You should have certain requirements in order to assure that you are making a wise purchase. One requirement should be that the breeder belong to a local Akita Club, if possible, the National Club (ACA), an obedience club, or an all-breed club. Why ? Through membership in one or all, the breeder is exposed to others who are also interested in Akitas and dogs, in general, and learns more about his breed, dog care, modern breeding practices, etc.

The second requirement is that the breeder be involved in showing his dog(s). At this point you may be asking "but I only want a pet! I'm not interested in showing so what difference could that make to me?" PLENTY! For one thing, showing dogs gives a breeder the same opportunity that belonging to a club does. It gives the breeder a chance to share information and thoughts with others. Showing provides the competition that makes breeders want to produce better dogs. Breeders who do show are putting everything on the line; they are not depending on impressive pedigrees to carry them. They wish to show how good their dogs are in competition. "Show people" are not necessarily jet setters or even very wealthy people. On the average, they are just ordinary people who want to prove that the dogs they breed are worthy.

Every dog that a breeder raises may not be worthy of being shown. In every litter there will be those pups which are only average, and may not be world beaters, as well as those pups which are strictly pet quality. However, a breeder who does not show his dogs has no idea how his dogs would fair in competition and deprives himself of the learning experience that showing provides.

Ok, so maybe you don't want a "show dog", but don't you want a pet that was the end result of a carefully planned litter, rather than the result of an accident or a litter bred for profit alone? Don't you want a pet that got the same care as the potential champions in the litter? The breeder who shows is known by others in the breed, he has a reputation to maintain. He is more likely to be careful and honest.

BEFORE YOU BUY, read the Checklist for the Puppy Buyer outlining questions to ask the breeder and read the Code of Ethics. It would behoove you to use these tools in questioning the breeders you contact.