Shiba Inu dogs and Akitas have a resemblance to each other. They have the same stature, color and share a lot of their characteristics. Far from a young breed, the modern Shiba Inu is the continuation of a tradition of more than one thousand years. This is the common trait of independence and intelligence.
Of course this isn't indicative of disloyalty. Actually, the reverse is true. Shiba Inu's might possibly be a more loyal companion than other breeds. The problem is that it is difficult to earn their loyalty. It needs to be taken from the Shiba Inu with a strong hand and a firm no. While positive reinforcement works well, you still must show them who's boss, similar to the Akita.
In contrast to the Akita, properly bred Shiba Inus are generally only between 14 to 17 inches tall at the shoulder. Its weight will be around 23 lbs. for grown-ups.
Another breed with roots in ancient Japan is the Akita. Genetically speaking, the Akita is one of the most ancient of dog breeds in the world. Next to the Shiba Inu dogs, which was its probable source, these are the most ancient breeds in Japan.
The colorful history of the Akita, goes back many years. It has gone through several wars and at a point was at the brink of extinction. The orignal purpose for the breed was to hunt everything from deer to larger game such as Black bears. This is how they became so ferocious.
Prior to World War I, Japanese Samurais would stage dog fights with these animals in order to keep their bloodlust from becoming dormant during times of peace. In time this ceased because of the fact that the emperor banned dog fighting in Japan because he wanted to stop animal cruelty.
In the post-war era, many dogs, including the Akita breed, were murdered in great numbers just to manufacture coats. [spin]The remaining Akitas were bred with German Shepherds that the conquering Americans had.|The conquering Americans used their German Shepherds to breed with the remaining Akitas.
[/spin] A few pure bred Akitas survived this decade.After this decade the love affair with Akitas was renewed and now they are considered national monuments in Japan.
There are black Akita and white Akita and according to some, the dogs bred by Akita breeders can be called stubborn and prone to unacceptable bad behavior. Without serious and constantly reinforced training, the Akita breed is known to become violent and destructive. This accentuates how important early training is. Akita owners should begin training their pups while young. This is where a responsible Akita breeder can do wonders for their dogs. If you are considering buying one of these dogs, keep in mind that it is imperative that you be able to give them the time and attention that they require.
An Akita is very loyal to its family and would do anything to protect its territory. Once it has bonded with his master and his family, the Akita will go up to the point of protecting you and your family once it has sensed that there is impending danger ahead, and it will protect you with his very own life.
The Akita and the Shiba Inu are equally excellent breeds. It is the responsibility of both Shiba Inu breeders and Akita breeders to make sure that the dogs are well taken care of wherever they go.