Toffee The Stubborn Akita Dog: A Life in Pictures

I've always been such a good girl but I also know my own mind and I have no problem telling Daddy what I want to do and where I want to go.

If Daddy gets up late I go and wake him up. If my breakfast is late or I'm late for my walk then I go and get a squeaky toy and I make a squeaky protest until Daddy remembers.

When we go walkies, that's when I really put my foot down. I know where all the best walks are and I insist upon them. I like the prom, Vale Park and the beach, the pet shops and the pubs and all the places that feed me. So, you'd better take me in the right direction.¹

I am not leaving this pet shop! I am not leaving this pet shop! I am not leaving this pet shop!

I don't want to go in this direction and I'm not moving until we walk the way that I want. And if you think you're walking me to see the vet then you can forget about it.²

You might have got me to put one paw further forwards, but that doesn't mean that I've given in.

¹ Even on a morning walk Toffee would often try and veer off in the direction of the Stanleys Cask or Telegraph pubs. She'd even slow down as we went past the cash point just in case I'd forgotten to stop there.

² Japanese Akitas are renowned for their stubborness and persistence, and Toffee would not only dig her paws into the ground to stop herself from moving forwards. She would also use her big bear head as an anchor by keeping to it low the ground thereby making it all the harder to move her forwards.