Keeping Your Akitas Coat Shiny One of the most commonly asked questions involving akita hair is how to keep your akitas coat shiny and healthy. Different breeds of DOGS have different coats, and so some breeds will need specialized care to keep their coat shiny, but hair is a protein, regardless of style, so there are some common steps you can take to keep your akitas coat shiny and healthy. The boxer breed was so named for his manner of fighting. As opposed to biting, like most dogs would, a boxer will actually begin a fight by "punching" with its front paws, just liek a human boxer. The first thing to look at is your akitas diet. Unless your akita is very old, or of a species that shouldn't, feed it a diet that is high in quality protein. Meat based dry DOG food is usually best. Meat based is the most important factor since that is the most digestible, and hence most useful, protein to your akitas. General health also helps your akita to have a shiny coat, so makes sure that your akita has access to plenty of fresh water at all times. Most DOG foods, especially the meat based dry foods, will provide enough vitamins to keep your akita healthy, and in turn to keep your akita's coat shiny. There are extra vitamin supplements offered and there are some great ones at www.doggyvitamin.com . French poodles were originally used as hunting dogs, but, because their thick coats proved a problem in the bush and water, their owners started clipping them. They left hair on the ankles to protect against rheumatism, which is why poodles sometimes appear to have unusual haircuts. In addition to this, brushing your akitas coat on a frequent basis will help to guarantee a healthy and shiny coat. Use specific akita shampoos when bathing your pet, and make sure to rinse the akita fully. Left over shampoo or conditioner can not only dull the coat, but may be irritating to the akitas skin. Take these basic steps and in a relatively short time you should notice a drastic improvement in your akitas coat. The Lundehund is a breed which has lived solely on two islands in the north of Norway. The Lundehund has sever extra toes and paw cushions! That makes it excellent as a climbing dog, bred for rugged terrain. It also has the unusual ability to close its ears.