Japanese Akitainu Puppies/Available Dogs
Page Last Updated: 06/14/25
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Now Accepting Applications for Our Fall, 2025 brindle/white and all white Litter. Please CONTACT US For More Information!
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On a special case by case basis, we may have retired showdogs available for experienced owners. Please contact us for more.
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Scroll Down to read some testimonials from our puppy owners!
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Here you will find our planned mating's along with available adults/puppies. We strive to only breed when we feel the pairing will positively contribute to the breed as a whole. All of our breeding’s are carefully planned with our focus on the overall health, temperament, and conformation of all of our Japanese Akitainu.
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Please contact us for any enquiries and we will be glad to help. We are actively involved in the Japanese Akitainu community both in North America and worldwide so we will be happy to recommend reputable breeders if Yakumo Sou have no puppies available at the time of your enquiry.
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Exercise caution while researching for a potential puppy to join your family. Recent AKC breed recognition has seen a considerable surge in popularity which has led to irresponsible and inexperienced breeders who do not prioritize health, temperament, and breed type.
People keeping the breed to themselves and scaring good people off is known as 'Toxic gatekeeping' and it is occurring in this breed community in North America. Anyone who truly has the breeds best interests at heart will take pleasure in seeing them develop and thrive. Take advice from people who actually own the breed for a long time and who have not become glorified historians or breeders overnight. Not all clubs and organizations have the breeds welfare as their priority.
All good breeder's health test their dogs and will never breed a bad temperament. Overly shy or overly aggressive are disqualifying faults in our breed standard and those dogs should never be bred. Please exercise caution on social media groups where you will find an abundance of opinions from people who are not experienced enough to give them.
Ask for OFA health certificates and always meet the parents of your puppy. Even breeders who seem well established online can be lacking in knowledge or pretending to have morals. Do not expect to get a puppy immediately and respect the breeders who have waiting lists. They have them for a reason. We are here to help and part of that is us protecting and preserving this breed by ensuring newcomers get in contact with reputable breeders. Please feel free read the testimonials from our current puppy owners below.
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Jamie & Emily (Kobayashi) - 2024
Florida
"I have always wanted a Japanese Akitainu since high school, where I first learned about the breed through the movie Hachi: A Dog’s Tale. Unfortunately, living in a small NYC apartment + my and my parents’ busy school/work schedule meant it wasn’t possible at the time.
Fast forward to 2022—my wife and I, now a few years out of college with more stable work schedules, decided to start looking for a breeder. We traveled to a UKC show where we knew a few JAIs were entered. Little did we know, Kevin had traveled to the same show on a judging appointment. We soon learned that we both lived in Western NY at the time (my wife and I have since relocated to St. Augustine, Florida), yet we met for the first time being 500+ miles away from home. Kevin instantly welcomed us into the Yakumo Sou family. In the next couple of years, we had the absolute honor of watching YÅ« and Taka mature through puppyhood into adults, and following other dogs of Yakumo Sou as they excelled at local AKC/UKC shows.
We brought Kobayashi home from the YÅ« x Taka litter born in May 2024. Kevin has been an invaluable resource not only to us but to the broader Japanese Akitainu Community. He continues to support us through each and every milestone that we achieve with Koba.
You’ve probably heard Kevin say this – Breeders have waitlists for a reason. Kevin prioritizes the health, temperament and breed standards of his dogs and their offsprings. Kevin cares deeply about his dogs and the preservation of this beautiful breed. I can certainly attest that a well-balanced puppy is well worth the wait."
Brittney & Family (Kyodai) - 2024
New York
"It has always been a dream to have a Japanese Akita as part of the family. When the timing was right and we were ready for this venture, we were beyond thankful to have found such an exceptional breeder. Kevin and his dogs at Yakumo Sou are proof of the compassion and dedication that he holds in regard to the ancient breeds’ integrity and history. He is a plethora of knowledge and kept us informed every step of the way and continues to offer guidance and support; he also loves hearing updates on how his extended puppy families are doing! He CARES about these dogs! When we met Kevin and the dogs for the first time, they were welcoming in a way that made us feel like family. And seeing the mother of our new puppy had me holding back tears, she was absolutely beautiful and loving. Now, we have the most amazing new family member, Kyodai go Yakumo Sou! He is the smartest, happiest, and most handsome pup around; at now six months old, we couldn’t imagine a more perfect fit to our family! If you’re looking for perfection, look no further than Yakumo Sou! Thank you, Kevin, again and again!"
Elnara & Danil (Daichi) - 2024
Canada
"Wonderful Experience with a Dedicated and Responsible Akita Inu Breeder
We couldn’t be happier with our decision to bring home our Akita Inu puppy, Daichi, from this breeder who specializes solely in Akita dogs. From the very first contact, they were incredibly warm, responsive, and knowledgeable, making us feel confident every step of the way.
When we picked up Daichi, it was clear how much love and care had been poured into his early weeks. He came to us healthy, well-socialized, and so well-adjusted. He’s incredibly smart—picking up new commands in no time—and so easy to train. On top of that, he’s absolutely stunning and has such a gentle, loyal nature.
The breeder provided us with all the necessary paperwork and fantastic advice on how to best care for and train Daichi. It’s clear that they have a deep love and understanding of the Akita breed, and we couldn’t be more grateful for the smooth and positive experience.
If you’re looking for a breeder who is truly dedicated to the Akita Inu breed and ensures their puppies are set up for success, I highly recommend them. Daichi has brought so much joy to our lives already, and we owe that to the wonderful start he had with his breeder!"
Steve & Family (Kazumi) - 2024
California
"The last 4 months, since bringing Kazumi home, have been the most rewarding as a pet owner. Not only is Kazumi a great representation of the breed but the result of the dedication of his breeder, Kevin Carroll at Yakumo Sou. His appearance and temperament have exceeded my expectations. I look forward to many adventures with Kaz and I am
thankful to have found Yakumo Sou as a partner for our newest family member…Kazumi Go."
Caroline (Hiroyuki) - 2024
Massachusetts
"Owning a Japanese Akitainu was my dream for nearly a decade. That dream finally became a reality in July of 2024 when I welcomed Yuki into my life. Yuki is healthy, goofy, loving, bright, and the best friend I could have asked for. Walking him feels like walking a celebrity. I’m often stopped on the street and told what a beautiful dog I have (many even ask if they can take pictures)! He is everything I wanted in a dog and more, and that’s all thanks to Kevin’s incredible breeding program. Kevin’s years of experience and unwavering dedication to this breed shows in the dogs he raises and the puppies he produces. When you bring home a Yakumo Sou puppy, you aren’t only welcoming a dog into your life, but an entire community of support! Kevin is very honest, friendly, and personable. He makes a lifelong commitment to his puppies and has consistently stayed in contact with me since I brought Yuki home nearly a year ago. I’ve even become good friends with other Yakumo Sou puppy owners (Kobayashi and Hashibara’s families, to name just a few)! My life has improved by miles since welcoming Yuki and my Yakumo Sou family into it. If you’ve done your research and are serious about getting a Japanese Akitainu, Yakumo Sou is the best of the best! I cannot recommend Kevin and his program highly enough!"
Roxann & Larry (Kenji Yoshi) - 2024
Delaware
"We decided to purchase our AkitaInu from Kevin after much research.
I have previously owned two Akitas and the breeders allowed me to choose which one I wanted to purchase. Not so with Kevin. He carefully researches each family and situation the puppy will be going into before making the decision on which puppy is better suited for that particular family. He certainly chose the perfect puppy for us!
We have no other children or pets and Kenji Yoshi fits into our lifestyle perfectly.
The best way I can describe Kenji Yoshi’s personality is that he is an old soul in a puppy’s body.
Kenji Yoshi is calm, confident and very secure in any situation he encounters. The loving care and devotion Kevin gave to him in his first 8 weeks of life is obvious. Kevin has set the foundation for Kenji to be successful in whatever life situation he encounters.
It is easy to find a pretty AkitaInu online BUT not one that is genetically sound, intelligent and beautiful all in one package as are the puppies from Yakumo Sou.
For example at about 5 months of age we took him for a six week AKC Star puppy class. He performed the required skill the first time the trainer asked and then ended up waiting until the other puppies attempted the same skill two or three times to get it right. He also house trained himself by ringing bells we placed on the door for him whenever he needs to go out.
I could go on and on about all his accomplishments these were but a few.
When you purchase a puppy from Yakumo Sou the puppy comes with a Guardian Angel for life. Kevin is always available for any questions you may have or help you need with one of his babies if you are fortunate enough to get one.
For example, Kevin has all of his puppies microchipped before placement. One day I received an email from Kevin notifying me that the microchip company had gone out of business. He also included a list of other pet recovery services so I could get Kenji Yoshi registered again. I would have never known the company was no longer in business if not for Kevin’s notification.
Our puppy from Yakumo Sou is everything anyone could want in an AkitaInu and Kevin is a breeder who sets the standards for breeders around the world.
We are so thankful to Kevin for Kenji Yoshi being a treasured part of our lives!"
Michael & Beth (Doshin) - 2023
Massachusetts
"My partner and I lost an Akita to old age two years ago, after living a very happy thirteen years hiking and exploring the Northeast with us. After some time passed and we were done grieving, we began searching for a reputable breeder to add another Japanese Akita to the family. We live a very active lifestyle, with miles and miles of hiking every single year and even a home in the hills further north of where we live. It was extremely important to us that any dog we added to our little family was healthy as could be, and with a history of good temperament in their family tree so they could share as many experiences with us as possible. We ended up finding Kevin and Yakumo Sou after some research, and it's now been nearing six months since we brought our extremely clever boy Orson home. He was already a very intelligent little guy when we first met him, and it was by far the easiest and most rewarding experience I've had raising a dog yet as he made himself at home almost immediately. Kevin was absolutely fantastic to deal with the entire process, from first contacting him all the way up to now, in which he's still a readily available resource if I ever have any questions. And as someone who'd already raised an Akita and saw him through his entire life, the one thing of note that really stuck out to me about my interactions was how important it was to Kevin who his dogs went home with. He's well aware of how intelligent the breed is and the fulfillment they need, which for me having had one already was by far what put him ahead of any other breeders I was considering. I would absolutely recommend Yakumo Sou if you're consider adding a Japanese Akita to the family. I absolutely would again in the future if I found myself in that position again."
Amy & James (Kagami) - 2023
Maryland
"We highly recommend Yakumo Sou and Kevin to anyone interested in the Akitainu breed! Kevin is extremely knowledgeable of, and truly loves, the breed. He has been amazing to work with and we can't thank him enough for entrusting us with one of his puppies. Our girl has a wonderful temperament, epitomizes the breed standard, and is beloved by all who meet her. Thank you again, Kevin!"
Nick & Shayna (Hoshizora) - 2023
New Jersey
"Japanese Akitas are an exceptional breed and Kevin, the owner of Yakumo Sou is an exceptional breeder! If you are looking for a dog to be a life companion and a true member of your family you will find that in a Japanese Akita. Our girl is only 5 months but she is fiercely intelligent and loving. We give her the time and attention her breed needs and she pays it off in spades! This is a testimony to Kevin who pain stakingly breeds his puppies to have the great temperament our girl displays everyday. This is a new breed in the US so its important to get one from a great breeder who cares about the future of these puppies and breed. If you're looking for an accessory dog, spur of the moment gift or are not able/willing to put time and effort into care and training move along, these dogs are not the one you're looking for nor is this breeder. Kevin makes sure each puppy will truly be cared for and has been in constant contact with us whenever we needed help in understanding our puppy before and even after bringing her home. If you're searching for a great, ethical and high quality breeder as well as dog then this is the place for you!"
Felix & Family (Ryoshi) - 2022
Missouri
“Kevin’s passionate commitment to the preservation of the Japanese Akita is evident. He takes a conscious effort to choose his breeding pair that would bring out the best qualities in the next generation of Akitas. As the Japanese Akita is an ancient dog breed with unique characteristics, he tries his best to ensure his puppies are raised in a family that understands this particular breed and are committed to a lifelong relationship”
Wendy & Colin (Kotetsu) - 2022
Pennsylvania
"April 20th 2021, I found Yakumo Sou Japanese Akita USA, and that embarked on the journey of owning my very first Akita puppy—Kotetsu. I grew up playing with and admiring other people’s Akitas. 20 something years later and 7000 miles away from home, my dream came true, thanks to Kevin. The process started with filling out questionnaires, learning about his breeding program and more knowledge about Akita Inus. This process was extremely helpful, reassuring, and informative; by the time I was put on a waitlist as a potential pet owner, I felt more confident and determined about becoming a forever pet parent. Every step of the adoption process was informed clearly, prepared patiently, and handled professionally. With his help, my passion and dream were grounded and achieved through responsibility and knowledge. That’s when I know for sure that I found the perfect breeder who later became a good friend in my life. Not only has he been thorough with educating me about how to mentally and physically prepare to be a good pet owner, he demonstrated his passion and vision to promote this beautiful breed globally by connecting and including more people who share that same dedication and interest into this community. When I welcomed baby Kotetsu home, I became a part of the Japanese Akita community and a lifelong commitment to help preserve and develop their bloodlines. I’ve had Kotetsu for 15 months. Every advice that Kevin gave me was proven to be effective. He is not the type of breeder who just delivers his puppies. He is their fairy godfather who watches over them by providing ongoing advice, checking on their developmental milestones, laughing at funny stories about your puppies, and planning on visiting them. What makes Yakumo Sou so special is their beautiful approach that balances dog handling in western and eastern cultures harmoniously. Like he said “she is an adult carnivore that I have brought into my human world”. The respect I learned to establish in my companionship with Kotetsu enriched and evolved our connection to a more profound level that exceeded my expectation in every possible way. Like Hachi, he became my most loyal, supportive, and respectful friend. And I couldn’t have done that without Kevin’s help. I hope more people know about Kevin and his breeding program so you can be part of this incredible journey as well."
Brian & Family (Kumadesu) - 2023
New York
"Kuma is the perfect addition to our family. He's intelligent and loving, with a megawatt puppy smile that lights up the room. He's great with our children and his good nature is even winning over our cats. Kuma loves to walk the neighborhood meeting new friends, but he's really in his element hiking or camping when his confidence and athleticism really shines. Overall, we're very pleased by our experience with Yakumo Sou. Kevin is a knowledgeable and dedicated breeder and it is thanks to his passion for the breed, we're able to welcome into our home such an exceptional Akita Inu."
Sean & Katie (Hashibira) - 2023
New York
"When you meet Kevin and his Akitas at Yakumo Sou, you understand why his breeding program is so highly regarded by the Japanese Akita Inu community. Kevin is breeding with respect for the history of the breed and a vision for the breed's future. While it's easy to see the physical beauty of Yakuma Sou's dogs and puppies in photos, it's when you meet them in person, that you understand fully, that these are very special dogs indeed. Aside from being excellent representatives of the "breed standard", they are imbued with a spirit and heart that is rarely seen in Japanese Akitas in the U.S. We couldn't be happier than to have been matched with Hashibira Go Yakuma Sou and to be part of the Yakuma Sou family."
Casey (Nova) - 2022
Maryland
“After searching months for the best Japanese Akita breeder, we were referred to Kevin and my goodness were we ever fortunate. Since our perfect puppy joined our family, Kevin has been super helpful and a great and friendly resource ensuring her well-being. We continue to seek his knowledge and wisdom should we ever have any questions. His communication and genuine care is beyond amazing. You can easily recognize Kevin has the upmost respect for this breed as it reflects in all aspect of our loving puppy. We are proud to be part of the growing Yakumo Sou family!”
Sudeep & Family (Gemma) - 2022
New York
"Kevin was wonderful to work with to find our family the perfect Japanese Akita puppy, our beloved Gemma. He was extremely professional and transparent throughout the entire process, and his dedication to the breed and deep knowledge and experience in working with Japanese Akitas shines through in everything he does. He's incredibly responsive and has continued to be a valuable resource and friend on our puppy journey. We are so thankful to have found Kevin and our dog Gemma!"