I have two wonderful Akitas--very well-trained and people-friendly. They accept guests into the house when we (their human packleaders) are home. Does anyone have any experience with having someone housesit their Akitas while they are on vacation? Like all Akitas, mine are very protective of the home, but I'm wondering if I can introduce them to a friend and have her spend a night before we leave town to accustom them to her presence. What do you think? Any experiences?

Let me preface what I'm about to say by telling you that I am bias. I don't think you're going to want my opinion after I give it, but I feel like it would be wrong of me not to tell you my experience.

I was attacked in the face by an akita when I was six years old, and I had to get sixty stitches through my cheek, through my nose and a millimeter from my eye from the three bites. I was at the dog's owners' house with their nanny, who had been living with them for 3 weeks, and their two children. The owners were out for dinner. It seems the dog was set off by barking dogs and gunfire heard from the television.

Personally, I don't want anything to do with akitas. I'm sure you can imagine this to be fair. That aside, I would seriously recommend taking all precautions if you are indeed going to have a house sitter.

Just the fact that you are concerned that something could happen because of their nature as guard dogs makes me concerned. I know that I would feel terrible if something were to happen because of my dog.

If someone does come to stay, I would make sure that they have every ounce of knowledge they might need way in advance to decide if they are comfortable with the situation.

How long would you be away? How well do your dogs know this friend?

Akita's are a very territorial breed. They may be just fine with you and your family, but a stranger that is brought into the mix can be a recipe for disaster. Unless your dogs have become accustomed to this person coming and going, you might have a problem.

I love all animals, but I must also take a step back on this one. My dog was attacked without any provocation by a friends' Akita, and required 86 stitches. This was a dog that had been gentle prior to this, so the safety of others and their pets should be made a priority.