1 kai, 2. dog kai or akita? Help

Brego_mellon_nin

Hi all.

I have a little dilemma, I hope you can help me with...

Thanks to Shigeru I am hopefully going to get an akatora kai pup from Japan, if we find one that's suitable. This is my biggest dog dream and I am SOOOO excited :oD

But my problem is, that I have also been a huge fan of the akitas for a long time, and have been approved by the best danish AA breeder. The thing is, that the first danish kai litter, is also due this winter if the breeding goes as planned, and I got a message from the AA breeder, that they are planning a breeding this winter, and I can have a pup, if they're showquality (I want to show). To sum it up, I have 2 breeders offering me a pup this winter, and I can only pick one, since I'm having a kai from Japan also, at some point (this is my high priority and is not negotiable). So what do I do?

On the one hand, is it better for a kai to have a kai "brother/sister" or is it irrelevant what breed the other dog is?

I love both breeds, and I have no idea if I should pick the AA pup or the kai as a companion for my futute akatora kai. With regards to price, the kai is actually a bit cheaper, and in the case of both the AAs and the kai, parents have been awarded great prize's and both have clear hips, elbows and eyes, and both breeders are sensible and is very aware of what they need to breed with to complement their own dogs. So in short, I have nothing to tip the scales over to favor one or the other...

What do you think?

BradA1878

Our Kai Ken do seem to play really well with their fellow Kai Ken (they seem to speak the same language), but they also love the other dogs too. I don't think you need to worry about pairing the breeds together, a Kai/Akita combo, especially if they are both young when introduced, would do fine IMHO.

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ayk

I think it may then depend on your long-term goals for both breeds? Do you envision yourself being a breeder for either?

Do you see a dog limit for yourself?

TheWalrus

I agree with Brad and Ann. My Kai is great with other dogs, but she does seem to play best with other Kai. She's finally sort of figured out the Kishu, and all three of them wrestle and all now. So wondering whether another Kai is better than an Akita from that standpoint wouldn't really worry me too much.

If I was trying to make the same decision I'd be thinking more along the lines of the questions posed by Ann. Thinking about where you want to go with your dogs over the next 15 or so years should help you with some perspective.

Pretty much everyone on the forum is nuts about dogs, and if we had our way I think most of us would be surrounded by them. Of course though we have to figure out what works best for us in our circumstances and with our limitations.

Brego_mellon_nin

Thanks for your inputs.

Ok so the difference in breed doesn't really pose a problem.

Actually Ann's questions helped a lot! As I am most likely importing a male akatora, it would make most sense to pick a female kai from the danish breeder, as I'd like to breed at some point. I love the akitas too, but I don't see any long term plans with them, other than maybe showing, but I can very well do that with my kais too, even though the judges don't always know what to do with them ;o)

But yes, if the dog-lover-side of me had it's way, I'd be totally surrounded by kai and akitas, but that'll have to wait ;o) Anyways I kinda prefer not to have too many, so I can give my full attention to every dog...

tjbart17

My kai play best with eachother. IMO I would not mix an American Akita with a kai because of size and temperment. If an AA corrected a kai a few times your kai could become scared of it. I may have a bias against AA's though. Not a fan.

Brego_mellon_nin

Tara, I have not yet met a bad behaved akita here in Denmark, but they are mostly same sex aggressive and I have told the breeder of the AA, that they can scratch me off the puppylist, I'll be having kais from now on. Can't wait! :oD

tjbart17

I wouldn't say that AA's behave badly. Just that I'm not too sure that my particular Kais would enjoy having them as housemates. Koda, my boy, is actually pretty freaked out by bigger dogs, including AA's and Malamutes. He sees no fun in trying to play with big fluffy dogs at the park. It may be because he wasn't raised with them. I just see them as having different playstyles. My female is the same when it comes to bigger dogs. Both just wouldn't enjoy the company all day long like they enjoy eachother. They really do "get" eachother.

My female Kai does not enjoy other females in her home. Not sure about other female Kais, but she had an incident with my friend's female Boxer, and teases my neighbors Australian Shepard. Everytime that dog walks in front of the house, Maymay jumps over the fence and steals the ball she carries in her mouth. She does it with a playful attitude, but it's a real bitch move.

Brego_mellon_nin

Okay, I just misunderstood then ;o)
I also have a german shepherd, so my kais will have to get used to big dogs... But I don't think that will be a problem, she's so sweet my GSD.

Wauw that is a little bitchy move, Maymay! Haha, what a personality... :oD