Training an Akita entails a lot of patience and hard work, but the pay-off can be great. Akitas can become possessive, territorial and even destructive when not properly trained. It is an intelligent breed of dog which is usually known to be docile and non-aggressive. These traits can be achieved through proper training, early lessons in socialization and a lot of mental stimulation.

Like all great groundwork, training should begin when the puppy is only several weeks old. Older Akitas may be more difficult to teach, considering their size and girth. Also, older dogs may already have formed "bad" habits of which you may have great difficulty curbing. Plus, starting them young will help you nip these bad habits before they set, and this interaction will help increase your dog's devotion to you and your family.

Some of the basic training for your Akita puppy should include housebreaking, socialization, responding to your call, learning not to jump on people or furniture and learning to release objects from its mouth upon your command and sharing.

Through gradual training, it is possible to teach an Akita these things in the safety of your own home. If you feel, however, that this might be too much to handle, you may want to scour around your town or area for canine obedience and agility classes.

Akitas are fast learners, and all they basically need are clear sets of instructions and consistent handling. An Akita dog can be house broken in only a span of two to three weeks, whereas other breeds take much, much longer. Also, the Akita is perfect for the indoors, and it is not prone to excessive movements. Despite its large size, this breed will be easier to manage inside the house than a Min Pin or a Dachshund.

Despite its rather laid back attitude towards life, the Akita is actually a working dog. It was once bred as a hunting animal that could bring down large preys such as bears, deer and wild boars. It is a wonderful guard dog because it isn't easily excited about unusual things in its environment. It only barks when "there is something to bark about".

Training in socialization is necessary, especially if you have children in the house. An Akita without any prior experience socializing with children, may turn aggressive, and may even bite. Teaching the dog socialization is actually rather easy to do. At a tender age, try to let your Akita mingle with your other house pets. This teaches the dog "social graces" and eventually relates well to other animals in due time. Without this so-called socialization, an adult Akita may become territorial and chase after other animals and even people.

And lastly, you may want to offer your dog a lot of mental stimulation. The pack instinct of the Akita is still very strong, and it craves companionship constantly. Mental stimulation and a bit of physical exercise will do your dog a lot of good. Obedience and agility training may be a good idea. Or, if you think that this is not for you and your pet, a long walk to the park and a brief frolic in an open space during regular intervals may distract your pet from boredom.