I know that akitas are independent breed and do not require a lot of "touchy-feely" time but this one seems to just not want to be bothered most of the time. He literally sleeps most of the day. I work from home so he doesn't stay in his room but every now and again other than overnight. Here is an outline of his typical day:

Wake up to go out @ 6am
eat at 6:30 (takes the entire 15 minutes to pick at his food but will drink as long as there is water)
go out to potty at 7
will sleep on my deck from 7:30ish until 9:30
got out to pee at 9:30 and then i take him on a quick walk (15 minutes)
play in my backyard for 20 minutes
back to work for me for a while so he will chill or play for about 20 minutes
back to sleep until about 12:15
small lunch (again, he barely eats) at 12:30
potty @ 1 and long walk until 2 where we'll get some training done
did i mention he's scared of everything after a certain point in our walk? i'm thinking it's because everything on our walk is new as our walks get further away from home
sleep from 2 to 3:30 when my son gets home.
will play for a minute but then he'll go back to sleep
wake up again @ 4:30
Dinner @ 5;30 and then out to potty @ 6.
After that, he's up and about but will still seeming prefer to be either out on the deck alone or in our laundry room..alone even though everyone is home and milling about. Bedtime is around 9:30.

Dallas is a good puppy but we've gotta figure him out so we can all be one big happy.

Puppies are basically the equivalents of babies or very young toddlers, in relation to humans, and as such will require a bit more quiet time by themselves, and more naps. By what you've posted, your puppy seems to have a pretty full day. I wouldn't be too concerned. My dog, an adult, is what could be considered a "velcro" dog, but even she will choose to nap outside on the patio, or in her sandbox (in the sun), rather than be inside with me at times, especially if the weather is gorgeous (of course, she'd love it if I came out there with her!). Other times, if she isn't laying at my feet under the desk, she's found a quiet corner by herself to sprawl out in.

wow, you really think so? I guess i'm not seeing his day as being "full" because he spends most of it sleeping or laying down...then again, i guess i should be thankful he doesn't need a lot of attention, huh?

Akita puppies......awwwwwe.......i remember, and our boy exactly the same to this day, he was a very docile lazy puppy didnt bound around like all the others we knew, he was quite content to be on his own for a good portion of it all, still is.

We did start his training by about the same age as your pup now, we would attach Kato to a long lead and then to someone in the household, he would spend days like this, forced to follow somone around the house, this was actually used as a gentle dominance training, and where he was taught that humans go through doors first etc etc, whilst this did not make him any less docile, he now has to laze around close by, he is happiest when lazing around with us in his sight.

i leave his leash on him for a good part of the day but mainly, he really prefers to be out on the deck because the heat is on in the house now that it is cooler here (when it was warmer out, he chose to lie directly on the a/c vent). Should i be "making" him stay inside with me just to show dominance? I definitely want to be tru to the breed and him by giving him his room and independence, within reason but i also want him to be part of the family.

Oh and far as crate training goes, he has held it all night since the 3rd night he's been with us. He sleeps in there and that's it. He doesn't want to play nor eat in there. Give him a treat just outside of his room, YUMMY!. Give it to him 6 inches away just inside his crate, he thinks it's a setup. At night though, he goes in rather easily.

[reeskujo]

I have 20 yr.s of experience with this breed and one thing I can tell you is do not "make" him stay outside......Akita's have a very strong need to be with their families and since they have such a natural guarding instinct when they're kept from their family they feel like they can't do their job....This leads to frustration which can lead to bad behavior....Allow him to come in when he wants to be inside....

As for showing him your the leader.....

Do not feed him before you feed yourself and your family.

Do not allow him to enter or exit a door before you

Also please and not saying you ever would,don't use any form of physical correction....They do not tolerate this.....If you have children please be sure to not allow them to tease him as Akita's don't tolerate that very well either....

Nattie and I are both experienced Akita owners so feel free to ask for any advice you need.

Trust me, i do not "make: him stay outside, that's where it seems he prefers to be most of the time. If anything, I have to "make" him come inside. Like right now, he's lying next to the door where it is cool (can't lounge on the deck today b/c it;s raining here). Heck, next summer, we probably won't be able to get him to go outside.

Is the fact that he's a long-coat have anything to do with it? I live in Maryland and we get all kinds of temperature fluctuations here.

As far as me being dominant, he does know I am at the top of the food chain here but like any kid, he looks at us every so often with a "will you leave me alone? Why are you messing with me?" look. If any of us are sitting on the floor, he will try to climb up but i recognize this as him trying to be dominant and nip it immediately.

And trust me, i'm not trying to be a worrywort or have a perfect robo-dog; I just want to know if we need to adjust our thinking/methods any to, again, help us stay one big happy

[reeskujo]

It sounds like your on the right track....Akita's don't tolerate the heat well and with the longer coat he'll be even less tolerant to it....I have a hard time getting my Akita and my Husky in the house when the weather is cooler to....As long as you don't need him to come him if he wants to stay outside let him...I wouldn't however let him stay out over night or when your not home as Akita's are known to be escape artists.

Your doing a good job....Keep it up.

As Ronald Weasley would say (for you Harry Potter fans) my dog is a nutter. Now he doesn't want to go out at all and it's just as cool out as it's always been.

Any hints on how to keep him from walking back and forth looking for trouble when he's indoors? I keep his leash on him and tether him to me occasionally, he doesnt have to go pee, he's got plenty of toys but i have to get my work done also. I dont want to crate him a few times during the day since I am home but i guess i will if i have to just to keep him out of trouble

If your dog has not had a complete vet check up I'd start there. Your dog may also be afraid of more than just things on your walk, which could be causing him to remain in certain 'safe zones'.

Couple of thoughts, try to find out what rocks his world, toys, treats, squeaky things, fuzzy things, balls, other dogs, running, etc. and use these to get and keep his attention. I'd also explore the fearful aspect of his behavior. Read the book The Cautious Canine to learn about how to manage a dog with fear issues. The Working with a fearful, scared or shy dog website also has info.