Akita Fluff

Calling ALL dog lovers!!

2009-11-20T16:43:00.000-08:00

Your mission, should you chose to accept it, is to help educate our movie going public. Your deadline for the mission is December 18th. Your countdown begins now.
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While this current mission is targeting those who may be interested in a specific breed, it benefits anyone considering a dog because it helps to educate people about the need for breed research BEFORE getting a dog "just like the one they saw" in a movie. This helps cut down on the amount of mismatched dogs to owners. Not every breed of dog is right for every home after all. What might be the best match for you may be a nightmare for your best friend and vice versa.
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The steps for this mission are simple.

1) Go to this website http://www.akitaclub.org/ and download and print a copy of the file "Is the akita the right dog for you?" (For Shiba info to add to the back go here: http://www.northeastshibarescue.com/right.html )

2) Take the handout to your local Staples store and make a bajillion copies.

3) Take the bajillioon copies to your local movie theaters on December 17th and ask if they will share them with every ticket buyer to the movie "Hachi".

4) If you have a blog please consider passing this information on. All agents need to be activated for this one my friends.
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The advanced agents, and you know who you are#, may even stay to pass out the handouts personally or set up a booth at the theater (with permission of course) showing off their well trained akita or shiba. (shibas are also featured in the movie as they used some of them in place of the akita as a puppy) You can even go to your areas akita rescue website and print off a list of akitas needing homes to add to a poster. A "dogs in movies" set up with other breed information for those who are extra creative to leave at the theater is also an idea. This isn't the first breed this has happened to, nor will it be the last.
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The mission is an important one. It may be met with resistance. A back up plan my be required. Consider recruiting your local pet supply stores. They may agree to passing out handouts if your theater won't participate or be willing to host a breed education table. Posters are also welcome in the fight. Ask the local theater for copies of the movie poster, take it for display to your local pet supply store, and add the akita handout. Or your local shelter would like to be involved. It never hurts to ask.
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Check out the Hachi movie trailer here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FaS37E3gKOU
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I want to thank all the DEAR members (dog education action responders) for their participation in this mission. (that's you dear reader) I look forward to all feedback. Got any other ideas to help us in this endeavor? Share them with me in the comments section.

#Names have been omitted for security reasons.

Another post on the subject: http://k-9solutionsdogtraininginc.blogspot.com/2009/07/official-akita-movie-trailer-has.html#links

Longcoat for adoption - Chicago

2009-01-13T17:24:00.000-08:00

HUEY
A big fluffy yellow duck, a helicopter, or a musician?

Close, but no cigar—Huey is our latest orphan who just happens to be a big fluffy Akita, with a tail, that when wagging, looks like a rotor on a helicopter, and a boy who can woo ‘n roll with the best of them.

This handsome dude was a stray, who found himself in a shelter outside of Chicago. Lucky for Huey one of the Animal Control Officers is a friend of MARS. And, once again our friends at Mal Rescue offered to help. Huey was so happy to see their volunteer, he gave her ‘keeter kisses during the entire ride from the shelter to the kennel!

“Wait until you see the new Akita boy. He is something. You can't help but go crazy over him. Great personality.”

Huey didn’t even mind going to see the Vet. While being examined and groomed, he wowed them all with his easy going style. And now that he has been "styled", with a good wash and fluff, he looks like a rock star. (Huey is waiting for his photo shoot, so check back for his after pictures)

This fluffy guy is a big boy, and strong. Huey is approximately 2 years-old and while he is wonderful, we don’t think anyone ever spent much time teaching him the ropes, so obedience training is definitely in his future. Huey is neutered, heartworm negative and now current on vaccinations. If you would like to find out for yourself whether our Huey has more in common with a duck, helicopter or musician please contact Deanna O’Brien at marsakita@sbcglobal.net or 773-594-9302.

Huey's buddies, Britt and Marc Caras are wishing him a Happy New Year!!!

FMI on adopting Huey go to Midwest Akita Rescue Society at www.akitas.org Huey is located in Chicago Illinois.

Longcoats need regular grooming

2008-12-02T08:54:00.001-08:00

This is a good example of what can happen when you don't groom your longcoat akita regularly. This poor boy ended up in akita rescue.

The only thing you can do when it gets that bad is to shave the dog down and start over.

For those that think it is purely cosmetic I can tell you it isn't. Mats pull on the skin and are very painful. A painful dog can be grumpy and be quick to bite because of it. The matting can also cause skin infections and itchiness. This can lead to other infections as serious as staf and result in a hefty vet bill for the owner to try to fix.

If you have a dog that seems to mat easily you may need to get a thyroid test done. A full panel done through Michigan State University is recommended to get a full picture of what is going on. (Or from Dr. Dodds at www.Hemopet.org ) Unfortunately thyroid problems can be common in akitas. FMI on akitas and thyroid check out this link: Thyroid

A change in food might also be recommended. There are several health reasons that may cause a dogs fur to mat.

Of course that may be hard to tell if you aren't grooming regularly. A simple brushing once a week should be plenty to keep your longcoated akita mat free. If you find a mat pulling it apart gently and brushing out the fur will take it out. For more serious mats you may need to carefully cut it away. Go slow and be very careful not to cut the skin. When in doubt cut off the top of the mat and try to brush out the rest after pulling it apart.

Regular grooming will help keep your akita healthy and is a great way to spend one on one bonding time with your dog. Start young or with short sessions to keep it fun and a pleasurable experience for you and your akita.

A Summertime Warning

2008-07-15T07:46:00.000-07:00

Today was one of the hotter days we have had. Of course it was also one of the first dry days we have had in awhile which meant it was time to mow the lawn. I usually wait until later in the day so the sun moves to the back of the house and leaves a shady area for the dogs to lay in while they are outside with me. (they like to watch me work) I keep a good eye on them because even though there is shade, dogs do not always chose to lay in it when hot. I learned this the hard way with my first akita, Kuma. (He is the brindle below on the right. My female Shimo is on the left. They were both so beautiful and I still miss them.)

While putting in some new flooring during a summer day I put him out in the yard with plenty of shade and water. Unfortunatly he did not chose to utilize the shade. When I went out to check on him (about 20 minutes later) I realized he was not acting right and staggering. Recognising it was a heat issue I immediately got the hose on him and cooled him down. (the quickest cooling is done under the belly and leg areas) He was fine after the incident but it taught be a very valuable lesson, dogs do not always make the logical choice for their own safety. PLEASE keep an eye on your dogs when outside on a sunny day. Heat problems can crop up fast and can be fatal.

Considering the extra coat on our longcoated akitas this timeline can be cut in half, especially if they have a dark coat. Heat is attracted to dark colors. Also keep this in mind while they are in a vehicle on a hot day as well. Remember that dogs do not sweat like we do but have to pant to keep cool instead. They can overheat quickly if their panting doesn't work fast enough for the temperature they are dealing with.

Provide water and shade and check on your dogs often. Learn from my mistake. It only takes minutes to run into trouble.

Stay safe!

Smile!

2008-06-08T15:11:00.000-07:00

This handsome guy is Griffy. He is 7 months old and very sweet. He is a good example of a medium longcoat. (Excuse the bad photos. I should have gotten one of him standing so you could see his coat better.) He got adopted through rescue and is now living the life of riley in Maine.

Cosidering a longcoat? Check your local akita rescue. We still have a few in need of good homes. (Web links to the right.)

Serious health warning

2008-03-30T12:49:00.001-07:00

A great reminder to groom often and groom well:

http://lassiegethelp.blogspot.com/search/label/dog%20health

FREE training advice

2008-03-20T07:15:00.000-07:00

I just wanted to share a wonderful training related website. Lots of free articles and videos from some of the top people in the training and behavior field.

http://www.dogstardaily.com/ Check out their blog for new articles and great discussions too.

In honor of Valentines Day

2008-02-15T07:46:00.000-08:00

In the spirit of love for our dogs here is an article I have been meaning to share that I find excellent. It was not written by me but by a training colleague whose name is below.

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"One of the things I think people sometimes overlook, when they express concern about reward being used to reinforce behavior, is the way it can build a relationship.
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Healthy relationships are built on mutual give-and-take--when first meeting someone, if they ask about our work and interests, laugh at our jokes, make us feel good, and don't stick us with the check for dinner, that's a good start.

People who offer nothing, either emotionally or practically, are generally somewhere on a scale of disinteresting down to toxic--not generally someone with whom most of us would want to begin a relationship.

Dogs we've just met don't have a career about which we can ask, jokes at which we can laugh, etc. We can show our interest in what they are doing for us by rewarding with food, the opportunity to do favorite actions, physical touch they enjoy, etc. That doesn't mean that it is bribery, or a shallow connection that can easily be broken.

It fustrates me when people think that reward-based training will make the dog dependant on treats--done right, it does just the opposite; it makes all you have to offer valuable. After a short while, this extends not only to food, praise, petting, toys, outings, etc. --it extends to your very presence.

But, we need to start with something basic, elemental, primary, for these nonverbal creatures. Just as with feeding and holding a baby, providing food is one of the first ways into most dogs' consciousness, to let them know we are a part of their lives.

If the first tiny seeds that grew into the relationship I have with my dogs were germinated in a cube of cheese, fertilized with ear scritches, watered with the door to the potty yard being opened, and warmed with the sunshine of tossed toys, that's fine with me! At this point we are as intertwined as the branches of a mature tree, and the flow of mutual reward is constant, even if there isn't a crumb, toy or doorknob in sight!"

Ellen Brown

Photos used in this post found at http://www.Akitas-4-U.com

Longcoats in need of homes

2008-01-27T15:14:00.000-08:00

Check out the lovely longcoats in rescues around the country looking for their new homes.

Meet Jessie a sweet long-coated female Akita!! At 8 yrs of age, its upsetting to us all that Jess has to find a new home. But sadly she did cause an upheaval in the neighborhood when she decided not to play nice with a small dog once she got out of our fenced in yard by mistake. Jessie is a loving Akita with her family and especially loves children. She even lives with another female dog that was introduced to the household when Jessie was an adult. This Akita has an endearing habit of sitting up like a bunny rabbit which makes us all laugh! Jessie is healthy, up to date on shots, having a thyroid panel done this week to ensure her health and was just evaluated by a behaviorist, who proclaimed her the "nicest Akita I have ever met!" which is high praise!! Please consider letting Jessie find love at your house for the remainder of her days.
Please contact:Scott at 413-253-4191 or 413-658-4816

2 loving senior Akitas deserve to find a happy home for the remainder of their years. No other pets, no small kids, just love, peace and quiet. You will be rewarded with devotion, affectionate and loyalty.
Please contact Jane at: Jane KleinsingerWaggin' Train Rescue917-558-0146

Phoebe is a long coat with personality plus. She’s just barely 1 year old, full of energy, loves attention, and wants to be with you all the time. She is a bit of a goofy girl too. With that ear down and her tongue lolling out the side of her mouth, she looks so cute. She was probably a dancer in a former life, as she stands up on her hind legs, walks around on them while pawing the fence of her kennel run with both front feet. When you reach over the gate to pet her, she jumps up and puts her paws around your arm as if to hold you there. When out of her kennel for exercise, she “runs” everywhere, and does amazing leaps and bounds. She is still “puppy squiggley”. All she wants is some attention and tender loving care
She knows how to use a doggie door, has learned sit, down and come, and is learning to “shake”. She is house trained. She is a little shy when meeting new people, but she warms up to you quickly. A little patience, and some more exposure to new people is all she needs to be able to greet everyone like they are her closest friends. It would also help to be with a confident male dog who can show her all the good things in life. Her long coat will need regular brushing so she doesn’t develop mats. She is spayed, and will be microchipped before being placed.
Won’t you let Phoebe dance into your heart by giving her a forever home?
Please visit www.AkitaAdvocates.com for an adoption application. Our adoption process includes a home visit and adoption fee.

**Note from blog admin. I am sad to report that all three previous listings of longcoats needing homes are still showing as available on their respective rescue sites. So please scroll down and check them out as well. **

New Akita Book

2008-01-21T17:44:00.000-08:00

To be released Febuary 28th on Amazon.com.

From Amazon's website ~ How one man's consuming passion for dogs saved a legendary breed from extinction and led him to a difficult, more soulful way of life in the wilds of Japan's remote snow country.

As Dog Man opens, Martha Sherrill brings us to a world that Americans know very little about-the snow country of Japan during World War II. In a mountain village, we meet Morie Sawataishi, a fierce individualist who has chosen to break the law by keeping an Akita dog hidden in a shed on his property.

During the war, the magnificent and intensely loyal Japanese hunting dogs are donated to help the war effort, eaten, or used to make fur vests for the military. By the time of the Japanese surrender in 1945, there are only sixteen Akitas left in the country. The survival of the breed becomes Morie's passion and life, almost a spiritual calling. Devoted to the dogs, Morie is forever changed. His life becomes radically unconventional-almost preposterous-in ultra-ambitious, conformist Japan. For the dogs, Morie passes up promotions, bigger houses, and prestigious engineering jobs in Tokyo. Instead, he raises a family with his young wife, Kitako-a sheltered urban sophisticate-in Japan's remote and forbidding snow country. Their village is isolated, but interesting characters are always dropping by-dog buddies, in-laws from Tokyo, and a barefoot hunter who lives in the wild. Due in part to Morie's perseverance and passion, the Akita breed strengthens and becomes wildly popular, sometimes selling for millions of yen. Yet Morie won't sell his spectacular dogs. He only likes to give them away.

Morie and Kitako remain in the snow country today, living in the traditional Japanese cottage they designed together more than thirty years ago-with tatami mats, an overhanging roof, a deep bathtub, and no central heat. At ninety-four years old, Morie still raises and trains the Akita dogs that have come to symbolize his life.

In beautiful prose that is a joy to read, Martha Sherrill opens up the world of the Dog Man and his wife, providing a profound look at what it is to be an individualist in a culture that reveres conformity-and what it means to live life in one's own way, while expertly revealing Japan and Japanese culture as we've never seen it before.

Grooming the coat and feet

2007-11-20T10:22:00.000-08:00

With the woolie coat comes the responsibility of extra grooming compared to that of a shorter coated akita. It is important for the health of your dog to prevent mats that can be both painful and used as parasite or bacteria central.

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Here is an excellent website I found about trimming coats. http://omalmalamutes.com/omal/wooly.htm It is written for longcoated Alaskan Malamutes but can also apply to our woolies too. It is not necessary to trim a longcoat. Many of us woolie owners do not trim but brush regularly instead. This is just info for those that prefer or are considering trimming.

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A word on shaving your LC akita. If there isn't a problem with the coat we do not recommend shaving it all off. Exceptions are if the coat is so badly matted that it has caused a skin condition needing aggressive treatment or the mats cannot be removed any other way. Mats are extremely painful for dogs. They tug and pull at the skin with every movement the dog makes so preventing or removing them in very important. Some people think that shaving will keep their dogs cooler in the hot summer. Dogs do not sweat to keep cool like people do, they pant instead. They may also sweat through the pads of their feet if they are overheating. (or if they are really stressed) Removing the coat is removing the insulation they have against the elements. Insulation works both ways, to keep heat in and to keep heat out. Without their coat they are also exposed to the risk of sunburn. The best way to keep your woolie cool is to keep them inside with airconditioning, fans or on a cool floor. Provide plenty of water and shade. Do not over tax them with hikes or long walks on really hot days. If you shave their coat off it may take quite some time for it to grow back. And do not be surprised if it doesn't grow back the same.

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Here is a tutorial on keeping those feet trimmed. If you have any non-carpeted floors in your home this will help give your woolie some traction. The fur on the bottom of the foot can act like a sock and cover the pad. In winter this fur can also become a magnet for snowball clumps which can be painful for your dog to walk on.

Here are a couple of before photos of the feet when untrimmed.

You can see how the fur lays over the pads when stepped on.

Keep the scissors parallel to the foot so you don't cut into the pad or stab the pad accidentally. This is especially important if your dog is moving around at all. Have a helper distract the dog with treats if needed and be patient. Unless you have trained your dog to tolerate this they may be wiggly. Sometimes this tickles! Be sure to get as close as possible to each pad individually and each side of the pad.

A finished paw. You can see how clean this makes it. Not only does it give your dog more traction but it helps cut down the amount of mud and dirt that can get tracking into your home. I recommend triming the nails after trimming the pads because taking away the extra fur will make them easier to see.

Happy Grooming!

A couple more woolies in need

2007-11-19T00:22:00.000-08:00

While surfing rescue sites to add to our brand spanking new blog (links at right) I found these two beauties listed that are also in need of new homes. Over at Akita Rescue of the Mid-Atlantic coast there is Babe.

Babe is a 5 year old female that came to the group with a badly matted coat that they had to shave. She is 95 lbs and is very friendly. Go to their website listing page for much more info, photos and even videos of Babe. (http://armac.rescuegroups.org/)

Then there is Maya in Tulsa Oklahoma. Maya is a 2 year old female that decided she didn't want to share with the other dog in the home. More info on Maya can be seen on the website of the Mid-West Akita Rescue Society. (www.akitas.org/orphans.html )

Or you can contact Deanna O'Brien at 773-594-9302 or marsakita@sbcglobal.net with any questions about Maya.
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Tail wags

Welcome to our woolie blog

2007-11-18T15:44:00.000-08:00

Welcome to the very first post of the Akita Fluff blog. We hope to showcase many longcoat akitas here to show the wonderful variety we know as woolies in the akita breed. Many people who work in the animal rescue field (in shelters) are unfamiliar with the longcoat variety in akitas so we hope our photos will educate those who have never seen them in the flesh.

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Meet Hattie. Hattie is a longcoat akita in New Mexico that is looking for a new home through akita rescue there. She is approximately 1o months old and gets along with a male akita in her foster home. She is considered a red/fawn with a black mask.

She is on the smaller side for an akita but has that beautiful wollie coat and sweet temperment we love.

If you are interested in learning more about Mattie contact Jim or Chrisan at 505-400-9870 or e-mail them at akita2s@comcast.com

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If you have a longcoat that needs to be profiled as available for adoption please contact me so I can post your info. Akitamom2@aol.com Postings are a courtesy only and those dogs have not been evaluated by a member of our group unless stated otherwise. Please label your mail "Longcoat for adoption" in the subject line so it doesn't get deleted as spam.

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If you have a photo you would like us to look at and give an opinion on if a particular dog is a LC akita or not also e-mail me. I will post the photo and we can give our opinions though the comment option. Please send all photos as .jpegs and label the pics "Akita Longcoat?" in the subject line so I don't delete it.

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Tail wags