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The Akita is a noble breed from Japan and an increasingly common addition to American homes. Once owned solely by Japanese royalty, the Akita became popular in America after World War II, when soldiers stationed in Japan brought them back as pets. So what do you need to know about owning one? Personality Akitas are intensely loyal to their owners but standoffish to strangers, and are not especially good with other dogs either, often acting aggressively to members of the same sex. Make sure they’re properly trained from a young age (don’t wait more than 16 weeks) as it’s easy… Read More

Every experienced dog owner has been a novice at some point in their lives, with a dog they don’t quite understand, and a set of rules they shakily stick to without a real understanding of why. In reality, dog ownership can be easy, so long as we don’t make a classic mistake: assigning human characteristics to the new animal in our lives. Why? Well, a dog responds to a very different set of tools. Here are the things you’ll want to know if you’re taking on the responsibility of dog ownership for the first time. With luck, it’ll save you… Read More

Snowed in? Torrential rains in play? Sub-zero temperatures at work? There comes a time every winter where the weather simply forbids heading outside. That begs the question: what do we do with our canine friends who need plenty of exercise – and stimulation – to keep their spirits high? In the article to follow, we’re going to unpack a few things you can do inside. Because while dogs are generally less active in winter due to the darker days and earlier nights, they still need to get their steps in. Idea 1: Indoor games Indoor games are always a great… Read More

We tend to think that a dog that’s jumping up and down and barking madly is happy. In fact, the opposite is true. Serenity and calm are signs that your dog is content, while excitement can often spell impending aggression. The first step to curbing excitement is recognizing that it’s a problem. The second stage is doing something about it. Here are our tips for discouraging excitable, potentially aggressive behavior. Don’t encourage your dog If we equate excitement with happiness, we’re very likely to pat a dog that’s excitedly jumping to and fro, thereby reinforcing the behavior. What we want… Read More

There are few dogs that make a statement quite like the Great Dane, whose imperious name is matched only by his stature. Watch him get on to his hind legs and he’s taller than most adult men. History Interestingly, Danes aren’t Danish at all – in fact, they’re a German breed, once used to hunt wild boars alongside nobleman, and referred to as the Deutsche Dog (“German dog”) in their native country. The name is thought to be a result of escalating tensions between Germany and the rest of the world, and a name that was coined by the French… Read More