Not Just a Pretty Face – Japanese Akitainu in Performance & Sports

Not Just a Pretty Face – Japanese Akitainu in Performance & Sports

If Japanese Akitainu were sent home with notes from poorly trained teachers, the observations might say things like: Stubborn, refuses to cooperate, fails to follow instructions, does not play well with other dogs, and feels superior to other dogs and humans (there might be a bit of truth to the last two).

What they fail to realize is the Akitainu is a breed gifted with intelligence (much of the time), independent thinking (most of the time), and a keen understanding of commercial transactions (all of the time), for the Japanese Akitainu is a breed that not only has a Standard but also has standards. Like other primitive and primitive-adjacent breeds, the concept of “what’s in it for me” stands out.

Will dogs of this breed do things merely for praise or the sake of pleasing their owner? Probably not. Do they get bored with repetition to the point where they may abandon the task an owner is asking of them? Well, yes, that is a likelihood. However, matched to an appropriate sport or performance activity, and the right training method, Japanese Akitainu can enjoy themselves and maybe even pick up a few titles. Of course, it will be on their own terms—or at least you have to make them think it is.

As the AKC parent club, the Japanese Akitainu Club of America encourages members and other JA owners to participate in activities that strengthen the bond and communication, subtle as it may be, between owner and dog whether ribbons are earned or not. So, what are some of the activities that a JA can do? Pretty much anything. Okay, maybe not herding, despite what one of several odd myths claims.

But if we consider that one of the original ancestors of the breed was a hunting landrace known as the Matagiinu, the Akitainu may enjoy sports that utilize their natural instincts such as Scent Work, Tracking, Barn Hunt, or Fast CAT. For the particularly patient, dedicated, and ambitious owners, Obedience, Trick Dog, Rally, or Agility are also not out of the question. For those who prefer something a bit more low-key that you can do from home (or anywhere really), there is AKC’s Fit Dog program at two different levels of fitness.

If you prefer a more biddable dog, perhaps a Japanese Akitainu is not for you. Their natural talent is to blow coat, throw shade in the form of side eye, and stop going in the direction you want to go in. But if you’re up for the challenge of owning and training a beautiful dog with an aptitude for economics, and you are willing to secure sufficiently motivating payment for their services, then we wish you luck and say to you, “ganbatte kudasai” (please do your best)!