Windjammer Akitas :: Maryland

Welcome to Windjammer Akitas!

Windjammer Akitas was founded in 1989 on the principals of home raised puppies who are sound of mind as well as body. A family owned kennel located in rural Westminster, Maryland, Windjammer Akitas strives to produce the paramount Akita in temperament, type, confirmation, and movement. We are members of the Akita Club of America and the Greater Baltimore Akita Club.

We enjoy attending dog shows and have been very successful in the ring. Ed handles our dogs as well as handling for others. He has handled many dogs to their championships, as well as group wins and placements, Best in Specialty and multiple National Specialty successes. Jenna steps in the ring only under extreme duress, but has still managed to squeak out several points and the occasional Best of Breed win. We compete at an average of 50 – 55 shows a year. Look for us at the mid-Atlantic shows and the National Specialties.

While we very much enjoy showing our dogs, they are first and foremost members of our family. In order to give each dog the individual attention they deserve, we keep our kennel small and few in numbers. Our veterans are equally as important to us as our up-and-comers. Each dog spends quality time with the family each day – taking walks together, playing in the yard, or crashed on the couch-watching Survivor!

Breedings are never taken lightly, are carefully planned and temperament is a foremost consideration. We carefully and objectively evaluate the temperaments of each Akita and only those dogs with exceptional temperaments are given further consideration. The Akita must be conformationally correct. We do our very best to breed to the Akita Standard. All Akitas in Windjammer's breeding program must also be tested for genetic health problems such as hip dysplasia, eye disease and thyroid dysfunction in an effort to produce healthy puppies. Only those Akitas who are tested and certified as free of these and other genetic defects warrant continued consideration.

All of our puppies are socialized with adults, children, and other dogs. Friends and family begin visiting and handling the pups shortly after their first check-up. At approximately one week of age, children ranging in age from one year to adolescence handle the puppies on a daily basis in an effort to familiarize the pups with a child-inhabited environment.

Placing pups in the right homes is more important to us than finding only “show” homes. It is not uncommon for us to place a gorgeous show dog into a home where the dog will never see a dog show. The dog is well loved and cared for – that is what matters.

Akitas are a wonderful, unique breed, but they are not for everyone. We hope that any potential first time owners do plenty of research before entering into a partnership with an Akita. Take the time to learn about the breed before buying. They may be the perfect dogs for you and your lifestyle – or they may be the biggest mistake you could make. We have provided several links to help you learn about this breed.

---FLASH---
Success at the 2004 Nationals!!
Blaise wins Best Veteran in Show for the second year in a row!
Ozzie wins the 12-18 Month Class and BOS to Grand Futurity!
Rush earns his CGC and TT! Blaise earns her TT!