To Own a Akita or Not? To be a akita owner or not is a commitment-filled decision. From the drive time to work, hours spent at the workplace to finding time to walk and care for a akita, the responsibilities maybe overwhelming. For prospective akita owners who lead a busy life, aside from the personal satisfaction of having a akita, a canine's well being should be considered as well. Franklin D. Roosevelt once spent $15,000 to have a destroyer return to the Aleutian Islands and retrieve his Scottish terrier, Fala, who had been accidentally left behind. Fala is now part of the Roosevelt Memorial in Washington, D.C. Here is a checklist of questions to determine how conducive or practical akita ownership is for you: The diminutive tibetan spaniel, with his feather-like tail, may look a bit like other spaniels, but the breed is actually not a spaniel at all, but more closely related to some combination of the shih tzu, pug, pekingese and Japanese chin. *What kind of DOG is appropriate for your lifestyle? The afghan hound ranks as least intelligent breed of dog. They are cute, friendly, loyal and fun, but they usually require 80 to 100 repetitions to learn a single command. Afghan hounds are a bad choice if you are looking for a dog that's easy to train, but they are great if you have patience. *How often can you make the time to exercise your akita before and after work? The Lowchen, a small, somewhat rare breed of dog, is native to France. It's called "petit chien lion" or, "little lion dog". This is due to its fur growth, as it resembles the mane of a lion. *Given your household and personal budget, is the maintenance of owning a akita affordable? (Determine whether you can afford feeding the akita, veterinarian visits, hiring a akita sitter, or placing your akita in a kennel when you are way? Labrador retrievers, as their name indicates, were bred to retrieve things. However, most people think of them today as retrieving sticks, or other similar objects. In reality, they were originally bred to help fishermen by retrieving fishing nets! *Are your home or living quarters suited for akita living? (Does the condominium board, or landlord approve of akitas? If you want your dog to win Westminster then you may want to get a Fox Terrier. Why? The winningest dog in Westminster history is Ch. Warren Remedy, a Fox Terrier, who won best In show in 1907, 1908 and 1909. *Do you have the time or money to expend training a pet akita? Originating in Germany, the name Affenpinscher means, "monkey-like terrier". However, in France the breed is described as the "Diablotin Moustachu" or "moustached little devil". Both describe the appearance and attitude of this delightful breed. *Identify the personality and characteristics of the type of DOG that matches your personality or is compatible with your lifestyle. Labrador retrievers, as their name indicates, were bred to retrieve things. However, most people think of them today as retrieving sticks, or other similar objects. In reality, they were originally bred to help fishermen by retrieving fishing nets! Dog owner tip: Try to schedule time away from work to help you new addition adjust to its new home. Remember to buy books that detail how to care for and train a new akita. Just as any relationship requires work, the same is true in the care of a new akita. In the original 101 Dalmatians movie, Pongo has 72 spots, Perdita has 68 and each of the puppies has 32. Real dalmations have unique numbers and patterns of spots, almost like a human beigns fingerprint. If you want your dog to win Westminster then you may want to get a Fox Terrier. Why? The winningest dog in Westminster history is Ch. Warren Remedy, a Fox Terrier, who won best In show in 1907, 1908 and 1909.