Before you bring home a puppy. it is important for you to know what you will be in for.  Owning an Akita is not quite the same as owning say - a cocker spaniel.  Akitas have some special needs, and take the right kind of home if they are to grow up being the good and noble breed they are capable of. Far too many Akitas end up in shelters because they have not been raised properly, or have been neglected, abused or misunderstood. This checklist should tell you if you are prepared for the lifetime commitment of Akita ownership.