Anatomy of the Akita

Taken from The Australian Kennel Council,
Illustrated Breed Standards,
First Edition,
January 1998

  
General Appearance
Large, powerful, alert with much substance and heavy bone.

Characteristics
Large, broad head, with relatively small eyes and erect ears carried forward in line with back of neck curled tail, in balance with head. 

Temperament
Dignified, courageous, aloof. Tends to show dominance over other dogs. 

Head & Skull
Large, in balance with body, skull flat, forehead broad, defined stop and clear furrow. Head forms blunt triangle when viewed from above, free from wrinkle. Muzzle broad and strong, cheeks well developed. Nose large and black, bridge straight. Lips tight and black. In white dogs flesh coloured pigmentation is permissible on nose and lips. Length from nose to stop is to length from stop to occiput as 2 is to 3.

Eyes
Relatively small, almond shaped, clean, moderately set apart and dark brown. Eye rims dark and tight. 

Ears
Relatively small, thick, triangular, not low set, carried forward over eyes in line with back of neck, firmly erect. Moderately set apart; slightly rounded at tips.

Mouth
Jaws strong, with a perfect, regular and complete scissor bite, i.e., the upper teeth closely overlapping the lower teeth and set square to the jaws. 

Neck
Thick and muscular, comparatively short, widening gradually toward shoulders. Pronounced crest blends with back of skull. 

Forequarters
Shoulders strong and powerful, moderately laid back. Elbows very tight. Forelegs well boned and straight when viewed from front. Pasterns inclining at approx. 15 degrees. 

Body
Longer than high as 10 is to 9 in males, 11 to 9 in bitches. Chest wide and deep depth of brisket is one half the height of dog at shoulder. Well developed fore-chest. Level back, firmly muscled loin, moderate tuck up. Skin pliant but not loose. 

Hindquarters
Strong and muscular, well developed thighs, moderate turn of stifle. Strong hocks, with only moderate angulation, well let down, turning neither in nor out. 

Feet
Thick, well knuckled, very tight, turning neither in nor out. Pads hard. Nails hard. Dewclaws on hind legs customarily removed. 

Tail
Large and full, set high, carried over the back, full or double curl, always dipping to or below level of back. On a three quarter curl tail, tip dips down the flank. Root large and strong. Hair coarse, straight and full with no appearance of plume. Sickle or uncurled tail highly undesirable. 

Gait/Movement
Resilient and vigorous with strides of moderate length. Back remains firm and level. Hind legs move in line with front legs, whilst gaiting will single track. 

Coat
Outer coat coarse, straight and standing off body. Undercoat is soft and dense. Coat at withers and rump is approximately 5cm (2in), slightly longer than on rest of body, more profuse on tail. No indication of ruff or feathering. 

Colour
Any colour including white, brindle or pinto. Colours are brilliant and clear. Markings are well defined with or without mask or blaze. 

Size
Height at Withers 
Dogs 66-71cm (26-28in). 
Bitches 61-66cm (24-26in). 

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. 

Note
Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.