Kumo at 9 months — the independence is increasing, and I think that's actually a good sign
A small update for anyone following Kumo's progress. She's 9 months now, and I've noticed her independence has increased rather than decreased as she's matured, which initially concerned me until I read more about the breed's typical development. She spends more time choosing to be near me versus seeking constant attention, and I've come to see this as confidence rather than distance. She still checks in regularly and clearly seeks connection, just on her own terms rather than constantly. For anyone newer to the breed who finds this pattern unsettling at first, from what I've observed, it appears to be consistent with normal Akita maturation rather than something to be concerned about.
53
Great update, Hannah — this is exactly the kind of long-term breed insight that helps future owners set the right expectations. Full Akita breed guide here: allinpets.com/blog/dog-breeds/akita-complete-guide-24/ — and current listings: allinpets.com/pets/dogs/akita
#Akita #breed #PetOwners
This was really interesting to read, thank you for sharing! Scout's still a baby at 3 months so we're nowhere near this stage yet, but I like having a sense of what's coming. Good to know it's not something to worry about when it happens.
This lines up with guardian-breed development generally. Independence increasing with maturity, rather than dependency, is actually the expected and healthier trajectory for breeds developed for this kind of temperament. Owners coming from more constantly-affectionate breeds sometimes misread this shift as something going wrong, when it's really just the dog becoming who she was bred to be.
This is an accurate read of normal Akita development, Hannah. The breed's independence is often misread as a closeness deficit when really it reflects a secure attachment style — they don't need constant reassurance because they're confident in the relationship, not because the relationship is weaker. What you're describing (checking in on her own terms) is a healthy pattern for the breed, not a concerning one.
Consistent with what I've seen in working and guardian breeds broadly. Confidence looks like independence from the outside. The dogs that worry me are the ones that never develop it, not the ones that do.