You may wonder what kind of dog is Hachi after watching the movie Hachi: A Dog’s Tale or hearing his unbelievable touching story, the most loyal dog in the world! We will discover all Hachi facts in this article. Let’s dive right in!
What kind of dog is Hachi?
Hachi is a purebred Japanese Akita (Akita Inu) dog.
In 2009, Hollywood released a movie called Hachi: A Dog’s Tale and made the Akita Inu breed famous and beloved by people from around the world.
This movie makes fans cry every time they see it with the touching story, so many people wonder, Is Hachi based on a true story?
We will answer this in the section below.
Is Hachi based on a true story?
Yes, ‘Hachi: A Dog’s Tale’ is based on a true story of Hachiko’s unconditional love for his owner that happened in the first half of the 20th century in Japan.
Even though Hachiko lived in the twentieth century, his story has continued to inspire people, especially dog lovers around the world up to this day.
Let’s dive into this real-life fairy tale now!
Hachi true story
Hachiko, a white Akita, was born on November 10, 1923, at a farm located in Odate, Akita Prefecture, Japan.
In 1924, Professor Hidesaburo Ueno, who taught in the agricultural department at Tokyo Imperial University, adopted Hachiko as a pet and brought him to live in Shibuya, Tokyo.
Hachiko, or Hachi (his nickname), and Uneo quickly became best friends and inseparable.
As Hachiko got older, the pair followed the same routine every day:
In the morning, Ueno would walk to the Shibuya train station with Hachiko and say goodbye before getting on the train to work. After that, this dog spent the whole day waiting for Ueno. In the afternoon, his owner would return to the station after work and walk together to go home.
On May 21, 1925, just two years after Hachiko was born, this dog used to sit at the exit at Shibuya train station waiting for his dear owner. But Ueno never showed up again.
It turned out that the professor had suffered a cerebral hemorrhage while giving a lecture to his class and died suddenly without ever returning to the train station where Hachiko had been waiting.
Of course, Hachiko had no idea about his owner’s death. This is where Hachiko’s story of loyalty begins.
Each day, for the next nine years, nine months, and fifteen days, Hachiko waited at Shibuya train station, hoping that his dead owner would return to meet him. His presence had a great impact on the local community of Shibuya, and he became something of an icon.
In 1932, a Japanese reporter picked up the story about Hachiko and published it in the national daily newspaper Asahi Shimbun, which led to Hachiko becoming a celebrity throughout Japan.
People from all over the country came to visit the station to see Hachiko, who had become a symbol of loyalty and a good luck charm.
The faithful dog never let arthritis interrupt or old age interrupt his routine. Hachiko’s story came to a close on March 8, 1935, when he was discovered dead in the Shibuya streets at the age of 11.
Hachiko became a national sensation. His faithfulness to his owner’s memory impressed the Japanese as a spirit of family loyalty that all should strive to achieve.
Eventually, Hachiko’s loyalty story became a national symbol.
Related post: Where is Hachiko Statue? 4 Famous Statue in Japan and US
Why are Akitas so loyal?
Akitas are one of the most loyal dogs in the world because of their instinct. From the very beginning, Akitas were excellent guard and hunting dogs in the mountains of northern Japan.
So, their protective behavior and loyalty to their family are still alive and reached an extreme level day by day.
Akitas are so reliable that they are super protective of owners. But sometimes, they are aggressive towards other dogs and strangers or possessive of their owners.
Related post: Akita as Guard Dog – 13 Interesting Unknown Facts
Akita Inu FAQs
Is an Akita a good family dog?
Their charm and intelligence make Akita Inu become the desirable pet of many dog lovers.
Akitas is a great family dog for families with older children who understand how to treat a dog respectfully.
They are excellent guard dogs but not recommended for first-time owners.
Akita size
| Female | Male | |
| Height | 24-26 inches | 26-28 inches |
| Weight | 70-110 pounds | 85-130 pounds |
Akita coat colors
There are four types of Akita Inu colors identified by the Japan Kennel Club: red fawn, brindle, white, and sesame. Red fawn is the most popular color and sesame is the rarest.
Akita temperament
Akitas are intelligent, bold, and loyal. This breed is sweet and devoted to owners but wary of strangers and other animals.
Their facial expression and body language are more subtle and hard to read than most other dog breeds. Also, they have an independent mind, and many of them want to be the boss.
Akitas are stubborn and prone to aggression if you don’t train and socialize them well and early. Akita’s temperament and behavior are also shaped by raising and living environment.
Whatever your dog’s breed is, training is a must if you want to eliminate bad behavior and create the obedient, well-behaved dog of your dreams. You can choose suitable online classes from these 20 reputable SpiritDog Training courses to learn how to “successfully” train your canine using science-based positive methods, or grab the free guide below.
Are Akitas Good With Kids?
In general, Akitas are good with their family members. Akitas are suitable with families that have older children who understand they have to treat Akitas well with respect.
But keep in mind that many Akita dogs don’t tolerate any nonsense and mistreatment of young children. They take social status seriously and don’t have much patience with kids who disrespect or invade their personal space.
Adults have to supervise any interactions between dogs and kids.
Akita dog price
The price of an Akita puppy is quite high. The average cost is between $700 and $1,600.
However, if you are looking for a puppy that is showed quality or took part in exhibitions and competitions, the price can go up to $4,000.
Before buying an Akita, you need to know all the advantages and disadvantages of this breed and consult with breeders or owners. Ask questions about the health and temperament of the parent dogs and previous litters.
Akita puppies should always be purchased from reputable breeders.
Conclusion
For the question: What kind of dog is Hachi? Hachi is a purebred Japanese Akita (Akita Inu) dog. He was born in 1923 in Japan and is famous for his loyalty story. Akitas are one of the most loyal dogs in the world because of their instinct. From the very beginning, Akitas were excellent guard and hunting dogs in the mountains of northern Japan.
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