‘IR CH Melodor Kaygeebe Jnr Ch 2010’
As per our recent Blog once a month Pedigree Dogs will feature a Show Dog Kennel. The point in doing so is to get the message out there that there are kennels and breeders of pedigree dogs in Ireland that do things the right way
We at Pedigree Dogs would like to thank Bryan & Hazel Aherne of Ritetype Akitas for the following piece, which show cases their kennel and highlights their commitment to their breed.
Breed: American Akita
Origin: Japan
Development USA
Utilisation: Companion Dog
FCI Classification: Group 5 Spitz & primitive types.
We are Bryan & Hazel Aherne of Ritetype Akitas. Our kennel is dedicated solely to exhibiting the American Akita and we have a long-standing love of the breed. The breed first chose us in 1995 with the arrival of our first pet Akita, Kane. We fell in love with this loyal, dignified and unique breed. In 2006, knowing Kane was nearing his final months; we began our search for another male Akita. We wanted an Akita with characteristics that were true to the breed standard. During our search we were drawn to various show kennels and it became apparent that the quality we desired was not available from pet breeders. We made the decision to purchase from a show kennel with the view to showing our puppy. Although we had never exhibited before we felt if showing wasn’t for us, we would then still have a quality family pet. However we were instantly bitten by the ‘show-bug’ and haven’t stopped since.
Nearly six years on and our show team now consist of four dogs all active in the show ring. We show two males and two females and value quality over quantity. We are very proud of our dogs and to date have had a very successful time in the show ring, with this current year being our most fruitful. Dog showing has given us the unique opportunity to connect with people and build friendships across the globe. When we embarked onto the show scene, we were also very fortunate to have contacted Chris McLean of Melodor Akitas whose on-going support, knowledge & guidance over the years has been invaluable and much appreciated. Please feel free to visit our Web site for more information on the American Akita breed standard and to view our dogs and their show wins.
As a kennel we believe in continuously researching and educating ourselves about this wonderful breed. Our aim is to stay true to the breed standard and we strive for type, temperament and health, thus ensuring the breed characteristics of the American Akita is preserved. All our dogs are fully health screened, eye certified clear and BVA hip scored. We feel health testing is a priority in order to promote the breed in a positive way, and a necessity to move this relatively new breed forward. The breed is not without health problems and eye-problems are present including Microphthalmia (small-eye), Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA), entropion and ectropion. As with other large breeds, hip dysphasia can also occur. The Akita can also suffer stomach Bloat (gastric dilatation and volvulus).
We enjoy promoting this loyal breed and are proud to be founding members of the Akita Association of Ireland. The Association incorporates both the American Akita & the Japanese Akita Inu. The American Akitas origins are that of the Japanese Akita Inu and derive from Northern Japan, however they are now two distinctive breeds each recognised separately by the FCI. The Akita Association of Ireland was founded in February 2011 with an open invitation to all show kennels interested in promoting their breed and having advocacy for the breed. The Akita Association is the only affiliated IKC Akita breed club in Ireland and we are pleased to say that the support for the Association has been over-whelming this year. It was very up lifting to see the number of people present at our first Hands-on Breed Seminar in October this year. Visit Akita Association Of Ireland for more information on the history and origins of the American Akita Breed and the work of the Association.
Finally we would like to finish by saying that the American Akita is an extremely rewarding breed that requires love and affection, and owners need to be dedicated to training and socialising this wonderful dog. All our dogs are reared around our children and are a wonderful addition to our family. Well-bred, balanced and healthy Akitas have wonderful temperaments with people and children, however it should be noted that same sex Akita’s will not live together in harmony and many will not accept other dogs as companions. Akita’s are suited to owners who have experience with the breed. As with all breeds, potential owners should research the breed and ensure that they can offer the input it deserves. We hope you have the time to visit the fore-mentioned websites and gain a deeper knowledge of this exceptional breed, as it is impossible to condense and convey the vast amount of information relating to the American Akita. We are deeply honoured to have been approached by pedigree dogs to write this article and we hope our dedication and passion for the breed has shone through.
Bryan & Hazel Aherne
Follow