Animal register · DogIn the app

Akita

American Akita, Great Japanese Dog

The Akita in this register is the American type: the FCI lists it as the American Akita, a breed of Japanese origin, separate from the Japanese Akita Inu. The FCI standard describes a large, sturdily built, well-balanced dog with much substance and heavy bone, small erect ears and a large tail carried over the back; males stand 66–71 cm at the withers. Any colour is allowed, such as red, fawn, white, pinto or brindle. The PDSA gives an average weight of 31–59 kg.

The PDSA describes incredibly loyal family pets that are independent and very large, so they do best with experienced owners; it would not recommend an Akita for a home with young children and advises against leaving them alone, as many do not cope well with it. It recommends at least two hours of exercise every day, socialisation from a young age, a gap between eating and exercising, and at least a weekly brush — Akitas shed a lot. It also notes a high prey drive and that they can overheat in very hot weather.

Available in the 12-week PetPrep Challenge (paid breed).

Updated: 10 October 2026

At a glance

Size: large — PDSA S508
Adult weight: 31–59 kg — PDSA S508
Daily exercise: at least 2 hours a day — PDSA S508
Brushing: once a week — PDSA S508
Shedding: sheds — PDSA S508
Lifespan: less than 10 years — PDSA S508; 10–14 years — PetMD S510

Key facts from the sources at the bottom of the page. Where sources differ, each value is listed.

Who it suits

Good for:

an active familyS508

Keep in mind:

needs lots of exercise every dayS508
powerful dog — needs an experienced ownerS508
large dog — not for homes with small childrenS508
loves company — best with someone home most of the dayS508
shedsS508
strong prey drive — may chase small petsS508

The same tags as in the app. Each tag is backed by the sources listed at the bottom of the page.

What it needs

From breed standards, kennel clubs, veterinary charities and studies. Where sources differ, each one is shown.

Exercise

Daily exercise: at least 2 hours a day — PDSA S508

Coat and grooming

Coat: short — PDSA S508
Brushing: once a week — PDSA S508
Shedding: sheds — PDSA S508

Meals

General guidance for dogs (not breed-specific):

8–12 weeks: 4 meals a day — ASPCA S18
3–6 months: 3 meals a day — ASPCA S18
6–12 months: 2 meals a day — ASPCA S18
Adult: at least 2 meals a day — VCA Animal Hospitals S19
Senior: 2–3 meals a day, smaller portions — Dogs Trust S14

Lifespan

Lifespan: less than 10 years — PDSA S508
Lifespan: 10–14 years — PetMD S510

Life stages

Reaches adult size at: about 15–18 months (guidance for its size class) — PetMD S10

General guidance for dogs (not breed-specific):

Puppy: until about 6–9 months — AAHA S11
Young adult: until 3–4 years — AAHA S11
Senior: the last 25 % of the expected lifespan — AAHA S11

Size and weight

Size: large — PDSA S508
Height at the withers: males 66–71 cm, females 61–66 cm — FCI S507
Adult weight: 31–59 kg — PDSA S508

Training

No. 54 in Stanley Coren's ranking of working and obedience intelligence. — Wikipedia S35
FCI standard no. 344, group 5 (spitz and primitive types); origin: Japan. — FCI S506

Questions and answers

Answered only from the sourced facts on this page; every answer names its sources.

How much exercise does an Akita need?

According to our sources, the Akita needs this much exercise: at least 2 hours a day — PDSA S508.

How long does an Akita live?

According to our sources, the lifespan of the Akita is: less than 10 years — PDSA S508; 10–14 years — PetMD S510. The sources give different values, so each one is listed.

How big does an Akita get and how much does it weigh?

Size and adult weight of the Akita, according to our sources: Size: large — PDSA S508; Adult weight: 31–59 kg — PDSA S508.

How much grooming does an Akita need?

Coat and grooming of the Akita, according to our sources: Brushing: once a week — PDSA S508; Shedding: sheds — PDSA S508; Coat: short — PDSA S508.

Who is the Akita a good fit for?

Our sources describe the Akita as a good fit for: an active family — PDSA S508. Keep in mind: needs lots of exercise every day — PDSA S508; powerful dog — needs an experienced owner — PDSA S508; large dog — not for homes with small children — PDSA S508; loves company — best with someone home most of the day — PDSA S508; sheds — PDSA S508; strong prey drive — may chase small pets — PDSA S508.

Game rules, not veterinary advice

How PetPrep simulates it

In PetPrep one real week is one month of the pet's life. These are the rules the game uses for this breed. PetPrep chose them from the sources on this page; they are not care instructions for a real animal.

Life stage	Starts	Meals a day	Daily step goal
Puppy	arrives at 2 months	4; from month 3: 3; from month 6: 2	1,000 steps per month of age (2,000 on arrival), up to 12,000 from month 12
Young dog	month 9	2	9,000 → 12,000 steps
Adult	month 36 (3 years)	2	12,000 steps
Senior	month 89 (7.4 years)	2	9,000 steps

Step goal = minutes of daily exercise × 100 steps: an adult gets 2 hours, so 12,000 steps a day.
Learns commands as fast as the mixed breed of the free plan.
Becomes a senior in month 89 (7.4 years) — the last quarter of the breed's expected lifespan.
Walks count real steps from Apple Health or Health Connect (with permission, read-only) and the phone's motion sensor — no GPS.
Combing once a week.
Care: a visit to the groomer every 12 weeks — a reminder for the parent.

Each game number is a PetPrep decision recorded with its sources. — PetMD, AAHA, Dogs Trust, ASPCA, VCA Animal Hospitals, The Royal Kennel Club, Purdue University Canine Welfare Science, Wikipedia, British Journal of Sports Medicine, PDSA, The Kennel Club / BSAVA Scientific Committee S10 S11 S14 S18 S19 S21 S24 S35 S45 S508 S511

Health

For information only, not vet-reviewed. Ask your vet about your own animal.

Hip dysplasia, a loose, poorly developed hip joint, occurs in the breed and can eventually lead to arthritis. — PDSA S508
Bloat (gastric dilatation-volvulus), where the stomach twists, can occur in the breed — it is an emergency that needs a vet straight away. — PetMD S510
Eye problems occur in the breed, such as progressive retinal atrophy, which can slowly lead to blindness, cataracts, which cloud the lens, and eyelids that turn inwards (entropion); eye testing is available. — PDSA S508
Autoimmune conditions, where the body reacts against itself, can occur in the breed. — PDSA S508
An underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism), which can affect weight, skin and energy levels, can occur in the breed. — PetMD S510

Before you buy: what to check with the breeder

Questions to settle before you take a puppy home. The points are advice from vets, welfare charities and kennel clubs; each cites its source.

For every breed

See the puppy with its mother, where it was born. — PDSA, RSPCA K1 K2
The puppy should not leave its mother before 8 weeks of age. — PDSA K1
Ask for the pedigree. Under FCI rules a pedigree may be issued for correct parentage only. — FCI K7
Ask to see the health-test results of both parents. Which tests matter depends on the breed. — PDSA, British Veterinary Association, FOUR PAWS UK K1 K9 K10
National kennel clubs can set breeding rules that go beyond the FCI's — ask the breed club which tests the parents need. — FCI K7
Ask for a written sale contract that records the puppy's background and health. — British Veterinary Association, FOUR PAWS UK K9 K10

Laws on the minimum age, microchipping and vaccination differ by country — check the rules where you live.

Health tests of the parents for this breed

We have not yet found a reliable source that lists health tests for the parents of this breed. Ask the breed club and the breeder which tests the parents have done.

Other dogs in the register with similar needs — each with sourced facts.

Sources

Every fact on this page cites one of these sources.

S10PetMD — S. C. Mitchell, DVM, DABVP, 2025-05-20 — When Do Dogs Stop Growing?https://www.petmd.com/dog/general-health/when-do-dogs-stop-growing
S11AAHA — 2019 AAHA Canine Life Stage Guidelines — Canine life stage definitionshttps://www.aaha.org/resources/life-stage-canine-2019/canine-life-stage-definitions/
S14Dogs Trust (UK) — Caring for an older doghttps://www.dogstrust.org.uk/dog-advice/life-with-your-dog/at-home/looking-after-an-older-dog
S18ASPCA — General Dog Carehttps://www.aspca.org/pet-care/dog-care/general-dog-care
S19VCA Animal Hospitals (2025-02-21) — Feeding Times and Frequency for Your Doghttps://vcahospitals.com/pets-first/know-your-pet/feeding-times-and-frequency-for-your-dog
S21The Royal Kennel Club (UK) — Puppy feeding tipshttps://www.royalkennelclub.com/health-and-dog-care/health-dog-care/health/health-and-care/a-z-of-health-and-care-issues/puppy-feeding-tips
S24Purdue University Canine Welfare Science (content: Pet Leadership Council 2019, bedogsmart.com) — Dog Fitness and Exercise (PDF)https://caninewelfare.centers.purdue.edu/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Dog-Fitness-and-Exercise.pdf
S35Wikipedia — The Intelligence of Dogshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Intelligence_of_Dogs
S45British Journal of Sports Medicine (2018) — Tudor-Locke C. et al. How fast is fast enough? Walking cadence (steps/min) as a practical estimate of intensity in adults. doi:10.1136/bjsports-2017-097628https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6029645
S506FCI — FCI breeds nomenclature — AMERICAN AKITA (344)https://www.fci.be/en/nomenclature/AMERICAN-AKITA-344.html
S507FCI — FCI-Standard N° 344 AMERICAN AKITA, English (PDF)https://WWW.FCI.BE/Nomenclature/Standards/344g05-en.pdf
S508PDSA — Akita breed informationhttps://www.pdsa.org.uk/pet-help-and-advice/looking-after-your-pet/puppies-dogs/large-dogs/akita
S510PetMD — Akita Dog Breed Health and Carehttps://www.petmd.com/dog/breeds/akita
S511The Kennel Club / BSAVA Scientific Committee — Purebred Dog Health Survey 2004 — breed reports (complete PDF, hosted by the Institute of Canine Biology)https://www.instituteofcaninebiology.org/uploads/1/9/6/9/19691109/uk_kc_2004_breed_health_survey-_complete.pdf
K1PDSA — Getting a puppyhttps://www.pdsa.org.uk/pet-help-and-advice/looking-after-your-pet/puppies-dogs/getting-a-puppy
K2RSPCA — Buying a puppyhttps://www.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/pets/dogs/puppy
K7FCI (copy hosted by Norsk Kennel Klub) — International Breeding Rules of the FCIhttps://nkk2023.stage22.coretrek.no/getfile.php/131987377-1520848467/Dokumenter/Registrering/FCIs%20avlsregler%202013.pdf
K9British Veterinary Association — What should you consider when buying a puppy?https://www.bva.co.uk/news-and-blog/blog-article/what-should-you-consider-when-buying-a-puppy/
K10FOUR PAWS UK — Questions to ask when buying a puppyhttps://www.four-paws.org.uk/our-stories/publications-guides/questions-to-ask-when-buying-a-puppy

PetPrep is a simulation for families. This page is not veterinary advice — for a real animal, ask a vet or the breed club.

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