Nowadays, Large Mastiffs are often kept as loyal and intelligent companion dogs.

The ancestors of the English Cocker Spaniels were brought to the UK from Spain. They were hound-like dogs with floppy ears and a short but very thick coat.

The breed was bred on the island of Honshu in the province of Akita, after which it was named. In ancient times, these dogs served to help people in hunting wild boars, bears and deer.