Ron Durant is the founder and head breeder of Apexx Akitas, an AKC-registered American Akita breeding program based in Sussex County, New Jersey. Since founding the program in 2003, Ron has produced 10 AKC Champions and Grand Champions including Champion Esther, Best of Opposite Sex winner at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, and has placed more than 150 American Akitas with families across the United States. Full background on the About Apexx Akitas page.

Apexx Akitas was founded in 2003 by Ron Durant in Sussex County, New Jersey. The program has operated continuously for over 20 years with a documented multi-generational track record of health, structure, and temperament outcomes.

Apexx Akitas is located in Wantage, Sussex County, New Jersey. The property is approximately 60 miles from Manhattan, making personal pickup accessible for families across the tri-state area. Professional in-cabin flight nanny service is available for nationwide placements.

Yes. Every dog at Apexx Akitas is AKC registered with full documentation. Ron Durant is also listed on the AKC Marketplace directory at marketplace.akc.org/breeder/ron-durant-28760.

Four things distinguish Apexx Akitas from most breeders: verifiable OFA health testing on every breeding dog (publicly searchable at ofa.org), 20+ years of documented multi-generational outcomes, an 80 percent long-term contact rate with placement families, and principled selective placement that turns away applicants who are not a good fit for the breed. Ten AKC Champions produced including a Westminster Best of Opposite Sex winner underline the structural and temperament standards.

Yes. After an application is reviewed and approved, families are welcome to visit the Wantage, NJ facility to meet the parent dogs and see the environment where the puppy was raised. Many families tell us the visit was one of the most valuable steps in the process.

The American Akita and Japanese Akita (Akita Inu) are two separate breeds recognized by the AKC and FCI. American Akitas are larger (110-150+ lbs vs 65-90 lbs), have more substantial bone, and come in all colors including brindle and pinto. Japanese Akitas are smaller, more refined, and limited to specific solid colors. Both descended from ancient Japanese Akitas but diverged genetically after World War II.

Adult male American Akitas typically weigh 110-150+ lbs standing 26-28 inches at the shoulder. Adult females typically weigh 90-130 lbs standing 24-26 inches. Some substantial males exceed 150 lbs. Both sexes maintain the classic American Akita structural correctness when bred to the AKC standard.

Well-bred American Akitas typically live 10-14 years. Apexx Akitas has documented longevity across four generations of dogs. Our foundation matriarch Sheba lived 15 years and 8 months. Sadie the Guardian is currently 10 years old and still going strong. Longevity comes from responsible health testing, ethical breeding, and proper care.

Yes, when well-bred and properly raised. American Akitas are deeply loyal to their families, naturally protective, and can be wonderful with children when socialized properly from puppyhood. However, they are not the right breed for every household. Full assessment on the Are Akitas Good Family Dogs page.

Yes. American Akitas have a dense double coat that sheds year-round with two heavy coat blow seasons in spring and fall. Regular brushing 2-3 times per week normally, and daily during coat blows, is essential. This is a heavy-shedding breed and should not be considered by families averse to significant hair in the home.

American Akitas are intelligent but independent-minded. They are not typical eager-to-please dogs like Golden Retrievers or Labrador Retrievers. Success requires consistent, respectful, positive reinforcement training from puppyhood. They can be very trainable when the approach matches their nature. Harsh methods do not work with this breed and will damage the relationship.

Every breeding dog at Apexx Akitas receives full OFA health testing across five clearances: hips (radiographic), elbows (radiographic), thyroid (with TgAA), CAER eye examination by a board-certified veterinary ophthalmologist, and cardiac evaluation. There are no exceptions regardless of pedigree or show record. Full standards on the Health Testing Standards page.

Go to ofa.org and search the registered name of the sire and dam. All OFA test results for that dog are publicly displayed including type of test, date, and result grade. If results are not there, they do not exist. Ask any breeder for the registered names of their breeding dogs. A certificate image on a website is not equivalent to a publicly verifiable OFA record.

OFA testing at Apexx Akitas is supervised by Dr. Jonathan King, VMD, at Steinbach Veterinary Hospital in Bluebell, Pennsylvania. Dr. King has over 30 years of experience in OFA radiographic evaluation and health clearance protocols for large breeds.

The most common American Akita health concerns are hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, autoimmune thyroid disease (higher prevalence than most breeds), progressive retinal atrophy, and heritable cardiac conditions. All of these are testable through OFA protocols. Responsible breeding with full pre-pairing OFA clearances substantially reduces the risk of these conditions being passed to offspring.

Yes. Every Apexx Akitas puppy comes with a written health guarantee covering hereditary conditions with clear terms and remedies. The guarantee is backed by Ron Durant personally and by the OFA testing performed on both parents. In addition, every Apexx dog is accepted back at any age for any reason for the life of the dog.

TgAA (thyroglobulin autoantibody) testing detects autoimmune thyroiditis in its earliest stage before clinical symptoms appear. Because thyroid dysfunction has higher prevalence in the American Akita than most breeds, TgAA testing is critical for responsible breeding. Every Apexx breeding dog receives a full TgAA-included thyroid panel through an OFA-approved laboratory.

Apexx Akitas puppies are priced at $4,500. This reflects the full cost of responsible breeding including complete OFA health testing on both parents, champion bloodlines, early development protocols, AKC registration, a written health guarantee, and lifetime breeder support from Ron Durant.

Every Apexx Akitas puppy placement includes AKC registration paperwork, written health guarantee, lifetime return-to-breeder clause, copies of both parents' OFA certifications, early development records (ENS protocol, socialization documentation, litter assessments), and lifetime breeder support from Ron Durant for the life of the dog.

A deposit secures your place on the placement list after your application is approved. Deposit amount and terms are discussed during the application review process. Contact Ron directly at (732) 850-5435 for current deposit terms and process.

Apexx Akitas does not offer financing directly. Payment is due before or at pickup. Some families have used third-party financing such as personal loans or credit cards to spread the cost across time.

The difference is what you cannot see in the puppy on day one but see across the next 12-15 years: verified OFA-clear parents (5 clearances each), champion bloodlines with documented multi-generational outcomes, formal temperament testing, structured early development, and lifetime breeder support. Backyard-bred Akitas skip all of this, which is why they cost less upfront and often cost much more in vet bills and behavioral challenges across the dog's lifetime.

Complete the puppy application on the Apexx Akitas website. Every application is reviewed personally by Ron Durant. Ron responds to every serious inquiry within 24 hours.

We plan two to three carefully selected litters annually. Waitlists typically fill three to six months in advance of expected whelping. After your application is approved and a deposit is placed, you are added to the waitlist for a specific upcoming litter based on your preferences and household match.

Puppy-to-family matching is made by Ron Durant based on the formal temperament assessment conducted at 7 weeks, the family's application answers, lifestyle, experience level, and household composition. We frequently recommend the opposite sex or a different puppy than what applicants initially request when the temperament match points that way.

Not exactly. We consider your preferences (sex, color if strongly preferred) but the final matching decision is made by Ron based on which puppy fits your household best. This approach has produced a 20-year track record of successful placements. Trust the breeder to match, and the match will hold up for 12-15 years.

We are honest about it. If a family is not a realistic match for the American Akita breed, we tell them respectfully with resources to help them find a better-suited breed or breeder. This is not personal. It is protecting both the family and the dog from a mismatch that would not work over a 12-15 year lifespan.

Ron responds to every serious inquiry within 24 hours. Full application review typically takes 3-7 days depending on follow-up questions and phone conversations required. Serious applicants often have one or two calls with Ron before final approval.

Yes, but never as cargo. Apexx Akitas uses professional in-cabin flight nanny delivery where a professional handler travels with your puppy as a passenger on the flight. Ground transportation with climate-controlled vehicles is also available for families who prefer it. Personal pickup at our Sussex County, NJ facility is welcome for families within driving distance.

Apexx Akitas has placed 150+ puppies across more than 20 states including California, Texas, Washington, Michigan, Illinois, North Carolina, Florida, Georgia, Colorado, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Virginia, Maryland, Tennessee, Connecticut, and many others. Nationwide placement is standard practice.

Shipping costs vary based on distance, method, and season. Professional in-cabin flight nanny delivery to major cities typically ranges $500-$1,200 depending on origin airport availability and current flight prices. Ground transportation costs are quoted separately based on distance. Shipping costs are handled separately from the puppy price.

Yes. Personal pickup at our Wantage, NJ facility is welcome and encouraged. Many families combine pickup with a visit to meet the parent dogs and tour the environment where the puppy was raised. Some out-of-state families fly to Newark (EWR), rent a car for the 60-minute drive to Wantage, and fly home with the puppy in-cabin as a carry-on.

American Akitas need moderate daily exercise: 30-60 minutes of walking or activity plus mental stimulation. They are not high-energy dogs like Malinois or Border Collies but should not be sedentary either. They excel in cold weather activity and thrive with outdoor time in cooler climates.

A high-quality large-breed formula with quality protein sources, moderate fat, and calcium-phosphorus ratios appropriate for large-breed development. Puppies should be on a large-breed puppy formula. Apexx Akitas provides detailed nutrition guidance in the care packet at placement based on what has worked across generations of our dogs.

Sometimes, with the right owner. Apartment life is possible for a well-exercised, well-socialized American Akita but is significantly harder than a home with a yard. Cool climate apartments (Seattle, Portland, Chicago winter) work better than warm climate apartments. Owner commitment to daily walks, mental stimulation, and consistent training matters more than square footage.

American Akitas can live peacefully with other dogs but require careful introductions and honest evaluation of both dogs. Same-sex dog dynamics (male-male, female-female) require extra thought. Opposite-sex pairings are generally easier. Not every American Akita is a good multi-dog household dog, and buyers should be honest about this before adding one to an existing dog household.

Neither sex is objectively better. Males (110-150 lbs) are larger, more openly protective, and loyal to the whole family unit. Females (90-130 lbs) are more subtle in presence and often bond most intensely with one primary caretaker. The right choice depends on your household, existing dogs, and personal preference. See the Males and Females pages for full comparison.

Consistent puppyhood training in basic obedience (sit, down, stay, recall, loose-leash walking), structured socialization to varied environments and people, and calm confident leadership from day one. Group puppy classes are valuable through 16 weeks of age. Adult training benefits from continued mental stimulation and structured tasks.

Yes. American Akitas were developed for cold snowy conditions in northern Japan. They thrive in winter climates and struggle in prolonged heat. Washington, Michigan, Colorado, Minnesota, and other cold-climate states are excellent matches for the breed. Cold weather is where the American Akita truly comes alive, as demonstrated in our video gallery.