Why are the Japanese and American standards so different?
Most American Akitas came from breeding stock brought back by servicemen after World War II. These dogs often came from pet shops and, for the most part, did not represent the highest quality Akitas. Also at this time many Akitas in Japan showed the results of breeding with non-native breeds, e.g. some of the early American Akitas had large, upright ears and German-shepherd-like coloring. The Akitas brought back represented several different types. The American standard was revised several times in the 1960s, and the final version was approved by the AKC in 1972. After World War II, the Japanese tried to restore a purer type of Akita, trying to eliminate traits that might come from earlier crossbreeding. Some of the traits they eliminated were loose skin, loose tail curl, facial wrinkles, and large ears. They also permitted only the more traditional colors of Japanese dogs – red, white, and brindle.
