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What might we expect from our puppy when we get it home?
How early should we start puppy training?
How often should we bathe our Akita puppy?
Is there anything we need to know about finding a veterinarian?
When should our Akita be spayed/neutered?
Should I give our Akita a heartworm preventive?
How much should we feed our Akita?
What sort of medical problems will our Akita face?
What might you expect from your puppy when you get it home?
First of all, he/she will be stressed from simple fact of leaving the littermates. When your Chateau Akita left us, he/she was crate-trained – able to “hold it” during the night. But they are used to getting up early, sometimes as early as 6 a.m., so be aware that sleeping late may not be an option if you want a dry crate.
How early should we start puppy training?
Your puppy should start Puppy Kindergarten right away. We strongly encourage you to find a class situation where the trainer is familiar with Akitas. If you even sense a hesitation, find another school and/or trainer. We may have a list of trainers in your area, so ask us to check our directory.
After you finish Puppy Kindergarten, get your dog into whatever basic obedience classes are available to you. Your dog needs the socialization and positive experiences with other dogs and humans. The money you spend on classes for your dog are an investment in the quality time and enjoyment of your relationship with your Akita.
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How often should we bathe our dog?
As a rule, Akitas do not need to be bathed as frequently as other breeds. In fact, too much bathing can dry out the coat and give you problems. Unless the dog has gotten into some serious filth of whatever sort, try to hold off bathing to once a month or longer.
Keep an eye on the nails. Clip the tips off at least weekly. Start early with your regular toenail clippers and make the experience a pleasant one. Always play with your dog’s feet, starting now as a puppy. You never want your dog to be fearful of nail trimming, because vets charge lots of money to anesthetize your dog to do the nails if he/she is too unruly.
Is there anything we need to know about finding a veterinarian?
You’ll need to schedule your puppy for vaccinations. When your puppy left us, we gave you a list of the vaccinations and a health certificate from our local vet. But you need to find a veterinarian right away. When you interview the potential vet, ask about their experience with Akitas. Again, if you sense any hesitation, find another vet. Many of them are afraid of the Akita breed in general. Your dog will be unhappy and going to the vet will be a generally unpleasant experience if you don’t have a good vet who appreciates and respects the Akita breed.
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When should your dog be spayed/neutered?
We recommend your puppy be old enough to have gone through puberty. There are a lot of veterinarians who are preaching early spay/neuter. There is no need to be in a hurry, because behavior problems sometimes manifest themselves within a dog that has been spayed/neutered too early. We like to see the hormones of puberty stabilized before “the operation.”
Should I give my dog a heartworm preventive?
Yes, if you live in an area where mosquitos are a problem, you need to protect the dog. Be careful, though, about starting too young. Check with your vet about what product will be the best for your dog. We recommend Interceptor.
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How much should I feed my dog?
Always read the label on the Eukanuba bag. The puppy will require two meals a day, but he/she should be fed at a time that is convenient for you. When feeding time is over, pick up the bowl until next mealtime. Do not leave food out at all times.
Your puppy should continue the diet of Eukanuba Large Breed Puppy until he/she is about two years old. Your veterinarian may suggest another feeding regimen, but as breeders, we have the experience with this breed. Your Chateau Akita takes a while to mature and needs the good nutrition that is provided with Eukanuba Large Breed Puppy.
If your dog shows any aggression around his/her food, intervene immediately. You may want to hand feed until the aggression problem is handled. You must always be able to take something out of your dog’s mouth, even when he/she weighs five times as much as he/she weighs now.
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What sort of medical problems will the Akita face?
The philosophy at Chateau Akitas is to breed only dogs that are sound and conformationally correct. We are members of the Akita Club of America and believe in its code of ethics. Therefore, no dog will be bred at less than two years of age, and all of them will be certified by the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA). This is the best assurance we can provide that hip dysplasia will not be a problem.
However, there are incidences in everyone’s kennel of a rare occurrence. As stated in our contract, if your veterinarian says the dog has hip dysplasia that is hereditary, we will replace that dog when you are ready for a replacement. However, we will want to get a second opinion from our vet. There are some instances, where the environment caused the problem, not heredity.
There is also a problem in the Akita breed of Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA). This is an eye problem that manifests itself as blindness as the dog gets to a certain age. Once again, we get our dogs’ eyes checked and have the paperwork proof in our files for all breeding stock at Chateau Akitas.
We at Chateau Akitas are always available to answer any additional questions not covered here - please call us first - 831-419-7731.
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