The Akita Inu, or Japanese Akita, is a large, noble dog breed with roots in Japan, where they are revered as a national treasure. These powerful dogs are courageous and determined, having been bred to hunt wild boar, elk, and even bears in the mountains of northern Japan.
Akita Inus have a double coat—the outer layer is rough and waterproof, while the undercoat is dense and soft, giving them good insulation in cold weather. These Japanese pups only come in four colors, and each color should be clear, rich, and bright. In addition, those with brindle and red coats must have “urajiro” (white or light cream underside shading).
Let’s look at some more details of the Akita Inu’s stunning colors and patterns.
The 4 Akita Inu Colors & Coat Patterns
1. Red
Red is the most common color of the Akita Inu. It needs to be rich and vivid. There shouldn’t be too much white on the faces of these dogs. On the sides of the muzzle and cheeks, you can find white or cream shading called “omotejiro.” There is also urajiro that occurs on the inside of the legs and the underside of the jaw, abdomen, neck, and tail.
For red Akita Inus, the tail’s undercoat will be grey, but with a correct application of urajiro, the guard hairs will be red on top and white on the underside. The ratio of red to white frequently changes as a dog matures from a puppy, with the red section often becoming thinner. The Akita dog actor in the popular movie “Hachi: A Dog’s Tale” also has a red coat.
2. Brindle
Dogs with “tiger” patterns on their bodies are known as brindle Akita Inus. This pattern is one-of-a-kind and you won’t find two brindle coats that are the same. The hue also appears differently in artificial and the natural light of the morning, afternoon, and evening. The robust appearance of these canines attracts lots of dog enthusiasts.
The pattern for brindle Akitas is described as having fine, clear, dark streaks or stripes over a lighter background color. There are three types of brindle coats: red brindle, black brindle, and a variety known as “Shimofuri” (grey or silver). These dogs may have a white blaze extending up their muzzles or be self-masked.
The favored brindle pattern has “roppaku” (six points of white markings) on the four paws, muzzle, and tip of the tail, which may be present in varied degrees. The inside of the legs, jaw, neck, belly, and tail may all exhibit urajiro.
3. White
White hair covers the entire body of white Akita Inus, and they should be as bright as possible. These dogs’ primary distinguishing trait is their lack of body markings or spots, and daily maintenance is required to preserve the coat color.
Their noses tend to fade—most white Akita Inu puppies are born with black noses, but when they mature into adults and senior dogs, their noses frequently turn light brown.
4. Sesame
Sesame is the least common of the four colors of Akita Inus. Even in their home country of Japan, it doesn’t appear much anymore. The coat of a sesame Akita often has light black tipping throughout, with no particularly dark patches. Tipping can occur across the head and the body, but it should be reasonable. Like other colors, white is crucial. It may display in their lower jaw, cheeks, inner limbs, chest, stomach, and tail.
Are Akitas Heavy Shedders?
The Akita Inu is a double-coated breed that “blows” its undercoat twice a year. You may see Akita’s hair clumps all over the house at these times, but you can reduce the amount by brushing them outside.
Depending on where you live, there are differences in the quantity of Akita hair loss. Your dog may shed less if you live in a region with fewer abrupt seasonal changes. Expect a heavier and longer seasonal blowout if your area experiences drastic seasonal temperature transitions.
Akita Inus are clean-natured pets. They tend to clean themselves like cats if they get into something dirty.
Are Akitas Good Family Dogs?
Akita Inus can make great furry pets for family households. But these Japanese canines are not a good option for inexperienced owners due to their size and strength. In addition, if you have small kids or want to have kids in the future, it’s best to find another breed. Akitas do best in homes without children or with older kids.
Remember that the Akita Inu enjoys being the only dog in the house and might be hostile toward other canines. They can be trained to tolerate other animals with the proper socialization, but they will do everything to maintain their dominance.
Conclusion
Known as a Japanese national treasure, Akita Inus have won the hearts of the world with their loyalty, strength, and grace. They are so revered in Japan that the family of a newborn child is often given an Akita statue, which stands for good health, joy, and longevity.
The beautiful colors and patterns of the Akita Inus’ coat are just one of their many charms. It doesn’t matter what color coat you choose, you will have a faithful companion for life!
Featured Image Credit: haha050haha, Pixabay
