Akitas, with their fluffy bear-like appearance, often draw attention and admiration. It’s common to hear comments like, “Your dog is so fluffy! Can I pet him?” when out with an Akita. While some Akitas are friendly with strangers, it’s crucial to understand that this isn’t typical for the breed. Beneath their cuddly exterior, Akitas possess a complex temperament that requires careful consideration, especially when thinking about them as family pets. This raises a vital question for potential owners: Are Akitas Good Pets, particularly when children are involved?
While Akitas can indeed be wonderful companions, labeling them as universally “good pets” is an oversimplification. Their large size, powerful bite, and potential for aggression mean they aren’t generally recommended for households with very young children. Akitas are known for their strong, independent personalities and distinct preferences. If an Akita doesn’t take to children, it will be evident. However, the challenge lies in ensuring this is understood before any potential issues arise.
Starting with an Akita Puppy: Early Days Matter
For families with young children considering an Akita, introducing a puppy into the home is generally preferable to adopting an adult Akita. Akitas are renowned for forming deep bonds with their families. An Akita puppy raised with children has a higher likelihood of bonding with them and developing tolerance.
The term “tolerant” is key here. Young children, with their developing motor skills and limited understanding of animal boundaries, can inadvertently test any dog’s patience. Actions like tail-pulling, ear-tugging, or unwanted touching are common, and an Akita might react negatively if not properly socialized and trained.
Even with a puppy raised alongside children, constant supervision is paramount. Never leave young children and an Akita unsupervised until the children are old enough to understand appropriate behavior around dogs and respect the Akita’s space and boundaries.
Time Commitment: Training Akitas for Family Life
Parents of young children are well aware of the demands on their time and attention. Prospective Akita owners with young families must seriously consider this, as Akita puppies, much like human babies, require significant time and dedication, especially for training.
Experienced Akita owners consistently emphasize the need for strong leadership. Akitas are intelligent, independent, and can be dominant. If an Akita puppy senses a lack of consistent leadership, it may try to assert itself, leading to disobedience, destructive behaviors like chewing furniture or belongings, and general household disruption.
If time for dedicated Akita training is lacking due to childcare demands, it’s advisable to postpone bringing an Akita into the home until children are older and more independent.
Training Your Akita to Be Good with Kids
The debate of nature versus nurture is always relevant in dog training. With Akitas, both aspects are crucial. While an Akita’s inherent temperament plays a role, proper training significantly shapes their behavior. This underscores the importance of investing time in training, especially when integrating an Akita into a family with children.
Socialization is paramount for Akitas to be well-mannered around children. Key socialization practices include:
- Early Start: Begin socialization as early as possible in puppyhood, ideally before 16 weeks of age, as this is the critical socialization window.
- Diverse Interactions: Expose your Akita puppy to a wide range of people, including children of different ages and adults, and various environments like parks, stores, and car rides.
- Resource Guarding Prevention: Practice taking away food and toys from your puppy while they are engaged with them. This helps prevent resource guarding issues later in life.
Thorough socialization significantly increases the likelihood of your Akita developing into a dog that is comfortable and safe around children.
Akitas and Kids: Separating Fact from Fiction
Akitas boast a rich history, tracing back to ancient Japan. While the Japanese Akita Inu is often considered the “original” Akita, American Akitas evolved as a distinct breed. The Akita breed has faced numerous challenges throughout history, including near extinction after World War II, leading to changes in temperament and breed characteristics over time.
A common myth surrounding Japanese Akita Inus is their role as “nanny dogs” in ancient Japan. Stories suggest they were entrusted to watch over babies while parents worked. While these tales are romantic, the breed’s evolution through dog fighting and bear hunting in subsequent years makes it improbable that such “nanny dog” traits persist reliably in modern Akitas. Temperament has shifted, and relying on historical anecdotes is unwise.
Introducing Children After Owning an Akita
Many couples get a dog before having children, often viewed as a “practice run” for parenthood. While this is perfectly fine, the arrival of children can sometimes lead to dogs being neglected or even rehomed, which is a regrettable outcome.
If you already own an adult Akita and are expecting a child, predicting the Akita’s reaction to the new baby is challenging. Past interactions with other children may offer some clues, but Akitas thrive on routine and familiarity. A new baby disrupts the household dynamic significantly. Introducing a baby to an adult Akita requires a slow, controlled approach. Seeking guidance from a professional dog trainer or behaviorist during the initial interactions is highly recommended to ensure a safe and positive introduction.
The Importance of Choosing a Reputable Breeder
Ethical breeders play a crucial role in ensuring Akitas are placed in suitable homes. This is why choosing a responsible breeder is paramount. For those in the US, the Akita Club of America’s website is a valuable resource for finding registered breeders. Breeders not affiliated with the ACA should be approached with caution.
Good breeders will have thorough puppy application processes and will inquire about children in the home. They possess in-depth knowledge of their Akita lines’ temperaments and can provide informed guidance on whether a puppy is a good fit for your family and lifestyle.
For further reading, consider exploring resources on Akita Bite Statistics to gain a deeper understanding of breed-specific risks.
The Akita, whether American Akita or Japanese Akita Inu, is an impressive breed, but not universally suited for every home. Responsible dog ownership involves recognizing when bringing a particular breed into your life is appropriate. If you have young children or plan to start a family soon, it might be prudent to postpone welcoming an Akita puppy into your home and revisit the idea when your children are older and more dog-savvy.
