THE OLD AKIKYO DOG (Akita) STANDARD
(Adopted March 20, 1949)

"Akitainu Hyojun Seitei to Genzai made no Keika, Akitainu Kyokai (Akikyo)" ("The Establishment of the Akita Dog Standard and Its Update, Akikyo"
Translation by Tatsuo Kimura

REVISED AKIKYO AKITA DOG STANDARD
(ADOPTED DECEMBER 10, 1954)

Akitainu Kyokai Shokiteishu (Akikyo Bylaws) & "Akitainu Hyojun Seitei to Genzai made no Keika, Akitainu Kyokai (Akikyo)" *
Translation by Tatsuo Kimura

REVISED AKIKYO AKITA DOG STANDARD
(Adopted June 1, 1989)

"Revised Akikyo Akita Dog Standard", Kokken Akitainu (Akikyo Bulletin)
Translation by Tatsuo Kimura

* "The old Akikyo Akita Dog Standard and Akita dog standards of other organizations were brief, and the tendency was to produce undesirable dogs resembling dogs of other breeds.
The present standard was the result of having as our goal, the reappearance of the old classical Akita dog by continuous intensive studies from which one should not wander. We earnestly hope that others will also heed to this earnest appeal of the Akikyo dog organization to produce the Akita dog-like Akita dogs which are the living cultural assets rich in classically simple features."²
Katsusuke Ishihara, Managing Director, Akitainu Kyokai (Akikyo)

ESSENTIAL QUALITIES
Strength and calmness with much kan-i (much spirit, great will, strong character, courage and composure) and pristinely features should be clearly apparent.

ESSENTIAL QUALITIES
Strength, calmness, dignity, with much kan-i (much spirit, great will, strong character, courage and composure) , with clear pristinely features. Keen, discriminatory, affectionate, friendly and yet domineering at times.

ESSENTIAL QUALITIES
Strength, calmness, endowed with dignity with pristine features, benign character, admirable keen senses, discriminatory, affectionate, obedient loyal, and overpowering characteristics.

GENERAL APPEARANCE

Much bone with correct structure; very muscular with resiliency. Desirable balance of structure with proper coat, composure and dignity. In the male, height: body length ratio of 100:110. Shoulder height is 2 shaku 1 sun (63.6 cm, approximately 25.1 inches) or greater. In the female, height is 1 shaku 9 sun (57.6 cm, approximately 22.7 inches) or greater. Somewhat longer female body length.

GENERAL APPEARANCE AND STRUCTURE
Distinct sexual features of male and female. Balance of structure with abundant bone, firm muscles tendon and ligaments abounding in resilience, covered by skin, with distinctive features of the breed. Composure, dignity, agility, nimbleness rapid adaptability to changes to stand firm on the ground to manifest power when necessary.
Height for male: 2 shaku 1 sun (63.6 cm, approximately 25.05 inches) or greater; height: body length ratio - 100:110. Height of female: 2 shaku (60.6 cm, approximately 23.9 inches); body length is slightly longer, allowable to 100:120, for pregnancy. Ideal height: chest depth ratio = 2:1.

Male and female are clearly distinguishable. Balance of structure with excellent bone and volume, revealing distinctive features of the dog breed. Well-developed tightly built frame with the proper amount of muscle volume and no loose skin. Much resilience. Conduct of composure and dignity, shrewdness, nimbleness, freely demonstrating this ability to rapid changes to stand firm on all four legs when necessary. The male height is 63.5 cm, (approximately 25 inches). The female height is 57.5 cm (approximately 22.6 inches). The height: body length ratio in the male is 100:110, while that of the female is up to 100:120. The ideal height: chest depth ratio is 2:1.

HEAD
Magnificent wide forehead. Properly attached and well-developed skull and jaw.

HEAD AND CHEEKS
Magnificent head with much bone and muscles areas covered by tight skin with a slight longitudinal crease and stop.
Well developed cheeks, skull and lower jaw bones with much muscle. Full cheeks.

HEAD AND CREEKS
Abundant bone in the head region is in balance with the body covered by skin with no looseness. The large head has a slight longitudinal crease in the forehead with the proper amount of stop. The cheeks are moderately full. The ratio of the distance between the occiput and the stop is 6, while the distance from the stop to the tip of the nose is 4. Imaginary lines of the forehead and the bridge of the nose should be parallel.

EARS
Triangular, sloped somewhat forward and erect.

EARS
Triangular from frontal view. Slightly blunt ear tips with no curled appearance. Slightly inclined forward when viewed from the side and erect. Properly short and thick appearance. Wide space between left and right ear bases at top of head.

EARS
Triangular from the frontal view. Thick appearance with slightly blunted ear tips. Ear lines should not be disturbed. Erect with slight forward incline with proper width between the ears located on the top of the head.

EYES
Deeply set eyeballs. Somewhat triangular and thick eyelids. Dark brown iris.

EYES
Proper distance between eyes which are somewhat triangular with deeply set eyeballs in eye sockets. Upper and lower eyelids appear thick. Straight lower eyelid. Dark brown iris with black tinge.

EYES
Proper distance between the eyes which are somewhat triangular with deeply set eyeballs in eye sockets. The upper and lower eyelids appear thick, while the lower eyelid is straight. Outer corner of the eye is slight elevated. Dark brown iris with black tinge.

MUZZLE AND NOSE
Proper width. Straight bridge of nose. Tapered muzzle. Black, glossy and moist nose. Lips of proper thickness with no looseness.

MUZZLE AND NOSE
Muzzle and cheek taper toward the tip of nose, when viewed from above. From the side view, the bridge of the nose is straight and the muzzle gradually tapers off. The nose is firm, black, glossy and moist. The thick appearing lips are not loose and tightly drawn.

MUZZLE AND NOSE
The bridge of the nose is straight. The muzzle tapers to a blunt tip. The nose is full, black glossy and moist. The tip of the muzzle has moderate thickness. Lips are without looseness and drawn tight.

ORAL CAVITY AND TEETH
Proper amount of area in oral cavity.
Proper occlusion, normal occlusion (level bite), in robust health.

ORAL CAVITY AND TEETH
The oral cavity has the proper amount of area. In robust health, the teeth have proper occlusion, normal occlusion (level bite).

ORAL CAVITY AND TEETH
The oral cavity has the proper amount of area. Correct number of teeth with proper occlusion, normal occlusion (level bite).

NECK
Strong and muscular with proper angle. in balance with body. Length of robust neck in balance with body.

NECK
Firm, strong and moderately thick with proper union of frame as the center, abounding in muscles covered by skin that is not loose, with increasing sturdiness and thickness from the head to the upper arm with proper joints and angle.

NECK
Moderately thick with proper union of frame with firm abundant muscles, no loose skin. Sturdy and robust standing neck. A 45 to 50 degree angle from the side view is suitable.

BACK AND HIPS
Strong appearing back. Strong hips desirable.

BACK AND HIPS
The withers has a slight protuberance. Proper union of the thoracic vertebrae, lumbar vertebrae and sacrum as the center of the back bones covered by muscles, tendons and ligaments keep the back straight and powerful. The lumbar vertebrae are joined properly to the pelvic bone covered by powerful muscles and tendons, giving rise to powerful hips. The anus is drawn in deeply and contracted with a large oval outer circumference with no fur.

BACK AND HIPS
The withers have a slight protuberance. Straight and powerful back with proper union of the bones with muscles, tendons and ligaments. The oval shaped anus is contracted and drawn in deeply and has an outer hairless circumference.

CHEST AND ABDOMEN
Well-developed chest with proper width and expansion. Properly tucked up abdomen. Boat bottom shaped lower chest and abdomen.

CHEST AND ABDOMEN
Deep and wide front chest with wedge and oval shaped properly expanded ribs. Lower chest extends to the rear. Properly tucked up abdomen. Boat bottom shaped from lower chest to abdomen.

CHEST AND ABDOMEN
Deep and widely developed forechest. The ribs are wedge and oval shaped to the proper degree. Boat bottom shape from the lower chest to abdomen when viewed from the side.

FORELEGS
Correct shoulder blade angulation and upper arm joint with abundance of muscles. Pliability extends from forearm to pastern. Tight grip on paw.

FORELEGS
Proper angulation of shoulder blade and upper arms. Elbows and forearms attached to abundant muscles and sinews with resilience and tenacity. The upper arm width decreases as the pastern is approached and is vertical to the ground. The pastern protrudes slightly forward of the vertical line when standing. The paws are thick and tightly gripped.

FORELEGS
Abundant muscles with resilience and tenacity. The shoulder blade and upper arm have proper angulation. The elbow is well attached. The straight upper arm width decreases as the pastern is approached. The pastern is slightly forward of the vertical line. The paws are thick and tightly gripped.

HIND LEGS
Very muscular thigh. Properly angulated tibia perpendicular below hocks when standing. Tread between hind legs slightly wider than tread of forelegs. Thick paw with tight grip.

HIND LEGS
The hip bone (innominate bone) is connected to the thigh bone (femur) with abundant resilient muscles and sinews. The femur is connected to the shinbone (tibia) at the proper angle. The tibia with adequate muscles is drawn slightly rearward and is springy. The hocks have a distinct angle. The area from the hocks to pasterns are also muscular and perpendicular to the ground in standing position. Proper spacing between the left and right powerful hocks is slightly wider than the space between the forelegs. The paw is thick with a tight grip.

HIND LEGS
The bones are properly connected at the joints, covered by abundant firm muscles, and possessing resiliency. The hocks have a distinct angle. The leg below the hock is vertical to the ground. The rear tread is slightly wider than those of the foreleg. The paw is thick with a tight grip.

TAIL
Thick and curled. Tip reaches hock. Left curl, right curl, curl over back, and loose curl are acceptable.

TAIL
Thick and powerfully curled. Tip of tail touches the hock. Type of curl include left, right, curl above back and loose curl.

TAIL
Thick powerful curl. The tail length does not exceed the hock. Types of curl are left, right and curl over the back.

COAT
Straight and coarse outer coat. Fluffy undercoat. Distinct two coats seen as stiff coat stands amidst soft luxuriant coat. Neck coat somewhat longer than body coat. Tail coat, with round mold and less stiffness, somewhat longer, more luxuriant than neck coat.

COAT
Coarse and straight outer coat. Fluffy, soft, luxuriant and distinct undercoat. Neck coat slightly longer than body coat. Tail coat much longer than neck coat, luxuriant and in a round mold.

COAT
Coarse straight outer coat and the soft coat (cotton coat) are blended so that the stiff outer coat clearly stands out amidst the soft undercoat. The neck coat is slightly longer than the body coat. The tail coat is somewhat longer than the neck coat and has a round mold with minimum unfolding of the fur.

COLORS
Black, fox red, sesame (goma), black brindle, fox (yellow red) and white.

COLORS
Black, fox red, sesame (goma) , black brindle, fox (yellow red) and white.

COAT COLOR
Red, white, black, goma (sesame) and brindle of five colors.

MOVEMENT
Correct, impressive gait with proper center of gravity, stability and minimum pitching of body. Much composure, dignity, agility and adaptability.

MOVEMENT
Correct impressive gait with proper center of gravity and stability with minimum pitching of the body. Abundance of composure, dignity, agility and adaptability to changes.

MOVEMENT
Correct impressive gait with proper center of gravity and stability with minimum pitching of body. Abundance of composure, dignity, agility and adaptability to changes.

MINOR FAULTS
1. Acquired injuries, malnutrition, and poor care.
2. Weak back and hips with concave (swayed) or convex (roach)
3. Colors unbecoming of an Akita dog and resembling other breeds. e.g. light red, pinto, yellow brindle are acceptable, but (not) red brindle, dark brown, dark brown goma (wheat red, chestnut red). Black coat on back interpreted as a color of another dog breed.
6. Lack of balance between tail coat and body. Tail with more than double curl or with lack of curl.
7. Underdeveloped or one undescended testicle.
8. Frivolous, ferocious or frightened dogs.

MINOR FAULTS
1. Acquired injuries, malnutrition and poor care.
2. Weak back and hips with convex and sway back.
3. Colors unbecoming of an Akita dog and resembling other breeds.
4. Very light eye color not suitable to body color. Round eyes.
5. Irregular teeth with undershot or overshot jaws. Missing teeth.

6. Loose curl. Lack of balance between tail coat and body. Tail with more than double curl or lack of curl since birth.
7. Underdeveloped or undescended testicle(s).
8. Frivolous, ferocious or frightened dogs.

DISQUALIFICATIONS
1. Lacking distinctive features of an Akita dog.
2. Pronounced overshot or undershot jaw with missing upper and (or) lower front teeth.
3. Very short coat since birth. Absence of undercoat.
4. Ears unbecoming of Japanese dog breed.
5. Coat unbecoming of a Japanese dog breed. Long coat or moku coat.
6. Coat not distinctive color of a Japanese dog.
7. Nose color not accompanying body, color (tolerated only in white dogs).
8. Uncurled tail since birth. Sickle and short tail.
9. Underdeveloped and undescended testicle(s).

DISQUALIFICATIONS
1. Lacking distinctive features of an Akita dog.
2. Pronounced overshot or undershot jaw with missing upper and lower front teeth.
3. Very short coat since birth. Absence of undercoat.
4. Ears unbecoming as a distinctive feature of Japanese dog breed.
5. Coat not distinctive of Japanese dog breed. Long (moku) coat.
6. Coat color not distinctive color of Japanese dog breed.
7. Nose color not accompanying body color.
8. Uncurled tail since birth.
9. Underdeveloped or undescended testicles(s).

REFERENCE:
"Akitainu Hyojun Seitei to Genzai made no Keika, Akitainu Kyokai (Akikyo)" ("The Establishment of the Akita Dog Standard and Its Update, Akikyo"), Akitainu Tokuhon pp. 91-93, 1963, Seibundo Shinkosha Publishing Co., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan.

REFERENCES
1. Akitainu Kyokai Shokiteishu (Akikyo Bylaws) pp.14-17, 1964, Third Printing, Katusuke Ishihara, Akikyo Headquarters, Setagaya, Tokyo, Japan.
2. "Akitainu Hyojun Seitei to Genzai made no Keika, Akitainu Kyokai (Akikyo)" ("The Establishment of The Akita Dog Standard and Its Update, Akikyo") , Akitainu Tokuhon p. 98, 1963, Seibundo Shinkosha Publishing Co., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan.

REFERENCE:
"Revised Akikyo Akita Dog Standard", Kokken Akitainu (Akikyo Bulletin) No. 78:67-69, 1990.

Reedited 11/92 Tatsuo Kimura
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FOR RESEARCH & STUDY ONLY
DO NOT DUPLICATE - MBS

12/92 Tatsuo Kimura - akikyos2
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FOR RESEARCH & STUDY ONLY
DO NOT DUPLICATE - MBS

Translator Tatsuo Kimura
COPYRIGHT -ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
FOR RESEARCH & STUDY ONLY
DO NOT DUPLICATE - MBS