| Akita | Dalmatian | |
|---|---|---|
| Lifespan | 10-14 years | 13-16 years |
| Size | Large | Large |
| Weight | 70-130 lb | 45-70 lb |
| Energy | Moderate | Very high |
| Grooming | High | Low |
| Shedding | High | High |
| With kids | Not ideal for young kids | With supervision |
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.
Close to 3 in 10 Dalmatians are born with measurable hearing loss in one or both ears, and every single Dalmatian — not just the unlucky ones — has an abnormal uric-acid metabolism that requires a low-purine diet for life to head off painful, sometimes surgical, bladder and kidney stones; reputable breeders test and disclose both, casual sellers often mention neither.