Independence
...
I've been around a lot of different dog breeds,
but Akitas are one of the only ones I'm sure could be depended
on to survive without people, barring encounters with cars
about which they seem to have no sense. They are unlikely
to do anything reckless or daring; rather, they consider
what they are doing and use their experiences to evaluate
their actions. In short, the Akita is a survivor, due in
large part to his capacity for independent action.
Therefore, leaving the dog outside to fend for itself
can make him a poor pet. Akitas need to be around
the people in the household to bond with them. Left
to their own devices, Akitas will make their own world and rules for living
in
it.
Mutual respect is the key to working with Akitas. You must
be the alpha person, but even so, sooner or later, you'll
run up against their independent nature. Pick your battles
carefully. If it doesn't really matter, let the dog have
his way. He'll be easier to deal with later when something
needs to be done your way.
