We put a great deal of time and money into each litter we produce and every puppy we raise. Each puppy receives the same love, attention, and high standard of care regardless whether it is a show prospect or destined to be a companion only. All of our puppies come with the same health warranty and we put the same amount of effort into screening homes, making matches, and providing lifetime support to the new owner. Every puppy, great and small, is of equal value and importance to us.
Price Guide (August 2024)
| Show Prospect | $4,000 USD |
|---|---|
| Standard | $4,000 USD |
| Non-standard | $3,250 USD |
| Long Coat | $2,500 USD |
The prices listed above are for puppies. Teenage and young adult prices may vary dramatically depending on the age of the dog and why the dog is being rehomed. Typically, older dogs are more than puppies because more work has been put into training, titling, and health testing them, and their temperament and character is less variable or uncertain. All puppies grow up into dogs; their value does not diminish with age. Breeders who charge more for younger animals are focused on profiting from selling a "cute puppy" instead of producing a quality lifelong companion.
It is very rare that we sell one of our retired adults but when we do, they are spayed or neutered and placed in a home where they can enjoy retirement as a beloved companion and house dog. Sometimes we may have one of our puppies returned to us later in life and need to find it a new family.
Receive $1,250 Back in Rebates
Effective August 2024, we are offering $1,250 in rebates for doing the "right stuff" with your new pup. That includes any kind of multi-week training class (eg. puppy kindergarten, scentwork, obedience), earning any kind of title or certification (eg. CGC, SPOT, trick dog, conformation champion), or doing any recommended health clearances for the breed and recording them with OFA (eg. eyes, hips, cardiac). We will pay up to $100 for each activity to encourage owners to do a variety of things in order to claim the full rebate amount. Litters born prior to August 2024 are subject to a lower total rebate amount.
Limited Registration: Pups sold with limited registration are also eligible for a rebate of up to $300 with proof of spay/neuter, provided that the dog is at least 24 months old at time (for males) or an ovary sparing spay is used (for females). This counts towards the maximum rebate amount.
Show Prospect and Standard
We sell our show prospect puppies at the same price as our standard pups that are “just” family companions. The difference is in the application process and sales contract. We are very judicious in the way in which we screen applicants, but even more so when the buyer wants breedings rights for the dog. All buyers interested in showing and/or breeding must become members of the Japanese Akita Club of America and adhere to the JACA Code of Ethics. AKIHO or NIPPO membership is necessary in order to transfer the dog's Japanese pedigree to the owner's name, but the first year of membership is included with the sales agreement for show prospects. Only pups which conform to the breed standard may be sold as show prospects; all others will be sold with limited privileges only and require spay or neuter.
If a puppy was purchased with a show contract and develops one of the traits below by way of genetic inheritance by 30 months of age, we will give the buyer a $750 rebate upon receiving proof that the dog has been spayed or neutered. Alternatively, the owner may return the dog to us for a full refund. We may be able to offer a replacement show prospect but that is not always the case.
Non-Standard and Long Coat
A “non-standard” puppy has one or more traits which do not conform to the breed standard. Our breedings are chosen to produce a high average quality from very sound, confirmed parents, so the likelihood of any of these traits is extremely low. These dogs are disqualified from conformation shows and are only sold with a limited privilege contract that requires spay or neuter. Non-standard puppies are still loving pets who make excellent companions and family members. The traits which mark a puppy as non-standard affect the appearance but not the health or longevity of the individual.
With the exception of pinto markings and long coat, all of the traits below may take up to 12 months to be determined conclusively (30 months for height). A puppy sold as standard or show prospect that is determined to have a disqualifying fault will be eligible for a partial refund. This does not include faults that develop as a result of injury or advanced age.
- Butterfly nose: Pink and black spots or splotches on the nose.
- Cryptorchid: One or both testicles are not fully descended.
- Drop ears: One or both ears do not stand completely erect.
- Faulty bite (severe): Extreme overbite or underbite, wry bite, or a snaggle tooth.
- Hang or otter tail: Tail is always carried down or straight out, not over the back.
- Long coat: Exceptionally long fur that is soft and wooly. Discounted price.
- Pinto markings: Full collar with connected hachiware ("split face"; see below), white on the outside of the back legs, or white on the torso except the belly.
- Sickle tail: Tail does not curl enough to touch the back. Akita only.
- Under height: Under minimum height requirements.
Japanese Akita must be at least 58 cm for females and 64 cm for males.
Hokkaido must be at least 42.5 cm for females and 45.5 cm for males. - Unnatural color: Any color which does not naturally occur in the breed, including black, brown, dilute, merle, or blue eyes. These colors can only be produced by mixed breeding.
Other Faults
All dogs, even champions and grand champions, have some faults. While we choose our pairings to produce the highest quality puppies possible, we also recognize that no dog or puppy is perfect. Standard puppies may have some of the faults below but are not disqualified from show. It is up to the owner to decide if they wish to show the dog, depending on the severity of the fault(s). Any known faults will be listed on each puppy's evaluation presented to the buyer before deciding to buy.
With the exception of full collar, hachiware, and brindle points, all of the traits below may take up to 12 months to be determined conclusively (30 months for height). A puppy that is sold as standard or show prospect that develops one of these faults is not eligible for a partial refund.
- Brindle points: Brindle markings in the tan points of a black and tan dog.
- Cow hocks: Hocks that turn inwards and cause the paws to point outwards.
- Faulty bite (minor): Level bite, minor overbite or underbite, or crowded teeth.
- Full collar: White markings that extend all the way around the neck.
- Hachiware ("split face"): A white blaze that extends past the ears.
- Light eyes: Eyes that are not dark brown.
- Loose skin: Excessive forehead wrinkles, large dewlaps, or loose skin rolls.
- Over height: Above maximum ideal height.
Japanese Akita should be at most 64 cm for females and 70 cm for males.
Hokkaido should be at most 48.5 cm for females and 51.5 cm for males. - Round eyes: Eyes that are not the correct triangle shape.
- Saddle: Black shading on the back of a red dog. Akita only.
- Short or sparse coat: Coat that is very short or lays flat due to lack of undercoat.
- Short tail: Tail does not reach all the way to the hock when let down.
- Snow nose: Nose that is pinkish-grey and lighter towards the middle. Typical on white dogs but disqualifying on non-white dogs.
- Tongue spots: Any dark pigmentation on the tongue. Akita only.