Akita grooming
Akita grooming in Gloucester, MA
The AKC calls Akitas clean dogs with little doggy odor, and for most of the year they need only a weekly brush. Twice a year that changes, when the undercoat blows and comes out in clumps. This page covers the blow, why shaving is the wrong fix, how the visit is planned for a strong guardian breed, and what it costs.
The coat
A harsh outer coat stands off a thick, soft undercoat, about two inches long over the withers and rump
The AKC standard describes a double coat: a thick, soft, dense undercoat, shorter than the outer coat, and an outer coat that is straight, harsh and stands somewhat off the body. The hair on the head, legs and ears is short. Over the withers and rump it runs about two inches, slightly longer than on the rest of the body, and the tail carries the longest, fullest coat. The standard faults any sign of a ruff or feathering.
That last point is why an Akita needs no haircut. There is nothing to shape: no feathering on the legs, no skirt, no fringe. What it has is a lot of undercoat on a lot of dog. The AKC puts males at 100 to 130 pounds and females at 70 to 100, and says Akitas shed only minimally most of the time. The grooming is in moving that undercoat out when it finally lets go.
- Outer coat: straight, harsh, standing off the body
- Undercoat: thick, soft and dense
- Short hair on the head, legs and ears
- No ruff or feathering, so nothing to trim
The blow
Twice a year the undercoat blows out in clumps; book Shed Release as it starts
The AKC's description is blunt: twice a year the dense undercoat blows, shedding so heavily that it comes out in clumps all over the house, and brushing more often helps get rid of the dead coat. The first sign is soft tufts standing out from the harsh coat on the hips and the backs of the thighs. Book a bath with Shed Release, a $10 de-shedding treatment and brush-out, that week, so the bulk of it comes out at once.
Wait three weeks and the loose undercoat packs against the skin over the rump and behind the ears, where it is slowest to brush out, and dematting runs $15 per 20 minutes on top of the bath. A blow left to finish on its own also makes the next bath slower to dry. Between blows, the AKC's weekly brush is all most Akitas need, with a bath when the coat is dirty.
- 01
Spot tufts of undercoat lifting on the hips and thighs
- 02
Book the bath with Shed Release that week, $75 or $85 plus $10
- 03
Put your Akita's history with handling and other dogs in the booking notes
- 04
Brush every day or two at home until the blow is over
- 05
Rebook at pick-up for the next blow and take $5 off
No shave
Shaving an Akita strips the insulation and does not stop the next blow
Shaving looks like a shortcut through a blow, and the AKC explains why it is not. Its chief veterinary officer says a dog's coat acts as an insulator, that shaving it off makes a dog susceptible to heat stroke, and that fur protects against sunburn. When a double coat is shaved to the skin, the undercoat grows back faster and can crowd out the slower guard hairs, leaving improper regrowth. And the next blow still comes.
So an Akita's groom is the bath, which includes a blow-dry and brush-out, with Shed Release in a blow and nail clipping at $16. The AKC adds that overly long nails can cause an Akita pain and problems, so keep them on the list. Full service exists for dogs that need a haircut, and an Akita does not; a sanitary trim at $10 keeps the rear tidy if you want it.
Table manners
A strong guardian breed grooms best with a plan made before the visit, not on the table
The AKC describes Akitas as instinctive guardians, wary of strangers, with an independent, headstrong streak, and notes that prolonged eye contact can read to an Akita as a challenge. Add a dog of 100 pounds or more, and the grooming table is a place where a calm, unhurried plan matters. With a reserved dog it helps to avoid staring, to move around it slowly and to let it see each tool before the tool touches the coat.
Tell us at booking what your Akita is like with strangers, with handling and with other dogs, since the AKC advises extreme caution with Akitas around other dogs. The $20 behavior or handling surcharge pays for slower, more careful handling with an extra pair of hands, and the groomer confirms it before starting. Whether a muzzle is part of the plan is settled with you at booking or check-in. At home, our how-to on cooperative care for nail trims builds a routine your dog can opt into.
- Share the dog's history with strangers, handling and other dogs
- Expect the $20 handling surcharge if slower handling is needed
- Settle the muzzle question at booking, not on the table
- Practice calm, rewarded handling at home between visits
Price by size
$75 for an Akita up to 90 pounds and $85 above it, with Shed Release at $10
Females, 70 to 100 pounds on the AKC's figures, fall on either side of our 90-pound line, so many pay $75 for the bath and some $85. Males, at 100 to 130 pounds, are in the over-90 band at $85. Shed Release adds $10, which makes a blow-season bath $85 or $95. The Akita coat is medium length on the AKC's chart, and the groomer confirms which over-90 tier applies at check-in, along with the final price.
Nail clipping is $16 and teeth brushing $10; the AKC reminds owners to brush an Akita's teeth often. Dematting, if the blow has packed, is $15 per 20 minutes. Overnight guests can be bathed on the last day of a stay before pick-up, and guests on the Dogtown Classic or Deluxe bundle take 10 or 15 percent off that groom.
| Akita visit | 51 to 90 lb | Over 90 lb |
|---|---|---|
| Bath: wash, blow-dry, brush-out | $75 | $85 |
| Bath with Shed Release | $85 | $95 |
| Nail clipping | $16 | $16 |
| Behavior or handling surcharge, if needed | $20 | $20 |
| Dematting | $15 per 20 minutes | $15 per 20 minutes |
At home
A weekly brush, a daily one in a blow, and a rinse after salt keep an Akita's coat easy
Brush once a week with a slicker or pin brush, working from the skin out over the rump and withers where the coat is longest, and use a rake or comb when the undercoat is coming out. Akitas have little doggy odor, the AKC notes, so most baths are about the shed and dirt rather than smell. A dog that suddenly smells, or scratches at one spot, should see the vet before the groomer.
Cape Ann winters suit the coat, but salt on Gloucester sidewalks sits between the toes, so rinse the feet in warm water after walks. In summer, walk early and late. From April to November, tick season, the weekly brush doubles as a tick check after a woods walk. Halibut Point State Park in Rockport requires a leash, and the AKC's advice is that an Akita stays on one anywhere that is not secure.
At Dogtown
Where an Akita's bath fits
Book the bath with Shed Release on its own, or add it to the last day of an overnight stay so your Akita comes home clean.
Asked and answered
Questions people ask about this
Short, complete answers you can act on today. More in the full FAQ.
Does an Akita need a haircut?
How often does an Akita blow its coat?
My Akita is wary of strangers. How is the groom planned?
Can an Akita be groomed during an overnight stay?
More questions? Read the full FAQ
Sources
Rules and dates change. We re-check every beach, licensing and ordinance page each spring and fall; the source above is the current word.
Keep reading
Next step
Clear the blow in one visit.
Book the bath for your Akita's weight online or in the Dogtown app, add Shed Release as the undercoat lifts, and tell us how your dog handles strangers.
- 01Free evaluationWeekdays 6:30 – 9:30 AM
- 02Book a dayOnline, in the app or by phone
- 03Play, rest, repeatReport card at pick-up
