FCI Akita standard

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FCI decided to divide the Akita dog into two different dog breeds at a general meeting in Mexico City in June of 1999. Therefore, we have asked about this division process of the pure Japanese line of Akita dogs and the crossbred type of the Great Japanese Dog. [Read more]

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FCI Standard: Akita

Origin: Japan
Utilization: Companion dog
Classification FCI: Group 5 ,Spitz and primitive type

Section 5 (Asian Spitz and related breeds)
Without working trial

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 is 10:11, but the body is slightly longer in bitches than in dogs.

BEHAVIOR 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 block. In case of white coat, flesh color permitted.

Muzzle: Moderately long and strong with broad base, tapering but not pointed. Nasal bridge straight.

Lips: Tight

Jaws/teeth: Teeth strong with scissor bite

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.

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: Hind legs 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 body.

COLOR: Red fawn, sesame (red fawn hairs with block tips), brindle and white. All the above-mentioned colors 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.
• Bitchy dogs/doggy bitches
• Undershot or overshot mouth
• Missing teeth
• Spotted tongue
• Iris light in colour
• Short tail
• Shyness

DISQUALIFYING FAULTS:
• Ears not pricked
• Hanging tail
• Long hair (shaggy)
• Block mask
• Markings on white background

N.B. Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.

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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 of the Dewa line, which exhibited characteristics of the Mastiff and German Shepherd Dog influence, enjoyed a temporary but tremendous popularity. The Akitas developed with increasing number of breeders and a great rise in popularity.

However, sensible learned fanciers did not approve of this type as a proper Japanese breed, so they made efforts to eliminate the strain of foreign breeds by crossbreeding with the Matagi Akitas for the purpose of restoring the original pure breed and succeeded in stabilizing the pure strain of large sized breed as known today.

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