Akita vs Shiba Inu
Side by side
Akita
Shiba Inu
Adult weight
Males 45–59 kg (100–130 lb); females 32–45 kg (70–100 lb) (breed club figure)1
Males 8–11 kg (18–24 lb); females 7–9 kg (15–20 lb) (breed club figure)2
Height
Males 66–71.1 cm; females 61–66 cm (breed club figure)1
Males 38–41 cm; females 35–38 cm (breed club figure)2
Shedding
Moults most as the seasons change
Grooming
A brush once a week
Exercise
A moderate amount
Class
Watchdog
Companion
Which suits you
Size
The Akita is far larger: about 45 kg (100 lb) as an adult, against 8.8 kg (19 lb) for the Shiba Inu.
Lifespan
In UK vet records the Shiba Inu lives longer: a median of 14.6 years, against 11.4 for the Akita.
Temperament
They differ most on loyalty (Akita: sticks close to its people; Shiba Inu: bonded to its family) and on sensitivity (Akita: hardy, takes a busy home in its stride; Shiba Inu: average).
Alike
Both are rated the same on affection: likes its own space.
Neither is the better dog in general. Which suits you depends on your home, your days and the care you can give.
What they're like
Akita
Spitz & primitive · Large
In temperament the Akita is dignified, quiet and reserved with strangers, and closely attached to its own household.
Shiba Inu
Spitz & primitive · Small
In temperament the Shiba is alert, bold and independent, and reserved with strangers. It is fastidious and is often said to groom itself like a cat.
Breed traits
Day to day
Akita
Shiba Inu
Activity
A good daily walk and play
A good daily walk and play
Intelligence
Learns readily, likes games
Learns readily, likes games
Handler demand
Needs an experienced owner
Needs an experienced owner
With people
Akita
Shiba Inu
Affection
Likes its own space
Likes its own space
Loyalty
Differs
Sticks close to its people
Bonded to its family
Independence
Decides for itself
Decides for itself
Around the home
Akita
Shiba Inu
Sensitivity
Differs
Hardy, takes a busy home in its stride
Average
Voice
Differs
Quiet
Barks to alert, then settles
Prey drive
Likely to chase small pets
Likely to chase small pets
Puppy growth
Reference curves · both sexes
Summary
Detail
The Akita grows to the heavier adult, about 45 kg against the Shiba Inu's 9 kg.
Akita
Shiba Inu
More comparisons
Compare the Akita with
Sources
- 1American Kennel Club. Akita breed page. ↑
- 2American Kennel Club. Shiba Inu breed page. ↑
- 3
- 4Hawthorne et al., 2004. Body-weight changes during growth in puppies of different breeds. Journal of Nutrition 134(8 Suppl): 2027S–2030S (WALTHAM). ↑
- 5
- 6
- 7Morrill et al., 2022. Ancestry-inclusive dog genomics challenges popular breed stereotypes. Science 376: eabk0639 (Darwin's Ark). ↑
- 8Dogs Trust. Finding a good, responsible breeder. ↑
- 9American Kennel Club. Screening puppy buyers: how top breeders find the best homes. ↑
- 10
Parts of this page were written by AI ·