The Ethical Akita: Your Journey Starts Here

AKC Breeders of Merit (BOM)

The BOM program recognizes breeders who have produced at least five AKC titles, belong to an AKC-affiliated club, certify health testing, and commit to the breed standard. This indicates a proven track record of quality.

Bred with H.E.A.R.T.

This program stands for Health, Education, Accountability, Responsibility, and Tradition. Breeders must commit to health testing, continuing education, and require spay/neuter contracts for non-breeding stock.

Green Lights (What to Look For)

• ✓ The breeder interviews you extensively to ensure a good home match.
• ✓ They can show you at least one parent on site.
• ✓ They provide a health guarantee and a contract to take the dog back at any point.
• ✓ Puppies are raised in a stimulating home environment.
• ✓ They are transparent with health clearances and readily provide copies.

Red Flags (What to Avoid)

• ✗ Selling puppies younger than 8 weeks old (crucial for socialization).
• ✗ Offering to ship the puppy without requiring a prior meeting.
• ✗ Having multiple, concurrent litters, or a large number of different breeds.
• ✗ Unable to provide the OFA/PennHIP certificates.
• ✗ Meeting in a neutral location instead of their home/kennel.

Temperament Traits

Akitas are known for being dignified, courageous, and profoundly loyal to their families. However, they can be aloof with strangers and are often intolerant of other dogs, especially those of the same sex. They require an experienced owner who can provide firm, fair, and consistent leadership.

Training Needs

Early socialization is not optional—it is mandatory. Akitas are intelligent but independent thinkers. Positive reinforcement training works best, but they will test boundaries. They are not "Golden Retrievers in a bear suit"; they are powerful guardians that need structure.

OFA (Orthopedic Foundation for Animals)

Focus: Provides a standardized, subjective grade (Excellent, Good, Fair, Dysplastic) for hips and elbows based on x-rays submitted by the veterinarian.

• Certification Age: Official OFA certificates can only be issued after the dog is 24 months old.
• Transparency Note: OFA only publishes passing results unless the breeder specifically opts for disclosure of a failing result.

PennHIP

Focus: A quantitative, objective measure of hip laxity using a specialized x-ray technique called the Distraction Index (DI).

• Testing Age: Can be reliably tested as early as 16 weeks old.
• Prediction: A dog with a tighter hip joint (lower DI) has a statistically lower chance of developing Osteoarthritis.