Akitas are typically inhibited as opposed to
excitable, a set of inherited characteristics that mark the
dog's response to stress. His inhibited nature is responsible
for the laid-back attitude that makes the Akita a pleasure
to have in the house.
It is obvious in puppies as they work through the PAT.
They tend to get calmer and less responsive. Sometimes,
inhibited puppies get so stressed out, they fall
asleep. With excitable breeds, puppies end up running about the room,
jumping
on the tester, and sometimes, even barking and whining.
When you start a new training exercise with your dog, whether
it's heeling in obedience or stacking for conformation, your
dog will demonstrate signs of inhibition. He may work slowly,
show little animation, and/or seem very tired. He may yawn
repeatedly, which is a sign of stress.
In the worst cases, the very inhibited dog demonstrates
a sort of waxy catatonia. The best example of this is the
puppy at its first match that allows you to set it up and
then stays like a little statue without a lick of training.
From one show to the next, it becomes more like the other
puppies, moving about and demonstrating a puppy's typical
short attention span.
As the dog gains confidence through exposure, it is less
stressed, so it is less inhibited. The more puppies are exposed
to manageable stress, the less inhibited their response will
be. So, don't get discouraged initially by your dog's response
to new situations. He will become more active and enthusiastic
when he gets used to them. If you make them more stressful
by being disapproving of his hesitancy, you will only make
worse. Just go on positively, and your dog's performance
will improve.
