The UK and US bred Akita is larger and more robust than the Japanese Akita Inu, which is sometimes mistaken for the Shiba Inu.

Akitas date back to the 1600s and are named after the Akita a province in northern Japan. The breed was originally used to guard Japanese royalty and to hunt large fowl and game, including bears. Akitas came to the UK via Canada in 1937 but weren’t internationally known until the early 1980s. The UK and US bred Akita is larger and more robust than the Japanese Akita Inu, which is sometimes mistaken for the Shiba Inu. German Shepherds are a generally more well-known type of dog than Akitas. In the UK, they’re almost immediately recognised as police dogs, chosen for their trainability, size and tracking abilities. They are a fairly young breed, though, originating in Germany in 1899. They have a long body, wide chest and a large, fluffy tail that is curled. Both breeds are fairly clean but will require regular brushing and regular odour brushing. A German Shepherd sheds heavily twice a year while Akitas are known to have feline-like grooming habits.

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https://blog.dogbuddy.com/dog-breeds/compare/akita-vs-german-shepherd-whats-the-difference/