Skipjack Akitas

Since 1977

Welcome to Skipjack Akitas. With a limited and very personal breeding philosophy, our goal has been to produce sound, typey minds and bodies, loving and intelligent companions and successful show dogs. Most of our champions have been owner and/or breeder handled. Many of our Akitas have acquired additional titles, including obedience, rally, agility, tracking, CGC, TDI, TT, VA and VAX. And since it’s inception, the Eastern Veterinary Blood Bank has welcomed numerous Skipjack Akitas, who have donated over 100 units of blood.

Our early bloodlines go back to CH Sakusaku’s Tom Cat Go, Mitsu Kuma’s Moonbeam (full brother to CH Mitsu Kuma's Tora Oji Go), and CH Krug’s Red Kadillac, to name a few.

Over the years, we have incorporated pedigrees that we feel would offer strong health background and tractable temperaments in combination with breed type, sound structure and movement, to create an all around family companion that can excel in conformation and any number of other canine activities

WHAT IS A SKIPJACK?

Skipjacks are the last working boats under sail in the United States. During the winter months, the few remaining working skipjacks dredge oysters off the floor of the Chesapeake Bay. “Drudging”, as watermen call this process, is hard, cold, dirty, and sometimes dangerous work. The shallow draft of the Skipjack allows it to make quick continuous Passes, or “licks” over the oyster beds, somewhat imitating the leaping and surface play of skipjack mackerel, herring and tuna……thus the name. The oldest vessel in the Chesapeake Bay Skipjack fleet is the Rebecca T. Ruark, designated in 2003 as a national historic landmark by the Deparment of the Interior.