The AKC's own breed standard warns that Akitas 'may be intolerant of other dogs, particularly of the same sex' — that's not a rare temperament quirk, it's written into the official standard, and it's a major reason the breed is refused or surcharged by roughly 4 in 5 home-insurance breed-restriction lists.
11.4years, median
1.1 years below the all-dog median of 12.5.
Measured, not estimated: the middle age at death across 584,734 UK dogs, 284,734 of them deceased. Based on 6,186 dogs of this breed. 95% confidence interval 11.1 to 11.6 years. Half lived longer than this, half did not. UK dogs, so treat it as the best available figure rather than a promise about yours.
In the same study, large breeds as a group had a median of 11.9 years and medium-muzzled breeds 12.8. This breed is large and medium-muzzled.
McMillan et al. 2024, Scientific Reports 14:531 — open access · CC BY 4.0No VetCompass paper of its own yet, but the breed was one of 29 in a 2026 giant-breeds study.
In 2019, 2,901 Akitas were among 28,345 giant-breed dogs under veterinary care in the UK, 10.2% of that group. Median age at death for the breed was 11.3 years, from 74 deaths.
Across all 29 breeds pooled, 73.8% of the 4,316 dogs reviewed had at least one disorder recorded that year. The most common were Ear infection (otitis externa) 8.16%, Overweight or obese 8.02%, Aggression 5.56%. Pooled median age at death was 8.94 years (middle half 6.96 to 10.9). The paper gives no disorder figures for this breed on its own.
Health tests to ask the breeder for
Akita Club of America sets the tests a Akita needs for a CHIC number in the OFA's open database. A CHIC number means the tests were done and the results are public. It does not mean the dog passed them: ask for the results for both parents, or look them up yourself on ofa.org.
- Hip Dysplasia (OFA Evaluation or PennHIP Evaluation)
- Eye Examination by a boarded ACVO Ophthalmologist (OFA Companion Animal Eye Registry)
- Autoimmune Thyroiditis (thyroid panel with TgAA, OFA evaluation)
When to spay or neuter: the guidelines split at 45 pounds grown, five to six months under it and after growth is complete over it, and the UC Davis study gives a guideline by breed for 35 breeds. The spay and neuter page has both, and the two weeks after.
- Elbow Dysplasia (OFA Evaluation)
- Patellar Luxation (OFA Evaluation)
- Amelogenesis Imperfecta DNA test
Test names as the club lists them; checked September 2026. OFA CHIC breed page. How to use this at the breeder: check a breeder.
Adopt a Akita near you
Shelters and rescues list Akitas and Akita mixes on Petfinder. Enter a ZIP code to see who is waiting within 100 miles.
Listings come from Petfinder and open there. Petipedia does not take part in adoptions and earns nothing from them.
Living with a Akita
Akitas are dignified, independent, and bond deeply with their own family, but they are not naturally sociable with other dogs — early, continuous, expert-level socialization is essential, not optional, and many do best as the only pet in the household. Expect heavy, near-constant shedding with dramatic seasonal coat blows, a strong guardian instinct that makes them reserved or suspicious of strangers, and a breed that most homeowner's insurance policies specifically flag, exclude, or charge more for.
Health you should know about
- Hip dysplasia — malformed hip joints; a common orthopedic issue across large breeds, including the Akita.
- Sebaceous adenitis — an immune-mediated skin disease that destroys the glands producing skin oil, causing hair loss, scaling, and odor; the breed club lists it among the Akita's notable, if uncommon, conditions.
- Autoimmune and eye disease, including Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada-like syndrome and hypothyroidism — immune conditions that can affect skin, eyes, and metabolism.
- Gastric dilatation-volvulus (bloat) — a peer-reviewed veterinary study found roughly 9% prevalence in Akitas, among the higher rates of any breed studied.
Read the full Dog Care Guide first — costs, daily time, and everything a dog needs before you choose a breed.
Naming a Akita? Japanese dog and cat names, 79 of them, with what they mean.
Sources — 5 references
Last reviewed October 2026. 5 sources listed below. Written and maintained by Petdeals.io. General care information, not veterinary advice — for a sick animal, call a vet.