Akita Shepherd

60-80 lbs
22-24"
Unknown
Akita
German Shepherd

Akita Shepherds take after their stoic parent breeds, the German Shepherd and Akita Inu, and are known for being independent, loyal, and protective pets. When full grown, these large dogs can weigh up to 85 pounds and grow to be 25 inches tall. They require a fair amount of maintenance and exercise. Akita Shepherds form strong bonds with their owners and can be great dogs for families, couples, and individual owners who are looking to invest a lot of time and energy into rearing a well-adjusted dog. Not surprisingly, Akita Shepherds are not your typical hybrid; they are not widely bred, and they are not recognized by the American Kennel Club roster of purebred dogs.

purpose Purpose
Companionship, Hunting, Herding, Guarding
history Date of Origin
Mid 1900s
ancestry Ancestry
Akita, German Shepherd

Akita Shepherd Health

Average Size
Male Akita Shepherd size stats
Height: 23-25 inches Weight: 65-85 lbs
Female Akita Shepherd size stats
Height: 22-24 inches Weight: 60-80 lbs
Major Concerns
  • Canine Hip Dysplasia
  • Bloat
  • Von Willebrand's Disease
  • Degenerative Myelopathy
  • Congenital Heart Defect
  • Autoimmune Thyroiditis
  • Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA)
Minor Concerns
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Panosteitis
  • Pemphigus
  • Sebaceous Adenitis
  • Pannus
  • Perianal Fistulas
  • Hemophilia
  • Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency
Occasional Diagnoses
  • None Known
Occasional Tests
  • Cardiac
  • Eye
  • Hip
  • Blood
  • Dna For Vwd
  • Internal Imaging (x-ray, CT scan, MRI, etc.)
  • Full Body Physical Examination

Akita Shepherd Breed History

The German Shepherd and Akita Inu were bred together to create this hybrid breed. The Akita Shepherd’s German Shepherd parent originated in the 1800s and was bred in Germany as a sheep herder. The Germans quickly recognized the breed’s intelligence and employed it as a courier dog in the German military in both World War I and II. German Shepherds were further refined in Germany under the guidance of the Verein fur Deutsche Scharferhunde SV, which was established in 1899 specifically to shape the development of the breed. During the 20th century, German Shepherds grew in popularity not only in their native country, but also in North America as a working and guard dog, as well as loyal pet. The American Kennel Club recognized the German Shepherd in 1908 and it remains a popular dog in the United States and Europe – especially Germany – to this day. The other parent, the Akita Inu, is an ancient breed from the Odate region of Japan. In the mid-1900s, Akitas Inus were declared a national treasure of Japan. Even today, Akitas Inus are considered spiritual symbols of protection, health, happiness, and longevity in the country. Akita Inus were first bred to hunt animals large and medium sized game, such as elk, boars, and small bears. The American historical figure, Helen Keller, became enamored with the breed in the mid-20th century and brought the first Akita to North America. Afterwards, the Akita population grew steadily in the United States and it was recognized by the AKC in 1972. The combination of these two parent breeds has resulted in the stoic and devoted Akita Shepherd breed. This hybrid may have been bred as early as the mid-1900s due to its parent breeds' history in the same geographical areas. Nonetheless, it has not caught on in popularity and it is not recognized by the AKC.

Akita Shepherd Breed Appearance

The Akita Shepherd has the body of a German Shepherd and the face and tail of an Akita Inu. Keep in mind, however, that because this breed is not stabilized, it can inherit any combination of physical traits from its parent breeds. Nonetheless, Akita Shepherds will generally have medium-sized, erect ears, dark triangular eyes, and a scissor bite muzzle. They will also have the characteristically Spitz tail, which curls upwards and has a full, plush coating. Their bodies are muscular and strong, with the sloping back of a German Shepherd. The Akita Shepherd’s dense coat is generally medium-length and comes in several colors that are common to both parent breeds. Dogs that take after their Shepherd heritage will also inherit faint or strong dark markings around the face and muzzle.

Eye Color Possibilities
brown Akita Shepherd eyes
Brown
Nose Color Possibilities
black Akita Shepherd nose
Black
brown Akita Shepherd nose
Brown
Coat Color Possibilities
brindle Akita Shepherd coat
Brindle
white Akita Shepherd coat
White
silver Akita Shepherd coat
Silver
fawn Akita Shepherd coat
Fawn
black Akita Shepherd coat
Black
red Akita Shepherd coat
Red
brown Akita Shepherd coat
Brown
sable Akita Shepherd coat
Sable
gray Akita Shepherd coat
Gray
Coat Length
coat
Short Medium Long
Coat Density
coat density
pin
Sparse Normal Dense
Coat Texture
coat texture
Akita Shepherd straight coat texture
Straight Wiry Wavy Curly Corded

Akita Shepherd Breed Maintenance

Akita Shepherds are not hypoallergenic and not suitable for pet owners with allergies. Their coats shed moderately and require weekly (at least) brushing to stay clean, shiny, and neat. Owners can use a variety of tools including a slicker or pin brush for grooming depending on how long their pets coat is (pin brushes are for longer coats). Beyond this, Akita Shepherds are fairly easy to maintain; they only need occasional baths and monthly to bi-monthly nail clippings. The most strenuous part of maintaining an Akita Shepherd is checking its coat and ears regularly for debris and brushing its teeth on a daily basis.

Brushes for Akita Shepherd
Pin Brush
Pin Brush
Slicker Brush
Slicker Brush
Deshedder
Deshedder
Nail Clipper
Nail Clipper
Brushing Frequency
fur daily fur weekly fur monthly
Akita Shepherd requires weekly brushing
Daily Weekly Monthly

Akita Shepherd Temperament

The Akita Shepherd is a very serious breed; it is reserved and aloof like both of its parents. It has a natural inclination to guard and protect, and its personality reflects this impulse in most situations. When it is comfortable, however, Akita Shepherds can be very energetic and playful. Still, these dogs are not great with strangers, other animals, or young children. Though they are loyal and kind to loved ones, they can be aggressive if they feel threatened or are unsure of themselves. As pets, Akita Shepherds require firm and consistent training; otherwise, this high-strung breed will overpower those around them. For the same reason, early socialization is very important for raising a well-adjusted Akita Shepherd. Beyond this, Alaskan Shepherds are quite intelligent and can be trained to respond to relatively complex commands and tasks. They value their independence, but will happily relax alongside their owners at the end of an (ideally) active day.

Akita Shepherd Activity Requirements

Herding and Spitz breeds are known for their fortitude and work ethic; the Akita Shepherd is no exception. Ideally, Akita Shepherds will spend at least 60 minutes a day exercising in a cool climate. They enjoy having a task laid out in front of them. As such, these dogs will follow their owners on hikes, runs, or other expeditions eagerly. Because they are so adventurous, Akita Shepherds do best in rural or suburban areas where they have access to large expanses of land to explore and run around in. Akita Shepherds are also very smart and require some level of mental stimulation. Indoor activities and games may satisfy this need.

Activity Level
low activity medium activity high activity
Low Medium High
Rec. Walk Mileage Per Week
14 miles
walk mileage
Minutes of Activity Per Day
60 minutes
activity minutes

Akita Shepherd Food Consumption

Cups Per Day
2.5 cups
cup per day cost cup per day cost
Daily Cost
$1.50 - $1.90
food bowls daily cost
Monthly Cost
$39.00 - $52.00
food bag monthly cost

Akita Shepherd Height & Weight

6 Months
Male Akita Shepherd size stats at six months
Height: 14.5 inches Weight: 30.0 lbs
Female Akita Shepherd size stats at six months
Height: 11.0 inches Weight: 30.0 lbs
12 Months
Male Akita Shepherd size stats at 12 months
Height: 19.5 inches Weight: 60.0 lbs
Female Akita Shepherd size stats at 12 months
Height: 17.5 inches Weight: 50.0 lbs
18 Months
Male Akita Shepherd size stats at 18 months
Height: 24.0 inches Weight: 75.0 lbs
Female Akita Shepherd size stats at 18 months
Height: 23.0 inches Weight: 70.0 lbs

Akita Shepherd Owner Experiences

Mufasa
4 Years
5 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Relaxing
Walking and playing
Can be aggressive to other dogs... overall is pretty energetic and funny
1 year, 9 months ago
Brandi
5 Years
4 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Wonderful pet but not with other female dogs especially other females who are not spayed. Good with kids, cats etc. Ours is a rescue from Northern Ontario so she was essentially feral when we brought her home but she is a loving though aloof dog.
2 years, 10 months ago
Zadrian
1 Year
5 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Dog Parks
Chase
Nap
jog
Run
Walk
Playdate
Spa day
IS vey Aggressive but is devoted to their owners
3 years, 2 months ago
How long before it’s consider full grown age
11 Months
3 People
House
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
I just want to know how much he still has to grow before full grown
6 years, 3 months ago
Yoko
1 Year
2 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Hike
Run
Very aloof and protective
6 years, 1 month ago
Athena
8 Months
2 People
House
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Hike
Run
Agility training
Athena is my 8month old pup, she currently weighs 40kilos and is 26inchs to the shoulder. She is extremely playful and loving. She plays with all dogs big and small and is very gentle with them if they are smaller. She’s very intelligent as you would expect, she was sitting and laying + giving paw on command at the age of 7weeks. Toilet trained by 10weeks. She has never shown any aggression to people or dogs she just wants to love and kiss everyone she sees.
5 years, 10 months ago
Beau
3 Months
3 People
House
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Fetch
Hikes
Walk
Run
Beau is super fun & playful. He is insanely smart and learned all basic commands by 10 weeks old. He loves making friends & playing with other dogs. He never shows any aggression to any people or other dogs. His paws are very large so we anticipate he will be big boy!
5 years, 9 months ago
Athena
24 Months
2 People
House
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
K9 scent work
Obedience classes
Very intelligent, very high energy
5 years, 9 months ago
Mercy
4 Months
1 People
Studio
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
So far its been a treat and a task. Had her from 8 weeks. They bite A LOT in the first few months. Took till now 4 months to finally stop eating my hand. Not in aggression by any means though. Just very sharp teeth, and they were love bites. That happened to draw blood. She is very excitable. Not giving her the exercise she needs, definitely comes with consequence. She will act out. They do have HUGE personalities and respond vocally depending on your tone when training. Such whiny babies though. Once they get attached, they can't be close enough to you in down time. So much more to come! I wouldn't have it any other way, and I look very forward to living our lives together.
5 years, 8 months ago
Harley
4 Years
5 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Smart
playful
Endless energy
Sweet
Harley is full grown now. Though he lives with a westie- he is not dog friendly. He is hard to control on a walk... but he picked up his commands and house training by the time he was 3 months. He is a lover and doesn't not know the meaning of respecting a person's personal space. He is very protective of his yard. No critters allowed. He has enough energy to keep us all busy. All the time.
5 years, 7 months ago
Enzo
2 Years
2 People
House
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Play with his sisters
Fetch
Swim
Running
swimming
Enzo was a mistake Akita Shepherd the person who had the accidentally litter described his dog as big and fluffy and just assumed husky, but from his coat demeanor and body it was an Akita as the dad. He is difficult to train cause he is very hard headed but also incredibly smart I had to baby proof my house cause as soon as he grew to size he was opening drawers and doors and taking things out and about. He is high energy when it comes to walks and runs but also doesn’t mind a tv marathon on the couch and lots of cuddles. He does have allergies pretty badly though but that’s his only health draw back and when we got him fixed he shortly after got attacked by a friends dog and ever since that he’s been mean to other dogs so highley emotional dog
5 years, 7 months ago
Rosie
7 Years
5 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Fetch
Walk
We first got our Rosie 5 years ago from The Dogs Trust. We had a 4 year old at the time and though they were reluctant to let us have her ita the best thing that they did. Unlike the description stated on this website our Akita X Shepherd is the loveliest, softest, most daft, baby loving dog I have ever met. She loves every person who she meets, tries to play with every dog and is fantastic with my children. She is fiercely loyal and very intelligent though a bit sassy and looks at you as though you're stupid sometimes. There has only ever been three instances when she has shown any aggression and two of which where when dogs got too close to me during my last two pregnancies and the last when a small dog tried to get into the pram with my middle child. She is protective but only when I'm pregnant or ill. But always tries to keep the children safe. She is fiod driven but never takes unless given. Shedding is a nightmare, it's constant and gets everywhere. Apart from that she is a perfect family pet.
5 years, 6 months ago
Kujo
1 Year
5 People
House
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Fetch
Running
Walking
He is so friendly and sweet. He gets jealous of his dog brother. He loves to play and eat. He loves begging for food.
5 years, 6 months ago
Kipper
2 Years
2 People
House
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Walking
skateboarding
Hiking
Running
I adopted my boy Kipper just over a year ago now and when we first got him he was untrained and unsociable he was also very wary of men due to being abused previously... within a year and a half he’s now fully trained socially with humans and other dogs off lead and on lead, he’s a playful young boy who requires a lot of love and affection and I’m happy to give him that, he’s also very great with my nephew who is also 2 years of age, he’s also getting better daily with men thanks to my father in law being such a great help, he loves to go out running with my partner on her skateboard, one of his many favourite activities and playing with his squeaky toys. From a shy scared anxious dog into a fun loving carefree happy pup just like he should be! I couldn’t of adopted a better dog for me!
5 years, 4 months ago
Zero
4 Years
3 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Walk
Play
Play keep away
Tug-of-war
Nap
Cuddling
My Akita Shepherd is probably the best dog I've ever had. He had a past of not getting along with small animals, but once trained (which was not that difficult) he learned to tolerate our playful kitten. When I'm around him there's an instant feeling of safety on both sides. He can sense whether or not a stranger will be a threat, but when they're not he becomes a big baby wanting so much affection. He'll lay with me when I'm sick or cuddle with me when I'm blue. Our bond is incredibly strong.
5 years, 4 months ago
Luna
13 Weeks
3 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Bird watching
Tug-of-war
Running
While very excited very lovable. Larger than "typical" weight at 40lbs at 3 months. One of the best dogs.
5 years, 4 months ago
Duke
10 Years
2 People
House
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
I have raised and trained my dog since he was 3 months old. He is male and intact. He was pretty easy to train with consistency and praise. He has tried to dominate, so you need a strong personality to not allow that. He is Very protective and loyal to me. He is independent and does not do well with other dogs. He is a strong alpha male, and will not bother with other dogs unless he feels threatened. It has been an honor having him as my pet and best friend. If you don't have strong personality, this is not the dog for you.
5 years, 3 months ago
Teddy
2 Years
2 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Walk
We got Teddy 2 months ago from local animal shelter. He appears to be app. 2 years old. We are thinking he was slightly neglected and untrained before we adopted him. He is adapting to living indoors with us along with our 11 year old chocolate lab. He is starting to tolerate our cat but if still very curious of her. He is a sweet dog with lots of energy. We are currently fencing in our back yard so he can run around outside and release some of his energy.
5 years, 2 months ago
Zeus
2 Months
3 People
House
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Tug of war; playing with a racket ball.
So far he has been a blessing. He is trying to befriend our 2 other dogs, but because they are so much older than him and with far less energy, he tends to chase them away into exile. The cat and Zeus sit eye-to-eye, with her hissing and him growling. We shall see how this develops.
4 years, 11 months ago
colt
3 Years
1 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Great dog. Has never shown the aggressive traits that every "expert" says about akitas. Doesn't fight with other dogs, just wants to play. Loves being around people, from newly born to old age.
4 years, 10 months ago
Charlie
7 Years
2 People
House
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Playing in the snow
Charlie is a wonderful playful dog. He loves to play with our Grandsons. He has been around them since the youngest Grandson was 3. He is a very loving dog. He is my husband's service dog. My husband has PTSD from the Vietnam war. Charlie is part of our family.
4 years, 10 months ago
Rudolph
6 Months
5 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
It’s been great he loves my whole family and we love him
4 years, 6 months ago
Jade
3 Months
2 People
Apartment
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Walking
Nap
Fetch
Great dog - definitely stubborn and will need more space as she grows (we will be upgrading to a townhome soon), but she is wonderful. Interested to see how she does around other dogs as she gets older, as well as young kids.
4 years, 5 months ago
Bodi
2 Years
2 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Incredibly trainable, smart, and loveable! We are lucky enough to have a dog with zero aggression issues and always wants to play.
3 years, 9 months ago
Eve
8 Months
3 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Tag
Walk
Follows me around, wakes my grandkids up for school when they sleep over during the week
3 years, 5 months ago
Book me a walkiee?
Pweeeze!
Sketch of smiling australian shepherd