Michael/Vanessa - Interesting question on what I would do differently, Ill get to that after the size. Kuma is now 33Kg (72,75 lbs). I haven't measured him in a while, but he should be around 65/66 cm to the withers. He's not very big, I wouldn't mind if he was a bit bigger, but he's fine like that. He's 21 months right now, going to be 2 years in January.
About what I'd do differently, I have to say there isn't a great deal. To start with, I would leave him longer at the breeder with his Mom and the other dogs. I got him at 8 weeks, I would do it at 12 if I had to do it again. That makes a good difference in socialization and like that he'd have come fully vaccinated, and ready to start "My" socialization routine and potty breaking without worrying about him getting something from the street so much. It was the hardest period for us, to get him potty trained, not because he was difficult, but I was kind of afraid to get him out, even because he had a little set back with his vaccines, so it took him a bit longer to be able to go outside fully protected. When I started taking him out just to potty, he was already used to doing his stuff in the house, so it took a while, but he managed it in a bit over 2 weeks of a very strict schedule (every 45 minutes, or after a meal or a nap or a play session we'd go out) to be able to hold it enough not to be a walking leaky thing :-P. By a little less that 5 months he was holding it all night. Another thing is I would have started to add the wet cat food to his kibble earlier. I know it's spoiling him , but it works, he eats much better now that we had a teaspoon of it to the kibble. He used to be very finicky about eating. Other than that, I can't think of anything really important. I think we started training early enough (he was a little over 3 months, as soon as he was fully vaccinated), he had good food from the start, got a solid socialization (it's never enough, but it was as good as we good give him), and came from a good breeder. I think those are a very good foundation for a healthy dog. Then you had loads of love and good care (I think we can say we do that) and a lot of patience (I think I could have had more of that at times).
But, ultimately, I think I was damn lucky with him. He's really a great dog.
On the subject of Kuma possibly being too aggressive or something, I still can find evidence of it. He's met a few new dogs, and as far as they are polite with him, he does great. The ones he's known all his life are allowed to be less polite (like the Terrier that lives in the next building that always makes a fuss. Kuma doesn't even acknowledge him). Today we met a man with his dog we hadn't seen in ages. Kuma likes this guy because he always carries a stick that Kuma likes to nibble on and the old man lets him. With the man, there was a woman with her own dog. Kume is generally OK with this dog, although he snapped at him once (it was provoked). So Kuma was biting the stick as he likes to (it's like saying hello to the man) and the other dog comes to sniff it and try to mouth it too, Kuma gave him a "back off" growl and the other dog tried to growl over that. It was an instant snap, Kuma just took it to the next level instantly. Of course they were both leashed so nothing happened other than the other dog barking like mad and Kuma growling at him like the devil was in his belly.
Now I don't see anything weird here. Kuma is an Akita, let's not forget that. He's tolerant at times, but this was "his" stick and he did warn the other dog. The dog thought Kuma was bluffing but he quickly found out he was not.
What do you guys think? Any different reading than mine?
Thanks for the reply. Appreciate you sharing your experience.
Initially we wanted to wait till she's 12 weeks too. We got Aki at 10 weeks because we wanted to see her puppy phase more. I agree with you that I would leave the puppy longer for both socializing and house training purpose.
Never knew that wet cat food to kibbles trick.
I was just wondering what is the average size and weight of Japanese Akitas.
I'm glad to know that Kuma is a great companion to you. We hope to raise ours the best we know to be a great companion too.
Thanks for the reply. Appreciate you sharing your experience.
Initially we wanted to wait till she's 12 weeks too. We got Aki at 10 weeks because we wanted to see her puppy phase more. I agree with you that I would leave the puppy longer for both socializing and house training purpose.
Never knew that wet cat food to kibbles trick.
I was just wondering what is the average size and weight of Japanese Akitas.
I'm glad to know that Kuma is a great companion to you. We hope to raise ours the best we know to be a great companion too.
Rui: While I am not an Akita owner (or a dog, for that matter), I think I can understand what Kuma was "thinking" about the stick and his good friend, the man with the stick. So his "growling" and the other earlier "back-off" messages seem perfectly natural to expect, and OK in my view. The other part of this is that things were well-controlled because you and the other dog's owner were in control of your dogs. Of course, it would be interesting to know the outcome, had you not had them leashed. I would guess mostly some jockeying for position of the in-charge dog through barking, growling, etc., maybe some rushing at each other; and eventually one or the other would have claimed the stick without damage to the other doggie...
Kuma seems to be getting more and more beautiful as time goes on. Haven't read this thread in awhile, but congrats on the dog show wins, and thanks for sharing the pics of your dog, and the beautiful scenery of your country....
I had a lot of catching up to do on this thread. Kuma has really matured a lot since I last saw this. He's so handsome! And it sounds like he's showing really well too!
That second to last photo of Nyx is hilarious. You need to lol cat that one. :-)
Thanks guys!! It hasn't been an easy day, but I've been home for a while and they already had their birthday dinner, with some tuna. They were happy :-) Now Kuma is sleeping and Nyx is going around meowing at shadows.
Dave - yeah, I do need to make a new video. Maybe for the second anniversary of the week they got here. (I saw this one a few times today, and it still rocks, if I can say so :-P)
Man January must have been really hectic for me. I missed out on this thread too. Happy Belated BDay Kuma & Nyx. My favorite dynamic duo! Kuma looks like such a grown up man. He's a fabulous looking Akita.
Comments
How old is Kuma now?
What is his height and weight?
If you would raise any Akita over again, what would you do differently?
Michael/Vanessa - Interesting question on what I would do differently, Ill get to that after the size. Kuma is now 33Kg (72,75 lbs). I haven't measured him in a while, but he should be around 65/66 cm to the withers. He's not very big, I wouldn't mind if he was a bit bigger, but he's fine like that. He's 21 months right now, going to be 2 years in January.
About what I'd do differently, I have to say there isn't a great deal. To start with, I would leave him longer at the breeder with his Mom and the other dogs. I got him at 8 weeks, I would do it at 12 if I had to do it again. That makes a good difference in socialization and like that he'd have come fully vaccinated, and ready to start "My" socialization routine and potty breaking without worrying about him getting something from the street so much. It was the hardest period for us, to get him potty trained, not because he was difficult, but I was kind of afraid to get him out, even because he had a little set back with his vaccines, so it took him a bit longer to be able to go outside fully protected. When I started taking him out just to potty, he was already used to doing his stuff in the house, so it took a while, but he managed it in a bit over 2 weeks of a very strict schedule (every 45 minutes, or after a meal or a nap or a play session we'd go out) to be able to hold it enough not to be a walking leaky thing :-P. By a little less that 5 months he was holding it all night.
Another thing is I would have started to add the wet cat food to his kibble earlier. I know it's spoiling him , but it works, he eats much better now that we had a teaspoon of it to the kibble. He used to be very finicky about eating.
Other than that, I can't think of anything really important. I think we started training early enough (he was a little over 3 months, as soon as he was fully vaccinated), he had good food from the start, got a solid socialization (it's never enough, but it was as good as we good give him), and came from a good breeder. I think those are a very good foundation for a healthy dog. Then you had loads of love and good care (I think we can say we do that) and a lot of patience (I think I could have had more of that at times).
But, ultimately, I think I was damn lucky with him. He's really a great dog.
Today we met a man with his dog we hadn't seen in ages. Kuma likes this guy because he always carries a stick that Kuma likes to nibble on and the old man lets him. With the man, there was a woman with her own dog. Kume is generally OK with this dog, although he snapped at him once (it was provoked). So Kuma was biting the stick as he likes to (it's like saying hello to the man) and the other dog comes to sniff it and try to mouth it too, Kuma gave him a "back off" growl and the other dog tried to growl over that. It was an instant snap, Kuma just took it to the next level instantly. Of course they were both leashed so nothing happened other than the other dog barking like mad and Kuma growling at him like the devil was in his belly.
Now I don't see anything weird here. Kuma is an Akita, let's not forget that. He's tolerant at times, but this was "his" stick and he did warn the other dog. The dog thought Kuma was bluffing but he quickly found out he was not.
What do you guys think? Any different reading than mine?
Thanks for the reply. Appreciate you sharing your experience.
Initially we wanted to wait till she's 12 weeks too. We got Aki at 10 weeks because we wanted to see her puppy phase more. I agree with you that I would leave the puppy longer for both socializing and house training purpose.
Never knew that wet cat food to kibbles trick.
I was just wondering what is the average size and weight of Japanese Akitas.
I'm glad to know that Kuma is a great companion to you. We hope to raise ours the best we know to be a great companion too.
Thanks for the reply. Appreciate you sharing your experience.
Initially we wanted to wait till she's 12 weeks too. We got Aki at 10 weeks because we wanted to see her puppy phase more. I agree with you that I would leave the puppy longer for both socializing and house training purpose.
Never knew that wet cat food to kibbles trick.
I was just wondering what is the average size and weight of Japanese Akitas.
I'm glad to know that Kuma is a great companion to you. We hope to raise ours the best we know to be a great companion too.
Kuma seems to be getting more and more beautiful as time goes on. Haven't read this thread in awhile, but congrats on the dog show wins, and thanks for sharing the pics of your dog, and the beautiful scenery of your country....
That second to last photo of Nyx is hilarious. You need to lol cat that one. :-)
I like the Nyx licking her paw too. Adorable!
It seems like it was yesterday that they were like this
This photo is memorable, lol
This is when Nyx left it clear the outside world wasn't worthy of her :-)
Nyx got spayed at 6 months (this is still my desktop picture)
Hilarious
Quick now and then for both of them
I didn't make a video this year, but imagine this one says "Happy 2nd birthday" :-P
It's been a great couple of years since we started waiting to get them until now :-)
Thanks for following
Happy Birthday kids!
you two are wonderful!
Happy Birthday Kuma and Nyx!
----
Happy B-Day Kuma & Nyx! ~
You need to make a new video dude. :-P
It hasn't been an easy day, but I've been home for a while and they already had their birthday dinner, with some tuna. They were happy :-)
Now Kuma is sleeping and Nyx is going around meowing at shadows.
Dave - yeah, I do need to make a new video. Maybe for the second anniversary of the week they got here. (I saw this one a few times today, and it still rocks, if I can say so :-P)
The pics are absolutely adorable!
Happy Birthday Kuma & Nyx!!! :-D