[2024] What does an Akita dog look like?

When you think of an Akita dog, what do you picture?

Depending on where you’re from, I would suppose that most of you wouldn’t picture the correct dog.

Not as familiar as popular dogs such as a german shepherd or a labrador, Akitas are less well known, but they are very identifiable due to their quirky and unique looks.

Below we’ll take a look at the different characteristics that set Akitas apart from other dogs.

Facial features

What’s immediately noticeable about an Akita is its facial features and head. They have a very large triangular-shaped head whilst their eyes are very small; giving a dark appearance to their face.

Their eyes are also triangular, which gives the impression that they are always squinting. The shape of their eyes also makes them look quite serious at times. But they are very good looking dogs!

As a puppy, an Akita’s ears will be folded downwards. As they grow, their ears will point upwards in a sturdy and smart looking fashion. Again, their ears are triangularly shaped, and upon looking at different pictures, you may even say that their mouth is triangular!

Their noses are most often black, but can also be liver-colored.

In most Akitas, their face at a rest will look quite intimidating, this helped them in their role as guardians of royalty and nobility.

It should be said that American Akitas currently look the most intimidating, whilst the Japanese Akitas look very friendly and appear to be smiling.

Both will have long sharp teeth, with black lips and a pink tongue.

Size, weight, and stance

An Akita is an alpha dog, their stance is sturdy and commanding due to their large chest. They can be described as a large dog as males can grow up to 28 inches tall, while females can grow up to 26 inches.

Males weigh up to 130 pounds while females weigh up to 110 pounds, quite a difference in weight will most of the time make it easier to identify a male or female Akita.

Their length and height are quite similar, making them a well-proportioned dog. Despite weighing up to 130 pounds, an Akita does not look too heavy and slow, rather they appear athletic, slim and well balanced. This makes sense seeing as they were famously known as the silent hunters; not something you would attribute to a slow and heavy dog.

Coat

An Akita certainly gives you the impression that they are suited for colder climates, supported by the fact that they’ve been formerly nicknamed, “snow country dogs”.

They have thick double coats but seem to maintain a short to medium length as they are shedding quite heavily and blow out their undercoat, twice a year.

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They are also independent cleaners (like Cats) when compared to other dog breeds. This gives Akita’s the look of being very clean and smart; helped by the fact that their hair is very straight and thick.

Akita’s can have different colored coats depending on the breed.;

The American Akita often has a darker coat, black, brown or grey, with white patches.
The Japanese Akita normally has lighter coat colors, such as light brown, and even ginger.

Both the American and Japanese Akita may have white also.

Akitas also have what looks like a white face mask, the rest of their coat being a different color, except maybe their chest. Overall, they are quite patchy dogs and you will not often see an Akita in one solid color.

Feet

From afar an Akita’s paws look no different from any other breed of dog of similar size.

However, an Akita has webbed feet which further makes them look accustomed to a cold climate.

Webbed toes help distribute their weight evenly, to help them walk through the snow. This is another reason as to why Akita’s look more athletic and light on their toes, similar again to that of a cat due to their even weight distribution.

Similarities between Akita’s and other animals

Research showed that Akita’s are among the four dog breeds closest to their wolf ancestors. Akita’s have been said to have a wolf-like appearance, which would mostly be resembled in their body and legs, the way they carry themselves, as well as their body language and movement.

It could also be said that an Akita looks similar to a fox when concerning its tail. An Akita’s tail is large, full, bushy and usually curls backward, over their body towards their head.

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Not only their tails, but the color of their coat can look very light brown or even ginger, much like a foxes coat.

Akitas are often mistaken for huskies as they both have wolf-like appearances.

Summary

Akitas can come in varying sizes but are mostly large dogs that can become very heavy.

They are a confident-looking dog and can look quite intimidating to some, although how intimidating they look can vary in each Akita.

What makes them most identifiable would be their facial features, as everything about them seems to be very triangular. Once you know what an Akita dog looks like, you will not forget.

If you have any questions, please feel free to comment below and be sure to use the YouTube videos provided to see what an Akita dog looks like.

Resources / Further Learning

https://pets.thenest.com/breeds-dogs-closest-wolf-13043.html
https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/lifestyle/akitas-10-facts-that-will-surprise-you/
https://kidskonnect.com/animals/akita/ https://www.purebredpups.org/

What does an Akita dog look like?