Last summer a plea went out over the internet amongst Akita Rescues for assistance with three Akitas that came in as strays to a small, rural shelter in Kentucky.  This shelter is very, very small, averaging at most 50 dogs.  They do not take cats. I met Brownie in Hagerstown, MD.  He was thoroughly confused at being loaded in a crate in a van and landing hundreds of miles from what he once knew as home.  He was polite, but very stand-offish.  He was thin, which was probably a better thing for his upcoming Heartworm treatment.
Brownie went to the foster home of Lynne and Bill Loewy.  He settled in nicely and blossomed into a truly gorgeous guy.  He underwent Heartworm treatment without incident and seemed to enjoy being in a home.  There was some evidence of his having been hit by humans, but he learned that not all humans remain in a steady anger mode with dogs.  He crated like a champ and was housebroken.  He seemed at peace with the world.  The Loewy's started to take him out for some socialization.  He tolerated the adventures, but made it pretty clear, he was a homebody.  He also started to defend his foster home with stern barking when visitors came by.  This generally ceased once he realized they were welcome, but it became apparent that Brownie had been a home alert system for some time.

Brownie was adopted by a previous adopter.  He did really well with the cats in the household, but he wasn't keen on the stairs to the main floor or floors above the main floor.  So he made himself small and lurked in her office.  Unfortunately, her steady stream of clients began to wear on Brownie.  And he began to defend her office space as he did the Loewy's yard.  So Brownie was returned.  He is now in another foster home.  Brownie needs a home that is low key and not a revolving door of visitors and family.  He also needs someone who will be willing to show him what is needed of him (like going up and down stairs) and to provide a safe place if visitors come by and he becomes visibly stressed by them.  I never saw the territorial Brownie and he never barked at me the few times I went by the Loewy's.  He didn't bark at the Loewy's.  He didn't bark at his adopter. He does not bark at his foster dad, but will bark at his foster mom while he is in the crate.  He barks at visitors while in the crate, but was happy to be walked by people he did not know when his fosters were busy having their baby.  While walking with strangers, Brownie would nudge at them to be petted. He barked again once he was put back in the crate.  He walks very well on leash and basically ignores other dogs.  Brownie is one of those dogs who does not want to be the main focus of attention.  He wants to just 'blend into the background', and be integral but not the star of attention. The ideal home for Brownie would be someone who will let him accustom to the sounds and rhythms of their household.  He does well with kitties and probably best in a childless home.