 67 cm, 
 bitches : 61 cm. 
There is a tolerance of 3 cm more or less. 

FAULTS : Any departure from the foregoing points should be
considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be 
regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree and its effect 
upon the health and welfare of the dog. 
• Bitchy dogs / doggy bitches. 
• Undershot or overshot mouth. 
• Missing teeth. 
• Blue or black spotted tongue. 
• Iris light in colour. 
• Short tail. 
• Shyness. 
DISQUALIFYING FAULTS : 
• Aggressive or overly shy dogs. 
• Any dog clearly showing physical or behavioural abnormalities 
shall be disqualified. 
• Ears not pricked. 
• Hanging tail. 
• Long hair (shaggy). 
• Black mask. 
• Markings on white ground. FCI-St. N° 255 / 02.04.2001 

N.B.: 
• Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully 
 descended into the scrotum. 
• Only functionally and clinically healthy dogs, with breed typical 
 conformation should be used for breeding.