After more than 25 years of experience "owning" and being owned by long-coated Akitas (who lived inside my home with smaller dogs and some cats), I found their temperaments to be fairly even and predictable most of the time. The male Akitas were somewhat more aggressive toward other dogs and guests than I would like and wouldn't hesitate to lunge and snap at strangers when not on leash. My female, on the other hand, was as sweet and mellow as one would expect in an old beloved mutt.

The Kai dogs offer an alert and watchful companion; they are very similar in look and movement to their larger 'cousins' but without the risk of friends and family being eaten. Other than barking, though, I'm not sure how good they are at protecting their homes and family. They bark at the door, but then expect to get petted by whoever comes in. They have much more mellow temperaments than the Akita or Shiba and also display a unique sense of humor when playing with me, the cats, and each other. They have demonstrated silent tag-team approaches to playing with (aka, stalking and tackling) the house cats, similar to the team hunting tactics employed in their native mountainous homeland in Japan.

Now that my arthritis prevents me from owning Akitas again, I find the Kai Ken to be a more than satisfactory replacement breed. They are clever, lively, and fun to be around. Just slightly over lap sized, they love to snuggle. They certainly keep me laughing.