Akitas are quite popular but banned in some states in the USA and many other countries!
This leads people to ask a specific question regarding Akita’s bans. When do Akitas attack and why do they do it?
Akita attack when they are afraid, confused, or stressed. They attack mostly to protect themselves, their territory, or their owner.
Akitas are notorious for being aggressive breeds. There are many times when Akitas feel the need to attack people.
Provoking an American Akita can prove to be dangerous. Sometimes an Akita attack can happen when the owner is unable to control the dog. Owners of Akitas are obliged to take extra precautions to prevent attacks on people and pets.
A prospective Akita owner needs to know about the behavior patterns of this dog. This breed comes with a dangerous dog tag, a tag also worn by the dogs like Dogo Argentino.
Why Do Akitas Attack People?
Most of these reasons stem from the fact that Akitas are very loyal and protective. Akitas Attack for one of the below reasons:
1) Fear
Akitas can attack out of fear. This might sound odd as many see their attacks as acts of aggression.
Some dogs clearly display fear but it is hard to pick up on the emotions of Akitas. You can call the Akita a very unpredictable dog, making him a very tough pet to keep happy.
You can never really know what is running through his mind. It is best not to frighten your dog, this includes touching him while he sleeps, taking food away from him, touching sensitive areas, or, teasing him, etc.
2) Stress
Akitas are not a dog known to back down, they are quite the opposite. It looks like the term ‘fight or flight’ applies to Akitas. These dogs will stand their ground.
In stressful situations, Akita will not hesitate to use their powerful locking jaws to bite.
Few situations when he can be in stress are :
- Confrontations with dogs could aggravate such behavior and result in dog attacks.
- Mistreatment could also influence such aggressive behavior as well.
- Punishing a dog with cruel treatment never works. Instead, it works against you.
3) Territorial defense
Akitas are great guard dogs. They can attack someone who does not bear a familiar face considering him as an intruder! This is purely done to protect his family or his territory.
It is also very common for Akitas to attack other dogs who trespass onto their territory.
Territorial behavior is observed in both male and female Akitas. Rumor has it that female Akita Inus are more aggressive than male Akita Inus.
4) Inadequate training
To be non-threatening, an Akita puppy should be trained and trained well to avoid any attacks.
For this, an experienced assertive dog owner is required. Akitas will assert itself as the pack leader if the owner does not.
It is very possible to have a well-tempered Akita who does not attack. Many owners even own different dogs and cats and live harmoniously with their Akitas.
Training Akita from the beginning is a must. You do not want to be with a large aggressive dog who doesn’t listen to your commands.
5) Abusive past
As with any dog, an abusive past can come back to haunt them. Dogs who have been mistreated and beaten almost always have trust issues. These trust issues might even cause them to attack their owner!
It is not unheard of for Akitas to attack their own owner. To make sure this does not happen, find out the past history of your Akita.
Adopting an Akita puppy gives you the freedom to train him early and prevent him from having an abusive life.
Why Are Akitas Dangerous? Factors that can help
Akitas are known to be loving, loyal, and affectionate. The Akita dog breed is not naturally born with the intent to hurt humans.
It comes down to a few factors as below that are responsible for making Akita dogs dangerous.
Training
Training is crucial for any dog breed, especially one which has a tendency to attack!
When training Akitas, the owner must be dominant (not in a negative way) and show his leadership. Akitas will easily take advantage of weak or soft owners.
Do not give your Akita the chance to take the lead, he will not let you take it back!
Another crucial part of training is not to show any fear or delayed action. If training is successful, he will be obedient and take the backseat.
Also training should start from puppy times.
Socialization
Socializing and training are equally important especially in their initial years.
An Akita who is not socialized cannot be called well-trained! The two should actually be done together.
Tip – Do not introduce your Akita puppy (or dog) to a group of people or dogs at once. Take small steps to ensure he does not become overwhelmed.
This can create confusion and a stressed situation for him, leading to aggression. Akitas are not the best at handling stressful situations.
Treatment
There are no two ways about it. Dog owners who use positive methods are bound to see results.
Learning comes from a beneficial relationship. You have to give something to get something. A good habit should be rewarded.
An Akita may like treats or something else more. A run or a walk or some form of playing might be more of an incentive.
After a few weeks, you will know exactly what tickles his fancy! A good relationship between owner and dog can keep attacks at bay.
Never smack or beat your Akita! These are the seeds that grow into aggressive behavior. Aggression will most likely result in him becoming aggressive.
Surroundings
A positive and safe environment is important for raising Akitas that are non-aggressive.
It teaches them that there is no need to be aggressive and fight for a happy living. This is true for families looking for companion Akitas.
Akitas that are forced to fight with other dogs or abusive people are likely to attack. It could even stimulate random attacks that were unprovoked.
Attacks like these could involve legal action! This would mean bad news for your dog and an expensive cost for you.
Plus there is the chance that your dog may be put down.
History
Akitas are commonly known for their guarding and herding instinct.
Some part of this guarding nature still carries through to modern-day Akitas. The lineage of the Akitas is also important to know before adopting. Akita puppies from working parents can have natural aggression.
Try to meet the parents before adopting an Akita from a litter. It is usually best to adopt a puppy so that you can train and remove any unwanted behavior issues.
Natural genetics
Akitas are one breed known for protecting and herding livestock. Akitas also served as hunting partners because of their ability to track wild boar, bears, and deer. Meaning there is high prey-drive in this breed.
It is in their genetics to protect even if it means attacking!
Akita Temperament
Akitas are renowned for their appearance and were once used as guard dogs for royalty. They are sturdy, powerful, and intimidating to people they do not know.
Akita dogs are generally not advisable for families with small kids, and other pets (particularly cats and small animals). Akita is definitely not a friendly dog breed and will not be warm towards strangers.
Further, Akita is not for novice owners. People should be willing to invest a great deal of time in training and socializing.
Do Akitas Like to Cuddle? Why Doesn’t my Akita Like to Cuddle?
Where are Akitas banned?
Due to a reputation for being aggressive, Akitas are restricted or even banned in several states in the USA. In these states, an Akita will bear the repercussions of an attack regardless of the full details of the situation.
The cities where Akitas are banned or restricted include the following states:
- Iowa
- Tennessee
- Louisiana
- Michigan
- Washington
Cities that have restrictions over Akitas usually require the owners to show some special restrictions. Some of these restrictions are stated below:
- Akitas must be walked on a leash with a muzzle
- You are required to put a “dangerous dog” post in your yard
- The dog must be microchipped to easily find the owner
- Liability insurance should be taken by the owner
- In some cases, it is required that the dog is neutered
- Walking in public may require you to display a tag on your dog warning that he dangerous
There is another big drawback of owning an Akita in a city with restrictions.
In case there is an incident, your dog will be the one to bear the blame. This is especially unfortunate if it is not his fault.
Conclusion
The Akita breed has a natural protective demeanor.
Each dog differs and it is his upbringing that dictates his dangerous status. If given the right training by a supportive family in a supportive environment, he can be protective without attacking anyone.
But as Akitas are already known for attacking behavior, they are banned in many areas due to their reputation.
FAQs
Yes, an Akita is likely to attack intruders if they are trained to be guard dogs. Intruders are strangers who enter property or homes. An Akita has a natural instinct to put himself between danger and his owners. This is the leading cause of an attack on intruders.
Akitas are not the best dog for little kids. American Akita is large, strong, dominant, and protective. Their protective instinct could cause them to become physically aggressive and could be more of a negative than a positive.
The Akitas could easily become triggered by children who tease them or handle them incorrectly. Even with adequate training and socializing, the Akitas (American or Japanese) are not the best pets for families with children and other pets.