Customer Reviews

Book of the Akita

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This book is a must for both the potential and actual owners of the Akita. Joan McDonald Brearley has given the reader an enormous amount of information most valuble to the understanding of the breed. From puppyhood to adulthood one can see the progression of a small "teddybear" face puppy to the most regal of all canine faces. Changes not only to the physical aspects but to the mental attitude of the adult dog. This is disgussed thru out the book. She also has supplied the reader a much larger than normal amount of photographs of high quality.This in my mind, is most valuable if one is to compare for breeding stocks, types from other countries, and or just for the pleasure of viewing such beautiful animals. After ten years of owning this book I still am unable to refrain from looking at it if not for the written information or maybe the photographs alone. The author has provided a wonderful service to both the Akita breed and their owners/admires by sharing her knowledge with us.

My list of features and observations that stand out the most for me:
*The book is very large with 272 pages.
*I counted approximately 167 of the 272 pages without ANY type, text, or writing of any kind.
*These 167 pages were covered with, logos, adverts, promotions and random dog show photos.

*The cover seems imposing oversized and implies an expertly written, akita specific publication.
*The table of contents and chapter titles seem all inclusive. With this large, heavy tome, one would look forward to reading and absorbing an Akita specific treasure trove of information.

Bring a sack lunch to follow this informational meal. Unfortunately, this text is heavy on garnish, light on genuine, noteworthy, digestable content.


The author devotes most of her energy discussing dog shows and the winners. If this is your interest: Dog show winners from the 1970's, then buy this book. You'll be happy.

If you are really looking for information on caring for, groomiong, training, feeding, socializing, ideal equipment and supplies for your Akita, this book is pretty useless.

She spends some time discussing breeding in her typical nonspecific wishy washy wordy format : Breeding is so great, I love akitas, so and so was top breeder...blah blah blah...only experts should breed...spaying and neutering is your friend...talk to an expert for more information...

The table of contents imply that the author has really written a complete set of breed specific information. Don't be fooled.

The author also includes what seems like her own rather racist, self certified expert description of the Akita and canine history as they relate to Japan and her inhabitants.

The author must have been born with all inherited expertise on dogs and akitas as she doesn't credit any written source for her collection of information.

Bibliography? None.
Works Cited? None
Sources? None given.


For example: Chapter 7 Grooming, begins on page 88 and ends at page 97. There are 10 sub headings in the table of contents. Great! nearly 10 huge pages of akita grooming info! Make that -5 of the total for random dog show pics that have NOTHING whatsoever to do with the chapter content. She warns us to brush the dog before the show ring and be forgiving of puppy antics and to remember the dog sheds. One subheading "grooming the akita for the show ring" seems promising but like the rest of the sections fails to offer one iota of actual information. This is a rambling waste of paper and ink if ever there was one.

None of my breed specific questions were answered:
How about trimming, best brushes, technique for brushing, coat quality?
Differences in texture on tail, neck, tummy, feet and how to best care for these areas?

It seems like this writer is some dog show groupie that took some pics of the breed and wrote down some winning names and throws them into some random fashion into a more than likely plagerized outline on the breed, calls it her table of content and bluffs her way through the sections with airhead anecdotes, platitudes and useless ramblings. This 'author' should put her pen away and step away from the printing press. What a waste of paper!

The limited actual information in the book is common knowledge to all canine breeds. For example: page 104 "buying your first puppy" You should research the breed first....puppies have worms...see your vet...purebreads cost more...blah blah...blah

You'll see the soon too familiar, now summarized here:
"there is sooooo much, so many ways, so advanced methods that you will have to find out for yourself...consult and hire some expert...


If you like dogshow snobbery and name dropping deluge from the snazzy 60's and 70's, this book may be fun for you.

If you are not annoyed by empty promises of essential information, followed by a 104 pages of rambling rubbish and 167 pages of dog show photos this book might be worthwhile for you.

I'm still looking for real information in an Akita specific publication. I will post future resources, in my reviews as I find them. I truly appreciate all the reviewers here who take the time to share their Akita specific findings!

There are a few editions that seem to have been released only for being placed somewhere along the library shelves or on a coffee-table. This is one of them. Ms. Brearley seems to have never got any closer to an Akita than to a cat or a lion - as far as specific knowledge is concerned. If one is looking for information on Akitas rather than a second class cofee-table book, do refrain from buying the so-called "Booh of the Akita".