THE AKITA ILLUSTRATED

 

 

Male Akita.jpg (26672 bytes)

Correct Akita Construction. Shoulder blades of equal length matching the hind angulation, Tail set high to balance the large head. The Muzzle is as 2 is to 3 (3 being from stop to Occiput) deep and with plenty of under jaw and relatively tight lipped. The hock is let down (not short) and approximately a 3rd of the height of the rear leg. The feet are tight with thick pads which give a cat like appearance. The elbows are tight to the ribs which are rounded. The dog has a broad, powerful chest which is well let down .

 

Female new.jpg (27545 bytes)

The proportions and moderate angulation of the female Akita.

 

Short upper arm fault.jpg (22302 bytes)

This male has a short upper arm which pushes his shouder up into his neck instead of further down the vertebrae closer to his withers. This give the appearance of the top of the dogs head coming straight out of the feet of the dog. Up right pasterns, lack of underjaw and very short hocks

 

side gait of short UA.jpg (25647 bytes)

The side gait of the previous Akita, showing that the lack of upper arm and length in the tibia affects the movement of the dog cuttingthe stride short and not allowing full extension on the front leg.

 

Short UA Hocks short.jpg (21379 bytes)

This male akita is short in upper arm and tibia, his hocks are very short also. His lack of rear angulation makes his hock joint push through to the front of his leg making the joint weak when he moves. His topline also dips behind the withers which is also apparent on the move.

 

long in loin male.jpg (14689 bytes)

Marginally short in upper arm, however.. this male is too long in the loin which affects his topline and his tail set is lower than desirable,had his tail set been higher up it could of made his body appear shorter than it is and balanced his head better.

 

unbalanced.jpg (20666 bytes)

Unbalanced angulation, being more upright in the rear, short in loin and having a low tail set.

 

Lack under jaw bitch.jpg (18266 bytes)

Unbalanced angulation, being more upright in the rear short in loin and having a low tail set.

 

fronts.jpg (30673 bytes)

Examples of fronts often seen in the Akita. The first 2 fronts are narrow and under developed, neither drop deep enough to the elbow and the second chest lacks sternum development. The 3rd front shows width , depth down to the elbow and development of muscle in the forechest.

 

fronts 2.jpg (34347 bytes)

Left to Right 1.2.3
Elbowing out
Loaded in shoulder too heavy in chest
Correct front

  

correct front young bitch.jpg (20773 bytes) front move.jpg (21288 bytes)

1.Correct front on a young bitch

2. Movement when viewed from the front. No sign of the elbows sticking out or flick of the pastern, Leg is perfectly straight showing no signs of pinning in or swinging of the leg

 

front  moving correct.jpg (18363 bytes)

Desirable front movement

 

front movement 2.jpg (30929 bytes)

"Crossing" or "pinning" of front movement can be handler caused by "Stringing" the dog up. However it is also a construction fault which can be clearly observed when the dog is moved on a loose lead.

 

Elbowing out on move.jpg (30772 bytes)

Elbowing out on the move, sometimes refered to as paddling. The dog throws his front legs in toward the centre line which pushes his elbow out. The Akitas elbows should be flush to the body at all times, stood and moving.

 

rears.jpg (22959 bytes)

Left to Right 1.2.3.4
From the rear the tail should appear to sit on top of the back with plenty of buttock behind, thigh and second thigh should be well developed with hocks let down but not excessively short
2nd has a lower set tail and lacks second thigh
3rd has excessively short hocks
4th is weak in muscle lacking development or exercise, the hocks are also turned out creating a weak appearance

 

rear move correct.jpg (20467 bytes)

Desirable rear movement

 

crabbing rear.jpg (8743 bytes)
Crabbing is a common fault in which the dog moves his body on an angle to the line of travel.
It is frequently down to being more angulated in the rear than in the front, combined with a short , stiff back. It can also be caused by the dog turning to watch the handler

 

rears moving.jpg (65541 bytes)

1.2.3.4.5.Twisting hocks, weak hocks, cow hocks, the joint can twist both ways whilst gaiting and the knee or stifle appears "out" also in the No.5

 

rears moving 2.jpg (21949 bytes)

Snatching hocks, a quick outward snatch of the hock, as the hock passes the supporting leg it twists in under the body. This can also be a sign of patella weakness

 

rears close.jpg (14796 bytes)

Moving too close behind - the hocks practically brush past each other , this can also throw the stifle out of line and cause strain on muscles

 

 

Moderate Movement.jpg (27809 bytes)Moderate movement - covering ground without wasted effort

 

Crabbing.jpg (24583 bytes)

Crabbing , or over reaching, a common fault and can caused by un balanced angulation, more angulation in the rear than the front. The rear feet are forced to step to one side of the front foot to avoid interferance

 

heads muzzles.jpg (23348 bytes)

Top left, this head lacks strength in the under jaw and makes the muzzle appear weak. Top right the ears are overly large and pointed and appear quite fine.
Bottom left, the top skull lacks width and the ears are rather up right and pointed, due to the lack of width the ears are quite high set on the head. The muzzle is rather weak and appears too long and the cheek lacks muscle . Bottom right is a typical head, broad flat skull with small thick ears inclining forward, muzzle shorter than skull (as 2 is to 3), under jaw is strong which gives the appearance of a deep and broad muzzle. The cheeks are well developed

 

head wrinkle.jpg (16270 bytes)

The head of this Akita is wrinkled , Marking can make a dogs head appear wrinkled and this should not be penalised, the Akita, however should not have a wrinkled head. This particular dog has a rather narrow top skull and his ears are too high set and pointed

 

front head new.jpg (21410 bytes)

The shape of the head when viewed front on. The top skull is broad and there is width between the ears. The outside base of the ear should fall almost in line with the outer edge of the eye. The muzzle should be broad and deep. The eyes are moderatly set apart.

 

 

prifile head new.jpg (14082 bytes)


The head when viewed in profile. Clearly showing the proportions of muzzle to top of head. Defined stop that is not overdone. The ears should flow in line with the back of the neck.

 

head shape new.jpg (16447 bytes)

Correct head shape.when.viewed from.above. The head should appear as a blunt triangle with width of top skull, well developed cheeks. Fill or padding under the eye. The head proportion should be as 2 is to 3. 2 being from nose to stop. 3 being from stop to occiput

 

narrow head new.jpg (11440 bytes)

Often described as being feminine, this head is narrow, lacking in width of skull, good cheek developement, and is too long in muzzle. There is no definition in the breed standard between a male and a female head.

 

tails.jpg (13662 bytes)

Tails: 1. 2 . 3 . 4 . 5 . 6
Double curled tail
2 and 3 single curl falling on either side
5 and 6 are incorrect and sickle tailed. The tail should sit on the back or fall down the side .

 

tail set new.jpg (15272 bytes)

1: correct tail set sitting infront of the plumb line from pelvis to front of foot. 2 and three are positioned too low. Notice how they affect the appearance of rear angulation when not positioned high enough.

 

eyes.jpg (12763 bytes)

1st eye is Almond shape and is correct for the Akita by KC/UK standard . 2nd is Oval , 3rd is round 4th is triangular. These are incorrect  ( AKC/USA standard small, deep-set and triangular in shape)

 

 
   

 

 

DION-RAZR PUPS AndiWEB J.jpg (129964 bytes)

I have been honored by the artist Andi Horwood to be able to use her images & description on my website for educational purposes   DO NOT copy nor display without direct written permission from the artist. I hope to to be adding more images as they become available.

home_flash.gif (6709 bytes)