Zola growled at my sister-in-law over the weekend and now I'm second-guessing everything before
She's only 4 months old but already so watchful, like she's clocking everyone who walks in the door. My sister-in-law wasn't doing anything, just came in for a hug, and Zola planted herself between us and growled low. Nobody got hurt, I pulled her back right away, but we've got a house full of guests coming this weekend and I'm nervous now. Is this just Akita in her or did I mess up her socialization somewhere?
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Bear does the same thing with new people, it's a guarding-breed thing, not a bad-dog thing. Yours is just doing her job a little early.
#dog #temperament #breed
Agreed with Bob. I'd also keep her on leash during the cookout itself and give her an exit route, a crate or a quiet room, so she's not forced to hold her ground the whole time. If you ever want to see how other Akita owners are managing this stage, there's a good spread of listings and breeder profiles here: https://allinpets.com/pets/dogs/
Nothing wrong with her, this is just what the breed is. Akitas have always been this way, reserved with strangers and fiercely loyal to their own, goes back generations. There's a good writeup on this exact trait if you want the full picture: Akita Dog Breed Guide: Temperament, Size, Health & Cost (https://allinpets.com/blog/dog-breeds/akita-complete-guide-24/). I'd start now with calm, supervised intros before the party, not after.