akita cross husky... help needed - Page 2

That last entry just serves to prove Joanro's point;  there is so much that can environmentally influence any dog as it
grows up, a lot will depend on what happens to this mix and how the OP trains it, which will determine its adult temperament.  SOME of the process is 'nature' i.e. genetic;  but THE REST is 'nurture'.

My sister has 3 purebred Akitas. I can mention for certain - make sure you train the dog early the recall, because if you don't train a perfect recall as a young pup and practice the recall everyday - your gonna lose your dog eventually. And if you live on or near a mountain, woods or higher altitudes don't let them howl out.

My sister bought alot of Akita's over the years and she lost them because they took off never to be seen again. EVER !! She never knew why until one day ...

She lives on a mountain but in another State. Akita's can communicate efficiently with woofs and yotes unlike any other domestic dog. Not that this means anything to the OP (I don't know where or the environment they live) - but the Akita will try to communicate to what ever is out there listening. If they manage to get a response - that is it. They are gone to the wild.

It took my sister years and a few well bred Akita's to figure out why they just took off. Then it happened before her eyes. She thought it was fun and funny to listen to the callings back and forth - until one night she watched 2 of her dogs take off.

With the 3 Akita's she has now, she trained the recall at a very early age and reinforces it everyday  and never allowed them to howl out, ever. These 3 are now aged - I think the youngest is 9 years old.

Other than that, Akita's are really pretty, protective, smart, but aloof with strangers and they don't trust anyone other than the owner. When she brings them to my place their tails are down the entire time they are here - even if I'm not in sight.

Good Luck with your new puppy.

RLHAR

This dog needs a very firm, fair and consistent handler but she is the pet of a young girl who can't stand to say 'no' to her dog. 

That very well may be the problem. If I was like that with my Huskies when I had raised them I'm sure they might have turned out similar in some aspects. Not biting people......but in misbehaving.

I don't think they're naturally dog aggressive. Those who come in our clinic are typically good dogs. I don't think they'd be the dog to have with small children or small pets, but if you get it as a pup and raise it with the kids, you could have a really good dog. However, that's not set in stone. Some dogs are not good with kids or other dogs, even if they're brought up with them. I personally like Akitas, and love Huskies. However I'd definately do my research first. This could be a big handful of a dog. If you get it, be prepared that it's going to need proper socialization, training, and a strong handler.

I think all need to consider this as well, don't we hear by others that "working line dogs" with German Shepherds can't live in the house, can't be around kids, other dogs, are too high drive to be with a family, etc etc, but yet many on this board do so. And we know that not to always be the case by far. Sometimes things are hear say, sometimes it's a person who doesn't have the knowledge to own a certain breed, sometimes it's lack of training skills in the handler,  it can have so many variables......and then it goes down to the specific dog at hand as well, regardless of breed.