Jindo Akita Mix: Pictures, Guide, Info, & Care

Although they differ greatly in size, the Jindo and Akita share a surprising number of traits. Both are loyal, highly intelligent, and remarkably easy to potty train, and they’re skilled hunting and guard dogs.

When you combine the two breeds to get the Jindo Akita Mix, you typically get a medium-sized dog that’s protective, devoted to its family, and a bit of a pain to train.

Read on to get the data you need to decide whether a Jindo Akita mix is the dog you’ve been dreaming about!

Breed Overview

The Jindo and Akita are fastidious dogs with barely a hint of “doggy smell” and can easily be potty trained. Both dogs blow out their thick, waterproof coats twice yearly but don’t shed much in between. They are also overly protective of their humans to the point where, if not properly socialized, they can be quite aggressive with strangers.

When you mix the Jindo and the Akita, you get a strong-willed dog with a serious prey drive. Jindo Akita mixes are known for their devoted nature and for needing a moderate amount of exercise and a lot of mental stimulation. Socialization is also necessary to reduce their aggressiveness with strangers and other pets.

Jindo Akita Mix Breed Puppies

You’ll need to find a breeder if you want a Jindo Akita hybrid since they aren’t very common. Also, considering this is a relatively new mixed-breed dog, it’s difficult to find long-term data on their overall health, ability to adapt, and other aspects of their personality and health issues.

It’s also worth noting that both breeds are rather expensive, so you can expect to pay between $400 and $1,500 for a Jindo Akita mix puppy. Yes, you can try your local shelter, but the chance of finding a Jindo Akita there is slim to none.

Temperament & Intelligence of the Jindo Akita Mix

If you look at the data from the Akita and the Jindo, you’ll see that both dogs must be well-socialized if you want them to get along well with other people and pets. Both breeds are surprisingly intelligent and learn new tricks and skills easily. As for potty training, these dogs barely need any and seem to know from day-1 that going indoors is wrong. The Jindo Akita mix has a higher-than-average prey drive and will need to be leashed whenever you leave the safety of your home or fenced-in yard.

Based on the traits of their parent breeds, the Jindo Akita mix will likely be highly protective of their owner, aloof with strangers, and aggressive if they feel threatened (or someone threatens their family).

Are These Dogs Good for Families?

The answer to this question is yes and no. As mentioned earlier, the Jindo and Akita must be well-socialized if you want them to be safe around strangers, and the same can be said for children. If raised with your kids from a puppy, chances are high that a Jindo Akita mix will be affectionate and playful with them.

However, if you bring a new baby into the home after your Jindo Akita is an adult, the chance it will be possessive is also quite high. That’s a problem as it might force you to choose between keeping your pet or giving them up because they pose a threat to your child.

Does This Breed Get Along With Other Pets?

There’s no way to sugarcoat the fact that if you bring an adult Jindo Akita into a home with other pets, there will be friction and the possibility of bad things happening. Both parents have an extremely high prey drive created over hundreds of years as hunters and guard dogs. An adult that doesn’t know your pet cat, bird, or Guinea pig will look at it as food, not as a friend.

However, if you raise a Jindo Akita mix with other pets, including cats and rabbits, the likelihood it will form strong friendship bonds with them is higher. That’s why socialization with other pets and people is critical if you adopt a Jindo Akita hybrid.

Things to Know When Owning a Jindo Akita Mix

Food & Diet Requirements

Your Jindo Akita will need high-quality dog food, and if you adopt a puppy, high-quality puppy food will suffice. Since they’re moderately active, dog food with plenty of protein, enough “good” fat, and fewer carbohydrates is ideal.

These dogs need meat protein from lean sources, including beef, fish, chicken, and turkey. You should look for a brand with whole protein as the #1 ingredient and no fillers, additives, preservatives, and GMOs. Since neither the Jindo nor Akita tends to overeat, the chance of obesity for a Jindo-Akita mix is lower than average.

Exercise

Based on their parent breeds’ moderate exercise and activity needs, the Jindo Akita mix won’t need more than an hour or two of outside activity every day. A morning and late afternoon walk and play sessions will probably suffice unless you have a yard where your Jindo Akita can run around and blow off some steam.

What the Jindo Akita does need, however, is mental stimulation. They love learning agility skills and learning to hunt with you if you’re a hunter. In fact, any type of job you can give your Jindo Akita mix will be very much appreciated by your pet since they love being occupied with something.

Because your Jindo Akita will likely have a thick double coat, taking them outside for walks and play should be done early or late in the day when there’s less chance they will suffer from excessive heat.

Training

Training a dominant breed can be tricky, and your Jindo Akita will likely be one of the more dominant dogs you’ve ever owned. They’re used to being the alpha dog and need a firm and dedicated hand when training. You should also note that the Akita and Jindo are highly sensitive dogs that will shut down if you use negative reinforcement training techniques. That’s why dog trainers recommend positive reinforcement, which will undoubtedly give you better results and help your Jindo Akita mature into a respectful, responsive adult dog.

Grooming

Grooming the parent breeds of the Jindo Akita mix is easy for about 10 months of the year. A weekly brushing will usually be more than enough, as well as the usual nail clipping and ear cleaning. As for baths, this hybrid’s dense undercoat and thick, rough topcoat should stay surprisingly clean since it’s waterproof and repels dirt and grime. You probably won’t need to bathe them more than once a month and maybe less than that.

One of the best reasons to brush your Jindo Akita regularly has nothing to do with keeping them clean but everything to do with creating strong bonds between the two of you. If you have multiple people in your home, it would be wise to let everyone brush your Jindo Akita so that your pet bonds with your entire family.

Lastly, be aware that your Jindo Akita will blow out their fur twice a year and shed more than you can imagine. During these times, it’s best to brush them outside once a day at least.

Health and Conditions

The Jindo and Akita are relatively healthy breeds with few congenital health issues, and your Jindo-Akita mix will likely be the same. They can live long, healthy lives, but there are a few things to watch out for. That includes elbow and hip dysplasia, bloat, and hyperthyroidism.

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Male vs Female

There are few differences between male and female Jindo Akitas. Males are slightly larger but share the same temperament as the females. However, both sexes require extensive training to keep them well-behaved around strangers.

3 Little-Known Facts About the Jindo Akita Mix

1. The Parents Are Beloved in Their Home Countries.

The Jindo is from South Korea, and the Akita is from Japan. Both countries adore their respective dogs and have elevated them to the level of national canine heroes.

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2. Finding a Jindo Akita Mix Won’t Be Easy.

Although the parents are relatively popular in the United States, there aren’t many breeders putting the two of them together.

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3. The Jindo Akita Mix Should Be Trained in Brief but Regular Increments.

Jindo Akitas are intelligent and can get bored and distracted easily. Breaking up your training sessions is an excellent way to get around these issues.

Final Thoughts

The Jindo Akita mix hasn’t been around for a long time, making it difficult to know the type of dog you’ll get when you adopt one. A Jindo Akita is an excellent pet for someone who has already trained several dogs and knows how to handle and train them, especially more aggressive, stubborn, and intelligent dogs. They’re not recommended for first-time owners. If you adopt a Jindo Akita, we wish you the best of luck in caring for your remarkable canine.

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Featured Image Credit: Left – KOREAN JH, Pexels | Right – Charlotte Rush, Unsplash

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