Akita

I have really been thinking about getting a dog, and I'm really thinking about an Akita, a little pricey but boy are they beautiful dogs..

Anyone here have one or ever owned one?
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  • txcoastal1
    txcoastal1 Posts: 13,124
    Absolutely beautiful dogs. I had an ex years ago that had a pair. I loved those dogs. They did very well in the house....hairy but she had hardwoods and tile so we swept every day other than that I don't have any qualms about the breed.
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  • Toolfan66
    Toolfan66 Posts: 16,834
    So I could be vacuuming daily?? LOL
  • My cousin had one when we were growing up. Very strong animal, seemed to be good the kids, but didn't get along with other dogs, and chased the cattle when he found the opportunity. He wasn't an inside dog though.
    Oh, Listen here mister. We got no way of understandin' this world. But we got as much sense of this bird flyin in the sky. Now there is a lot that bird don't know, but it don't change the fact that the world is happening to him all the same. What I am tryin to say is, is that the course of your life, well its changing, and you don't even see it- Forest Bondurant
  • Upstatemax
    Upstatemax Posts: 2,623
    From what I remember off the top of my head; high energy, intelligent, very protective, tend to be "one pet" dogs, can become aggressive if not well trained.

    Any dog can be a problem if it's not trained well and properly exercised. Big, strong dogs can be a hazard though, make sure you're up for the challenge.
  • tonyb
    tonyb Posts: 32,902
    Upstatemax wrote: »
    From what I remember off the top of my head; high energy, intelligent, very protective, tend to be "one pet" dogs, can become aggressive if not well trained.

    Any dog can be a problem if it's not trained well and properly exercised. Big, strong dogs can be a hazard though, make sure you're up for the challenge.

    This ^^^^^^ +1000

    Akita's are gorgeous, my nephew has one, but you have to figure out if the traits of the breed coincide with what you want in a dog. Certain traits will not be overcome by training.

    That said, they are very protective so if you have strangers coming and going it may not be a good idea. They aren't exactly kid friendly either unless it's within their own family. Strange kids coming up to the dog who visit your house and start tugging on the dog are going to be at risk of getting their face removed. They also don't do well with other dogs, especially larger breeds, smaller breeds don't impose a threat to them so they pretty much just ignore them.

    My nephews Akita, a big male he got as a pup, took my advice and socialized the dog as a puppy and got him used to kids pulling on him, strangers, extended family members and their dogs. So far he's 2 years old, been fixed, and has only shown aggressive behavior to large breed strange dogs. People and kids, family dogs he's met as a pup.... he's been totally fine, even when I have a house full of people. I'll wrestle with him, hard, and he never over extends his playful bite. You can overcome some of the negative traits by proper training, but not all. Just a matter if the breed fits your lifestyle and if your willing to put the work into training. These are not apartment/condo/townhouse dogs.
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  • teekay0007
    teekay0007 Posts: 2,289
    txcoastal1 wrote: »
    I had an ex years ago that had a pair.

    That's what she said............(about me! ;)).


    Part 1, of 2.

    Lesssee, Larry, about the Akita hmmmmm.......


    DESCRIPTION:

    American Akita AKC Standard

    Massive but in balance with body; free of wrinkles when at ease. Skull flat between ears and broad; jaws broad and powerful with minimal dewlap. Head forms a blunt triangle when viewed from above. Fault—narrow or snipey head. Muzzle—broad and full. Distance from nose to stop is to distance from stop to occiput as 2 is to 3. Stop—well defined, but not too abrupt. A shallow furrow extends well up forehead. Nose—broad and black; black noses on white Akitas preferred, but a lighter colored nose with or without shading of black or gray tone is acceptable. Disqualification—partial or total lack of pigmentation on the nose surface. Ears—the ears of the Akita are characteristic of the breed; they are strongly erect and small in relation to rest of head. If ear is folded forward for measuring length, tip will touch upper eye rim. Ears are triangular, slightly rounded at tip, wide at base, set wide on head but not too low, and carried slightly forward over eyes in line with back of neck. Disqualification—drop or broken ears. Eyes—dark brown, small, deep-set and triangular in shape. Eye rims black and tight. Lips and Tongue—lips black and not pendulous; tongue pink. Teeth—strong with scissors bite preferred, but level bite acceptable.

    Neck—thick and muscular; comparatively short, widening gradually toward shoulders. A pronounced crest blends in with base of skull. Body—longer than high, as to 10 is to 9 in males; 11 to 9 in females. Measurement from the point of the sternum to the point of buttocks. Chest wide and deep; reaching down to the elbow, the depth of the body at the elbow equals half the height of the dog at the withers. Ribs well sprung, brisket well developed. Level back with firmly-muscled loin and moderate tuck-up. Skin pliant but not loose. Serious faults—light bone, rangy body.

    Tail—large and full, set high and carried over back or against flank in a three-quarter, full, or double curl, always dipping to or below level of back. On a three-quarter curl, tip drops well down flank. Root large and strong. Tail bone reaches hock when let down. Hair coarse, straight and full, with no appearance of a plume. Disqualification—sickle or uncurled tail.

    Forequarters—shoulders strong and powerful with moderate layback. Forelegs heavy-boned and straight as viewed from front. Angle of pastern 15 degrees forward from vertical. Faults—elbows in or out, loose shoulders. Hindquarters—width, muscular development and bone comparable to forequarters. Upper thighs well developed. Stifle moderately bent and hocks well let down, turning neither in nor out. Dewclaws—on front legs generally not removed; dewclaws on hind legs generally removed. Feet—cat feet, well knuckled up with thick pads. Feet straight ahead.

    Double-coated. Undercoat thick, soft, dense and shorter than outer coat. Outer coat straight, harsh and standing somewhat off body. Hair on head, legs and ears short. Length of hair at withers and rump approximately two inches, which is slightly longer than on rest of body, except tail, where coat is longest and most profuse. Fault—any indication of ruff or feathering.

    Any color including white; brindle; or pinto. Colors are rich, brilliant and clear. Markings are well balanced, with or without mask or blaze. White Akitas have no mask. Pinto has a white background with large, evenly placed patches covering head and more than one-third of body. Undercoat may be a different color from outer coat.

    Brisk and powerful with strides of moderate length. Back remains strong, firm and level. Rear legs move in line with front legs.

    Note: While it does not make the written standard, longhaired Akitas are sometimes born in a litter if both parents carry a recessive long-coat gene. The trait is also called "Woolie" or "Silkie."


  • teekay0007
    teekay0007 Posts: 2,289
    Part 2, of 2.

    TEMPERAMENT:

    The Akita is docile, intelligent, courageous and fearless. Careful and very affectionate with its family. Sometimes spontaneous, it needs a firm, confident, consistent pack leader. Without it, the dog will be very willful and may become very aggressive to other dogs and animals. It needs firm training as a puppy. The objective in training this dog is to achieve a pack leader status. It is a natural instinct for a dog to have an order in its pack. When we humans live with dogs, we become their pack. The entire pack cooperates under a single leader. Lines are clearly defined. You and all other humans MUST be higher up in the order than the dog. That is the only way your relationship can be a success. If the dog is allowed to believe he is the leader over the humans he may become very food-possessive as he tells the humans to wait their turn. He eats first. Considered a first-class guard dog in Japan, Japanese mothers would often leave their children in the family Akita's care. They are extremely loyal and thrive on firm leadership from their handlers. They should definitely be supervised with other household pets and children. Although the breed may tolerate and be good with children from his own family, if you do not teach this dog he is below all humans in the pack order he may not accept other children and if teased, Akitas may bite. Children must be taught to display leadership qualities and at the same time respect the dog. With the right type of owner, the proper amount of daily mental and physical exercise and firm training, they can make a fine pet. Obedience training requires patience, as these dogs tend to get bored quickly. The Akita needs to be with its family. It vocalizes with many interesting sounds, but it is not an excessive barker.


    HEIGHT, WEIGHT:

    Height: Males 26 - 28 inches (66 - 71 cm) Females 24 - 26 inches (61 - 66 cm)
    Weight: Males 75 - 120 pounds (34 - 54 kg) Females 75 - 110 pounds (34 - 50 kg)


    HEALTH PROBLEMS:

    Prone to hip dysplasia, both hypothyroid and autoimmune thyroiditis, immune diseases like VKH and Pemphigus, skin problems like SA and eyes (PRA, Micro, entropion) patella and other problems with the knee.


    LIVING CONDITIONS:

    The Akita will do okay in an apartment if it is sufficiently exercised. It is moderately active indoors and will do best with a large yard.


    EXERCISE:

    The Akita needs moderate but regular exercise to stay in shape. It should be taken for long daily walks.


    LIFE EXPECTANCY:

    About 10-12 years


    GROOMING:

    The coarse, stiff, short-haired coat needs significant grooming. Brush with a firm bristle brush, and bathe only when absolutely necessary as bathing removes the natural waterproofing of the coat. This breed sheds heavily twice a year. Have you ever heard of "blowing a coat"? Akitas literally do this twice a year between which they just shed above average.


    ORIGIN:

    The Akita Inu is native to the island of Honshu in the region of Akita in Japan, where it has remained unchanged for centuries. The Akita Inu is considered a national dog of Japan and is one of seven breeds designated as a Natural Monument. The breed has had many uses, such as police and military work, a guard dog (government and civilian), a fighting dog, a hunter of bear and deer and a sled dog. The Akita Inu is a versatile hunting dog, able to hunt in inclement weather. The Akita's soft mouth makes it possible for him to work as a waterfowl retrieval dog. The dog is considered sacred and a good luck charm in the country of Japan. Small statues of the Akita Inu are often given to new parents after babies are born as a gesture of good health and to sick people as a gesture of a speedy recovery. In 1937 the first Akita, who was named Kamikaze-go was brought to the United States by Helen Keller. The dog was a gift given to her during her trip to Akita Prefecture. Kamikaze-go died of canine distemper not long after she adopted him. In July of 1938 another Akita named Kenzan-go, who was the older brother of her first Akita, was given to her as an official gift from the Japanese government. After World War II many serviceman brought Akita Inu dogs to the USA.

    There are two types of Akitas, the original Japanese Akita breed and now a separate designation for American standard Akitas. The weights and sizes are different and the American standard allows a black mask, whereas the original Japanese breed standard does not allow for a black mask. According to the FCI, in Japan and in many other countries around the world the American Akita is considered a separate breed from the Akita Inu (Japanese Akita). In the United States and Canada, both the American Akita and the Akita Inu are considered a single breed with differences in type rather than two separate breeds. The Japanese Akita is uncommon in most countries.


    GROUP:

    Group Northern, AKC Working Group




    And there you go, Larry, probably more info on the Akita than you thought you'd probably learn today.

    Read it. Absorb it. Apply it to your lifestyle - being true to and about yourself and your family - and, if this is what you truly want and can see yourself COMMITTED TO for the animal's lifetime, then....I say go for it.

    But, ONLY if you can be "PACK LEADER" and are comfortable in that role. Akitas need a strong PL!



  • tonyb
    tonyb Posts: 32,902
    Being the Pack leader applies to all dogs in general. The larger breeds even more so because of the dangers involved. There are certain ways to go about it too, not just raising your voice saying "no" and swiping the dog on the arse.....like most do, then the wife or kids coddle them after that.
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  • Dabutcher
    Dabutcher Posts: 2,588
    Lots of the important things about this breed have been said above. Most Breeds from Japan are of the same type of temporment . Chow chow,Akita,Sharpei. One owner, intelligent ,tough as nails, strong willed, courageous. I would add unpredictable just from the few I have known personally. Years ago a flight attendant friend of mine was over at her friends house eating popcorn and the Akita they had unexpectedly jumped up and bit her bottom lip off. She had to have about twelve surgeries to reconstruct her lip using the only tissue on her body that would match . Her **** lip. She was an extremely beautiful woman before the accident . Now she is fully recovered and still a beautiful woman ,but kind of talks out the side of her mouth . She sued their home owners insurance and got paid 3.5 million dollars. .Not trying to rain on your parade but some breeds are more unpredictable than others. Peace
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  • Toolfan66
    Toolfan66 Posts: 16,834
    edited January 2016
    I have been doing a lot of reading on this dog, and I have yet to read one bad thing about this dog except here..

    We used to raise chow chow's growing up, one of the best dogs I have ever had, next to my Irish setter... Chow's get a bad rap like pit bulls, it's all in how they are raised, we never had an issue with our chow's, I love that dog, except the up keep on their coat..

    The biggest key IMO is keeping them social, take them to the park, pet/dog store, Home Depot , and other places that allow you to take your dog..
  • Akita's are on the blacklist of Insurance companies, just something to consider.
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  • mdaudioguy
    mdaudioguy Posts: 5,165
    This one could spiral downward quickly. Seems to be a topic where different people have strong opinions, kind of like guns and politics...
  • muncybob
    muncybob Posts: 2,963
    We have had a few Akitas in the family over the years. SIL used to breed them and another family member still has some in the house. Everything said here is true and a lot of what has been said here can apply to many breeds. Our big boy Arlo was a sweetheart. We raised him from a puppy, he was socialized from the get go. My daughter used to put doll clothes on him and roll all over him when she was very young and he loved it. Anybody could come to our house and he would be friendly just like most dogs would be. With that said, the 1 trait about him and this breed in general is they do not like dogs that they don't know and they will actually go out of their way to attack another dog, esp a large dog. If you want a strong, intelligent, faithful and protective dog and you can deal with that 1 BIG downside aspect of them you'll have a great friend on your hands.
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  • tonyb
    tonyb Posts: 32,902
    I think the theme of the thread is all the same. With great power comes great responsibility. A poorly trained ankle biter isn't going to kill anyone . However a poorly trained big breed can, or at the very least disfigure someone. Also certain breeds are not allowed where you have a board or homeowners association so you may want to check if that applies to you. Even some home owners insurance companies will look at you differently with certain breeds.

    Like most things in life and relationships, you get out what you put in. Same applies here.
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  • pitdogg2
    pitdogg2 Posts: 24,480
    Toolfan66 wrote: »
    I have really been thinking about getting a dog, and I'm really thinking about an Akita, a little pricey but boy are they beautiful dogs..

    Anyone here have one or ever owned one?

    yes they are VERY VERY territorial and YOU and EVERYONE in YOUR family must be the ALPHA or they will eat you alive.....Great dogs


    Dabutcher wrote: »
    Most Breeds from Japan are of the same type of temporment . Chow chow,Akita,Sharpei.

    Only one dog listed here is from Japan.......Chow's and Sharpei's are from China

  • Upstatemax
    Upstatemax Posts: 2,623
    edited January 2016
    Don't let what has been said here scare you off if you really want the dog. Just know what you're getting into.

    As others have said, ANY DOG can have these issues. Training is key. A dog like an Akita HAS TO HAVE A GOOD OWNER. Same applies to a lot of breeds. Large, intelligent, protective dogs can run the show if you don't step up and take charge from the very beginning.

    Personally, I only like dogs like this. One of the reasons I insist on getting my dogs as soon as possible. I want to start asserting my leadership while they are very young and before bad habits have a chance to take root. The oldest dog I will ever purchase is 4 months old, I prefer 3 months.

    Akita's are great dogs and if you're up for the challenge, they will make an awesome addition to your family.

    Edit:

    Just to be clear, when I say assert my leadership, this NEVER includes hitting or getting physical with my dogs. You NEVER want a dog to fear physical harm, especially one that can turn you into hamburger...

    A good dog just wants you to be pleased with it, knowing that your upset is more than enough punishment. Just remember to make up! B)
  • lightman1
    lightman1 Posts: 10,776
    Get a shih-tzu. Small, full of fun and energy. Easy to take care of and don't shed a lot.
    And they don't po op like an elephant.
  • pitdogg2
    pitdogg2 Posts: 24,480
    Upstatemax wrote: »
    Don't let what has been said here scare you off if you really want the dog. Just know what you're getting into.

    As others have said, ANY DOG can have these issues. Training is key. A dog like an Akita HAS TO HAVE A GOOD OWNER. Same applies to a lot of breeds. Large, intelligent, protective dogs can run the show if you don't step up and take charge from the very beginning.

    Personally, I only like dogs like this.

    Akita's are great dogs and if you're up for the challenge, they will make an awesome addition to your family.

    Edit:

    Just to be clear, when I say assert my leadership, this NEVER includes hitting or getting physical with my dogs. You NEVER want a dog to fear physical harm, especially one that can turn you into hamburger...

    A good dog just wants you to be pleased with it, knowing that your upset is more than enough punishment. Just remember to make up! B)

    Agree with all this I have in my 50yrs had many many very strong willed dogs. Most have been the Terrier breed and the best ones for me were the silent but deadly type no noise, no showing teeth just business as needed. Not once did I have one bite any human that didn't need it. Burglar's would be the one time but then again they are easily corrupted with a large chunk of beef. My Akita was NOT in the Easily Corrupted category wonderful dogs but shop carefully with a very respected breeder not someone who is in it just to make fast cash. You want the breeder who keeps meticulous records of health AND defect's in the line they have.

  • Upstatemax
    Upstatemax Posts: 2,623
    Just to make something else clear, I'm not saying that getting an older dog is a bad move.

    Just does not work for me. With children in my house all the time, I want to know the FULL history of my dogs. I want to know with a very large degree of certainty how my dog will react, that they don't have some buried fear/trigger.

    There are a lot of terrible people that have done some shameful things to animals. Those animals deserve and need love. I just think it's too big of a risk to put them around unpredictable children.

    There are a lot of great, older dogs. They just don't fit my needs.
  • jeremymarcinko
    jeremymarcinko Posts: 3,785
    edited January 2016
    We had a Burnese Mountain Dog when we were kids. I think it would make a great alternative to the Akita, if you find the Akita does not mix well with your lifestyle.
    If we ever get a bigger place with some more land, I would't mind getting another. An excellent animal in most regards. They do not live very long though.
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  • muncybob
    muncybob Posts: 2,963
    Your last statement there Jeremy is why we have decided that after many years of large breed dogs to go smaller. Losing one of your best friends every 7+/- years is tough!
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  • lightman1
    lightman1 Posts: 10,776
    MollyMoose is 15 and still runs like a puppy. Usually into a wall or furniture....but still runs around. Blind as a bat. Bless her heart.
  • Toolfan66
    Toolfan66 Posts: 16,834
    edited January 2016
    Where I'm looking to get the Akita is from a very respected breeder, they breed show dogs, and they just don't give you a dog because you have 2K waving in their face, I have had to fill out paper work, they ask lots of questions, and want to come to my house to see where the dog will be living.. They have been very helpful..

    I would rather spend good money knowing that I'm getting a good dog, and not from someone off craigslist.. Trust me I did some searching to find these people..

    I am with Max on this one..

    lightman, we already have a shih-tzu she is a floor mop.. LOL!! she has been a good dog though..
  • PSOVLSK
    PSOVLSK Posts: 5,021
    https://images.search.yahoo.com/yhs/search;_ylt=A86.J5FVnqtW9ngAumYnnIlQ;_ylu=X3oDMTByNWU4cGh1BGNvbG8DZ3ExBHBvcwMxBHZ0aWQDBHNlYwNzYw--?p=Miniature+Australian+Shepherd&fr=yhs-mozilla-001&hspart=mozilla&hsimp=yhs-001

    Best dog I've ever had. Very smart, doesn't shed, good with kids and with our little Toy Maltese. Ours looks like the ones that are mostly black with white and brown.

    I know nothing about the Akita except that they are very good looking dogs.
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  • scubalab
    scubalab Posts: 3,101
    Dogs are awesome. We miss our black lab every day. Just about any breed can be good or bad... however, it seems some get more of a bad rap than others. I'm a firm believer that a dog's temperament is based 99% on how it's raised. There are very few breeds I've met that have been 100% good (for lack of a better term). One of the sweetest, most gentle, loyal dog I ever met was a friend's Rottweiler. She wouldn't hurt a fly - even total strangers. My friend didn't need the dog for protection, so this was how he wanted her to be. I have, unfortunately met some not-so-friendly Rotties. Same goes for Pitt Bulls. Some of the best dogs when raised properly. However, a cousin had two, raised them both the same. One was a sweetheart, the other was unpredictable, and was never let off a leash when around other people. That was strictly the way the dog was wired. I could go on (German Shepherds, English Bull Dogs, Dobermans, J.R. Terriers, etc.). To me, even a slightly unpredictable breed is just not worth the risk, especially if you have kids.

    Now, I can honestly say I never met a Retriever (Labrador, or Golden) that was dangerous, but I may be biased, and just may not have met 'the bad one' yet. I'm sure they're out there, but it seems less likely than some other breeds. I can probably say the same about Pugs, but I don't think they could bite you even if they tried!

    In all seriousness though, if you're just looking for honest opinions, the only Akita I ever met was very aggressive, and scared us. Even the owner (who raised it well) didn't feel comfortable with their dog around other people. Maybe there are a thousand others that are big teddy bears... I don't know. So, exercise good judgment, take responsibility, do your research, and no matter what breed you settle on, remember that it is not a human and is 100% your responsibility. There are too many people out their who defend their dogs when they bite and try to pass off responsibility. I always used to say that if our dog EVER bit anyone (except if the dog was protecting us from harm...), it would be the dog's fault and my responsibility.

    Good luck and have fun getting to know the breeds you're considering! Akitas are beautiful, and if you do decide on one, enjoy it as a family member. There's some good advice here, and if you can keep an open mind about it all, it can be very helpful.
  • pitdogg2
    pitdogg2 Posts: 24,480
    Toolfan66 wrote: »
    Where I'm looking to get the Akita is from a very respected breeder, they breed show dogs, and they just don't give you a dog because you have 2K waving in their face, I have had to fill out paper work, they ask lots of questions, and want to come to my house to see where the dog will be living.. They have been very helpful..

    I would rather spend good money knowing that I'm getting a good dog, and not from someone off craigslist.. Trust me I did some searching to find these people..

    Larry you are on the right path. Its very good to know they care as much as to where the dog will go and not about the cash to off load one, most all the good breeders are like that. The only downside sometimes is that most make you sign a legal binding contract to spay or neuter to buy from them. While for the most part it is a good thing I being a "responsible" owner do not like that aspect. I have found that as much as they will like for you to believe it will make males LESS aggressive in my experience for my breeds it did nether make them less aggressive or curtail their sex drive in males. My females I had to spay always got a weight problem afterwards. I also understand that the breeders do not want you to be using their name as a selling point to sell their line of dogs you have sloppily bred to an inferior other dog that may have line problems within the breed that may come back to the original breeder.

    I do have a lot of experience in this matter may dad bred champion Treeing Walker coon hounds that won many events, His sister bred Champion Cocker Spaniels and had more than one go to the west minster dog show and one actually won back in the early 60's

    Lets just say I cleaned up a LOT of DOG DO DO in my life and still doing it:)

  • motorhead43026
    motorhead43026 Posts: 3,892
    edited January 2016
    I need to have less women in my life and get a dog.
    2 channel: Anthem 225 Integrated amp; Parasound Ztuner; TechnicsTT SL1350; Vincent PHO-8 phono pre; Marantz CD6005 spinner; Polk SDA2BTL's; LAT International speaker cables, ZU Mission IC's and power cables all into a PS Audio Dectet Power center.

    Other; M10 series II, M7C's, Hafler XL600 amp, RB-980BX, Parasound HCA-1500 amp , P5 preamp, all in storage. All vintage Polk have had crossover rebuilds and tweeter upgrades.

    The best way to predict the future is to invent it.

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  • " they breed show dogs"
    Show dogs and family dogs are not the same thing.
  • pitdogg2
    pitdogg2 Posts: 24,480
    sarnella wrote: »
    " they breed show dogs"
    Show dogs and family dogs are not the same thing.

    How so? Many of the show dogs are family dogs in case you didn't realize this.

    many show breeders keep meticulous records of all aspects of the breed. This includes all the low points also like Cancers and all aspects of health in general with a particular line of breeding. Many stay away from other breeders lines because of the downside to some of that line of dogs or try to breed out some of the gremlins by crossing in line that have shown a better propensity to a particular problem.