He’s super observant and takes his time to check out new visitors.

My Akita can be really aloof at first, but eventually warms up.

When someone new comes over, my Akita is quite the guard dog. He'll approach cautiously at first, sniffing and watching closely. But once he senses that the person is safe, he becomes much more relaxed. It's funny how he goes from serious to playful in seconds. Akitas have a strong protective instinct, so it’s not surprising he takes his role seriously. I appreciate this about him, but it can be intimidating for guests who don’t know him.

He calmly assesses everyone but then loves to play once he’s comfortable. It’s quite a routine.

It usually takes a few minutes, but he's friendly once he knows they're safe.