Do you have a colour preference in particular breeds?
The reason I ask is that I have just been on a walk with my boys and got chatting to a lovely lady who had the most beautiful soppy dog............it was a white Akita. I have always overlooked Akitas as a breed as I will admit to not really liking the darker colours or the black masks but this dog was the most stunning dog I have ever seen. We had a long chat about her and they are now definately on my wishlist for when my children have grown up and I have no other dogs in the house

Back in the days when they were called Japanese Akitas I attended a judges seminar on the breed. It was stressed often that the breed standard (and it is still is there) states that " Any colour including white brindle or pinto. Colours are brilliant and clear"

I find that some have very dull and insipid colours these days and considering the increase in popularity,there should be plenty of good dogs with good colour to breed from.

Akitas are not for everyone and their independant nature means you have to get one from a temperament focused breeder and then spend a great deal of time socialising and training it.

I definately have favourite colours. Mastiffs my definate favourite colour is a nice brindle whereas my OH prefers a fawn, for me a fawn has to have a clear black mask, and be a clean colour, nothing worse than a 'dirty' fawn!!

> Akitas are not for everyone and their independant nature means you have to get one from a temperament focused breeder and then spend a great deal of time socialising and training it.

Yes we were talking about that, the lady in question actually waited until her children were in secondary school and although her dog was fine with other dogs was told they do best on their own. Its not a breed I have looked into nor will I be it would be far too big for my boys and we would be a totally unsuitable home for one, thats not to say that 10-15 years time we won't be an ideal home for one (i have a very long wishlist of breeds I would "like" to own when my children are all grown up but thats not to say I will ever "actually" own any of them as they may not be suitable for us or vice versa)

I have a pinto Akita, she looks very flashy because of her colouring and when in good coat has brilliant colours.  I also own Rottie's so no preference for coat colour there lol!

My Akita lives with my Rottie's but isn't particularly keen on the Staffie.  I have worked really hard with her and she really is a fantastic girl with a lovely temperament.  I'm putting her forward to be a PAT dog this year so i'm sure she'll love that!

> I have worked really hard with her and she really is a fantastic girl with a lovely temperament.  I'm putting her forward to be a PAT dog this year so i'm sure she'll love that!

That sounds lovely you must feel very proud

I'm a mastiff girl and my favourite by far is a rich brindle....but I'm very fussy!!!!!
It has to have very clear crisp markings where you can clearly see the lines. I have 3 who look like they are wearing football socks with the lines running from the hips down to the toes.
I do also like the reds and fawns but again they have to be rich, clear even colours with no black ticking and clear black masks, and not sure whats going on but some that Ive seen recently with great big white bibs!!!!. As somebody mentioned before the "dirty" fawns are a pet hate of mine. I'm keeping a fawn boy from this litter as his colour is awesome and reminds me of pale warm butterscotch and his mask is jet black....I just want to eat him.

You get more whites with the Japanese Akita INU, the Japanese do not accept the black mask that most of the American type display which is why there are now two breeds, the Japanese version  Akita Inu, and the Akita (in UK) or American Akita in FCI countries (for a time also called the Great Japanese dog).

The two types/breeds are quite different.

In  long Dachs I prefer the shaded reds and they have to be really dark, but the B&T I prefer the tan to be light, I think it gives the face more expression. But in the smooths I'm not a fan of reds, much prefer the B&Ts

> I'm keeping a fawn boy from this litter as his colour is awesome and reminds me of pale warm butterscotch and his mask is jet black....I just want to eat him. <IMG class=qButton title="Quote selected text" alt="Quote selected text" src="/images/mi_quote.gif">

I had to laugh at this he does sound lovely!

Brainless - Yes we got to see the differences today at DD, I much prefer the Akita Inu

> Brainless - Yes we got to see the differences today at DD, I much prefer the Akita Inu

Pst, me too