At Cheran Kennels, we've done our best to create a Web site that
anticipates and satisfies our readers needs. With that goal in mind,
we've compiled a faq section in hopes to educate everyone what a Neapolitan
Mastiff is all about. If you do not find an answer to your question
here, contact us at
0781 581 3397 or cheran@blueyonder.co.uk.
So which sex makes a
better pet? Click Here and see
Faq
Q. Are your puppies KC registered?
A. Yes, All Cheran Akita puppies come with KC papers
Q. Do your puppies come Microchipped and or health guarantee?
A. Yes, Cheran Akitas, Microchips all their puppies, as well all
have been checked out by our Vet and come with a health guarantee.
Q. Have any of your Akitas ever had any problems with their eyes?
A. No, All of our Akitas have clear eye test certificate.
Q. Can an Akita be let off a lead?
A. Akitas should not be let off a lean unless in a secure area.
An Akita can run for 17 miles at full speed without stopping, moany
suffer from deafness of recall at a stage of chasing a bird
Q. Are Akita's easily trained?
A. Akitas' are some of the most easily trained dogs there are. As
with any breed you need to be consistent and patient. Cheran is
always willing to help in any way after you take your puppy home.
We offer lifetime support for both you, your family and your new
fur baby.
Q. Are Akita's good with children?
A. Yes, if raised with children they are protective, loving and
loyal to their families. Our Akita puppies are raised and socialized
with children so are already on their way of being aware of children’s
antics and dispositions. Constantly cuddled and loved by children
from day 1 you will see a difference in our puppies straight away.
Q. Do you recommend crate training?
A. Yes, crate training is an excellent way to house train your new
puppy.
Q. Do you ship puppies out of the Uk
A. Yes, we ship puppies to various parts of the country. We are
very careful who we ship to and how we ship. There is a charge for
shipping. Puppies will only be held on a deposit system only.
Q. How can I reserve a puppy for an upcoming litter?
A. Email us at cheran@blueyonder.co.uk and we will be in contact
with you to explain our puppy reservation procedures.
Q. Will an Akita get along with a cat?
A. Our Akitas would not, however they have never been around a cat.
We have many puppies who live very happily alongside a household
cat, but the neighbours cat is a different story!
Q. I have one Akita that is a female, should I get another female
or male?
A. It is always best if you have one female to get a male and have
them spayed or neutered if you do not intend to breed. If purchasing
same sex dogs in this breed there is no guarantee they will get
along as they get older.
Q. When should I start training my Akita?
A. The day you take him/her home. We have already been working with
them here before they go to you, our puppies are on their way to
being paper trained, taught what proper behavior is and what no
means. Basic commands can be taught to an Akita from a very young
age.
Q. What colors of puppies do you have?
A. An Akita puppy can vary in colours from the time they are born
right up to the time they blow their first coat. At the moment we
have a Silver/Fawn and White female and a red/white female.
Q. There are still some questions that I have where can I contact
you?
A. I am always eager to help, you may go to our contact page and
I will do my best to help you with any questions you may have
AND MORE Facts...
The Akita is a Japanese breed. In his native country the Akita
has been declared a "national treasure." An Akita in a
home is believed to be a symbol of good health, prosperity and good
fortune. Helen Keller brought the first Akita to the United States
in 1937. The breed did not come again to American shores until after
WW2 when returning GIs brought Akitas to America. They are a wonderful,
magnificent breed but certainly not a dog for everyone.
Akitas are large, males can weigh over 100 pounds; they have great
body strength and willful temperaments, definitely not grandma's
dog! All puppies are cute, including Akita puppies, but before you
purchase a cuddly puppy that grows into a grizzly bear, read the
FACTS.
Akitas do not bark unless there is a good reason. When an Akita
is barking, pay attention. They are silent hunters who hunt low
to the ground without growls or noise, similar to cats.
Akitas may consider small animals as prey and hunt them. This includes
cats, rodents, birds, small wildlife and small dogs. Akitas can
be raised to accept animals in residence. Some adult Akitas can
even be trained to fit into a home where other animals are already
established. It is, however, imperative that the Akita be closely
watched around the other animals until you have established a peaceful
co-existence. Chickens, ducks and other birds are a meal for an
Akita, do not expect the dog to befriend fowl.
Akitas are natural guardians of the home and do not require any
training to turn them into guard dogs. When there is a reason to
protect family and property, your Akita will act to do so. Guests
welcome in your home when you are present will NOT be welcomed by
the Akita when you are not home. Your gates should be padlocked
to protect the Akita and any neighborhood children who may enter
your property.
Akitas are inherently aggressive towards other animals and for
this reason, they should not be allowed to run free or roam at will.
You can exercise your Akita off leash when you are in an area where
it's unlikely there will be much contact with other animals and
people.
Male Akitas show aggression toward other male dogs, and female
Akitas usually will not tolerate another female. Akitas can live
peacefully with a dog of the opposite sex, though some Akitas prefer
being an only dog!
Akitas can be food possessive. If you have other pets, you will
want to be certain the Akita is given its own food bowl or treat
well away from any other animals and that no other animal is allowed
near the Akita until the food is gone. It's common sense to keep
visiting children away from an Akita at dinnertime. Akitas not raised
with children are not always tolerant of small children. The Akita
should never be left alone with a child even if you are certain
you have a dog that adores all children. A large dog can accidentally
injure a child. Often, Akitas raised with children will tolerate
their own children but may not accept the neighborhood kids. As
a general rule it is wise not to leave an Akita or any large dog
alone with children under 12 years of age.
Akitas do not like to be teased and can respond by biting. Some
children are allowed to treat animals unkindly, a behavior that
often leads to cruelty to animals. These children should be kept
away from an Akita, whose large size and hunting instincts can endanger
the child's life.
Akitas consider eye contact a challenge and can react aggressively.
It is strongly advised NOT to get down on the Akitas level and close
to the dog's face unless you are well acquainted with the Akita.
These positions can and do trigger an aggressive response.
Akitas like to take charge--an inherited trait from their wolf
ancestry and may at some time, challenge you for the dominant position.
This behavior cannot be tolerated and a firm, consistent correction
should be your immediate response. Akitas with good temperament
accept discipline well--not beating, but intelligent discipline.
A good scruff shaking is an effective form of discipline for an
Akita. Frequently, a firm verbal command or quick choke chain correction
will get your point across.
Akitas should be obedience trained BY their owner and not sent
away to school like other breeds! A good obedience class will guarantee
you a firm bond with your dog and a well-behaved dog. Remember though,
Akitas are extremely intelligent and tend to get bored easily. They
learn quickly so short training periods are suggested. This keeps
the dog from becoming bored. Akitas are also very stubborn and when
the dog thinks it's a waste of time to "sit" or "stay"
one more time, he will simply walk away! Obedience training requires
patience!
Akitas may respond with aggression if treated harshly--do not hit
or kick any dog, that sort of behavior means YOU have lost control
of yourself and your dog.
Akitas are dogs and unlike human beings, dogs do not have the same
short-term memory as humans. Do not discipline your dog hours after
an incident--the dog will NOT associate the discipline with an incident,
which occurred earlier in the day. If you can see and catch your
dog getting into mischief, discipline should be firm and immediate
for it to be effective. For example, if you return from work and
find your Akita had been busily digging a hole, you should not discipline
the dog when it greets you since the dog will not associate the
discipline with a hole it may have worked on early that morning.
Do NOT call your Akita to you for discipline, that encourages the
dog to fear your presence and it will find ways to avoid you. The
"come" command is important and may someday be a life-saving
command for the dog. Do not jeopardize that safety factor. Each
time your Akita comes to your side, it should be rewarded.
Some Akitas are talkers! They may grunt, groan and mumble to entertain
themselves and you. This conversational verbalizing IS NOT growling
and should not be interpreted as a growl, which sounds quite different.
Akita "talking" is an endearing trait and should not frighten
you. After living with your dog, you will easily distinguish between
talking and growling.
Most Akitas enjoy carrying things around in their mouth, including
your wrist! They may take you by the wrist to lead you to the cookie
cupboard or to their lead. It is not an aggressive act; it is an
endearing trait. If their "mouthing" is annoying to you,
give them a job to do: allow your Akita to bring in the newspaper
or the mail. They love to do these types of jobs.
For such a large breed, with a reputation for aloofness, you may
be surprised to learn that Akitas are very sensitive and are adversely
affected by stress and/or changes in their environment. Stress can
be a trigger for autoimmune diseases in an Akita predisposed for
these diseases.
Akitas are very family-oriented and are not happy when kept apart
from the family. Akitas develop bizarre behavior patterns when raised
as an outside "yard dog." When left alone in a yard without
quality family interaction, the dog will regress in socialization
and boredom will cause destructive behavior. If you do not plan
on having your dog live inside your home, you should not seriously
consider an Akita for a pet.
Akitas are not hyperactive and fit into a sedentary household,
but optimum health requires that YOU and your Akita exercise regularly.
A dog left outside while you’re gone DOES NOT exercise it
sleeps until your return. If your lifestyle includes outdoor activities
like camping, hiking, swimming, or snow sports, Akitas adore being
part of these pastimes.
Akitas will live from 10-12 years with good care and proper nutrition.
Good nutrition for an Akita is an all-natural meat based food with
high quality protein, especially fish. The origin of the Akita is
Japan where rice, fish and sea plants are a diet staple and an ideal
diet for the Akita. They should be fed two meals daily. Dry food
should be soaked until it expands prior to feeding as Obesity is
dangerous for many health reasons but with Akitas, an overweight
dog is prone to knee problems that will require surgery. Akitas
suffer from gastric torsion, a life-threatening, sudden onset disorder
that is fatal if untreated. Know the symptoms--discuss gastric torsion
with your vet.
Hypothyroid disease affects 70% of the breed; however, it is treated
by twice daily hormone replacement therapy. A blood test, including
T3 and T4 thyroid levels will determine the existence of the condition.
The symptoms include skin and coat problems, sudden onset aggressive
behavior, itching, lethargy, musky odor, and many more. Before treating
skin conditions as allergies, have your vet check for sarcoptic
mange, sebaceous adenitis, and hypothyroid disease.
© 1990 B. Bouyet
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