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I would like to say a big thank you to
Denise Didsbury for writing this article. She owns both
Japanese and American Akitas.
The Akita Inu, in the UK, is referred
to as the Japanese Akita. In Japan, the country of origin,
and in FCI countries it is the Akita Inu.
Below is the Akita-Inu standard for FCI countries.
COLOUR: The only
colours allowed are Red, Red Sesame, Brindle and White.
All the colours, except white, should have urajiro (white
coat on the sides of the muzzle, on the cheeks, underside
of jaw, neck, chest, body and tail and inside of legs).
HEAD:
Cranial Region:
Skull: The size is in proportion to the body.
The forehead is broad, with distinct furrow. No wrinkle.
Stop: Defined.
I have put the two types of Akita together
for you to see how different they are
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.
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, 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
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
SIZE: Height at
withers: Dogs 67cm - Bitches 61cm
There is a tolerance of 3 cm more or less
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.
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
Blue or black spotted tongue
Iris light in colour
Short Tail
Shyness
ELIMINATING FAULTS:
Ears not pricked
Hanging tail
Long hair
Black Mask
Markings on white ground
N.B. Males should have two apparently normal
testicles fully descended into the scrotum.
I would like to thank Gary Byrne (Akakuro Akitas) for
allowing me to use photos they have sent me, or from
their web sites.
For further information on the Japan type Akita please
visit the following sites:
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