Akitas have thick coats and they do tend to shed quite a bit which means they need a lot in the way of grooming to keep on top of any loose hair. These dogs love a routine which means it's always a good idea to set up a daily or weekly grooming session which a dog would then look forward to. Puppies need to be taught early that grooming and touching ears, paws and nails is a nice experience and one they find extremely pleasant enjoying the one-to-one attention they are given.
As with other breeds, the Akita sheds the most during the Spring and then again in the autumn when more frequent brushing would be necessary. These dogs also really benefit from being professionally groomed at least three times a year. When it comes to bathing, this needs to be a few times a year or when necessary. However, getting an Akita's coat wet is not as easy as it sounds which is why it's often easier to leave the task up to a professional groomer who would also ensure a dog's coat is completely dried off after they've been bathed too.
Akitas are large and very intelligent dogs which means they need to be given a lot of daily exercise and mental stimulation to be truly happy, well-rounded dogs. Ideally, an Akita needs to be taken for a good hour's walk twice a day and if possible to let them off their leads so they can really let off steam. However, this should only be done in a safe environment where there are no other animals or livestock around due to an Akita's a high prey drive. It's important never to forget these dogs were bred for hunting, a trait they still retain.
Akitas should be let out into a back garden as often as possible, but the garden needs to be made ultra-secure or you may find a dog would find their way out of it when the mood takes them and they are known to be great escape artists.
Akitas have a tendency to suffer from bloat/gastric torsion and as such it's not a good idea to feed them one big meal a day. It's far better to split the amount you feed a dog into two meals and feed them once in the morning and then again in the evening.
Puppies need to be fed a good quality, well-balanced diet and the breeder would have given you their feeding schedule when you picked the puppy up from them. It's essential to keep to a feeding routine when you first get a puppy or you may find they suffer a serious tummy upset. You can change their diet, but this needs to be done gradually over a period of time and if a puppy gets an upset tummy to put them back on their original diet. You should then discuss things with the vet before attempting to change their food again.
Older dogs need to be fed a good quality, well-balanced diet that meets all their nutritional needs. Although Akitas are not known to be fussy eaters, it would be a mistake to put them on a lower quality dog food because it would not contain the right levels of minerals, vitamins and other nutrients a dog needs to remain healthy.
