Akita, Family Pet?

Deleted User wrote: »

@adser @jamesd

What do you think? Would it be cruel for me to get an akita or two when myself and my girlfriend work 9 - 6/7 ? I want to get them, i'd even try get walkers in during the week to take them for walks etc. They'd get plenty of exercise in the evenings and weekends - it's just the loneliness during the days that would bother me. Is this cruel?

Would akitas do ok in dog day care?

Personally speaking, it's my opinion that everyone has to work and if we didn't, we couldn't afford dogs in the first place. We were in the exact same situation as you and I would do nothing different if I had to do it all over again.

Say you get your pup, one (or both) of you would ideally take a week off (at least) to get the dog settled and to start on toilet training. TT won't be accomplished overnight so expect some accidents over the coming weeks but I'm sure you expect this with any pup. So your off for a week, dogs settled and training started, you should also start getting the dog used to being on their own for periods of time.
99.9% of dogs sleep most of the day when their owners are away. Akitas are no different and pups will especially sleep more. They also say that a pups excercise requirements are 5 minutes per month of age (i.e 4 months old = 20 minutes of excercise) to prevent any damage to your pups joints.

Now I know some people on here will disagree with me but taking the above into account.... your new pup will be aclimatised to its new situation quite quickly, will sleep nearly all day and can only get 20 mins excercise a day anyway. By the time it's older, and needs more excercise, it will be perfectly used to being on its own during the day as it will know your home in the evening and thats when fun time is.
The important thing really is that the dog is walked every night (and try for every morning too- even if it's only for 20 mins) and gets lots of time with you when you're home. I said already that Akitas "need" to be with their families but they are intelligent enough to realise when your not there and will sleep peacefully until you come home. Then they just want to be with you. Also, surprisingly for their size, their excercise requirements aren't huge and will do fine on short walks as well as day long hikes.

My situation is very like yours and the dogs are only in when I'm home (so my OH really might as well be still working). They are walked almost every night (I say almost because sometimes I'm just too feckin tired!) and get brought up the mountains and such at the weekends for a good run around but are in every night (like I said, thats the important bit).

I stand by my statement that you shouldn't get 2 together as pups as they will become too dependent on eachother and will most likely ignore you and they are hard enough to train as is. Get one, wait til he/she is a year or so old and then get another. Also I wouldnt recommend a same sex pairing as they seem to argue with eachother more so than a male-female pairing. I suppose thats the same for any breed really.

Ah sure look I'm rambling now, you shouldnt get me started on these amazing dogs!

Oh sorry,as for dog walkers, I've never used one but it can only help. As for doggy day care....hmmmm..... again I've never used them BUT being a restricted breed, they probably wont take akitas. It would do wonders for the dog if they did though as the socialisation it would get in a place like that would be brilliant. Training classes are also highly recommended to train you, your dog, develop a bond between yis and for socialisation.

Jesus I'm out of breath! GO for it man, just don't leave the dog to live alone all the time and make sure to make it part of your family. Any other questions, feel free to ask and I'll try keep the answers shorter...I swear Click on my sig to see pics of my 2 American Akitas too:D

fishfoodie wrote: »

Great pics on your site Adser !!

But don't you think you should warn other Akita owners about their obvious bog-hole problem

Always good to see these guys having fun !

Thanks fishfoodie and I said nothin cos the joy of a filthy, sopping wet Akita, fresh from a bog hole, is a joy that all new Akita owners should discover for themselves lol :D

lrushe wrote: »

I know DTI take Akitas in their doggy daycare, DTI are 'friends' on my facebook page so I often see their pics of new dogs in daycare and there is definately an Akita there.

Ah deadly! I happily stand corrected on that

jamesd wrote: »

Found that, it says 5L, can they open their mouth with it on?

I'm nearly sure that's the size I got. and yes they can. the muzzle bit is quite loose, asif they pull against you or attempt to drag you down the road, it tightens. Not in a painful, squeezing way, it just gives you more control over them

She's gorgeous!