See you in the next life my most beautiful Katana. Thank you for sharing your life with me! You are the most wonderful Akita I have ever had the pleasure of owning and I wished we weren't robbed of many more years together!  You were my most devoted and loyal friend, most fierce protector and  best puppy-sitter on the planet. The world is a little less beautiful without you in it. I will love you always, love your mom!... Katana was taken from me way too early.  She passed away suddenly of unknown causes when she was going on only 7 years old.  She was my best friend and will be sorely missed by our family and by our friends as she was most peoples' favorite dog I had!  I know she will be waiting for me at the rainbow bridge.  I look forward to seeing her again!

   

   

Upate on Katana:  Pictured above at 6 and a half years young and retired, our precious Tanna baby is no longer a baby anymore, approaching 7 and a happy house dog. She is still the alpha dog of the house.  She still trains youngsters and wrangles our Shibas although on a much smaller scale.  She has mellowed with age but is still a gorgeous dog and although slightly overweight after her spay and lower activity level, she is still a beautiful representation of the breed and catches the eye of everyone that visits our home or people that meet her when we are out and about.  Her daughters Keeper and Kuqui carry on her beauty on their owner's show teams.  Three pictures below at five and a half years young.

   

pictured above at 18 months

For more Tanna pix click here

DOB:  11/25/2004

Kabuto's Katana MacLeod - 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 one of the smartest Akitas 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-4235/2006--16: eyes examined by Dr. Lisa Felchie, Arizona Veterinary Specialists, ALL CLEAR 3/21/2006

Tanna's first litter was sired by Tiamo.  Her second litter was sired by JR.  Her third litter was sired by Dan and produced our Keeper.

Prince Neiko II
WR077809/03 01-05
Brown, Black Overlay Pinto, Black & White Mask

Hurcules Makita Tomodachi
WP962840/01 03-03
Fawn Blk & White Mask White Markngs

Kuroi Masuku De Kiken
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Fawn, Black Overlay Black Mask, White Markings

Tigger VII
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White, Red Shading

Shawneefarms Sai-Ko Mischief
WP541265/01 11-99
Black Fawn & White Black Mask

Suki Kurisumasu Mesuinu
WP811858/07 01-00
Black, Fawn Undercoat Black Mask, White Markings

Sun Country's The Emperor's Ace
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Brindle & White Black Mask

Samurai's Yosha Nasha
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White

Sadie XIII
WR044416/06 03-03
Fawn

Tarsus
WP909260/06 12-00
Black Black Mask, White Markings

M And M Katahdin Kumate
WP862715/08 06-99
Black & Fawn Black Mask, White Markings

M And M Sierra Madre Clementine
WP808860/04 06-99
Brindle Black Mask, White Markings

Prescott J's Akiko
WP801537/01 12-00
Black Fawn & White Black & White Mask
OFA38G

CH Nichosan's Cosair Aiken
WG525473 10-91
Black & Fawn White Markings
OFA44G

Sarutobi's Toki Of Prescott J
WP382731/07 11-97
Brindle White Markings
OFA24F

Princess Laney
WS051007/03 03-05
Brown, Black Overlay Black Mask, White Markings

Riley Smiley Kozmos
WP871283/04 12-03
Black Black Mask

Kozmo's Kodiak Bear
WP665514/09 04-97
White

Kozmo
WP384343/05 02-96
Fawn Black Mask, White Markings

Toshime Iwa
WP387135/02 02-94
Silver Gray Black Mask, White Markings

Tenshi Umaretsuki
WP659709/04 04-97
Black Black Mask

Ruger
WP447577/01 08-94
Black & Fawn White Markings

Bear Zaino
WP309528/05 08-94
Black & Fawn

Sasha Obj Fazio
WP863043/03 12-03
Fawn Black Mask, White Markings

Tsunami Elijah Banda
WP769284/07 09-98
Fawn & Black Black Mask

Classic's Marc Anthony
WP616166/02 02-97
White

Classic's Cleopatra
WP468650/01 02-97
Red White Markings

Moonshadow's
WP419162/01 09-98
Brown & Black Black Mask, White Markings

CH Ryujin-S Susano Too
WF855331 04-87
Red Black Mask
OFA44G

Sachi's Kiyoko
WG027552 11-92
Red Black Mask, White Markings
OFA54G