Katana, 18 months and 2 1/2 on right

Our Resident Water Rat...

While it doesn't seem like a big deal for most dogs to walk in the rain, we get it so infrequently, here in the Sonora Desert (about 1 month a year we get occassional monsoons), that Tanna is the only dog we have that isn't afraid that the rain will melt her!  She has the yard all to herself to try to catch rain in her mouth!!!

                        Pictured at 7 months, 8 weeks, and 6 weeks
 

          Why that name?  Katana is a Japanese sword.  We got Katana as a playmate for Kabuto.

Behavior:  Best described as Miss Congeniality.  Katana is the life of the party.  She is fun-loving and full of energy.  Katana is the dog who is remembered by visitors.  She demands attention from the other dogs and humans.  If she is ignored by a human, she will flea bite you; if she is ignored by another dog, she grabs their ears and/or ankles so there is just no ignoring her.  She plays until she passes out from exhaustion and sleeps long enough to recuperate to begin again.  Although she is friendly with anyone, animals or humans, she is still alert and ends play time quickly when she hears and odd noise or a knock on the door. 

Katana is a leader as has been since puppihood.  She is the first of the dogs to walk through a door, check out a sound, or get on the bed.  Other Akitas, regardless of age or sex, follow her direction.  She is the single most aggressive dog I have.  If there is an altercation, I can correctly assume that Katana started it but she is not out of control.  She has never hurt a dog or human and can also be stopped by a stern voice, clapping, or for me to touch her. 

She is usually the first one to bully her way through the doggie door in the middle of the night.  She is also the doggie door toll keeper.  She sleeps with her head hanging out of the door and will not let other dogs pass through it if she is not in the mood to get up.  (Occassionally she makes Diesel cry this way.)  Sidewalk travelers are aware of her existence. 

Overall she is well socialized.  She, however, is not tolerant of dogs acting aggressively toward her and her mood can quickly change if another dog lunges at her or me.  An aggressive bark is enough to heighten her adrenaline and then all bets are off.  The good news is that Katana is super obedient and looks to me for direction.  Even at her angriest, she is very much aware of my existence and what I will tolerate.  I am able to quickly put her in "her place" which can sometimes make another dog calm down as well by watching us.

Katana is the smartest Akita here.  She learns new tasks at a rapid speed that continues to surprise even me and I am used to it.  One example would be jogging on lead while I ride my bicycle beside her.  I bumped into her twice and realized I should hold the lead with one hand rather than loop it around my hand to steer with both.  Once I figured out what I was doing, she had already mastered it.  The whole process took less than 3 minutes.  Now she jogs at a straight and steady pace alongside me.  She is not distracted by other animals or birds, cars, or people as long as I talk to her while we ride. 

She is gentle with small dogs and cats even when she first meets them.  I think this is a natural motherly instinct in her.  Some dogs seem more prone to wanting to be mothers.  This seems evident in her as pups crawl on her belly and mouth while she lies still on her back pawing at them. 

She is known by family as Tanna Baby.

Wrestling stage name:  Tanna the Tank, she's like a doggie bulldozer

Coloring:  Silver and white with black/white mask, black overlay

Coat:  Thick, dense, slightly longer, medium coarseness

CERF #AK-4235: eyes examined by Dr. Lisa Felchie, Arizona Veterinary Specialists, ALL CLEAR 3/21/2006

Katana with Tiamo's Puppies