We,
live on the outskirts of
Berlin, right next to the Müggelspree, surrounded by
woods, rivers and lakes. Our family is made up of two
daughters who already live on their own, two grand
daughters, sons-in-law, parents, brothers and sisters
and their families with whom we are closely associated.
Currently there are four dogs and one cat living with us
in our house and garden. As we are a big family with
many friends we often have guests in our house.
In 1992, while looking for a dog
that would fit, we got to know the breed of dog Akita
whose beauty and character enthused us from the very
beginning.
In December 1992, our first male
Akita, BISHO NIHONGO Hövelensis, came to live with us.
At the time we did not know much about socialising dogs;
whelp schools were completely unknown to us which is why
many errors occurred. We realized too late that Bisho’s
behaviour towards co sexual dogs was rowdyish. When
meeting another male dog he acted like “Shoot first and
then ask questions”. We finally decided to not let him
meet other male dogs any longer. However, he loved
female dogs and acted like a real charming gentleman
towards them. His behaviour towards children, disabled
persons, postmen, older people and generally all humans
has always been friendly and patient.
Bisho was a very proud and
incorruptible dog. Stealing freshly broiled steaks that
were within reach was beneath him. Instead Bisho sat
down next to them watching us in a demanding but still
proud way – a scene that we will probably never forget.
As most Akita’s he was very sensitive and devoted.
Every New Years Eve, he would
spend in the middle of our bed. Being terrified by the
firecracker he forgot all about his dignity and pride.
After 4 ½ years of treating his spondolysis we had to
put Bisho down at the age of 12 years and 4 months.
Apart from this disease he was in great health and
wouldn’t see the veterinarian except for his yearly
vaccinations.
In march 2005 CHIKOO von Shinrai,
a male dog, moved in. From the very beginning we went to
organized whelp play dates with him and attended classes
for basic behaviour in various dog schools in Berlin.
Even though it is not typical
for an Akita, Chikoo fetches objects. He even can do
some
tricks, at command he catches balls or snacks and is
always very proud after he completed his mission. We
took him to trainings, went to seminars and reports of
Günther Bloch, Dr. Udo Gansloßer, Angelika Lanzerath,
Petra Krivy, Gaby Kaiser, Gabriele Niepel, Thomas
Baumann and others. It was worth it.
Chikoo accompanies us everywhere:
on holidays and hiking trips, in restaurants,
to
Akita regulars’ table and to visit family and friends.
It is always hassle-free. The same applies to dogs
visiting our house and garden. The most important thing
for him is to BE PRESENT. He chooses his friends
carefully. As a general rule, he doesn’t like potent
male dogs but neutered dogs and most bitches. Chikoo
welcomes nice females in the pack no matter where they
meet - on the road or at home.
Chikoo is not qualified for
breeding because of health problems. However, he
recognizes his paternal duties within a pack in full
extent and hence is of inestimable value for us.
For example he taught our two
younger female dogs Makiko and Harumi, as well as
Akashio who was breed by us, to behave respectfully
towards older conspecifics. On the other site he defends
puppies or younger dogs when other adult dogs are being
too rude to them.
After having shared our home 15
enthused years
with
Akita’s we decided to breed them ourselves. Thus we
started looking for a female that is adapted for
breeding. After having visited several national and
international kennels and with taking under
consideration our breeding goal – breeding healthy,
socially compatible Akita’s with a distinct and
confident character – we chose KOISAKURA GO Yahata
Kensha that was imported from Japan by Silvia Exposito
(Spain).
After two matings „Koi“ had
eleven puppies in total. Those of the breed we got to
know inherited her friendly nature. Koi is a very small
female which she compensates with the grandeur of her
character.
She is the “Akita of the future”
for us – she has a strong character, she is socially
compatible, friendly towards humans and conspecifics and
she is a good mother.
She
takes her job of breeding the puppies very seriously.
Koi is supposed to be the basis of our breed. Therefore
we called our kennel after her.
She gets along with all dogs –
no matter which breed or gender and no matter the
location: in our house or the dog’s park. She is very
social and tolerant towards puppies of other bitches as
well.
Koi is respected by all members
of the pack – without any exception. She stays out of
wild rampage sessions but prefers lying close to us and
being caressed our sun bathing. Our younger female dogs
love cuddling with Koi.
Before Koi came into our lives,
we thought that dogs had to be male and weigh at least
35 kg.
Koi
taught us right. Females are assertive, behave like calm
observers and follow a rather patient and diplomatic
strategy. They are easier to educate than male dogs,
sometimes they are moody and they handle change much
easier.
We adopted this female at the
age of 2 ½ years like our male dog as a puppy. Due to
her friendly nature she conquered our hearts in a decent
but present way.
Our
tomcat prefers Koi to all other dogs because she payed
him her respect from the very beginning and never tried
to hassle him. Beyond our home she loves hunting – cats
too. At wintry temperatures, just after she had arrived
at our place she jumped ardently into a river in order
to hunt passing ducks. This adventure didn’t seem to
leave any traces; she didn’t repeat it either though.
Koi is mad about eating. She starts a real howling
concert when her food is being prepared in the kitchen.
Sometimes
her impatience makes her sticking her muzzle through the
catflap in order to be a little closer to her food. This
is a bit too much for our tomcat Oskar. For a while he
ignores her but then he taps on the catflap making the
marplot withdraw. At least for a few moments it is
silent on the other side of the kitchen door. The good
relation between the two is not affected at all by this
procedure.
In May 2008 just half a year
after Koi moved in, a long-cherished plan came true,
even
if a bit too early: we adopted a second she-dog from
another bloodline.
At the Akita Cup 2008 in Turin our just founded
association JAPAN AKITA e. V. got the offer to buy a
female of the mating of Bandou Tarou (World champion
2006) and Mitsuko Go Dell‘ Antico Oriente (European
champion 2007). After a quick glimpse on the homepage of
Francesco, the Italian breeder, and not even five
minutes of respite we agreed upon the she-dog MAKIKO GO
Dell‘ Antico Oriente, chosen by Susanne Faust.
Makiko
is, as well as Koi, a windfall. She is happy to learn
new things, playfull and very pack-oriented. She shows
an excellent social behaviour when meeting other dogs,
loves going to the dog’s park and even on heat she
remains very friendly towards other female dogs. She
respects Koi and Chikoo as higher-ranking and cares in a
very lovely way about the puppies growing up in our
house.
We took her to a dog school
where she succeeded a basic education class. We went to
organized whelp and young dog playtimes and dabble in
dogdancing as well as “Agility”. At the moment we try to
teach her some tricks. One thing she is able to without
us teaching her is developing strategies. Once she made
our youngest female Harumi forget about a bone she was
just chewing on. Makiko brought Harumi a toy and enticed
her until Harumi devoted all her attention to the toy.
Makiko did win the game with the bone. But ever since,
there is not even a millimeter space between Harumi and
her bone.
Makiko is an elegant and gentle
female dog. She enjoys tender loving care and always
looks for direct contact with other members of the pack.
She is a real gain for us and the pack.
In April 2009, just 11 months
after Makiko had moved in, the yearly
Akita
Cup took place in Italy. Once again Susanne Faust
brought along a 9 week old female which came from a very
interesting mating of new Japanese lines: HARUMI Delle
Bianche Vallate found her new home with us.
This small female showed
completely different behaviour than Makiko.
When being trounced by Chikoo, she didn’t try to calm
him down. Instead, she turned around and walked away.
From the very beginning she was
characterized by a high motivation of working and
cooperating within and apart from the dog’s school.
Contact to other dogs was never as important as the
exercises,
where she could gain goodies. Harumi is always
passionate and takes part at our “trick-training” with
the complete pack.
With regards to conspecifics she
behaves socially and playfull. Harumi is active and
smart,
she
is a female of a strong character who adjusted fast and
without any problems to the new circumstances. We are
all looking forward her future development.
The true master of our house is
our tomcat Oskar. We took him at the age of 3months,
just when Chikoo turned half a year.
He tamed us to obedient tin and
door openers; the dogs form a guard of honor when Oskar
passes.
When we come home after a club
meeting,
Oskar welcomes us, purring as loud as he can and creeps
around our legs. He doesn’t hold our absence against us
because we always arrange a good replacement and thus he
does not lack anything.
The dogs and the tomcat are full
family members. Our living is determined by mutual
respect and a regulated schedule. Our
pets
can rely upon us. We love the kind of moments, when
Chikoo lies down infront of the chimney despite his
thick fur, when Koi guards the kitchen door, when Makiko
is turning on her back and wants to be cuddled as soon
as someone gets closer to her, when Harumi carries along
our gardening shoes until eventually, the others
identify them as toys, when a puppy
worms
his way through the cat flap and tomcat Oskar belts the
dogs when passing them without any real reason. After
all he has to strengthen his position “master of the
house”.
It is our aspiration to bring up
puppies - coined by Chikoo’s, Koi’s and Makiko’s
positive character traits and not at last by us humans -
uniting all conditions for becoming socially compatible
dogs with a strong character. We do our best to fulfill
this aspiration.
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