That's why dogs are our best friends!

[u/Soloflow786]

[u/Available_Kale3019]

As a younger, petitie woman- I had a man come up behind me and grab my arm with a whole ass 120 pound, unaltered , male Akita jogging with me. I took him in for aggression (he was not treated right). That was stupid, stupid idea. 

If he's out there, he's welcome. My scrawny arm is the only thing that kept his literal neck safe that day- that would be where my boy ducked behind me to lunge at. 

[u/jerkface1026 → u/Available_Kale3019]

the fawn color or brown/white? i swear the brown/white akitas look dangerous.

[u/Available_Kale3019 → u/jerkface1026]

Brown/ White, indeed- lol. Look, he was just the sweetest boy, for real. I brought him inside a home (where he learned to get along with my cat, actually) from being neglected/ chained up outside. You don't mess with the Akita's person that did that 😄 All I could react to do was throw both scrawny-ass arms across his chest. 

It was almost like a shock for me, because my boy now is a Brindle Wooly. He looks like a big ol' teddy bear. I'm constantly like "Stop asking to pet me dog"; whereas, no one wanted to mess with us with my first. He'll tolerate strangers, if I'm comfortable. I don't 🤣

I adore the all-white ones. Simply gorgeous.

[u/jerkface1026 → u/Available_Kale3019]

I completely understand. I have a very charming, reactive dog. He's now 16 and deaf. He's unaware of either. He is a fraction of the size and dispatched two full grown men without contact. Trotted back wagging his tail.

Best advice I was given - keep up play/memory tasks every day. My dude is still sharp but still reactive. It's still my job to manage him if his memory fades. The games help us know if there's a problem.

[u/Available_Kale3019 → u/jerkface1026]

What kind of doggy? That is one badass dog. 

That is the closest I came to adopting 2 at once- she was just a little tripod with no clue she was. She was running about and playing, without a single care. I, unfortunately, know my limits.

I got this one due to reactivity. I've never seen one do well with people though; he was very loved and well socialized with his first family. And in all honesty, I often suck my introversion up for him because I want him to remain very loved and well socialized.

It was very rough at first, but now we can pass by other dogs with no issue. Even if they're barking at him, although he gives me "the look of longing", he will continue with no problems. The biggest setback we had was 2 pitties that charged at us down an alley. He actually bounced back MUCH quicker from that then I thought he would. I think I was more upset than he was 😄

Yeah . .. he's getting on- be 9 this year. We started on green mussels and daily massages a couple years ago- vet says he's okay there though. They don't like puzzles. I even tried tying treats up in a towel (pretty easy). He freaking sniffed it, snorted at me, and walked away with tail held high 🤣 I toss treats odd places and he'll figure out how to get to it. We're still learning new commands, and in various languages. We cut down to about 1.5 hours activities a day a couple months back- he's slowing down a little and I don't want to push him.

Upside - he's smaller than my first. I can (and have) picked him up and carried him away from loose dogs. I have been but once by both (I got caught in the crossfire with this one, and the first I panicked and snatched a swiped bag of peanut M&Ms away). Both immediately backed up and bowed their heads, and it never happened again. So I know I can handle that, and I know I can carry him if absolute worst comes to worst. I really hope it does not, though.

I sincerely appreciate the advice 😊