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Silver Akita – A Complete Guide to the Silver American Akita

Last updated on March 10th, 2024 at 04:14 pm

The impressive-looking silver American Akita is one of the most devoted dogs in the world. In today’s post, we’ll cover everything about the silver Akita to help you decide if they’re a good fit for your family and living style. Let’s dive right in!

Silver American Akita appearance

Only slightly longer than they are tall, White Akitas have a well-proportioned appearance. Their physical characteristics reflect the capacity to withstand extreme cold required for their original function as hunting dogs in Japan’s northern mountains.

Akitas have a big bear-like head, erect ears, deeply set eyes, and a curly fluffy tail. White is one of the many colors and color combinations that the American Akita comes in.

Their double coat has two layers of fur: A harsh topcoat and a soft undercoat. While the undercoat serves as a built-in thermal layer, the top coat is made of stiff hair that helps repel water and keep dirt off your Akita.

Silver Akita size and weight

The silver Akita is a large spitz-type dog breed. Adult males typically weigh about 100 to 130 pounds and are between 26 and 28 inches tall. Females weigh 70 to 100 pounds and are 24 to 26 inches tall.

What are Akitas known for?

The Akita originated in northern Japan as a working dog and became famous after appearing in popular Hollywood movies with the touching story of Hachiko.

Akitas were used to protect royalty and nobility in feudal Japan. These dogs are symbols of good health, happiness, and longevity. When a child is born in Japan, parents usually receive a small Akita statue as a birth gift.

After receiving two Akitas from the Japanese government in 1938, American woman Helen Keller is credited with bringing this loyal breed to the US. Now the breed comes in two varieties: American and Japanese.

American Akita lifespan

Like other large dogs like the Golden Retriever or the German Shepherd, Silver Akitas typically can live around 10 to 13 years. However, you can make this number bigger if you give your Akita immense love and proper care.

Silver American Akita temperament

Silver Akitas are alert, intelligent, and fearless. They are naturally wary of strangers and tend to become aggressive towards other animals, especially dogs of the same sex.

But with family, you will be surprised by their sweetness and devotion. They love being around family members and participating in daily activities. However, with their strong personality, you should train and socialize your Akita early.

Be aware that Akita’s strong personality can overwhelm timid people. In addition, silver Akita dogs are best for a one-dog household.

When should you start training an Akita?

silver akita

Akita’s aggression problem can get you in trouble if you don’t train them from a young age. Therefore, training is a must thing you need to do when owning silver Akita puppies or any dog.

Your dog training lessons should start as soon as possible. Keep in mind that silver American Akita dogs will not respond well to the harsh training method. Instead, the best choice is to use positive reinforcement. 

Through positive reinforcement training, your dog will receive treats, compliments, toys, or anything else they find enjoyable in exchange for desired behaviors. This is one of the most powerful tools for shaping or changing a dog’s behavior.

Many readers have loved learning how to train their dogs based on scientific methods from a free workshop conducted by Dr. Alexa Diaz (one of the top service dog trainers in the U.S.) and Eric Presnall (host of the hit Animal Planet TV show “Who Let the Dogs Out”) at the K9 Training Institute. In the free workshop, you’ll discover:

    1. How to train your dog using body language rather than verbal cues
    2. The 3 key techniques that service dog trainers use to train dogs and how you can use them too
    3. The most important step that “normal” dog owners have been missing (this is very important to get your dog’s attention, and it works 100% of the time)
    4. How to stop bad behaviors like excessive barking, pulling on the leash, jumping, etc.
    5. Why a lot of dog owners are unable to establish the amazing bond that service dog trainers have with their dogs

Etc.

Whether your dog is a puppy or an adult, this pre-recorded workshop will help you train them successfully. You may not want to miss the chance to learn these groundbreaking techniques. Here’s the free workshop.

How much do silver Akita dogs shed?

Silver Akitas are heavy shedders. You should be ready to clean up if you own this breed. Expect they will blow their fur twice a year so profusely and leave clumps all over your house. During these times, you need to brush your dog’s coat more often to get rid of the dead hair.

How often should Akitas be groomed?

With their dense double coat, proper bathing and drying are essential for having a beautiful shiny coat in addition to regular brushing. Additionally, tooth brushing, ear cleaning, and nail clipping are all part of your dog’s grooming routine.

What are Akitas prone to?

Silver Akitas are generally healthy. However, you should also be aware that they might be prone to some diseases, including autoimmune hypothyroidism, hip and elbow dysplasia, progressive retinal atrophy, and progressive retinal atrophy.

What is the best food to feed a silver Akita?

The rates of obesity, cancer, and diabetes in dogs are increasing at an alarming rate. To help your Akita be healthier, you should feed them a balanced diet customized to their age, activity level, ideal weight, and sensitivities.

More and more Akita parents are realizing the risks associated with various commercial pet food manufacturing processes and the health benefits of feeding their dogs the right amount of fresh food.

Silver Akita exercise needs

You should spend at least 45 to 60 minutes a day walking and running with your silver American Akita dogs to keep them happy and healthy. They also enjoy playing in a large, secure garden with plenty of fun activities.

How much is a silver American Akita worth?

You can buy an Akita for around $1,000 in the US. The average price of a puppy is between $600 and $2,000. However, the price will fluctuate according to the breeder, region, bloodline, color, age, prize, etc.

Becoming a dog parent is one of the most memorable moments of life. But before bringing your new best friend home, it’s vital to have all the right things to make sure the adoption is really smooth and makes them feel right. You may feel overwhelmed by tons of puppy products on sale and not sure what items your puppy actually needs. That’s why I’ve compiled this minimalist puppy checklist to help you get started.

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