Shiba Inu and Akitas have a resemblance to each other. They have the same stature, color and share a lot of their characteristics. The Shiba Inu has a long history dating back more than a thousand years. This is the common trait of independence and intelligence.

This doesn’t mean they are not loyal. Actually, the reverse is true. A Shiba Inu may be more loyal than other dogs. The problem is their loyalty is not that easy to get. It needs to be taken from the Shiba Inu with a strong hand and a firm no. While positive reinforcement works well, you still must show them who's boss, similar to the Akita.

In contrast to the Akita, properly bred Shiba Inus are generally only between 14 to 17 inches tall at the shoulder. Its weight will be around 23 lbs. for an adult.

The Akita is another breed that originated in ancient Japan. Genetically speaking, the Akita is one of the most ancient of dog breeds in the world. Next to the Shiba Inu, which was its probable source, these are the most ancient breeds in Japan.

The colorful history of the Akita, goes back many years. Having gone through multiple wars, it was, at one point, nearing extinction. It was originally bred for hunting purposes where it was used to hunt down deer, Black bear and other animals. This is where they gained their fierceness.

Prior to World War I, Japanese Samurais would stage dog fights with these animals in order to keep their bloodlust from becoming dormant during times of peace. That eventually stopped when the emperor disallowed dog fighting in Japan, to avoid cruelty to animals.

In the post-war era, many dogs, including the Akita breed, were murdered in great numbers just to manufacture coats. The remaining Akitas were bred with German Shepherds that the conquering Americans had. A few pure bred Akitas survived this decade.After this decade the love affair with Akitas was renewed and now they are considered national monuments in Japan.

Akita breeders’ dogs are known to have an undesirable temperament and reputation of hard headedness. If their temperament is left unchecked the Akita can be aggressive and destructive at times. This stresses the importance of early training. Akita owners should begin training their pups while young. In a situation like this, a caring breeder of Akita dogs can do great things for their canines. If you are considering buying one of these dogs, keep in mind that it is imperative that you be able to give them the time and attention that they require.

A fiercely loyal breed, the Akita will protect its family and territory at any cost. The Akita's loyalty is such that once it has bonded with its owner family it will go to great lengths, even to the point of sacrificing itself to protect someone with whom it has bonded.

The Akita and the Shiba Inu are equally excellent breeds. It is the responsibility of both Shiba Inu breeders and Akita breeders to make sure that the dogs are well taken care of wherever they go.