It’s not uncommon to have questions about an Akita German Shepherd Mix. There isn’t a lot of information about them, and the most popular ones say they are bad news. They indeed have their peculiarities, but these traits and features that make them a special breed will be appreciated by the right owner.
An Akita German Shepherd Mix, as the name implies, is a cross between the Akita Inu dog breed and the German Shepherd dog breed. They are often referred to as Shepkita or Akita Shepherd, coined from both parents’ names. It is a large breed and known to be active, requiring a lot of space to be tended to.
Owning a Shepkita is a great idea, and it is important you learn all about this mixed breed before taking up the responsibility. There’s a lot to learn from their growth pattern to their behavior, so nothing catches you by surprise, and I’m here to tell you all about it.
How Big Do Akita German Shepherd Mixes Get?
The Akita German Shepherd can get as tall as 28 inches while weighing up to 120 lbs, although there is a wide range with differences between the male and female.
Like their parent breeds, the Akita German Shepherds are large dogs. Male Shepkitas are usually larger and weigh more than their female counterparts.
Male Shepkitas are usually between 26 to 28 inches in height and weigh between 75 to 120 lbs. On the other hand, female Shepkitas have a height range of 24 to 26 inches and weigh between 75 to 110 lbs.
This mixed breed is slowly increasing in popularity in the United States because it combines the excellent features and traits of both parent breeds. You can easily spot them in their physical appearance, albeit individual dogs combine them in unique ways.
Growing Pattern
Akita Shepherds, unlike smaller breeds, typically stop growing at about a year of age. However, they keep adding weight till they are two years old.
Body Structure
It is common to see Akita German Shepherds with the face of a German Shepherd while retaining the tail of an Akita which curls upward and is plush. They have a muscular physique, and are strong with a dense double coat of medium length.
Coat Color And Patterns
Akita German Shepherd Mixes can either have a solid coat or one with patterns. Their coat usually spots any of these colors alone or as a mix; black, brindle, brown, fawn, gray, red, sable, silver, and white.
Eyes And Ears
The Shepkitas have brown, almond-shaped eyes. Their ears are pointy like their German Shepherd parent.
How Long Do Akita German Shepherd Mixes Live?
The Akita German Shepherd Mix is said to have a lifespan of 10 to 13 years.
Although it is popularly believed that mixed breeds are usually healthier than pure breeds, it does not exclude them from ailments. Shepkitas are still prone to some of the health issues a German Shepherd and an Akita Inu will face.
The common health issues to expect with an Akita German Shepherd include the following:
Progressive Retinal Atrophy
This is a disease that causes the photoreceptor cells to degenerate resulting in blindness. It can occur early on or late in the life of your Shepkita.
This condition usually happens gradually rather than immediately. Early detection will help you take care of your dog properly while their sight deteriorates. There is no effective treatment for this condition, so blindness is inevitable.
Bloating
Bloating commonly happens in Shepkitas and if not treated immediately, can send them into shock and even cause death.
This is usually accompanied by a lot of signs like a swollen stomach, restlessness, rapid heartbeat, and shortness of breath. It can be treated as long as you take your dog to the clinic as soon as you see symptoms.
Allergies
There are possibilities that your Shepkita will have allergies, particularly to corn. It might prove difficult to discover on your own. Consulting your vet is your best bet to know how to tailor your furry friend’s diet.
Hip Dysplasia
This is a common condition among large dogs like the German Shepherd, Akita, and Akita Shepherd. It involves poor development of the joint which reduces their range of motion, thereby impacting their mobility. Once noticed, it is treatable.
How To Take Care Of Your Akita Shepherd?
Your Akita Shepherd does require a lot of care that includes having an active lifestyle and helping your pet release pent-up energy.
You can refer to an Akita Shepherd as a high-maintenance breed. Once you know what exactly to do to take care of your furry friend, things get easier from there.
High-Quality Diet
Akita Shepherds eat dry as well as wet dog food. They have an appetite as large as they are. They should have at least two meals a day containing 3 to 6 cups of food in total. You must ensure that you don’t overfeed them to avoid bloating.
Pet Plate offers an assortment of products your Shepkita would love. You can be sure that the meals provided are nutritious, delicious, and well-prepared under hygienic conditions.
Multivitamin supplements such as Omega 3 fatty acids and calcium will help abate some of your Shepkita’s possible health concerns.
Have An Exercise Routine
Your dog needs an exercise routine. This is the reason a Shepkita should be owned by someone or a family with an active lifestyle and not a potato couch. This routine exercise should happen as often as once every day for about 1 hour.
They also enjoy playing games like “catch”. These constant activities help to avoid destructive behavior in your dog. They can play with other dogs in the park, but avoid bringing those dogs into the house as they can get territorial.
Provide Space
Despite its large size, your Shepkita is a rather active dog breed. It requires adequate space to run around. A home with a large fenced yard would be ideal for it to thrive.
Is The Akita Shepherd Aggressive? Temperaments Of Akita German Shepherd Mixes
The Akita Shepherd is aggressive only when it perceives a threat. With proper training, it can become less aggressive.
Like both parents, they are good as guard dogs. Akita Shepherds also bond with their owners and tend to get jealous. They are more suited to families with only one dog. With proper training and socialization, your Akita Shepherd can be good with cats and other dogs.
The traits of the Shepkita picked from both parents include:
Intelligence
The Akita Shepherd Mix is from two highly intelligent parent breeds, so it is no surprise that they are intelligent. Although usually quiet, it is a part of their intelligence to ascertain a threat before reacting. They are fast learners which makes them easy to train.
Eager To Please
Like their German Shepherd parents, Akita Shepherds are eager to please their owners. This makes them easy to train as they are an obedient breed. However, they can sometimes be standoffish and reserved.
Loyalty
At first, it might seem like your Shepkita has a mind of its own but after a while, with consistent showering of love, you will find your pet loyal to you. They can also be quite protective of their owners.
Playful
Although you will easily note that a Shepkita is generally stoic, they can be active and playful. Your Akita German Shepherd Mix is good with kids but preferable to older kids. This is because the play might get rough from time to time and younger small kids may get hurt during playtime.
Do Akita Shepherds Shed A Lot? Grooming Tips For Akita German Shepherd Mixes
Yes, Akita Shepherds shed a lot and have three shedding seasons.
Akita Shepherds are not hard to groom, and aside from brushing, there isn’t much else to do. Do not consider trimming the hair of your dog as the brushing is only to get rid of loose hair. Shepkitas are not hypoallergenic because they shed a lot so expect to see hair everywhere.
To do a great job caring for your doggie, here are some tips that will help.
Brush Coat Daily
Yes, due to the sheer amount of hair, it is advisable to brush every day, especially during their shedding seasons. This will help you avoid having a hair mess in your living space. It may sound like a lot of work at first but it will help to create a routine. If your dog isn’t shedding a lot, brushing once a week will do.
To make it a lot easier, use the Furminator Undercoat Tool. This makes the whole process faster and effective. The tool is designed to be used safely on your dog’s skin. It also has an ejector button which makes disposing of the hairs easy.
Nail Trimming
Your Shepkita can grow their nails long and it can start to affect both them and you. Imagine your pooch placing its paw with sharp long nails on your bare leg while begging for a treat. Ouch! Or, imagine your dog doing zoomies around the house with a loud clicking noise it makes across your floor while you are having a Zoom meeting.
Trimming their nails is recommended as soon as you notice that their nails are long. This is usually once or twice a month.
Baths
Bathing does not have to happen too often. Once a month is fine but in between full baths, you can make use of wipes to clean up their coat.
For this purpose, we recommend the Pro Pet Works All Natural 5 In 1 Oatmeal Shampoo is soothing with its oatmeal ingredient and is suitable even if your dog has sensitive skin.
Related Questions
How Much Are Akita German Shepherd Mix Puppies? Akita German Shepherd Mix puppies can cost between $400 and $700. It depends on the area, the breeder, and the availability of the mix. While buying a puppy from a breeder is usually the first thought, you can check animal shelters to adopt one instead.
Are Akitas Bigger Than German Shepherds? Akitas are generally bigger than German Shepherds. When fully grown, male Akitas stand tall between 26 to 28 inches while male German Shepherds are not as tall, standing between 24 to 26 inches. The same difference is observed in female Akitas standing between 24 to 26 inches tall and female German Shepherds standing between 22 to 24 inches tall. In terms of weight, Akitas can weigh up to 130 lbs while German Shepherds weigh up to 90 lbs. Another difference is that Akitas have small triangular ears while German Shepherds have large pointy ears.
Do Akitas Get Along With German Shepherds? Akitas generally do not get along with other dogs including German Shepherds. Their aggressiveness also increases towards dogs of the same sex. If they are to get along well, they should be introduced early as puppies, and slowly. However, introducing them beyond the age of two will make matters worse because both dog breeds might want to assert dominance.
