Hip dysplasia affects nearly 1 in 4 American Akitas according to OFA data. It is the most expensive inherited condition in the breed, with bilateral hip replacement costing $10,000 to $14,000. OFA results are publicly posted at ofa.org and verifiable by anyone. A breeder who cannot hand you the registration number either has not tested or has results they do not want you to see.

Elbow dysplasia affects 15.3 percent of American Akitas and typically manifests between 4 and 12 months of age. Hip and elbow x-rays are almost always taken the same day, so both results should share a test date. A breeder who has hip results but no elbow results on the same date is testing selectively and cutting corners. See our health problems guide for what this condition costs to treat.

Autoimmune thyroiditis is inherited and affects an estimated 7 to 10 percent of American Akitas. A standard thyroid panel measuring T3 and T4 alone is not sufficient. The thyroglobulin antibody (TgAA) test is required to identify dogs that are positive for autoimmune thyroiditis. A dog can have normal hormone levels while being TgAA positive, meaning it will pass standard thyroid screening but still pass the condition to offspring. Thyroid panels must be current within 12 months.

American Akitas are predisposed to Progressive Retinal Atrophy, entropion, and uveitis as a component of VKH syndrome. CAER certifications expire annually. The examination must be performed by a board-certified veterinary ophthalmologist, not a general practice veterinarian. A certificate from a regular vet exam is not CAER certification.

Cardiac evaluation screens for congenital heart conditions that affect longevity and quality of life. The OFA number suffix tells you the level of examiner: C for cardiologist, S for specialist, P for general practitioner. A board-certified cardiologist provides the strongest evaluation. This is often the most overlooked health test in American Akita breeding programs.

A lifetime return policy is the single strongest signal that a breeder views their dogs as a permanent responsibility. It means they are invested in the outcome of every placement. It also means they track where their dogs go and what happens to them, which is essential for any serious health and temperament tracking program. If a breeder does not want their dogs back, they do not care what happens to them.

Breeding decisions can only be truly evaluated by their long-term outcomes. A breeder who does not maintain contact with placed families cannot know whether their program is producing healthy dogs over a 10 to 13 year lifespan. This question separates breeders who are genuinely invested in their program from those who are finished at the point of sale. Read reviews from Apexx Akitas placed families to see what long-term relationships look like in practice.

A puppy contract defines the entire relationship. It should specify the health guarantee terms including which conditions are covered and for how long, the return to breeder policy, spay or neuter requirements for pet placements, and how disputes are resolved. A legitimate breeder provides this without hesitation. Breeders who will not share the contract before a deposit are hiding terms you would not agree to if you saw them first.

Website testimonials are not references. You need to speak with real people who will tell you honestly about their experience including health outcomes, temperament, and whether the breeder remained accessible after placement. Ask specifically about dogs that are now 3 years old or older so you can ask about late-onset health conditions like autoimmune disorders and thyroid disease.

The correct answer to this question is never “no.” No breeder who has been producing dogs for more than a few years has had zero health issues appear in any placed dog. A breeder who claims a perfect record is either not tracking outcomes or not being honest. Transparency about health issues is a sign of accountability, not a weakness. What matters is what they did when problems appeared. Did they remove affected dogs from the breeding program? Did they notify other families from the same lines?

Breeders who participate in AKC conformation have their dogs evaluated publicly by qualified judges against the breed standard. This is external accountability that hobby breeders with no show involvement simply do not have. It does not mean show breeders are perfect, but it does mean they subject their dogs to independent evaluation. Titles earned by parents and dogs in the pedigree indicate a commitment to breed standard beyond personal opinion.

Volume and quality are incompatible. A breeder producing six or more litters per year across multiple females cannot provide the individual attention, early development, and placement screening that responsible breeding requires. The number of breeding dogs also matters. A program with 10 or more breeding females is a production operation regardless of what the breeder calls it. Understanding why responsible breeding costs more helps put litter volume in financial context.

Temperament in an American Akita is partly inherited and partly shaped in the first eight weeks of life. Responsible breeders implement structured early development protocols including Early Neurological Stimulation, deliberate handling, exposure to sounds and surfaces, and controlled socialization. A puppy that leaves at eight weeks without this foundation is starting behind before you ever bring it home. Ask specifically about ENS and what the puppy has been exposed to.

This question reveals the depth of breeding decision-making. A responsible breeder can articulate the specific reasons for every pairing in terms of health results, structural complementarity, temperament, pedigree, and contribution to the breed. A careless breeder pairs dogs based on availability, proximity, or because both are registered. Understanding the differences in American Akita breed type helps you evaluate whether a breeder understands what they are producing. The answer to this question separates intentional stewardship from casual production.

This is the most revealing question on the list. A responsible breeder will give you an honest, sometimes uncomfortable answer about whether the American Akita is the right fit for your household, experience level, lifestyle, and long-term plans. They will ask you hard questions about your dog experience, living situation, children, and other pets. A breeder who tells every prospective buyer that yes, an Akita is perfect for them is interested in making a sale, not a responsible placement. For an honest assessment of whether this breed is right for you see Are Akitas Good Family Dogs? and Are Akitas Aggressive?