Elvis' Best Friends  "My family had always owned German shepherd dogs and we liked the fact that they were loyal and intelligent. When our last shepherd passed away, after much research we decided on one of the spitz breeds. We wanted some of the same qualities as the shepherd (like intelligence) but we were looking for a breed that didn't have a strong tendency to roam (like Siberian huskies). We decided on the Akita because the reading we'd done indicated that they were good family dogs that tended to be somewhat independent, but not to an extreme. We also liked the fact that the Akita's appearance is strong and powerful and they make excellent watchdogs. "We started out with Kia and found she had a delightful temperament - playful and attentive. A short time later, we acquired Hung Gar to keep her company. These dogs both have strong personalities and are more challenging to train than our shepherd. Akitas need a fair amount of exercise and are an ideal breed for country living. They enjoy long walks and seem to enjoy the country environment." ~~ Elvis Stojko ~~ From The Canadian Dog Owner's Companion by Donna Davidson and Penny Manning Available at Chapters Bookstore Online