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American Akita Pup

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  • 16-06-2009 10:22am
    #1
    jamesd
    Registered Users Posts: 3,419 ✭✭✭


    Hi – I have some questions and I hope someone here can help.
    I have an American akita pup who is now 3.5 months old, we got him at 8 weeks old.

    He s lovely healty pup and is eating very well and seems to be in great form all the time but we have an issue with him that we want to get him out off while he’s still a pup. He has a bad habbit of snapping at everyone, If your sitting down or even if a visitor comes into the house he just wants to get there hand/leg or fingers into his mouth and being an akita he has very sharp teeth already.
    We have tried what we read of making a crying noise like a pup and then ignoring him for a while after it and we also tried making a crying noise like a pup and then giving him a little pinch back but he backs away and then goes at it in a while.

    Could it be that he’s spolit as he is and has loads of toys to play with and always has someone around for company.

    When we picked the pup we got to meet his 2 parents and both were good tempered dogs.

    Any ideas on how we can stop him?


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    #2
    adser53
    Registered Users Posts: 849 ✭✭✭adser53


    Hey james, congrats on your pup. I've an american akita myself and their fantastic dogs!
    Just for clarification, is he snapping aggressively or more chewing? While 8 weeks isnt necessarily too young for a pup, they do learn in their first 3-4 months from their litter mates and mother how much nipping is acceptable as the other dogs would discipline him if he did it too much.
    chewing is natural fora young pup as theyre teething and are very inquisitive but it does need to be controlled.
    As for you making the crying noise, id personally stop. With an akita you have to really establish yourself as the dominant one and i think making those noises makes you seem like his equal, or even his sub ordinate, rather than his leader. If i was you id give him a pinch when he does it and put him out of the room for a few minutes. Theyre very social dogs that need to be around their family so putting him out will make him quickly associate nipping with being disciplined.
    Akitas will really walk all over you if you let them so try not to spoil him too much- thats easy to say though, theyre far too cute for their own good :)
    any chance of a pic?


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    #3
    jamesd
    Registered Users Posts: 3,419 ✭✭✭jamesd


    Thanks adser53, I will try the pinch and putting him out and see how we get on, Its more a chew than agressive snap from him so maybe from teething.

    Here are some pics of Bailey attached:


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    #4
    adser53
    Registered Users Posts: 849 ✭✭✭adser53


    He's a stunning looking akita!!! Are you going to show him?
    I'm by no means an expert on akitas, just read a lot about them and have learned a lot from my lad, Loki, so hopefully my bit of advice is some help to you and Bailey :)
    There's another site I use for dog advice called irishdogs.ie, you should check it out, everyone is really helpful and a lot of people have gone through what you're going through now. Theres another lad on there with 2 american akitas so join in and help us up the akita numbers :)
    I've a load of pics up there too of my 3 dogs (akita and 2 cavs)


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    #5
    jamesd
    Registered Users Posts: 3,419 ✭✭✭jamesd


    We will only show him if he enjoys it, we made that decision when we got him.
    We would love to bring him to a few smaller shows as we know that it would be good for him to meet with some other dogs too.
    I will pop onto irishdogs tonight as I would love to get a look at your Akitas picture.


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    #6
    adser53
    Registered Users Posts: 849 ✭✭✭adser53


    Oh definitely socialise him with other dogs as much as you can! Its worth it in the end! A lot of people bring their dogs to puppy classes for that very reason. Never went myself because i know a lot of dog owners so mine socialised with theirs but ive heard great things about them.
    I don't show Loki either but i'm still toying with the idea even though i've never even been to a show :)
    You probably know yourself from reading about it but akitas dont respond well to repetitive training or games because they got bored quickly. I started a thread on irishdogs about how to entertain him and got a good few replies with some great ideas so it's worth checking out :)


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    #7
    Munster Gal
    Closed Accounts Posts: 342 ✭✭Munster Gal


    He's a handsome boy! Adser53 has given brilliant advice - it sounds like teething but it's never too early to start obedience training. My mum just got a border collie who's at that chewy stage and at 12 weeks she's starting to learn how far is acceptable from our lab who's like a foster mum to her. Socialising him with other dogs who are good with puppies will do him no end of good. You could also check with your vet and see if they do puppy parties - you'll get advice on training and he'll socilaise with other puppies.


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