Akita Inu And Shiba Inu Dogs a Basic History

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     Shiba Inu and Akitas look alike. They share height and coloring along with many other traits and characteristics. Far from a young breed, the modern Shiba Inu is the continuation of a tradition of more than one thousand years. This is the common trait of independence and intelligence.

Of course this isn't indicative of disloyalty. It is quite the opposite. A Shiba Inu may be more loyal than other dogs. The problem is that it is difficult to earn their loyalty. You must be firm in saying "No" to the Shiba Inu. While positive reinforcement works well, you still must show them who's boss, similar to the Akita.

Unlike an Akita, The Shiba Inu breeders grow dogs smaller in stature, growing up to 14 to 17 inches from the floor to its shoulder. It will weigh approximately 23 pounds. for an adult.

Another breed with roots in ancient Japan is the Akita. Throughout the dog breeds in the world, the Akita is among the oldest, according to genetics. These are the second oldest breeds in Japan, the oldest being the Shiba Inu.
The Akita has a long and eventful history. It has gone through several wars and at a point was at the brink of extinction. It was originally bred for hunting purposes where it was used to hunt down deer, Black bear and other animals. This is how they became so ferocious.

Prior to World War I, Japanese Samurais would stage dog fights with these animals in order to keep their bloodlust from becoming dormant during times of peace. That eventually stopped when the emperor disallowed dog fighting in Japan, to avoid cruelty to animals.

In the post-war era, many dogs, including the Akita breed, were murdered in great numbers just to manufacture coats. The remaining Akitas were bred with German Shepherds that the conquering Americans had. A few pure bred Akitas survived this decade.After this decade the infatuation with Akitas was reinstated and today in Japan they are looked upon as a national monument.

According to some, the dogs bred by Akita breeders can be called stubborn and prone to unacceptable bad behavior. If their temperament is left unchecked the Akita can be aggressive and destructive at times. This accentuates how important early training is. Akita owners should begin training their pups while young. This is where a responsible Akita breeder can do wonders for their dogs. If you are considering buying one of these dogs, keep in mind that it is imperative that you be able to give them the time and attention that they require.

An Akita is very loyal to its family and would do anything to protect its territory. The Akita's loyalty is such that once it has bonded with its owner family it will go to great lengths, even to the point of sacrificing itself to protect someone with whom it has bonded.

The Akita and the Shiba Inu are equally excellent breeds. Shiba Inu and Akita breeders must be certain that the dogs will be well cared for no matter where they are adopted.