Golden Akita Retriever (Golden Retriever & Akita Mix): Pictures, Traits & Facts

The Golden Akita Retriever is the gorgeous fluffball mix of the Golden Retriever and the Akita. Being a mixed breed, he usually inherits the best of both worlds. The Golden Retriever is the traditional family favorite, and the Akita is known for his profound loyalty and fun character.

Combine these traits, and what have you got? An easy-going hybrid pooch who is friendly and loving, loyal, and comical, all rolled into one pup. There’s nothing to dislike about this guy. But there are a few things that you need to know about him because he is not suited to everyone or every family.

Read on for more details about the unique Akita Golden Retriever mix.

Golden Akita Retriever Puppies

Ahh, the Golden Akita. Where do we start? Well, let’s begin by saying that he is a mixed breed, and his parents are very different dogs. Not only do they look different, but their personalities are worlds apart. Because the majority of Golden Akita pups are first-generation, there is no guarantee that he will be an equal blend of his parents.

His Golden Retriever parent is part of the sporting group because of his gundog heritage. The Akita is part of the working group because he was traditionally bred in packs to hunt deer, wild boar, and bears. Both of his parents are very energetic and intelligent, which means they need a lot of physical and mental stimulation to keep them happy and healthy.

The Golden Akita, despite his robust appearance and character, craves human companionship and hates to be alone. So much so that he suffers from separation anxiety – a mixture of missing you and feeling that he is unable to protect you. For this reason, he needs to live with a family that can spend most of their day with him.

3 Little-Known Facts About the Golden Akita Retriever

1. Golden Akitas Often Have Curly Tails

The Golden Akita can inherit the curly tail of the Akita. This is one of its distinct features that separate him from the canine crowd. When he is happy, his Catherine wheel tail will spin round and round as though he’s about to take off.

2. The Golden Akita is not always Golden

He can inherit any color of his parents. Although the golden color is the most desirable, he can inherit black, white, silver, brindle, fawn or red, or a combination of them. He can also inherit the black facial mask of his Akita parent too.

3. The Golden Akita is Rare

This guy is relatively rare, so you need to be prepared to travel to find a reputable breeder, and expect to be placed on a waiting list. He will likely be a first-generation pooch, also known as an F1, which means there is a lot of appearance and personality variation in pups.

Temperament & Intelligence of the Golden Akita Retriever 🧠

The Golden Akita is one of the most loyal mixed breeds around. The American Kennel Club goes as far as to describe his Akita parent as ‘profoundly loyal’. To learn just how faithful he can be, read up on the story of Hachiko, the most famous Akita in the world. Combining that with the Retriever parent’s devotion, it is guaranteed that you will be the apple of his eye.

Extremely loyal dogs usually carry the guard dog gene, and you can be sure that this gene will shine through in the Golden Akita. He will be suspicious of all that come into his home, and he’ll stand from afar and watch over his family. Once his family has welcomed them into the fold, he’ll stroll over and expect belly rubs for being the bestest boy.

If he doesn’t accept them, or his family doesn’t, he will leap into action and get in between the danger and his family. Nothing will scare this courageous dog away, which is great if you’re are looking for a protective pooch.

The Golden Retriever is one of the most intelligent dog breeds on the planet, which is why he is one of the most common assistance dogs. His Akita parent is also quite a smart pup, but only if he is in the mood for training.

This dog is also seriously loving and affectionate. This is great news considering how fluffy and cuddly he is. Nothing will keep you warmer than a Golden Akita on a cold winters eve.

Are These Dogs Good for Families? 🏡

Yes, without a doubt, the Golden Akita makes a remarkable family pet. Not only does his well-balanced personality make him a delight to be around, but his robust body can handle excitable children. He is very patient and knows how to be gentle with them. Just be sure to supervise them considering how big he is.

He needs a family that can spend most of their time with him. This guy will not get along well with a family who is out all day working and socializing. This guy has powerful Akita jaws that can take down Yezo bears, so your electrical wires and table legs don’t stand a chance.

He also needs a family who has not only time for his intense exercise needs, but also interactive playtime throughout the day. His intelligent brain needs a lot of stimulation and enrichment to keep him happy and chilled. It is more than likely that edible treats will drive this guy, so be sure to include these in games and think of plenty of brain games to entertain him with.

He also needs an experienced dog-owning family who is aware of what the family dynamics should be. A firm pack leader who will not allow the Golden Akita to get away with unruly behavior is needed. If you’ve never owned a dog before, choosing an Akita mix is not wise.

Does This Breed Get Along with Other Pets? 🐶 😽

The Golden Akita gets along well with all other pets, including cats, just as long as he is socialized early. His Akita parent is known to be overly protective and can display fear aggression with other dogs. Thankfully, because of his friendly Retriever genes, he’s likely to be much more mellow.

He might chase the local cats or visiting squirrels in your yard, but this is purely for his entertainment more than anything else.

Things to Know When Owning a Golden Akita Retriever:

In addition to his personality and what kind of family he needs, here are a few other things that you need to know about his training and day-to-day needs.

Food & Diet Requirements 🦴

The Golden Akita will need around 3 cups of high-quality dried kibble that will provide him with a well-balanced diet. Being a large boy, you should always buy him kibble specially designed for large breed dogs. This is particularly important for his puppy life-stage. Feeding him a large breed kibble will help to control his rapid bone growth and help to lower the chances of him developing orthopedic disease.

A high-quality dried kibble will provide him with vitamins and minerals, omega fatty acids, carbohydrates, and fiber. A Golden Akita should eat a kibble that contains a protein content of at least 18% as an adult, and 22% as a puppy. Anything more is just a bonus.

Being a food-obsessed pooch, you should utilize treats in his training regime. Just be careful you don’t go overboard with them because both of his parents are known to get chunky. If you notice that your Golden Akita is turning into a porky pooch, switch him to a weight management kibble and lower his treat intake.

Being a big dog, this guy is prone to a condition called bloat. So make sure you do not feed him immediately before or after exercise. His stomach will twist, and it is a life-threatening condition, so make sure you are aware of the symptoms.

Exercise 🐕

The Golden Akita is a very energetic pooch, who has very active parents, so you can expect him to be doubly so. You need to set aside 60 to 90 minutes of exercise every day. It needs to be intense and challenging for his body and mind to reap the benefits. A long leisurely walk around the block will not do.

The Golden Akita is much happier in a home where there is room to roam and play all day long. Due to his size, he isn’t suited to an apartment or smaller house without a yard. This big pooch needs lots of room; otherwise, he’ll get cabin fever quickly.

Be sure to mix up his routine to keep him interested and to give his nose new surroundings to sniff. A great exercise activity for this guy is the local doggy park, and this will also keep his socialization skills and doggy etiquette up to scratch.

Training 🦮

The Golden Akita is a challenging dog who needs an experienced dog owner. They will need to invest a lot of time and effort into his puppy training schedule. Enrolling this guy into a puppy obedience class will set you up for a lifetime of well-behaved characteristics.

It is essential to understand that his training is a lifelong commitment. He will need to be continually reminded of his doggy manners for him to remain polite. This is always the case with dogs that have the potential to be overprotective and challenging. But as long as you can commit to this, you will find that you have an adorable and lovely pooch.

He needs early socialization to ensure that he becomes accustomed to and confident around other dogs, animals, humans, and unfamiliar situations. An unconfident or poorly socialized dog of his size can be a dangerous mix, and a handful to control.

Considering how anxious he can become when left alone for too long, we suggest that you crate train him from an early age. Although many dog owners are put off by locking their dog in a cage, it is known to be useful in making him calmer and happier.

Grooming ✂️

The Golden Akita needs daily brushing thanks to his big fluffy jacket. His coat could take after either parent, but each has its demands. If it is more like his Akita’s parent, it will be dense and thick, and his undercoat will need tackling. If it is more like his Golden Retriever’s coat, it will be thick and wavy, with feathering fur around his ears, neck, belly, and legs. Be sure to wash him once every 8 to 12 weeks, depending on how dirty he gets on his adventures in the local doggy park. Do not clean him any more than this because you risk damaging his natural skin oils. You should purchase a concentrated but gentle shampoo to penetrate his thick coat.

His large ears will need cleaning because they are bound to catch a lot of dirt. A build-up of dirt will lead to bacterial infections, so you should do this once or twice a week.

Health and Conditions ❤️

The Golden Akita is a mixed pup who is likely to inherit a mixture of health concerns. He is a relatively healthy dog who will enjoy a lifespan of 10 to 13 years on average. Below are the most common health concerns found in the Golden Akita based on his parent’s health conditions.

Male vs. Female

The male and female Golden Akitas are generally the same, with little differences between the two sexes. The main difference is that males tend to be larger than females in both height and weight.

Positive training and meeting the needs of any pooch will better determine their personality than sex will.

Final Thoughts

The Golden Akita is undoubtedly a big boy to handle, and he needs a lot of exercise, grooming, and attention. He also needs strict training and socialization from an early age to ensure that he grows into a polite adult.

But as long as you can offer all he needs, he will return the favor tenfold. He is loving, attentive, cuddly, and fun. He gets on well with children and other animals, and he will protect the family, and also be friendly with your extended family and friends. Overall, he is a larger-than-life character who everyone will love.

Remember to replace this with the relevant info for this dog breed!

Related Reads:

• Foodle (Toy Poodle & Toy Fox Terrier)
• Papijack (Papillon & Jack Russell Terrier Mix)

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Featured Image Credit: Kotchaporn Kuha, Shutterstock