Meet Our New Addition, Hatchi

A few weeks ago, the sweet breeder who we purchased Mikado from contacted me and asked if we were still interested in adopting another Akita (she knew we were looking for a playmate for Mikado). 

Taking Mikado home in 2009

One of the families who had purchased another male Akita from her last winter is moving to a new place and couldn't take the dog with them, so they contacted her in hopes that she could find the dog another home. So a little over a week ago, Eric and Celeste took Mikado to meet Hatchi, an 11 month old Akita male (and Mikado's little brother), and they brought Hatchi home with them.

Meeting Hatchi

When I met Hatchi, it was quite interesting.  He'd already taken to Celeste and Eric and I met him when I tried to walk through the front door that night; he was not too thrilled with me being there.  The next morning, I had to hand him treats just so he'd allow me back in my bedroom as I was getting ready for the day.  Oh my goodness, I was scared!  But after that, he's taken to me pretty well.

We gave Hatchi a couple of flea baths the next day because he had a crazy horrible amount of fleas; and he really enjoyed the pampering! 

Celeste feeding Hatchi some treats during his bath

More massage please!!



Mmm..... this feels niiiiiice...



Yes, you're getting it, right behind the ear.  That's the spot.

Two Male Akitas in the Same House?

It's not suppose to be possible.  Oftentimes, the Akitas do not do well with another adult Akita that is their same sex under the same roof.  However, Mikado's always done well around other dogs so we thought we'd give it a try and see how it goes.

Hatchi showed aggression with Mikado at first, but has since calmed down around him.  We've taken precautions and moved slowly with these two together. 



So far, it's working pretty well! We walk/run them beside each other in the evenings at the park and dog trail near our house and they seem to be getting along pretty great there.

This past Saturday, we took both Mikado and Hatchi to a mobile pet vaccination tent in League City (www.project4paws.org). A couple hundred dollars and two morbidly petrified dogs later, we had both caught up on their shots, heartworm meds (Hatchi tested negative, thank goodness), etc. Mikado weighs 65 lbs. (he's lost some weight with the heartworms) and Hatchi is 71 lbs.

Celeste took this next little video with my cell phone after we picked her up from school last Friday with Hatchi in the truck bed.
Note: If you can't see either of the 2 videos in the email, you'll have to go to the blog online to see them at http://amandajtaylor.blogspot.com.

Why Akitas?

Akitas have a natural affinity for children (look it up here).  Their bark is intimidating, but is usually reserved for after a threat has been assessed and there is cause for alarm.

Mikado has only barked a handful of times in the three years that we've had him.  Each time, there was cause for alarm (suspicious people on our property and once, moments before a transformer blew that was located a few blocks away, sending up a black ring-shaped smoke cloud and shutting down power to the whole area).  It could be pretty creepy/scary to guests who weren't aware of the dog's existence because Mikado quietly comes closer and sizes you up before he decides on his response (which is usually a wet nose on your arm, some licks and sometimes a couple of paws on your shoulders).

Oh my goodness, they shed like crazy!  Two full coat blows each year.  We're currently on the hunt for a FURminator (thank you, Leslie) to help with the shedding.  But both dogs are fun, kind and loving dogs, and we are really enjoying the new addition to the family.