Working with an Akita ~

[A-Jay]

 

This is Aries ~ 

 

a 4 year old male who was surrendered to the the local animal shelter a couple of months ago.

While we do have some knowledge about his earlier years, not much of it was very good.

He's somewhat undersized vs the breed standard, which might not be a bad thing when it comes to re-homing him. 

Been working with him since Monday and like always, it took a couple of days for us to get acquainted.

Bit of a wild child on & off lead and really had no reason to 'trust' people.

Who up to this point have all let him down. 

Either way, we're moving on. 

He's opening up a little more each day and already seems to be semi-willing to engage in whatever we want to throw his way.

Doesn't always happen that way. 

He's a very pretty dog but is currently blowing his under coat, so he's looking a little ratty; especially in the rain today. 

We've  been brushing out what he'll tolerate so early on, but the prognosis is good.

This breed can be a handful in the hands of an inexperienced handler

and we are certainly minding our P's & Q's. 

So far so good. 

There's certainly no hurry and it's all in good time.

Expect some video maybe tomorrow. 

More to follow.

A-Jay

 

 

[12poundbass]

Super cool breed and very loyal! Gotta keep them busy or they’ll find their own entertainment which never turns out good for the home. Of course you know this though.

 

I watched the movie Hatchie (Hatchie was an Akita) that’ll tug at your heart strings a bit. 

[A-Jay]

53 minutes ago, 12poundbass said:

Super cool breed and very loyal! Gotta keep them busy or they’ll find their own entertainment which never turns out good for the home. Of course you know this though.

 

I watched the movie Hatchie (Hatchie was an Akita) that’ll tug at your heart strings a bit. 

Yup ~ 

Most all of the working group roll like that.

Quick to learn, are intelligent, strong, watchful, and alert. 

They make wonderful companions but because  some are large, and naturally protective,

prospective owners need to know how to properly train and socialize.

Some in the Working Group may not be the best choice for the first-time dog owners.

But you too, already knew that.

btw - Aries could certainly benefit from some of your wife's handy work.

His coat is hurting. 

A-Jay

[12poundbass]

20 minutes ago, A-Jay said:

Aries could certainly benefit from some of your wife's handy work.

His coat is hurting. 

If we lived closer she would in a heartbeat. 
 

I just got done brushing Hank out myself. Apparently I can’t afford my wife’s services.

 

I’ve neglected him a bit. He looked like he was living under an overpass by the river somewhere. After 45 minutes, a nap from Hank, and almost a trash bag full of fur later, Hank is good as new! 

[Hammer 4]

You and Lynn are awesome for doing this kind of work, can be frustrating at times, but you seem to have it all, under control.. Good on ya's.

[A-Jay]

Aries Log ~ Day 5 

Did more leash work, practiced getting in & out of the truck bed

and played some hard core & long distance Chuck-It today.

Cleaned up his undercoat a bit more too.

Tomorrow morning Aries makes his video debut.

Should be fun . . .

A-Jay

[A-Jay]

Aries Log ~ Day 6

Calling this one Independence Day.

Aries is Really coming out of his shell and sharing much more of himself with us now.

Such a fun dog; no doubt Ruff & Tumble.

But Lynn & I totally love that !

Got some video today that's still in edit.

However the preliminary/raw viewing seems to indicate

we probably have everything we need to get this special guy a forever home.

Expect to 'share' Aries full story on social Media on Monday. 

Shelter's closed Sunday, so we'll have to wait an extra day to put what we hope could be the finishing touches on his 'training'; at least for us and at this stage.

btw, the more we work with Aries, the more he seems like a Siberian Husky in an Akita suit. 

Might also explain his size, or lack there of. 

Either way, very cool dog. 

More to follow

A-Jay

 

[A-Jay]

My wife put this video together.

Won't be long now . . . .

 

https://www.facebook.com/ThePAWZ/posts/pfbid02kuC5Y859EikybagKgfB3TeMtEA4L2bG3ZNd5jv9hj29QwQ81noBbLjkbnRzmJm6Yl

A-Jay

[GaryH]

You guys are doing a great job. He’ll be ready for a good life thanks to you guys.

[A-Jay]

11 minutes ago, GaryH said:

You guys are doing a great job. He’ll be ready for a good life thanks to you guys.

Thanks ~ 

As a couple of mostly addicted dog lovers,

Pups like Aries makes the experience Big Time Fun !

A-Jay

 

[GaryH]

45 minutes ago, A-Jay said:

Thanks ~ 

As a couple of mostly addicted dog lovers,

Pups like Aries makes the experience Big Time Fun !

A-Jay

 

Also great therapy…..

[BigAngus752]

I applaud you guys for working so hard with him, but as a former Akita owner I pray that he gets the perfect new parents.  These dogs require a special owner.  I wish you were keeping him. 

[A-Jay]

8 minutes ago, BigAngus752 said:

I applaud you guys for working so hard with him, but as a former Akita owner I pray that he gets the perfect new parents.  These dogs require a special owner.  I wish you were keeping him. 

Thanks - I wish we could but now's not the right time.

Saving grace may be that Aries is very likely NOT 100 % Akita - 

Seems like a Husky in an Akita suit.  

A-Jay

[BigAngus752]

12 minutes ago, A-Jay said:

Thanks - I wish we could but now's not the right time.

Saving grace may be that Aries is very likely NOT 100 % Akita - 

Seems like a Husky in an Akita suit.  

A-Jay

Oh, so even MORE energy!  Wow!  LOL

 

[A-Jay]

4 minutes ago, BigAngus752 said:

Oh, so even MORE energy!  Wow!  LOL

 

Perhaps but I was thinking more about the size.

55-60 is often a bit easier to manage than 100-130. 

We work Very Closely with the animal shelter director on these deals

and if there was anything 'off' with this or any of the animals we work with,

and I'm talking purely as 'pets', the process (and the end game) would reflect that.

We'd never knowingly insert a ticking time bomb into a home. 

No up side.

A-Jay

 

 

[A-Jay]

Working daily with Aries while we wait for a forever home for him.

15 degrees today ~ didn't phase him. 

Set up a 'promotional' grooming for him tomorrow.

He'll be liking that.

A-Jay

[A-Jay]

It's a HAPPY DAY !

One we've been working towards and hoping for.

Aries was picked up this afternoon and taken to what we expect to be his forever home.

Being together almost daily for 4 weeks was our privilege. 

Aries a great dog with a spirit to match and we're betting this one works out well.

Good Luck my friend 

A-Jay

[GaryH]

40 minutes ago, A-Jay said:

It's a HAPPY DAY !

One we've been working towards and hoping for.

Aries was picked up this afternoon and taken to what we expect to be his forever home.

Being together almost daily for 4 weeks was our privilege. 

Aries a great dog with a spirit to match and we're betting this one works out well.

Good Luck my friend 

A-Jay

Happy and sad day. Good job bud

[A-Jay]

Got this pic from the new owners yesterday.

After some play time Aries just 'Crashed' hard.

Didn't flinch for a couple of hours.

Probably the Best/deepest real sleep he's had in 4 months.

Read that again.

Makes our hearts smile.

Still looking for our next project .

A-Jay

 

[Jar11591]

Awesome, another happy ending. Good work. 

[Susky River Rat]

My hats off to you! My wife and I adopted our dog seven months ago. He was a 100% mess.  3 year old lab/golden mix. The rescue we got him from was doing their best with him but he never got the one on one he really needed. They said he didn’t know his name any commands and was not 100% house trained still had accidents. Didn’t play with toys. He was a feral dog for two years of his life.  He spent 6 months in s kill shelter and 6 months in thr rescue where we got him from. He had his last round of heart worm treatment. He was scared of his own reflection paced around our house for a few days. He had a nervous lick of lips he’d do. We had to ration his water for months or he’d drink it all till hr threw up. He’d lick the dew off grass a wet road anything to get water. He was pretty much impossible to walk on a leash. He would mouth and always nip at hands. If you got on his level he would jump and bat at you. We couldn’t carry anything through the house. My wife had actually called me at work in tears the first day she was completely alone with him and I went home from work that day.
 

fast forward- almost all the mouthing is gone expect when he is really playful. He walks great on the leash only pulls here and there if he’s really interested in something. We got our yard fenced in and he is listening ok off leash. He loves playing with toys. He leaves water now so we do not have to ration it as closely we just keep adding to it. He knows to sit for his leash to go on and off. Sit to have his food dish put down. 
 

his biggest downfall is other dogs and he is very protective. I know a lot of this has to do with him being feral and having to fight dogs to survive. His ears are scared up from it. He has scars on his body. I do not know if I have the capabilities to train him myself and may need to get a professional to. If he sees another dog on a walk he just wants to attack them. So we keep our distance and warn everyone with other dogs. He also does not like joggers or people moving very fast around him. I do believe at some point he had abuse from someone. We do let people interact with him but tell them be very slow and he will be ok. It’s been a trip and very rewarding. I love my dog and having him as a member of my family.