Hi,
I found your forum in my search for akita insights. I recently adopted an older (seven + years old) girl. Her family was in transition from home to rental flat. She is a total love. She's just glued to my side, like a little girl. Everywhere I go she follows. I am looking forward to reading the stories from other people who adopt older large canine companions.

I have a lot to learn from this adopted addition. The Akita doesn't follow the usual behavioral patterns of other canines. In the past I shared living space with Danes, Irish Setter, Pug, Golden Retriever, Terrier, Beagle and some sweet delightful feline divas, and they seemed so different from the Akita. Fortunately, my house mate has had akitas.

They are amazing creatures but not for everyone to be certain. I find the willfull clever intelligence endearing and at times challenging. Her quiet, constant companionship is worth her weight in gold! I feel so sad for her, and her family. They must miss each other so much. I am just trying to be here for this sweet girl and help her feel safe in her new home.

I adore her head toss over the shoulder grins...her nods, her bear huffs and grunts when she has to plop her hefty haunches down again 'cause her human won't just stay put in one room. No matter how many chores and steps from room to room.. she will follow her human...quietly and continually...she is determined to be her human's protector and companion.

Welcome to the forum. Akitas' are one of my favourite breeds but they aren't easy dogs. Well done for taking an older dog on not many people would. Any pictures they're beautiful?

__________________
"A dog is not "almost human," and I know of no greater insult to the canine race than to describe it as such."
John Holmes

Owned by Buster cairn terrier mix and Leo netherland dwarf mix bunny

Thanks for the welcome I actually made a few short little video clips of her today. I am like one of those first time parents...so thrilled with each second that I can't resist making (albeit badly) home movies!

I just thought she was so adorable romping around the grass like a little bear...chasing her pink tennis ball! This old girl was grinning, prancing and playful like a little pup.
YouTube - akita plays ball
The bond that I feel with this sweet girl is hard to really describe with words. I needed her magical powerful paws in my path maybe more than she needed my guardianship.

She's heady and requires careful, gentle, unending guidance to keep her safe...but she is more than worth the effort.

She looks adorable, and she is lucky to have landed in such caring hands

Thank you for the kind words. Seeing her play today was a joy as we have been mainly working on harder stuff like rules, walking nicely on leash, house boundaries, vet visits, groomers, and adjusting to new quarters. The unrelenting care, containment and uber strict attention to safeguarding my resident feline has been an endurance test of will and hyper-vigilence to say the least.

I had so hoped for the two to be instant easy happy mates.

We are slowly making progress and I am without a doubt very very happy we found each other. I lost someone very very dear to me last winter and it was so devastating. This sweet akita girl warms and fills those overwintered empty spaces in my life that were otherwise hard to weather after the death of my family matriarch.

I have a host of Akita questions. I'll list them in another post.

Dear mxh123, thanks for the helpful hints.

I wanted to read through some of the list so I won't litter [/I] the forum with the same questions that have been carefully covered and recovered and covered again by the devoted members already.

I have several questions specific to the needs of a newly adopted older Akita. The first three are:

1. Which leads are safest and ideal for Akita and owner?
a. The harness that fits around shoulders and front quarters?
b. The standard leather or nylon collar?
c. The metal or chain?
d. some other device?

I have been debating this with someone because IMO the spiked metal linking chain tension collars seem really intense even when dealing with a strong willed large Akita.

I have noticed improved cooperation and obedience with each session/walk with my canine. What leash collar systems are best, most safe, least harmful and most beneficial for an Akita?

2. Ideal nutrition for an older Akita? My vet prescribed Hills dry weight loss prescription blend. When I read the label, and looked up the brand on line I was concerned. I feed my feline wellness brand (I think either the purple or pink bag) we dump it into an airtight bin so I forget all the specifics. Which mixes are ideal for the Akita's gentic sensitivities?

3. What do you investigate or worry about if/when your Akita has fairly regular gas? loose BM?



I put off posting my questions immediately when I am so utterly clueless and inexperienced in the subject, I can't even begin to come up with any intelligent comment. It is embarassing to stumble and look like some loping adolescent Great Dane in front of strangers. I hope my questions aren't offensive. I value the real wisdom of your akita experiences. Anything that helps me better care for and improve the overall quality of my companion Akita's life is a treasure worth seeking. Your real experiences are gems to me and I thank you for sharing.

1. Which leads are safest and ideal for Akita and owner?

I would use a standard nylon collar and maybe a chain lead not a choke collar. If you can't really control her maybe a canny collar

2. Ideal nutrition for an older Akita? My vet prescribed Hills dry weight loss prescription blend. When I read the label, and looked up the brand on line I was concerned. I feed my feline wellness brand (I think either the purple or pink bag) we dump it into an airtight bin so I forget all the specifics. Which mixes are ideal for the Akita's gentic sensitivities?
Hills is a really crappy food but vets get paid to promote. Look at something like orijen or naturediet

3. What do you investigate or worry about if/when your Akita has fairly regular gas? loose BM?
That could be the diet she's on

Feel free to ask any other questions you have people will be more than happy to answer them

__________________
"A dog is not "almost human," and I know of no greater insult to the canine race than to describe it as such."
John Holmes

Owned by Buster cairn terrier mix and Leo netherland dwarf mix bunny

Welcome to the forum and congratulations in getting your wonderful dog. My First 3 were older when I adopted them though a bi younger that yours at 3half 4 and 5 years old.

I haven got Akitas but have had/got Malamutes and Siberian Huskys and previously a Samoyed all medium to large spitz breeds as I believe the Akita is.

Ive always used a strong webbing walking/tracking harness with Brass fitments and also a strong webbing buckled collar together with either a 6ft lead with brass Heavy duty clip or a double end clip training lead (one end clipped to the brass ring on the collar, One end clipped to the harness for extra control and security.

I usually get the SASS Items who also manufacture the Husky racing grear too.
They will make the harnesses and collars to measure at no extra cost and are very reasonable. Dont know where you are based but their products can be found on the following link. dogtraininginfo.co.uk - low fat natural dog training treats and food supplements, dog training equipment, harnesses, collars and leads. you just need to click on the SASS section. It will tell you how to measure your dog on their too if your interested in their products.

Hope this will give you some ideas.

hi and welcome to you both

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Thanks for the great link reference I like the idea of the made to order walking gear. My sister, who resides in England, says I am living among the Yanks. I'm ready for summer. Maui sounds really refreshingly warm. I'd love an Akita sized trained heater and lap dog about now. But she is too committed to being an akita.

When we rescued her, she was wearing a 'pinch collar'. I had to call tech support later on to figure out how to remove it. I felt like a complete clueless idiot but I had never seen anything like it before. I will try to take and post a pic. It reminded me of something out of some medieval dungeon. When I pulled it off of her and saw all the interior poking steel chinks I was shocked and worried. So we have a nylon and a leather collar we use from my partner's late akita on a temporary basis until we find her ideal collar. She can be a bit willful when walking, especially if she sees one of the numerous brazen squirrels around here dash across her path...

Sometimes she seems almost possessed...when these small furry racing rodents catch her eye...we can be doing great, her walking with me so nicely, staying right with me, waiting and standing so nicely at my side...no walking until cued...at each corners and curbs...then (bang) squirrel comes and all bets are off.
she knows nothing but her persuit ...her head is hijacked and holding her hostage to the hunt..

We can't let her near our kitty. We have turned our house into a network of gated partitions and blockades to keep our wee lass safe. Do your canines have a hunting drive? My partner said his former akita was pretty much ambivalent to everything except bears. He discovered this purely by accident during thier first bsckpscking adventure through yosemite. The bears brought his akita to life. He was wound up tight, whimpering and chomping at the bit chase and tree those bears

...otherwise he was so mellow.
In fact his first feline housemate, a battle scarred former tomcat, would actually harass him. The cat would torment him whenever he could. He'd spread out, and poof up...luxuriantly enjoying his self appointed role as guardian, gatekeeper of the entrance/exit from house to yard. He would let no dog pass. He'd hiss and swipe and glare and insult the dog if he took one step or even thought to approach his threshold.! . He was a serious little alpha male cat. Meanwhile the poor akita would whine and cry until my partner would intervene and send the bully boy packing from his post.

Perhaps the hunting driveis more intense, depending on the genetic smd environmental factors. The late akita was barely two years old so maby he was more moldable...It is curious...I would be interested in your experiences...