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FCI-Standard N°255/ 02. 04. 2001 / GB
AKITA
ORIGIN :
Japan
DATE OF
PUBLICATION OF THE ORIGINAL VALID STANDARD :
13.03.2001
UTILIZATION :
Companion Dog
CLASSIFICATION
F.C.I. :
Group 5
Spitz and primitive types.
Section 5
Asian Spitz and related breeds.
Without working trial.
BRIEF HISTORICAL SUMMARY
: Originally Japanese dogs were small to medium in size and no large breeds
existed. Since 1603 in the Akita region, Akita Matagis (medium-sized
bear-hunting dogs) were used as fighting dogs. From 1868 Akita Matagis were
crossed with Tosas and Mastiffs. Consequently, the size of this breed
increased but characteristics associated with Spitz type were lost.
In 1908 dog fighting was
prohibited, but this breed was nevertheless preserved and improved as a
large Japanese breed. As a result, nine superior examples of this breed
were designated as « Natural Monuments » in 1931.
During World War II (1939-1945), it
was common to use dogs as a source of fur for military garments. The police
ordered the capture and confiscation of all dogs other than German Shepherd
Dogs used for military purposes. Some fanciers tried to circumvent the
order by crossbreeding their dogs with German Shepherd Dogs.
When World War II ended, Akitas had
been drastically reduced in number and existed as three distinct types; 1)
Matagi Akitas, 2) fighting Akitas, and 3) Shepherd Akitas. This created a
very confusing situation in the breed.
During the restoration process of
the pure breed after the war., Kongo-Go, a dog of the Dewa line, which
exhibited characteristics of the Mastiff and German Shepherd
However, sensible learned fanciers
did not approve of this type as a proper Japanese breed, so they made
efforts to eliminate the strain old foreign breeds by crossbreeding with
Matagi Akitas for the purpose of restoring the original pure breed. They
succeeded in stabilizing the pure strain of large sized breed as known
today.
GENERAL APPEARANCE
: Large-sized dog, sturdily built, well balanced and with much substance ;
secondary sex characteristics strongly marked, with high nobility and
dignity in modesty ; constitution tough.
IMPORTANT PROPORTIONS
: The ratio of height at withers to length of body ( from the point of the
shoulders to the point of the buttock) is 10 : 11, but the body is slightly
longer in bitches than in dogs.
BEHAVIOUR AND TEMPERAMENT
: The temperament is composed, faithful, docile and receptive.
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HEAD
CRANIAL REGION :
Skull : The
size is in proportion to the body. The forehead is broad, with distinct
furrow. No wrinkle.
Stop :
Defined.
FACIAL REGION :
Nose : Large
and black. Slight and diffuse lack of pigment accepted in white dogs
only, but black is always preferred.
Muzzle :
Moderately long and strong with broad base, tapering but not
pointed. Nasal bridge straight.
Jaws/Teeth :
Teeth strong with scissor bite.
Lips : Tight.
Cheeks :
Moderately developed.
Eyes :
Relatively small, almost triangular in shape due to the rising of the
outer eye corner, set moderately apart, dark brown : the darker, the
better.
Ears :
Relatively small, thick, triangular, slightly rounded at tips, set
moderately apart, pricked and inclining forward.
NECK : Thick and muscular, without
dewlap, in balance with head.
BODY :
Back :
Straight and strong.
Loin : Broad
and muscular.
Chest : Deep,
forechest well developed, ribs moderately well sprung.
Belly : Well
drawn up.
TAIL : Set on high, thick, carried
vigorously curled over back ; the tip nearly reaching hocks when let
down.
LIMBS
FOREQUARTERS :
Shoulders :
Moderately sloping and developed.
Elbows :
Tight.
Forearms :
Straight and heavy-boned.
HINDQUARTERS : Well developed, strong and
moderately angulated.
FEET : Thick,
round, arched and tight.
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GAIT :
Resilient and powerful movement.
COAT
HAIR : Outer
coat harsh and straight, undercoat soft and dense ; the withers and the
rump are covered with slightly longer hair ; the hair on tail is longer
than on the rest of the body.
COLOUR : Red
fawn, sesame (red fawn hairs with black tips), brindle and white. All
the above mentioned colours except white must have « urajiro ».
(Urajiro = whitish coat on the sides of the muzzle, on the cheeks, on
the underside of jaw, neck, chest, body and tail and on the inside of
the legs).
SIZE :
Height at the
withers :
Dogs : 67 cm,
bitches : 61 cm.
There is a tolerance of 3 cm more or less.
FAULTS
: Any departure from
the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with
which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its
degree.
·
Bitchy dog /
doggy bitches.
·
Undershot or
overshot mouth.
·
Missing teeth.
·
Blue or black
spotted tongue.
·
Iris light in
colour.
·
Short tail.
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Shyness.
ELIMINATING
FAULTS :
· Aggressive
or overly shy.
·
Ears not pricked.
·
Hanging tail.
·
Long hair
(shaggy).
·
Black mask.
·
Markings on white
ground.
Any
dog clearly showing physical or behavioural abnormalities shall be
disqualified.
N.B.
: Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully
descended into the scrotum.
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