Akita needs rehoming

[denny]

Not sure if there are any dog people reading my journal, but here you go:

The dog in question is an Akita. They are big strong dogs. ENOTATOY. That said, they are incredibly beautiful animals - my friend has owned several over the years I've known him and they're absolutely gorgeous - fur like expensive teddy bears (this particular one has especially pretty 'marbled' looking fur), and quite puppy-like attitudes for their size, but still got that chilled out attitude that big strong dogs tend to have - 'nothing to prove'. This one apparently doesn't like kids, but is okay with other pets.

Anyway, if you would like this kind of dog and you could give this one a good home (you'll be needing a biggish house and probably a garden and/or a lot of time to take him for walks, I guess), then follow the link and have a think about it.

http://djlongfella.livejournal.com/101296.html

Comments

[libellum.livejournal.com]

When you're rich and famous, I can very easily see you with one of these.

[moosipher.livejournal.com]

I have known a few Akitas, and they are BEAUTIFUL. Really nice temperament on the whole, too. But yeah, utterly impossible for me to own. Although I would love to. One day, one day...
Hope this one gets a good home, anyhoo.

[skx.livejournal.com]

Utterly beautiful.

As nice looking as the huskies I love so much .. but more practical.

I wish I could take him.

[dennyd.livejournal.com]

Yeah, they've definitely got a lot in common with huskies, as far as I can see. Not sure if they're closely related or just had common purpose when they were evolving / being bred.

[missyasmina.livejournal.com]

Akita is japanese, husky is russian originally, but the race-standard is american. Akita matagi (the origina name on akita-dogs) means "dog that hunts bears".
They had common purpose when they were being bred, as you said; they were both used as workingdogs.
For hunt, protection/guard (property, humans, sheepherds) fighting, and sladedogs.
Both have been breed with larger dogs to envolve the size they now have.
And both are known for their kind and friendly behaviour.

I know they are still used to guard sheepherds, and looking at this picture, one can see on of the reasons why that works so well; http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e8/Akita11b.jpg

[arachne.livejournal.com]

*Probably* a garden? ;)

Wish we could take him - wouldn't be fair on him to take him on at the moment though.

[dennyd.livejournal.com]

I figured if you lived near a park and were available to walk him several times a day, then you wouldn't need a garden - although you'd probably still benefit from having one available.

[arachne.livejournal.com]

I dunno - the one next door seems constantly bored, and he's near a meadow with humans who can (I don't know if they *do* or not, to be fair) take him running several times a day. Mind, I'd say their garden and house are probably a bit wee for a dog of that size.

[alixandrea.livejournal.com]

He's gorgeous, I wish we could have him. :-(

I've spread the word anyhow *fingers crossed* I really hope he finds a good home.

Thanks for the heads-up. :-)

[ninneviane.livejournal.com]

He's beautiful, it's a pity two of my Monkeys are still very much under the bracket 'children' because everything else we could cater for and more, especially with 120 acres at our disposal. I've put the word out however, fingers crossed something turns up :)

[dennyd.livejournal.com]

I did think your 'back garden' would suit him just fine :)

[ninneviane.livejournal.com]

It would :) Akita's are on my list of Dogs I like a lot - it's such a shame he's not 100% reliable with children. My Monkeys would drive him crackers given he's not used to being around children...they drive me crackers, they're enough to drive anyone crackers I'm sure! :D

[djlongfella.livejournal.com]

Thank you all for your help, we still haven't found this boy a home and time is really running out. Unfortunatley there are many Akita's " in rescue " quite a few have ended up here over the years, and I have truley reaped the benefit of their amazing loyalty and unconditional love.

The Akita Inu, is in essence the wild dog of Japan, as the gene pool became small almost to extinction several breeding pairs were shipped off to the states, finland and one pair to the UK,
The UK now categorizes the breed in two parts, The Akita Inu, and the Japanese Akita. They are two very different looking dogs, but in essence share the same original gene pool.
The dogs were used for fighting hundreds of years ago, and were later trained to hold and bring down bears.
In ancient Japan it was a status symbol to own an Akita, and for many years only people of a " certain " standing were allowed to keep them.
Today the Akita is still considered a national treasure of Japan, and small efigy's of Akita's are given to young children as a good luck symbol.

I must admit in 20 years of having Akita's I have never seen one with the beutifull markins such as the one we are trying to find a home for.

As puppies they have cute fluffy ears and curly tails, and are unfortunatly purchased for that reason, they are NOT a first time dog to have, they are strong willed ( the packing instinct is very strong in them ) and the males can reach 10 stone in weight.

Having said that, once inside your Akita's mindset, you will never find a more devoted companion.

Again thanks for all your help with this one.

[dennyd.livejournal.com]

My pleasure - as I said, I really wish I could take him myself, he's absolutely beautiful. Somehow I don't think he'd be happy in a one-bedroom flat in central London though - my whole place is about the size of your kitchen, and the local park is smaller than your garden :)

I spoke to a guy at a party last night who is going to contact someone who might be interested. Bit tenuous, but I'll let you know if anything comes of it. Apparently his uncle has a smallhold in Devon, which would be handy if it does come through.

[djlongfella.livejournal.com]

If anything comes of it, can you give them my direct e mail addy, things are still " hostile " in these parts at the mo ( you wouldn't beleive ) so I don't visit LJ or M/space that often, so I might miss a post or something.
Cheers

[djlongfella.livejournal.com]

Thank you to all of Dennyd's friends who, have added comments both here and on my journal, thanks for your support, and help with information and links. You are great people.
Agsain thank you.
I will post if we manage to find a home for this boy before it's too late.

Chris

[djlongfella.livejournal.com]

On the black squirel note, there is a colony living in Southill Bedfordshire on the Whitbread estate that I visit quite offten, they occupy a certain area within the grounds and tend to keep mto just that area, they are Jet black and very shiny. Not sure if it's just the colour of the fur, but they appear to be longer coated than regular grey squirels.
The tales on this particular colony are certainly more bushy than the regular grey squirell and they seem to dominate the grey squirrel population living in close proximity, ( Not that I spend hours watching them when I'm meant to be working of course )

There is also documentation of them being on the Ashridge estate,( Aylesbury ) I have tried to photograph them on many occaisions, but they don't seem to want to hang around when I'm in the works truck .

[dennyd.livejournal.com]

Hah! The quote is from the introduction to a set of graphic novels I was re-reading recently... a spoof of 'the end of the world is nigh' kind of prophesying. I don't know whether to be amused or scared that it's apparently come true! :)