The Mighty Akita Inu

Then I continued my search, and found this teddy-bear like dog. Their cute appearence can be deceiving. These are legendary large Japaneese dogs that came from Akita Island. They were breed for fightings, then later were used as guarding, retrievering, hearding, hunting bears and wild boars, and pulling sledges (like huskies). They grow very big, up to 80KG for a full grown male. That is the sad part. Extremely protective of the family, good guard dog. The japanese allow Akita to protect their children, when they are not around. Quite intelligent but can be stubborn at times. Very friendly to the children if they grow up together. The famous one is Hachiko, white male Akita.. here is the story in length. (Excerpted from http://www.moellgaard.dk/English/Dogs/Akitas/Akitas_and_GJDs.htm)

For the Japanese, the most famous Akita is the Chuken Hachiko, which means “loyal Hachiko”, but he is usually referred to as Hachiko.
Hachiko, a white male Akita, was born in Odate, Akita Prefecture in November 1923. Two months old, he was sent to the home of Professor Eizaburo Ueno in Tokyo. The Professor named the puppy Hachi and called him Hachiko. At that time, Professor Ueno’s residence was in a suburb of Tokyo in the vicinity of Shibuya Station, and he used the train from that station to the agricultural experimental station in Nishihara where he worked.
May 21, 1925, Hachiko was at Shibuya Station as usual, waiting for his master’s arrival on the four o’clock train. However, Dr. Ueno would not return this time since he tragedly had suffered a stroke and had died at the university. Hachiko was by then eighteen months old. The next day and for the next nine years, Hachiko returned to the station and waited for his beloved master before walking home, alone. Hachiko was sent to homes of relatives or friends, but he always continued to await his master, who was never to return, at the train station.
Nothing and no one could discourage Hachiko from maintaining his nightly vigil. It was not until he followed his master in death, in March l934, at the age of 11 years and 4 months, that Hachiko failed to appear in his place at the railroad station.
The fidelity of Hachiko was known throughout Japan. Today, the statue of Hachiko, pays a silent tribute to the breed’s faithfulness and loyalty.