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SO YOU WANT AN
AKITA?
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The Akita is a a Double
Coated breed, meaning; The Akita has an undercoat, this should be
plush, thick and reasonably short. The outer coat is called a
guard coat or outer coat. This coat is a bit longer, more course
and should carry a healthy sheen. This is the coat that will
sometimes be a bit longer on the withers and the tail.
Grooming your
Akita. First and foremost, your Akita should be brushed weekly to
stimulate a healthy coat and skin. Brushing will remove old hair,
and stimulate new growth. This will also help rid your house of
loose coat that may be dropped through the course of the year. The
Akita is known for it's easy maintenance, but it still requires proper
care for healthy clean skin.
 The Akita will blow it's
coat and bring in a new coat two to three times a year. This can
be somewhat overwhelming to the new Akita owner, but if you take care of
your dog through this time frame, it really isn't that bad!
When your Akita is
blowing it's coat, it is best to brush him/her daily with the proper
tools. Bathe your Akita in a warm water bath, and rinse with a
conditioner at least  once a week, ending with a powerful blow dry.
This will help to rid your home and your dog of the unwanted loose
hair. If this cycle is followed for a few weeks it wont take you
that long to speed the blowing process up. Thus helping your dog
to bring in a new wonderful healthy coat and ridding your yard and home
of that unwanted fur ball stage.
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BATH TIME
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Use a mild soap and make
sure it is diluted for easy application and rinsing. The
best way to  do this, is take an old clean milk jug, and fill it half
full with warm water, add your shampoo (as directed) and  Luke warm
water will always help when rinsing your dog. Never use hot water,
as you may scold your Akita. Also, it is VERY important that you
completely rinse ALL the soap from
your Akita when bathing him, as
soap left on the skin is an irritant and can cause sores or loss of
hair! It is often smart to put cotton in the ears, as water in the
ears can cause ear infections, but remember to remove ALL the cotton
after the bath. Using a tearless shampoo is the only way to go,
as
your Akitas head and face should be cleaned. Never start your
bathing procedure with the head, as it will often make the bathing experience
unpleasant. Start by wetting your Akita near the withers and gradually
soaking the head, never spray directly in the face. Towel dry your
Akita and allow it to shake (shake a lot!) As this will remove all
the excess water and also allow your dog to try and rid any water from
it's ears. Most Akitas love this time... they feel so good after a
deep scrubbing....some will even rub and roll around in the grass if
given the chance!
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CLEANING EARS
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You can purchase a cleaning solution from your
veterinarian. This ear cleaning solution is inexpensive and easy
to use. Take a cotton ball and wet it with the solution and clean
the ear each time you bath your Akita. Do not go to far into the
ear canal, as the deep inner ear canal should only be cleaned by your
vet when necessary. It is always better to clean the ears before
the bath, this way, your bathing will rid the coat around the ear of the
unwanted solution. If you ever smell a fowl odor coming from your
Akita's head, he may have an ear infection, check with your
veterinarian.
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NAIL
TRIMMING
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The Akita is to have a "Cat Like" paw.
But the paw and it's structure can be deformed and even damaged by
neglect. You should trim your dogs nails at least once or twice a
month to ensure healthy toes and joints. Long nails can add to a
flatten appearance in the paw, and even crippling in the bones if not
kept properly. Long nails cause discomfort when walking and can
curl back into the pad if left to grow to long. If you start
training your puppy at an early age, this will not be a terrible experience
as an adult! There are many tools to make this job easier:
Nail Clippers can be purchased at most pet supply stores, and some
people even choose to use a Dremmel Tool with a sandpaper bit (the stone
bit is not recommended, as it retains heat and does not file as
quickly). The Dremmel Tool grinds the nail short and smooth, as
not to leave a rough surface. If you choose to use a Dremmel, it
is HIGHLY advised that you start this training very early, as most adult
Akitas will not stand for this easily unless they are familiar with the
process. Always reward your dogs with a treat or play time after
doing their nails, this often makes the experience much more pleasant.
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SHEDDING
PHOTOS
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Many New Akita Owners
do not realize just how much hair the Akita will loose during a
 given
shedding/blowing cycle. Below you will see photos that will
indicate the "clumps" you may experience. However, we
recommend you NOT brush your Akita inside your home or in the grass as
it can be harder to clean up... A porch, garage, or other flat surface
maybe easier.
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