Week One — How We Brought Home an Akita Puppy

There is nothing that melts the heart quite like the weight of a sweet puppy in your arms. Nothing.

We are big dog people. Always have been. And after more than a year without one in the house, we were ready — really ready — to do it all over again.

A Little History First

Years ago, when my two older kids were still babies, we had a Great Pyrenees named Caesar. He was everything you’d want in a big dog — loyal, gentle, and completely devoted to our family. We lost him in 2011 to kidney failure, and it happened fast. He was 11, which is a long life for a large breed, but we were absolutely not prepared to say goodbye. Large dogs go down hard, and Caesar was no exception.

Two years later, the universe decided we needed a dog again — whether we thought we were ready or not. A tiny rescue puppy came to us through a series of completely unexpected events. She had been found on the side of the road, left in a bag, only about seven weeks old. We named her Ginger, and she became one of the great loves of our family’s life. She was with us for just under twelve years before she passed last July.

After Ginger, I needed a minute. The kids started asking for a new dog almost immediately — as kids do — but I wanted us to have some time to reset before making another big commitment. I also have a personal rule about house training: I refuse to do it in the winter. If you’ve ever stood outside in the dark and the cold at 2am waiting for a puppy to decide where to do his business, you understand completely.

So we waited. And we watched. And we let the timing be right.

May 29 — The Big Reveal

My fiancé Tim had been asking about getting a dog almost as long as the kids had. Once I got Sage and Seasons up and running and felt like I had my footing again, I agreed it was time. We did our research together, which mostly involved Tim suggesting breeds and me shooting them down one by one until we landed on something we both loved.

So — can you guess what we decided on?

An Akita.

If you’re not familiar with the breed, Akitas are large, powerful, and deeply loyal Japanese dogs. They are known for being calm and dignified with their family, a little reserved with strangers, and absolutely stunning to look at. They are not a beginner dog — they require confident handling, early socialization, and a clear sense of who is in charge. But for a family of big dog people who has been through this before? We felt ready.

We found a reputable breeder and reached out. She sent us photos and videos of the litter right away — one female and three males. After looking through everything, we tentatively chose one of the males and decided to call him Hank.

Then we actually met him.

May 30 — The Journey

We made the drive out to Pennsylvania on a beautiful day. When we arrived, all three males came tumbling out to greet us — little round fluff balls moving in every direction. The breeder gave us the option to change our minds if one of the other pups connected with us more naturally, which I thought was a wonderful thing to offer.

Tim had his heart set on Hank from the start. And then Hank settled the question himself — he walked right up to me, sniffed my face, and gave me a little lick. That was it. Decision made.

We scooped him up, briefly debated taking a second dog home because leaving the other two behind was genuinely painful, and then made our way back to New Jersey with the newest member of our family riding along in the back.

He was a trooper on the drive. We stopped halfway so he could stretch his legs and take care of business, and we pulled into the driveway around 3pm.

May 31- Welcome Home, Kodi

We named him Kodi — short for Kodiak — because the moment we saw him, he looked exactly like a tiny bear cub. Round and fluffy and soft and completely irresistible.

We took him straight into the yard so he could get his bearings before ever seeing the inside of the house — a tip I’d remembered from years past that helps puppies understand right away where “outside” is.

Tim had spent the entire week before Kodi came home planning and building a dog pen in the yard. It’s 10×10, made of steel, and painted black so it blends into the landscape instead of sticking out. He chose a shaded spot that stays out of direct afternoon sun, lined the floor with turf and paver blocks for easy cleanup, and added solar-powered spotlights on all four corners for nighttime bathroom trips. He even built in side panels for privacy.

It looks great. Kodi approved immediately. 

He came home and stepped right into a family that had been waiting for him, even when we didn’t quite know it yet. The kids are smitten. Tim is already his favorite human. And me? I’m just happy to have a puppy in the house again.

Stay tuned — there is so much more to come with this one.

June 1 — Vet Day

The morning after homecoming, I took Kodi in for his first checkup.

He weighed in at 16 pounds — a solid little guy for his age — and sailed through his physical exam like a champ. The vet did find a parasite in his stool sample, which is actually pretty common in young puppies and nothing to panic about. We left with a prescription and a clear treatment plan.

On the feeding front, the vet confirmed that Kodi should be eating about three cups of dry food per day at his current size and age. There’s a great local farm and feed supply store just down the road from us, and they recommended Fromm Large Breed Puppy — a high-quality formula designed specifically for large breeds to support healthy, steady growth. We picked up a bag on the way home.

So far, so good. He’s eating well, settling in, and figuring out the house one sniff at a time.

Have you ever owned an Akita? I’d love to hear your experience in the comments below. And if you’re thinking about bringing a large breed puppy home, drop any questions you have — we’re happy to share what we’re learning as we go.