Do akitas make good personal protection dogs?

Have you ever seen an Akita in a patrol car? I'm no expert but I'd bet most of the fight and prey drive has been bred out of them for the show ring. But they are a beutiful dog and ones I seen were very playful and pleasant.

that being said that may not be true for all akitas. My blade is 12months old and has a very high prey drive he try to get the tug at all costs when its under my leg on top of the car etc etc.

I just read this a moment ago, it might be helpful http://www.akitaclub.org/web/tempermnt/protection.html
You can always give it a try and let us know how it works out. Border Collies have very high prey but again you don't see them in much PPD or K9 but they excel in agility and herding.

I agree with Dennis. The Akita in this country are bred for looks. I owned a Japanese bred Akita, imported here in the late 80's. He had okay prey drives would grip a tug like a pitbull. But didn't have what it takes to do protection work was extremely gun shy. He was very intimidating if a stranger came near me or my yard. That will work 95% of the time but I wouldn't bet my life a Akita or would protect.

No, they do not make good ppd's.
Pretty much end of story, sorry. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

im in the UK does this make a difference

and Will why dont akitas make good ppd any specific reasons.

They lack as a breed the required drives and overall trainability to make reliable ppd's.

Could an Akita protect it's owner in some type of situation?
Maybe.
But the same could be said for almost any breed in a one in a million occurrence.
But to actually *train* an Akita for protection where it would be a reliable deterrent. Nope, I haven't seen or heard of it and I seriously doubt that it's ever happened.

And please notice and read the link that Dennis provided to an Akita site about protection and Akita's. The owner in that article is convinced that his Akita would protect his children - yet if you closely read the article, nowhere do you get any indication whatsoever that he has any proof of the matter.
I'm not going to risk my family or a client's family on just a hunch that a dog might protect folks when the chips are down. That is just wishing, and we see that over and over again with people making claims that they're sure that their dog would protect them if needed. Sorry, this is the real world, and wishes don't cut it - facts and proof does.

I don't know of any breeders of Akita's who are breeding strictly for working ability. If, you look at breeds like GSD and Mal's that excel in personel protection. The percent of dogs bred to work, that can actually do PP work is small. I hope Will and others, will share from their experience what percent of workingline dogs actually have what it takes. My best guess would be 5 to 10 percent will actually make the cut.