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Head
Massive but in balance with body; free of 4.___________when
at ease. Skull flat between ears and broad; 5.__________broad
and powerful with minimal dewlap. Head forms a blunt triangle
when viewed from above. Fault--Narrow or 6.____________head.
Muzzle--Broad and full. Distance from nose to stop
is to distance from stop to occiput as 2 is to 3. Stop--Well
defined, but not too abrupt. A shallow furrow extends well up
forehead. Nose--Broad and black. Black noses on white
Akitas preferred, but a lighter colored nose with or without
shading of black or gray tone is acceptable. Disqualification--
partial or total lack of pigmentation on the 7._____________.
Ears--The ears of the Akita are characteristic of the
breed. They are strongly erect and small in relation to rest
of head. If ear is folded forward for measuring length, tip
will touch upper eye rim. Ears are triangular, slightly 8.__________at
tip, wide at base, set wide on head but not too low, and carried
slightly forward over eyes in line with back of neck. Disqualification--Drop
or 9._________ears. Eyes--Dark brown, small, deep-set
and triangular in shape. Eye rims black and tight. Lips
and Tongue--Lips black and not pendulous; tongue pink.
Teeth--Strong with scissors bite preferred, but level
bite acceptable. Disqualification--
undershot or overshot.
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Neck and Body
Neck--Thick and muscular; comparatively 10._____________,
widening gradually toward shoulders. A pronounced crest blends
in with base of skull.
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Body
Longer than high, as to 10 is
to 9 in males; 11 to11.______________in bitches. Measurement
from the point of the sternum to the point of 12.______________.
Chest wide and deep; reaching down to the elbow, the depth of
the body at the elbow equals half the height of the dog at the
withers. Ribs well 13.______________, brisket well developed.
Level back with firmly-muscled loin and 14._____________tuck-up.
Skin pliant but not loose. Serious Faults--15.________________,
rangy body.
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Tail
Large and full, set high and carried over back or against
flank in a three-quarter, full, or double curl, always dipping
to or below level of back. On a three-quarter curl, tip drops
well down flank. Root large and strong. Tail bone reaches 16.__________________when
let down. Hair coarse, straight and full, with no appearance
of a plume. Disqualification--Sickle or uncurled tail.
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Forequarters and Hindquarters
Forequarters--Shoulders strong and powerful with
moderate 17.______________________. Forelegs heavy-boned and
straight as viewed from front. Angle of pastern 15 degrees forward
from vertical. Faults--18.______________ in or out,
loose shoulders. Hindquarters--Width, muscular development
and bone comparable to forequarters. Upper thighs well developed.
Stifle moderately bent and 19.__________well let down, turning
neither in nor out. Dewclaws--On front legs generally
not removed; dewclaws on hind legs generally removed. Feet--Cat
feet, well knuckled up with thick pads. Feet straight ahead.
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Coat
Double-coated. Undercoat thick, soft, dense and shorter
than outer coat. Outer coat straight, harsh and standing somewhat
off body. Hair on head, legs and ears short. Length of hair
at withers and rump approximately two inches, which is 20._____________longer
than on rest of body, except tail, where coat is longest and
most profuse. Fault--Any indication of ruff or feathering.
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Color
Any color including white; brindle; or pinto. Colors are
rich, brilliant and clear. Markings are well balanced, with
or without mask or blaze. White Akitas have no mask. Pinto has
a white background with large, evenly placed patches covering
head and more than one-third of body. Undercoat may be a different
21.________________from outer coat.
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Gait
Brisk and powerful with strides of moderate 22._______________.
Back remains strong, firm and level. Rear legs move in line
with front legs.
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Size
Males 26 to 28 inches at the withers; bitches 24 to 26 inches.
Disqualification--dogs under 25 inches;
bitches under 23 inches.
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Temperament
Alert and 23.______________, dignified and courageous. Akitas
may be intolerant of other 24._____________, particularly of
the same sex.
Disqualifications
Partial or total lack of
25._____________on nose.
Drop or broken ears.
Undershot or overshot.
26.____________or uncurled tail.
Dogs under 25 inches; bitches under 23 inches.
Approved May 12, 2009
Effective July 1, 2009
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