Do Akitas Bark A Lot?

When you choose a dog, you need to choose one that is not going to cause trouble for you in terms of your housing or neighbors – or your own sleep. Dogs that bark a lot can be very problematic for their owners, and if you live in close proximity with other people, you have young children, or you are easily disturbed at night, it’s crucial to think about noise levels before you take on a dog. You need to know that you can handle the noise that breed of dog is typically associated with, and if noise is going to be a problem, you need to choose a traditionally quiet breed.

So, do Akitas bark a lot? No, they don’t. Akitas have been referred to as “the silent hunter” before, and they only bark on rare occasions. However, if something disturbs them, they can bark very loudly. They also use many other sounds to communicate, including whining, growling, and yelping.

Today, we are going to explore an Akita’s vocalization habits, and what prompts an Akita to bark when it does do so – so you can better understand your dog. We are also going to look at what you can do to discourage barking in your dog, and whether Akitas make good house dogs. Finally, we will explore how well Akitas cope with being left on their own, so you understand whether you can get an Akita even if you work for long hours every day. You will soon be an expert on whether Akitas are noisy dogs, or if they are okay to own even in a crowded community.

No, Akitas do not bark a lot. They are extremely quiet dogs, which is quite unusual among canines. In general, your Akita will not bark at normal things, like someone coming to the door, or someone walking past your home.

So, why are Akitas so quiet? We all know that most dogs bark when they are protecting their homes and packs, and Akitas are extremely protective dogs – so why don’t they do this? The answer is that they do bark when they are really concerned about an intruder. However, they are slow to raise their voices because they were traditionally used as hunters (as well as guard dogs) and silence gave them an edge against their prey.

As they were often used in the hunting of dangerous animals, such as bears, it was very important to ensure that the animal did not hear them coming, and they, therefore, learned to keep quiet so that they could sneak up on their prey.

To be clear, however, your Akita certainly can bark, and very loudly indeed. They have a powerful bark, and if they believe an alarm needs to be raised, they will bark and bark ceaselessly until they are satisfied that the situation has been resolved.

Your Akita will also make many other noises, yipping and chuntering to let you know what they think about things. Some people say that their Akitas almost talk to them, and have a word-like conversation when they are engaged with what is going on.

This may be quite hard to understand if you are not used to Akitas, so it is worth doing some reading about how they communicate and what the different noises may mean. Because an Akita’s body language tends to be a little from the body language of other dogs, it can be challenging to read when you first get to know an Akita.

However, it’s a good idea to put the time in so you can communicate with your dog.

How Do I Stop My Akita From Barking?

Discouraging a dog from barking can be tricky. If your Akita has got into bad habits about barking – and some will, even though the breed tends to be quiet – it is important to break the habit as quickly as possible.

Firstly, let’s cover a few “don’t”s. You must respond in the right way, or your dog’s barking may get worse.

Don’t yell at your dog. It will think you are barking too, and will assume that barking is the correct thing to be doing in that situation.
Don’t hit your dog. It will not understand what’s going on or what is wrong, and this may lead to more barking because the uncertainty will stress it out.
Don’t use a bark collar. These collars are cruel and do not teach your dog in a positive way. Akitas are dominant, stubborn dogs and will not take well to negative coercion.

So, what can you do?

It’s important to socialize your dog as much as possible because this helps them to tell the difference between genuine threats and everyday life. Since Akitas rarely bark at things they consider normal, this may help.

Next, try some positive rewards for when your dog starts barking. When your dog starts, you should allow it to do so for a couple of barks, and then gently place your hand on its muzzle and close its mouth. Keep your hand there for a few moments, and say something like “quiet.”

Remove your hand and repeat the command. If your dog remains silent, give it a treat. Keep doing this until it starts to realize what the command means, and then try using the command without your hand. You should also increase the period that the dog must be quiet in order to earn its treat.

Is An Akita A Good House Dog?

It very much depends on the home. You must think carefully and do a lot of research before you adopt an Akita. These dogs are beautiful, but they need quite specific conditions, and a firm and experienced owner to do well.

Akitas are dominant animals, and they must learn to respect their owners. At the same time, their owners must show respect for them if they are to receive it. Good training with an experienced trainer will be necessary if you want to ensure your dog is both obedient and happy.

Akitas can be good house dogs, but they are large and extremely strong, which makes training all the more important. You must teach your dog how to behave and what is expected of it if you are to enjoy their company in the home.

In general, these dogs do better in single-pet homes. They do not get on well with other dogs and will see smaller pets as potential prey. Some Akitas are good with children, but it is not a good idea to have them around very young children, and you should always be on your guard.

Can Akitas Be Left Alone?

Most Akitas can be left alone for a few hours without a problem because they are quite independent dogs. However, you should be aware that they also bond closely with their family members, and they will not enjoy being left for long days without any company or entertainment.

If you work a lot, you may wish to employ a dog walker so that your Akita has at least some enrichment during the day. However, be aware that Akitas are slow to warm up to strangers, and it may take a while for them to get used to a dog walker.

You probably will not be able to take your dog to doggy daycare, because Akitas do not usually get along well with other dogs, and they can be aggressive. A dog walker is a better solution.

However, you should make sure that you are available too. Akitas bond very closely with their owners, and they want to be with them most of the time. If you work for long hours every day, you may find that your Akita gets destructive and aggressive because it is unhappy.

You shouldn’t get an Akita if you are out of the house more often than you are in it. They need a lot of exercise, and they enjoy your company. Because they rarely get on with other dogs, they are quite dependent on their humans for companionship.

So, do Akitas bark a lot? Not really, no. However, every dog is an individual, so you may find that yours is much louder than expected. Fortunately, these intelligent dogs should pick up on your training and learn the “quiet” command reasonably quickly. Try to nip unwanted barking in the bud with positive rewards-based training.