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                   FCI-Standard N°255/  02. 04. 2001 / GB

 

                                            AKITA



ORIGIN : Japan.


DATE OF PUBLICATION OF THE ORIGINAL VALID STANDARD : 13.03.2001.

UTILIZATION : Companion dog.


CLASSIFICATION F.C.I. :   Group   5     Spitz and primitive type.

Section 5      Asian Spitz and related                  breeds.

Without working trial.


GENERAL APPEARANCE : Large-sized dog, sturdily built, well balanced and with much substance ; secondary sex characteristics strongly marked, with high nobility and dignity in modesty ; constitution tough.


IMPORTANT PROPORTIONS : The ratio of height at withers to length of body ( from the point of the shoulders to the point of the buttock) is 10 : 11, but the body is slightly longer in bitches than in dogs.


BEHAVIOUR AND TEMPERAMENT : The temperament is composed, faithful, docile and receptive.


HEAD


CRANIAL REGION :

Skull : The size is in proportion to the body.  The forehead is broad, with distinct furrow.  No wrinkle.

Stop : Defined.


FACIAL REGION :

Nose : Large and black. Slight and diffuse lack of pigment accepted in white dogs only, but black is always preferred.

Muzzle : Moderately long and strong with broad base, tapering but not pointed.  Nasal bridge straight.

Jaws/Teeth : Teeth strong with scissor bite.

Lips : Tight.

Cheeks : Moderately developed.

Eyes : Relatively small, almost triangular in shape due to the rising of the outer eye corner, set moderately apart, dark brown : the darker, the better.

Ears : Relatively small, thick, triangular, slightly rounded at tips, set moderately apart, pricked and inclining forward.


NECK : Thick and muscular, without dewlap, in balance with head.


BODY :

Back : Straight and strong.

Loin : Broad and muscular.

Chest : Deep, forechest well developed, ribs moderately well sprung.

Belly : Well drawn up.


TAIL : Set on high, thick, carried vigorously curled over back ; the tip nearly reaching hocks when let down.


LIMBS


FOREQUARTERS :

Shoulders : Moderately sloping and developed.

Elbows : Tight.

Forearms : Straight and heavy-boned.


HINDQUARTERS : Well developed, strong and moderately angulated.

FEET : Thick, round, arched and tight.


GAIT : Resilient and powerful movement.


COAT


HAIR : Outer coat harsh and straight, undercoat soft and dense ; the withers and the rump are covered with slightly longer hair ; the hair on tail is longer than on the rest of the body.


COLOUR : Red fawn, sesame (red fawn hairs with black tips), brindle and white.  All the above mentioned colours except white must have « urajiro ».

(Urajiro = whitish coat on the sides of the muzzle, on the cheeks, on the underside of jaw, neck, chest, body and tail and on the inside of the legs).

SIZE :

Height at the withers :   Dogs           : 67 cm,

bitches         : 61 cm.

There is a tolerance of 3 cm more or less.

FAULTS : Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree and its effect upon the health and welfare of the dog.

  • Bitchy dogs / doggy bitches.
  • Undershot or overshot mouth.
  • Missing teeth.
  • Blue or black spotted tongue.
  • Iris light in colour.
  • Short tail.
  • Shyness.


ELIMINATING FAULTS :

  • Aggresive or overly shy.
  • Ears not pricked.
  • Hanging tail.
  • Long hair (shaggy).
  • Black mask.
  • Markings on white ground.


Any dog clearly showing physical or behavioural abnormalities shall be disqualified.


N.B. : Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.