Akita vs Rottweiler – Myths and Facts [The Ultimate Guide to These Dog Breeds]

Big dogs, fierce and ferocious, hard to control, harder to train. This reputation follows both Akita and Rottweiler. But is this really true, and to what extent? Which one makes a better pet?

Furthermore, are Rottweilers as ferocious and vicious as portrayed? Or are Akitas high-maintenance dogs?

In this article, we will do a deep dive into each breed and the two of them compared. Our mission is to weed out the myths and provide facts about each dog allowing you to make the best choice for your needs. We’ll cover everything you need to know: from physical and psychological differences to grooming and training, to health conditions and proper care.

The Akita dog breed is well regarded because of its noble character. It is a very loyal dog that loves deeply and profoundly, a character trait that has endeared it to many dog owners over centuries.
A story is told of Hachiko, a Japanese Akita dog that was super loyal to his owner. The owner, a professor at the Tokyo Imperial University, died during a lecture and so never returned home.

But Hachiko continued to wait for him at the train station EVERY morning and evening as he had done when the professor was alive. Hachiko died at the train station while waiting for his master to come home as he always did every day since the professor passed on.

The Rottweiler is no less loyal or loving despite the ferocious reputation that follows the breed. They rank eighth in terms of dog breed popularity because of their confident, guardian, and loving nature. 

Did you know that Rottweilers were one of the earliest police dogs? They also serve in the military. Read on for more (p)awesome and useful information!

	American Akita	Rottweiler
Size and weight	Medium to large size dogs with a weight of 70 to 130 pounds. The breed’s general height is 24 to 28 inches.	Large size dog with a typical weight of 85-135 pounds. These dogs have a height of 24 to 27 inches.
Appearance	Muscular and compact body with a thick, double coat covering the entire body. The ears are upright and erect although they are not very small. The tail is bushy and curls upward.	Muscular and sturdy body with a short double coat consisting of short coarse hairs and few fuzzy hairs. The breed has a distinct mahogany color on various parts of the body and a docked tail.
Temperament	Intelligent and very dignified. But they can also be willful and aggressive so approach with patience.	Highly intelligent and courageous. They are also very calm with a self-assured aloof personality. This breed can also be aggressive
Health issues	Hip dysplasia, Hypothyroidism, Progressive retinal atrophy, gastric dilatation-volvulus, and sebaceous adenitis (SA)	Elbow dysplasia, AS/SAS, osteosarcoma, torsion, hypothyroidism, and hip dysplasia
Grooming	Has moderate grooming needs	Has moderate grooming needs
Trainability	Very obedient nature so training comes easy. However, they need an assertive owner because of their strong aloof personality.	Very trainable with a friendly disposition. They have a happy personality making it easy to work with them.

Related post: Siberian Husky vs Golden Retriever – In-Depth Comparison

Akita the Ancient & Noble Japanese – History & Fun Facts

The Akita can trace back its lineage 1000 years back. It is a dog breed that originated from the Northern mountainous region of Japan. The dog is named after the Akita and Odate regions from which it is specifically from.

This dog breed has been used in dogfighting as far back as the 1600s. And from the 1500s to the 1800s it was the dog of choice to accompany Japanese Samurais. That is because it has always had well-developed hunting and guarding skills.

The Akita breed is so precious to the Japanese culture that, when their population began reducing at the beginning of the 20th century, they took a native Japanese breed called the Matagi and bred it to a Hokkaido breed. The point was to bring back the Akita breed with its traditional features.

Previously, the Akita was bred to German shepherds and Mastiffs which led to the decline of the numbers of the Akita. Even now, the current breed type has a few more features it inherited from western breeds, despite the attempts at restoration.

The Akita is such a diligent worker breed that during the Japanese-Russian war, it was used to search for prisoners of war and lost sailors. Its high intelligence and loyalty resulted in the Japanese government designating the breed as a national monument.

Now THAT’S an honor a dog doesn’t get every day!

You can find an Akita with the American Kennel Club.

In Japanese culture, these dogs are venerated and they symbolize happiness, good health, and long life for their owners.

The Akita was introduced to America by Helen Keller, a Presidential Medal of Freedom winner who was a renowned author and public speaker. Keller loved dogs and when she went to Japan on a speaking tour, she decided to visit the Akita district after hearing about Hachiko.

She was a fervent pooch lover, so the story fascinated her. So when she met an Akita, she fell in love with it and expressed in passing that she would love to have one of these faithful dogs.

The Japanese government heard her request and contracted one of their breeders by the name of Ichiro Ogasawara to give her one. He gifted Keller an Akita puppy named Kamikaze-Go. Unfortunately, kamikaze-Go died of distemper once in the States.

But the Japanese government through Ogasawara sent her another Akita puppy, this one named Kenzan-Go. He arrived safe and sound, was renamed Go-Go by Keller, and can be seen in photos with the author sitting loyally at her feet.

It was Helen Keller’s account of how devoted and protective Go-Go was that fueled demand for the breed in America. So when the second world war ended many Americans contacted their soldier relatives based in Japan asking them to return with an Akita puppy.

Helen Keller was blind and deaf so she never saw the wag of her Akita’s tail, or heard his bark. But she felt his devotion and loyalty as it still stood out in their interactions.

Rottweiler, the Loyal Giant – History & Fun Facts

This breed is a direct descendant of the Molossus, which is considered an Italian Mastiff breed. It was and still is a working dog breed.

In ancient times, it accompanied Roman herders and shepherds over the Alps to help them herd and protect their cattle. 

As the breed accompanied its owners to Germany and other parts of Europe, it mated with other dogs along the way. The herders made way for Roman soldiers to find their way into other parts of Europe.

When Romans settled in Southern Germany to colonize the area, their dogs which were Molossus created the modern-day rottweiler by mating with other native breeds. 600 years later, the Rottweilers that descended from the original Molossus were being used as guard dogs.

Merchants would even place their profits around the neck of the Rotts when heading home.

Talk about a secure way to transport money!

The Rottweiler almost went extinct when meat and cattle began being transported by rail. In 1882, only ONE Rottweiler was available to be exhibited at a dog show in Heilbronn, Germany.

But luckily the situation was rectified in 1901 with the formation of the Rottweiler and Leonberger Club. They came up with the standard Rottweiler breed. More Rottweiler breeding clubs mushroomed but the one that stayed the course was the Allgemeiner Deutscher Rottweiler Klub that came about in 1921 which exists until today.

They are dedicated to ensuring the best breeding practices for Rottweilers. It has been consistently preserving the breed since its foundation.

The Rottweiler is believed to have come into the United States with a German immigrant in the late 1920s. However, the first rottweiler was registered with the American Kennel Club in 1931.

Aaaand another fun fact: Did you know that Rottweilers are born with long tails? Their tails are docked when they are puppies resulting in the curly bit of a tail that we are so used to seeing in the breed.

Rottweiler vs Akita: What To Expect Of Each Breed

Types of Akita

There are two Akita varieties: The American and the Japanese. The Japanese variety is commonly referred to as the Akita Inu (Inu stands for a dog in Japanese).

The two Akitas differ in appearance with the American Akita being heavier and larger in stature. Their heads are also larger with a more bear-like appearance.

On the other hand, the Japanese Akita has more fox-like features with a smaller head. They are also lighter. A typical Japanese Akita weighs between 65 to 120 pounds compared to their American cousin that weighs up to 130 pounds.

The Japanese Akita also has ears that sit slightly forward compared to the ears of the American Akita that are very upright and erect.

When it comes to their eyes, the Akita Inu has almond-shaped eyes that are very similar to a Siberian Husky in shape. Their American cousin tends to have more deep-set eyes that appear smaller.

Finally, the coat color on the Japanese Akita is limited to orange, white, brindle, and red. They also do not have a black mask on their face.

The American Akita comes in more variety of colors and frequently has a distinct black mask on their faces. Also, their skin is looser than on the Japanese breed.

Both Akitas have similar temperaments but the Japanese breed is more aloof compared to their American breed. Their life expectancy is 10 to 13 years.

If you need to learn more about the two Akitas, check out our guide on the Japanese Akita and the American Akita!

Types of Rottweilers

Considering how far and wide this breed has traveled in the world, it is not surprising that there are some varieties of Rottweilers. There are two varieties of Rottweilers: German Rottweiler and American Rottweiler.

But Rottweiler experts will tell you that there is NO distinct difference between an American and a German Rottweiler except the fact that the American one was born in the United States.

Having said that, the Allgemeiner Deutscher Rottweiler Klub (ADRK) has very strict standards when accepting the German Rottweiler breed.

Their standards include a standardized appearance of a black coat with rust-colored markings, deep brown eyes, muscular body, and even temper while remaining vigilant and alert.

The American Kennel Club requires similar standards to be upheld in the breed but they allow practices like docking of the tail and ear cropping.

So, you see, there is not a significant difference between the two varieties except perhaps where they were born and the standards of the breeding organizations.

The German-bred rottweiler may indeed look larger, stockier, and have a blockier head compared to their American cousin. However, that comes down to diet and breeding, NOT to specific genetic differences.

The ADRK has very strict breeding guidelines that ensure only the best and healthiest Rotties that pass several breed qualification tests are bred. And practices like tail docking, declawing, and ear cropping are strictly forbidden there. The organization does not breed dogs with docked tails or cropped ears. So, a German Rottweiler most likely has its natural tail.

You may come across some unscrupulous breeders selling you a Roman Rottweiler, or a rare rottweiler, or even a tailed rottweiler. They may claim that such dogs are exotic and are larger with blue eyes or they are superior because of their heavier set.

There is no such thing.

Such dogs have been mixed with other breeds and the result is a look that deviates from the standard of the Rottweiler breed.

The life expectancy of the Rottweiler is 9 to 10 years.

Here is a detailed breakdown of the differences between the breeds.

1. Akita vs Rottweiler – Physical Appearance

Both dogs belong to the large-size group of dogs. However, here are the specifics of each breed’s size and weight according to gender.

The Akita stands a bit taller than the Rottweiler, but the latter packs on more muscle making it heavier. That makes the Akita appear more lightweight but despite their effortless gait, they are muscular dogs that are formidable.

Eyes

The standard eye color of an Akita is brown – more precisely, dark brown. They are deep set and triangular-shaped with black rims.

You may come across BLUE eyes in an Akita, but that is most probably a crossbreed with a Siberian Husky. Because both breeds bear a lot of resemblance to each other, they tend to be cross-bred a lot. They both have large heads, a double-coat, erect, upright ears and a straight nuzzle.

So, to get a “blue-eyed Akita”, some people mate the two breeds.

The typical eyes of an Akita tend to be shiny and alert, giving the expression that they are aware of everything going on around them.

The eyes of a Rottie, on the other hand, are almond-shaped with dark-colored eyes but just as alert and aware. Some Rottweilers may have lighter shades of brown in their eye color.

An interesting fact is that some people prefer Rottweilers with dark-colored eyes. The logic goes that the darker the eye color, the more intimidating their stare. The light-colored eyes may not have the same effect because they soften the dog’s expression diminishing their bold expression.

The almond-shaped eyes of the Rottweiler are surrounded by tight-fitting lids. The lids must not be hairless as this is an indication of mange, which is an infestation of mites or perhaps an allergic reaction.

According to the Rottweiler breeders, you should also be keen to check that the Rottie you are acquiring doesn’t have:

• Eyes too close together or far apart
• Eyelids that are not of the same size
• Eyes that are low in the face
• Round eyes

You may come across Rottweilers that have two different shades of eye color for each eye. That is because the dog has inherited the Merle gene which causes heterochromia, two different colored eyes on an animal.

Rotties with albinism may also result in pink or blue eyes.

Coat

The Akita’s coat comes in several colors and variations. That gives you a wide range to choose from. But all have one thing in common:

A short hair topcoat and a fuzzy and dense undercoat. The topcoat can feature short to medium hair which is closely packed together. It is coarse to the touch, unlike the softer undercoat that is equally dense but softer.

The undercoat of the dog may be a different color from the topcoat, but their colors are always bold and clear.

The Rottweiler’s coat, on the other hand, lies flat and features straight but coarse medium-length hairs.

This breed also has a double coat but you can’t tell just by looking at it. The undercoat is only present on the thighs and neck.

You will notice that the outer coat is shorter around the ears, head, and leg.

Ears

Akita dogs have upright ears which make them easier to clean. They are less prone to ear infections like you would experience with dogs that have floppy ears. 

However, Akita puppies have droopy ears which become erect as the bones and cartilage develop in them. As the puppies reach the weaning stage, their ears start to stand up gradually.

Being working dogs that are super active all the time, they tend to sweat A LOT. Having upright ears is an advantage because that means they do not trap sweat, mites, dirt, and yeast which can develop hearing complications for the dog.

Rottweilers, on the other hand, have drop ears that flop over their ear canal. The ears are not too long but they make them susceptible to ear infections without proper hygiene.

The dog’s ears can trap debris and dirt into the canal. So if not cleaned out, the ears may begin to emit an offensive odor.

Rottweilers are working dogs so they also sweat a lot.

And they do it through their paws, but also inner ears! Their drop ears can trap the sweat moisture within the ear canal.

The ears of both breeds have the typical long ear canal that is narrow and ends in an L-shape.

Musculature

Both the Rottweiler and the Akita are breeds with dense musculature. The American Akita, especially, can go pound for pound with the Rottweiler. Although the Japanese Akita is slightly less dense, it doesn’t mean they are weak or any less well-muscled.

At an average of 100 pounds of pure muscle power, that is enough for both breeds to dominate and intimidate.

The deep forechest is well developed in both breeds. The males have a distinctly more massive frame compared to their bitches. However, the females do not lack the substance or structure despite their smaller frame.

The Rottweiler’s frame is very compact looking with quite a powerful appearance. And Akitas look domineering because of the presence of muscle and a thick double coat.

You will notice both breeds have an erect stand which accentuates the muscles in their hind and front limbs and shoulders as well.

2. Grooming

If you are looking to adopt any of these breeds, you’d better get used to quite a bit of shedding!

Being double-coated dogs, both breeds shed. However, the Akita sheds significantly more than the Rottweiler. When you own an Akita, you will find hair on your furniture and floors more often.

According to breeders, an Akita’s fur must not be shaved to less than 1.5 to 2 inches.

Shaving off more than this will affect the way the coat grows back and also exposes the dog to sunburn and other skin irritations.

The Rottweiler may shed less but their hairs also need a short trim to keep them neat and manageable. The short trim helps keep the coat smooth without overexposing the dog’s skin.

For double-coated breeds, these two dogs are relatively low maintenance to groom. And with the Akita, it has cat-like qualities of self-grooming making it even easier on you.

How to Groom an Akita

Brushing

They shed their coats twice a year. During these shedding seasons, you may have more work than usual.

But the rest of the time you can use a steel comb with wide-set teeth to comb out any tangles. After that, go in with a pin brush to groom the coats from top to bottom throughout the body.

The thick undercoat is especially prone to mats but with brushing once or twice a week, the mats are easily managed.

Akitas also form mats under the collar and where their legs and the body join. If this happens, work a small section at a time with the steel comb BEFORE you brush to avoid hurting the dog.

Before you start combing the coat, spritz it with water to prevent the hairs from flying all over the place. When you do this, the hair will come out and collect on the comb. After you finish, swipe your hand over the dog’s coat to collect any damp hairs that linger on the top.

Akitas shed very fine hair so it is recommended to brush them outdoors.

Bathing

Bathe Akitas sparingly, not only because they are self-cleaning animals but also because you do not want their thick coat to be constantly wet. That may be detrimental to their health.

When you observe the pooch, you will notice that they clean themselves like cats.

Now that’s convenient!

And their thick coats repel dirt and debris unless the dog has been rolling in the mud. (In which case, you’re in for some trouble!)

Brushing and combing then spritzing with scented water will do the trick in terms of cleaning the dog.

Nails

Your Akita’s legs should rest on the dog’s paws, not on its nails. When their nails grow long, you will hear them tap onto the surface they are walking on.

Clean the legs of your dog thoroughly before cutting to prevent dirt and infections. Use a clipper with a safety top to avoid cutting the dog’s quick.

Although Akitas are working dogs, most people like to keep these dogs indoors as companions, especially the Japanese Akita. Because of their indoor nature, their nails will tend to grow fast. So, cutting them once or twice a month is sufficient to keep them trim, neat and healthy.

Ears

The ears of the Akita are pert and upright, but they also need cleaning to keep them healthy. Do not use Q-tips in the canal. Instead, clean in and around the ears using a gauze dipped in dog ear cleaning solution.

Also, do not go too much into the ear with the gauze because you risk pushing dirt and debris on the surface further into the ear canal.

Clean your dog’s ears when you bathe them. After the bath, get your dog to sit on the floor with their rear end positioned in a corner and one side barred by a wall. Stand on the other side.

NEVER stand in front of the dog because a dominating breed like an Akita may misconstrue that to mean you are trying to dominate it and become aggressive.

Hold the ear flap up and vertically, exposing the ear canal and straightening out the flap. Squeeze some dog cleaning solution onto the flap and into the canal. Make sure the cleaning solution fills the ear and if it drips out, it’s okay.

However, DO NOT touch the tip of the ear solution container to the dog’s ears because it may collect bacteria and yeast.

Keep holding the ear vertically for 30 seconds to allow the cleaning solution to seep into the ear canal. You should hear a swishing sound as the solution swirls in the canal.

Wipe the ear flap and surrounding areas to remove the excess solution.

The dog will want to shake its head to get rid of the solution in its ears. In the process, it will dislodge the dirt inside the ears as it removes the solution. Clean out the solutions from inside the ear but only as far as your finger can go.

Tail

The Akita has a moderately bushy tail that will do with the same regular brushing you do to the rest of the dog’s body.

How to Groom a Rottweiler

Brushing

Brushing a rottweiler’s coat not only removes any dirt and debris but also distributes the skin’s oils onto the coat to leave it healthy and glistening.

A weekly brush will suffice, but some people like to go in twice to ensure their dog’s coat accentuates the ripple of their muscles.

A few minutes of brushing every day could end up minimizing the shedding of this breed significantly.

Brushing eliminates mats and with a pin and bristle brush, you will be very effective. Start with the bristles to remove any matting and then use the pin brush to reach the undercoat and smoothen the outer coat.

Also, make sure that you give the Rottie a once over as you brush to see if there is any irritated red skin, mites, mange, or itchy skin. This breed is susceptible to allergies but this can be countered with topical medication.

Start brushing from the head and work the brush towards the tail.

Bathing

Rottweilers are generally very clean dogs. A bath once every two months should suffice unless they have been playing in a dirty environment.

That means the dog can be bathed three to four times a year.

The good news is that Rottweilers have very low dog odor so they can go without frequent bathing.

In the meantime, before they get to bathe, you can use herbal sprays to control their oil distribution and get rid of unwanted dander while moisturizing and hydrating the skin.

Nails

Trim a rottweiler’s nails once a month. Naturally, these dogs are super active so during their play they will scratch the nails on different surfaces. That’s your natural nail clipper right there!

Rotties have black nails so it may be difficult to see their quick. It is best to use a nail grinder instead of a nail clipper to avoid cutting accidents.

If you prefer to use a nail clipper, make sure it has a guard to help you avoid the quick.

Even though the Rottweiler’s nails are black, look out for the pale oval on the nail to know where the quick is.

Ears

Cleaning the ears of the Rottweiler is no less challenging than cleaning an Akita’s ears.

And the process is the same as described above. But you have to pay special attention to the drooping ears to ensure you clean them thoroughly.

Because of the debris and moisture trapped in there, you may be tempted to go in when cleaning their ears.

AVOID overcleaning the ears because it can lead to irritation of the ear canal, making the dog more susceptible to ear infections.

But it is critical to keep a nose out for any odor coming from your Rottweiler’s ears. Any whiff means it is time for a clean! However, if the odor or discharge is persistent, you should take the dog to the vet.

Tail

If your Rottweiler has a docked tail, no grooming is necessary for this part of the body. But if the tail is still intact, you need to brush it the same way you do the rest of the dog’s body.

Teeth

Both the Akita and the Rottweiler have straight muzzles, which makes it a similar process of brushing teeth.

But because both breeds can have a stubborn streak, begin by introducing dental chews. 

These effectively clean the dog’s teeth like toothpaste and toothbrush. After a few dental chews, consider introducing the dog toothpaste for the dog to get accustomed to the taste.

Use a dog toothpaste with Calprox like the Petsmile Professional Dog Toothpaste as mentioned in this detailed review.

Introduce your finger and make up and down brushing motions in the dog’s mouth for the first couple of days using the dog toothpaste.

Both dogs are moderate droolers though, so you have to incorporate saliva wiping in their daily grooming routine. Otherwise, you will be cleaning saliva strings all over your floor and furniture.

3. How to Train Rotties and Akitas

The Rottweiler is beloved by law enforcement for obvious reasons. Not only does it look ferocious (even though it is a real sweetheart ?), but it is quite trainable.

The Akita has a stubborn streak that needs to be considered when training the breed. They are willful dogs that do not ask how high just because you said jump.

Training the Akita

The Akita needs you to be confident and assertive during training. It is a strong-willed breed and thrives on consistent rules. But despite this, it is a highly trainable dog.

It is critical to socialize your dog from a young age to accept other dogs, especially same-sex dogs. Akitas have a reputation for showing aggression to same-sex dogs of their breed.

This is something that breeders do to ensure that their dogs integrate easily with others in their new homes.

• Begin the training in a quiet environment
• Start with basic commands like sit, stay and come. As the dog obeys move on to harder commands. But do not move to harder commands if the basic ones are not obeyed. This breed can be standoffish, so repeat the command until the dog obey before moving to the next one
• Use a leash when walking an Akita in training. That allows you to control the dog and practice commands safely
• Introduce the dog to the neighborhood and people you interact with regularly like the mailman or local grocer and friends and family. With time you can encourage them to touch the dog so that it is comfortable with them
• Reward your Akita when they behave accordingly and obey

Training the Rottweiler

Breeders love training the Rottweiler because they are among the top ten most intelligent dogs. That makes them easy to train because they recognize commands and follow through.

They particularly learn guard dog training better than other aspects of training. But to their credit, they are easily trainable at any age.

• Rottweilers respond very well to verbal commands so find a quiet place to teach them commands like sit, come, heel, and stay
• They can graduate to hand signals to help them remember some verbal commands or just as a way of communicating with them. For example, to hand signal for the Rottie to sit, point your index finger straight down. To lay down, palm down, and to stay use a closed fist. If you want the dog to go just point in the direction they should go.
• Teach them to be social by bringing them to the dog park on a leash. Introduce them to other dogs and their owners. Repeat this until the dog becomes accustomed to the dog park. When confident of their socialization, remove their leash. If any aggression occurs remove your dog from the situation immediately.
• Continue teaching new tricks to help them with training.

4. Exercise and Health

Both the Akita and Rottweiler can benefit immensely from obedience training sessions with experts. Here they will enjoy the dog gym and rigorous training that gives them the amount of exercise they need. Two or three sessions in the week are enough to complement the other exercises that they enjoy at home including:

• Engaging playtime with you at home
• Playtime alone with fun toys but supervised
• Running, walking or jogging with you

In general, 45 to 60 minutes is sufficient time for exercise for both dogs.

Rottweilers can become aggressive and destructive when they do not get enough exercise. So it is part of essential care to ensure that this dog has adequate exercise.

Health Conditions Affecting Akitas

The Akita is generally a robust and healthy dog but like all other dog breeds, it is predisposed to certain medical conditions including

Hypothyroidism

This is a thyroid gland disorder that can result in conditions like epilepsy, obesity, alopecia, and hyper-pigmentation among others.

The good news is that you can treat hypothyroidism with a diet and also with the right medication.

Sebaceous adenitis

A condition where the sebaceous glands on the dog’s skin become inflamed and then die. These glands are responsible for producing fatty sebum that prevents the skin from drying.

The dog’s skin becomes hardened and produces an odor that is caused primarily by secondary infections. The dog has a hair loss on top of their head and they have scaly dry skin at these spots.

There are treatment options, so don’t despair if that happens!

Gastric dilatation-volvulus

This condition is also known as bloat and it affects deep-chested dog breeds like the Akita. When your Akita:

• Eats rapidly
• Has one large meal in a day
• Exercises immediately after a meal
• Drinks lots of water after eating

It will suffer from the accumulation of gas in the stomach which makes the tummy distended and causes the intestines to twist. The twisting makes it hard for the dog to belch or vomit and the blood flow to the heart is also impeded. As a result, the dog’s blood pressure drops and it goes into shock.

Look out for bloat when your dog is retching without vomiting, has a distended stomach, and is salivating excessively.

Progressive retinal atrophy

In this condition, the retina in your Akita’s eye gradually deteriorates causing them first to have night blindness and then lose some sight during the day.

Hip dysplasia

This is an inherited condition. The thigh bone joints do not fit properly into each other causing the dog pain and difficulty walking. If left untreated, this condition can result in lameness in one or both hind legs.

Health Conditions Affecting the Rottweiler

Hypothyroidism

Hypothyroidism in Rottweilers is characterized by a dry and coarse outer coat. As a result, the hair begins to fall off leaving black tough skin behind. The condition can be managed with medication as well.

This condition is also responsible for fertility issues in Rottweilers. It can also cause mental dullness, lethargy, and obesity.

Elbow and hip dysplasia

These are both conditions where the respective elbow and hip joints don’t fit properly into their sockets resulting in pain and lameness in the animal. Corrective surgery can help as well as medication to keep the pain under control

Osteosarcoma

This is a type of bone cancer that is very aggressive. It begins as lameness and because of its aggressive nature, it requires equally aggressive interventions.

Usually, the affected limb is amputated followed by chemotherapy. The dog can survive for nine to 48 months after treatment.

Aortic Stenosis and Sub-Aortic Stenosis

Also known as AS or SAS, this heart condition is common in rottweilers. It narrows the aorta below the aortic valve making the dog’s heart work harder.

It is a critical condition that can cause death at worst or an abrupt fainting spell at best.

It is detected after the vet discovers a heart murmur.

5. Price Comparison

A weeks-old Akita puppy go for $750 to $2000 from a reputable breeder whether it is a Japanese or American Akita.

A Rottweiler puppy as young as eight months old will cost you between $1500 and $2500.

And you can expect to spend a few more hundred dollars on its training to socialize it and teach it obedience.

Whatever you choose, these breeds will set you back a good buck!

Frequently Asked Questions

Are Akitas and Rottweiler good first-time pets?

Experts and breeders agree that these breeds are NOT good first-time pets because they require an assertive owner who knows how to handle their aloof and bold personalities.

Do not be surprised when an Akita or Rottweiler challenges your authority. As a first-time pet owner, you need a dog that will reinforce your love for dogs and respond to your overtures.

That’s why the Akita and Rottweilers may not be the most responsive dogs for you. Unlike, for example, a German Shepherd!

What is the personality of an Akita and Rottweiler mix?

Both breeds are very protective, loyal, and courageous. You can expect a strong-willed dog but one that is also very loving and fiercely loyal and confident.

It will challenge you to be the best owner you can be because of its noble character that is inherited from both parents.

And if you are as strong-willed as an Akita and Rottweiler, you will get along (and understand each other) just fine!

Are Akitas good with kids, families and other pets?

When they have been socialized early to accept human contact and co-exist with other pets, these dogs are excellent for kids.

But that said, it is an excellent option for families with older kids. They also do better as the sole pet in the home.

Final Thoughts

Both these dogs are mesmerizing and intriguing. If you are more of a solitary person, the Akita is an ideal pet. They will love your undivided attention.

Rottweilers are more giving despite their reputation of ferocity. They are great for kids and don’t mind sharing space with people and other pets.

Their loyalty means they are both very protective of their owners. But Rottweilers are more affectionate and even-tempered.

If you are still interested in Akita, you may appreciate our comparison of the Akita and the Pitbull!