Rescued Akita Inu - Need your advice

edited February 2011 in General
Hello everybody! I am very new to this forum and hopefully will learn a lot from the all you knowledgeable members.

My hubby and I adopted a 5-year old Akita Inu from the dog shelter. She's got a really calm demeanor and a complete sweetheart. Whoever owned her before had to give her up when they moved overseas. Anyway, Mia's been home with us for a week now and granted that Akitas aren't the most dopey/playful dogs, I would say that she's really timid and shows low energy(?).

She was desexed before the adoption and the day we picked her up was when the vet removed the stitches. Besides the desexing, they also removed a benign mammary tumor. We walk her twice a day, leisurely early morning and at night. She's trained, knows the basic commands, walks next to us on the lead and generally doesn't get too excited over barking dogs. The only time there was a close encounter was with this friendly chubby Lab who after a little sniff suddenly showed fangs! My girl, though excited, didn't reciprocate the same reaction.

I have had the pleasure of staying with her during the day since I'm between jobs at the moment. She normally just sleeps all day (surprise, surprise!) inside the house but we do have a shed in the backyard for her to sleep at night. Once we get the doggie door installed, I'll make the laundry room extra comfy for her so she can choose if she wants to sleep inside or outside. I try to get her a little excited when I try to play with her outside. I was able to get her to chase a bouncing tennis ball, once or twice, with her tail wagging the first couple of days of having her but now, she just looks at it and I end up fetching the ball. LoL Anyway, I'm trying to understand why she's a bit sluggish. I don't know if this is her "personality" or if she's still just adjusting to us or if there's any other underlying medical reason. I did book an appointment with the vet next week as a check-up. I also noticed that she moves slowly when she tries to lie down on her tummy. As for food, she's not that interested in dry food until I add a bit of boiled chicken/rice. I'll have to see what I can do to make her eat a bit more. I also notice that even after a walk, I have to take her next to her water bowl and she would only take a couple of licks. She doesn't show any interest in toys and she's not really into treats. Heck, I don't really know what's she's into at this point... She's our first Akita and already consider her as part of the family... I don't know if she sees us as the same.

Sorry for the long and winding details. I just want to give a clear picture of what I'm dealing with. I have read in other threads that sometimes these type of breeds take time to get close to their new family and perhaps I'm being overly anxious about her.

Any advice for an Akita novice is very much appreciated.

Comments

  • edited February 2011
    Give Mia some time to adjust. She has been thru a lot - loss of first family, spaying, the shelter experience. It takes a dog time to become accustomed to things and dogs do suffer from depression, just as people do. If the low energy persists, take her to the vet and make sure that she doesn't have something going on medically. (A post spay infection comes to mind. )

    (I have Shibas, so I hope some of the Akita folks will chime in on this one.)
  • Akita can take a bit of time to adjust, they form a deep bond with their owners. I think that's what you are experiencing now. Give her time.

    As for health, 75% of Akita have thyroid issues, you may want to have her thyroid tested. A thyroid issues can cause a dog to be lethargic.

    ----
  • edited February 2011
    I think it's too early to tell how she'll be--she hasn't been with you long, and she's just had two surgeries! She may be in pain, esp. while lying down.

    Be patient with her--you'll find out more about her in the coming months. but also, Brad is right, thyroid issues are super common in this breed, so you might want to check that.

    eta: oh, and lots of people think Akitas aren't that interested in balls. I don't know--my boy LOVES to play fetch (but he's super toy-motivated), and the Akita girl I had years ago also liked it, but I understand not all of them do....My Shibas are supremely indifferent to balls!
  • Thanks so much for the replies.

    I will give her time to adjust... I have had uber-friendly dogs in the past and Mia's definitely a puzzle to me. She would always have her head down, unsure eyes walking around in the house... Makes my heart ache. I guess I just long to see that happy glint in her eyes.

    I will ask the vet about a Thyroid test, thanks!
  • I just had another thought about Mia. Most shelters have "intake" forms that are completed by owners if they surrender their dogs. These forms provide shelter staff with info to help place dogs. See if the shelter has the intake form for Mei -- maybe it can provide you with some clues as to her background and what she is familiar with. Just a thought.
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