Not all purebred Akita puppies are put up for adoption or for sale. If you are seriously considering adopting one from the few that are offered to the public, you must first check the quality of the Akita puppy you propose to get.

Explore your options carefully. An Akita puppy may be cuddly cute, but you should never get one on a whim. It is best to read all available information about the breed like grooming, care, health problems, temperament, diet, etc. Go visit the vet or a string of local breeders and find out what you can about the breed before committing yourself.

If possible, make a list of questions. Having sufficient general information about the Akita breed will help you make more direct and pertinent questions. If you decide to approach one or two local breeders, you might as well take into consideration the dog breeding facility itself. Knowing the background of the dog breeding company will show you a glimpse of the "quality" of Akita puppies they have to offer. Ask yourself:

Does the kennel look clean?
Do the dogs here look healthy?
Is this breeder making brisk business?

If you answer 'yes' to all these questions, chances are you have gotten yourself a fine deal. After choosing the breeder to acquire your Akita puppy from, file an application for adoption and then go home and wait. As a rule, responsible breeders plan their breeding programs carefully, and they may only offer one or two of these per year. Never accept purebred puppies that seem to materialize from nowhere; check details like the name and qualities of its dame and sire. If the breeder cannot present you these papers, then choose another breeder that can.

Temperament, like the puppy's physical stature, can be inherited from its parents. Responsible breeders test puppies' temperaments and try to diligently match them with applicants. If the breeders call you up to say that your puppy is available, make sure you also ask them for your puppy's legal papers. All purebred dogs have papers, and yours should be no exception.

On the other hand, if you decide instead to search for Akita puppies from local animal shelters or dog pounds, it might be advisable first to apply as a foster parent to one or two facilities. This "temporary" arrangement can help you gauge whether an Akita puppy is suitable for your lifestyle or not. Animal shelters and dog pounds will only be more than happy to let you take care of their wards, even for just a brief period.

You have to remember, though, that Akita puppies from shelters and pounds have no official papers, and they may need more vet care than those that come straight from the Akita breeders. Animals that end up in shelters and pounds invariably contract one or two behavioral problems. These may be curbed early on, especially if you train your dog in socialization. Older puppies, however, may be more difficult to manage, so try to get one that is more than a few weeks old but less than 6 months in age.