If you looked at this dog in silhouette, clippedits ears and tail, you should still be able to distinguish that it is a male Akitainu and NOT a German Sheppard. Husky or any other breed. [Read more]

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THE 4TH AKITAINU HOZONKAI L.A. BRANCH SHOW OF 1973
OFFICIAL JUDGE: Mr. Gisuke Yamamoto

For this year's show, we are honored to welcome Mr. Gisuke Yamamoto of Akita, Japan, who was sent to judge the Los Angeles Show by the Akitainu Hozonkai Headquarters in Japan. In Akita, Japan, regarding dog literature, he is often referred by other writers and breeders as "The Great Master". He has been associated with Akitainus for about fifty years and is still active in producing outstanding Akitainus. His kennel is called the Hachimandaira Kennel. Mr. Gisuke Yamamoto is known to be a master at producing champion dogs in Japan. Two such dogs were Hokuzan-
Go and Yatsufusa-Go , who were used as stud dogs around 1975.

THE SHOW EVALUATION:

Each dog differs according to make up. He said that a dog is born with good and bad qualities. Heredity comprises of 35% and 65% is the result of feeding, exercise and attention. Only certain things about a dog can be corrected, and all this takes time.

Most of the dogs he saw in the ring lacked sufficient exercises. They also lacked proper showmanship in the ring. The dogs that did not place in the show, showed signs of close inter-breeding. Prevalent results were the rounded shape of the eyes and the lack of deep color in the eye. He also saw evidence of once breeding with a German Shepherd, thus the black mask and sharper, thinner, and longer ears The tail of our dogs are also more like that of a German Shepherd, hence lacking the tightness in the curl. The body is also longer and heavier.

He also noticed that the Kongoh Line of dogs were being bred, making the American breed of Akitainus have a mass of wrinkles on the forehead and cheeks with much loose flesh hanging in the neckline, thin pointed ears, and round and light-colored eyes. Everything hangs"loose" including the gait. The longness of the body makes the dog look ill-proportioned in relation to height. The stomach is loose without shape or style. There is no tightness or grip in the toes, and the hindquarters do not have the "well-exercised" look. All in all, the American breed of Akitainus look too well fed with little or no exercise. It seems that the massiveness is desired above the finer points of a good Akitainu.

The judge in some cases, wet as far as to suggest to the owner to "forget the dog you have now and start over with a dog that has better features of an Akitainu". That is the only way the Akitainus in America can be improved. Import the better dogs from Japan and use them as foundation stock. There are several dogs that have been imported from Japan this past year which have won 1st and 2nd places in the past Hozonkai Shows. "These are good specimens of what we want the world to know as good Akitainus and they should be used to produce the better type of dog." The judge was referring to Tomonobu-Go , who won best in the show. He is in the same litter as Yone-Go , who took the Meiyoshoh award in Japan.

(The Basics of the Akitainu by Hiroshi Kuwabara, 2nd Edition)

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