FCI-Standard N°255/ 02. 04. 2001 /
GB
AKITA
ORIGIN : Japan.
DATE OF PUBLICATION OF THE ORIGINAL VALID STANDARD : 13.03.2001.
UTILIZATION : Companion dog.
CLASSIFICATION F.C.I. : 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 Dog influence, enjoyed
a temporary but tremendous popularity. 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.
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 : 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.
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.
· 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 (shaggy).
· Black mask.
· Markings on white ground.
N.B. : Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles
fully descended into the scrotum.
