Pictured above at 3 1/2 years

For more Tomo pix click here

DOB:  03/25/2007

Tomoe Gozen MacLeod - Why that name?  We decided to name Tomo after someone in history:  Tomoe Gozen (巴 御前, Tomoe Gozen^?) (1161?–1184?) was one of the few examples of a true female warrior samurai in all of Japanese history. She was a samurai during the time of the Genpei War (1180–1185).

Appearance:  very red and white coloring with black mask and ears.  Her coat is quite short and not very thick although it would surely be more so if she was not an AZ dog.  She is normal height for a female with a slight build.  I imagine that in the next couple of years she will start to gain some of the much needed bulk to finish out her appearance.  She eats very sparingly as if she is saving it for an emergency although her food bowl has always been kept full!  I sometimes think she is too lazy to eat :-)  She has a loosely curled tail and not the most fluffy which matches the rest of her coat.  It is a nice length.  By breeding her to better coated and larger males, she adds flash and the pazzaz of her brilliant color to a litter!

Character:

    Tomo is a sweet and loving dog except when she is coming into heat.  This first breeding is the product of her running through my living room window to get out to Ko!  Luckily we were planning to breed her anyway and get vinyl replacement windows so it all worked out okay :-)  She is a hugger but is very dainty and ladylike about it.  She is careful not to press her paws upon you too harshly so that her hugs can linger for longer periods of time.  Sumo (her best buddy in all the world) also taught her how to sit when you approach and then inch closer and closer, while still seated, awarding them with brownie points for sitting and easier access for a hug.  She picked up on this cute habit rather quickly.
    She likes to be a lap dog when allowed and actually had her puppies while sitting in my lap since this was her first time as it was obvious that she wanted some reassurance. 

    She walks well on lead, is obedient and smart and can figure out how to do most things without being told, simply by watching others.  She is very in tune to me and what I want/expect from her!  I don't require really specific obedience commands of her but I am certain she could learn them quickly and easily as most dogs do.

Passions:  Hiding when mom is calling me, sleeping in a crate, square dog beds, chasing chickens, duck erkey, burgers (NO ONIONS of fries thx) any kind of meat - cooked or raw - mom's scrambled eggs and BELOVED TOSSED SALADS TOPPED WITH SHREDDED CHEESE AND DOROTHY LYNCH HOMESTYLE DRESSING, mmmmmmmmmm!

Protection:

    Tomo does bark more than the average Akita but I think it is more because we got Aisu around the same time who barks ALOT.  Dogs that are near you can teach your Akita to bark more and once they start they tend to like the sound of their own voice.  She is quite passionate about protecting her mom and her property.  She will recall on command if her barking starts to irritate me but she still keeps a watchful eye on whatever it is that caught her attention.  She is very confident her ability to guard although she has never really needed to be, more simply that she is an in tact Akita.  She is not, however, the kind of dog that will bark and then give you kisses like some of our mushy pushovers.  If she is barking, she doesn't like you yet and its best that you not pet her until she realizes that your presence is welcomed, and then you are good to go!  We do not have alot of visitors at our home as our family lives eleswhere so our dogs are also not super socialized which may make her take longer when getting to know you than dogs that you have been previously familiar with.

Mothering skills:

    Although this is her first litter, she has taken it in stride and has proven that she can settle down to the tasks of motherhood quite well and it suits her.  She is good about keeping her babies clean and has been very calm so that they can feed easily and multiply in size so quickly.  Of course it helps that mom is right here too, watching movies to keep Tomo company and be sure that she doesn't have any problems as she gets used to motherhood.  I am quite proud of her!

Arch nemesis:  Cookie, the border collie - Cookie likes to herd Tomo and she is having none of that....she is her own woman and quite proud.

Tomo's first litter was to Ko.  Her second litter was to Dan.

Tomoe Gozen MacLeod	Big Bears Kodah King  WS118150/03 11-06  Red, Black Overlay Black Mask, White Markings	Scioto Bluff North Bays Ace  WS056037/02 05-05  Red, Black Overlay Black Mask, White Markings  AKC DNA #V347065	CH Scioto Bluff's Strutter  WP810106/01 06-00  Red Black Mask, White Markings  AKC DNA #V193549	CH O'Pr Kivo  WP559458/01 01-96  Red Black Mask, White Markings
				Goshen Highplains Polar Mist  WP640327/04 05-97  White
			Scioto Bluff's For Your Kiss  WR045803/02 01-04  Red, Black Overlay Black Mask, White Markings  OFA29G OFEL29 CERF60	CH Buckridge's Nike At Eire'sown  WP921040/09 09-00  Red Black Mask, White Markings  OFA24G AKC DNA #V154261
				Scioto Bluff's Kitty Moody  WP894312/02 01-02  Red Black Mask, White Markings
		Regalia's Fuel To The Fire BB  WR017745/05 11-02  Red Black Mask, White Markings	CH Serdess Tranz Sport  WP842966/01 11-98 (Canada)  Black Fawn & White   OFA24E OFEL24 AKC DNA #V145844	CAN CH Regalia's Trans Fur  WP661248/01  Black & Fawn Black Mask, White
				CAN CH Matsou De Lauclair  CKC EQ305608
			CH Schonewald's Country Classic  WP744071/02 06-01  Black & White Black Mask	CH Regalia's Mountain Man  WP314875/02 04-92  Fawn   OFA31G
				Big-O's Night Moves  WP448428/06 02-97  Black Black Mask, White Markings
	Rocksy Blue  WS006847/06 11-06  White Pinto, Black Mask	Artic Frost's Dark Storm  WP526225/02 10-95  Silver Gray Black Mask, White Markings  AKC DNA #V82611	Sho Go Jake  WP457803/02 02-94  Silver Gray Black Mask, White Markings	Acremans Va-Guas Sho Go  WG276273 12-90  Black & White
				Southfork Toshaco  WG424145 04-91  Fawn Black
			Brooks' Penny Sue  WG331155 03-93  Silver Gray Black Mask	Riki Sumi Of CK  WG071713 08-88  Black Fawn & White
				Camden's Penni Takara  WF929408 07-87  Fawn & Black
		Circle T's New Kuma Baby  WP995678/07 01-02  Fawn Blk & White Mask White Markngs	Rackley's Kuma Kokoro's Boy  WP924030/09 01-01  Red Black Mask, White Markings  AKC DNA #V105593	Kuma Kokoro's Little Man  WP673699/03 08-97  Fawn White Markings  AKC DNA #V202268
				Nikki Brooke  WP601889/01 01-97  Silver Gray Black Mask, White Markings
			Sumos Arnery Baby  WP804008/11 04-00  Fawn & White	Ty's Bubby  WP457004/01 06-94  Brindle & White Pinto  AKC DNA #V112828
				Sumos Yoshi Boyski  WP517721/01 12-95  Black & Fawn White Markings