The current biggie in my family is "go-to-ground" with the terriers. My mother just got the first agility title on her 7 year-old Border Terrier and she also does flyball in Indiana (The Hurdlin' Hoosiers team). Ya just gotta watch out for the Border Collies in flyball --- they're fassssssssssst and loud. A variation on the main agility is jumps and weaves which I believe is a separate title.
For the herding Akita, yes only the herding breeds can title, but would you be interested in tracking or trailing with her? That's open to any breed, I believe. There is also pulling which she would be a natural at.
Tats, check out www.flyball.com maybe they can help you find a team.
Boxerlover: most flyball teams only require basic obedience which you can do at your local PetsMart if there's one nearby. Otherwise, most teams train for flyball for cheap. I know the Hoosiers only charge $5.00 per session and then you pay your own entry fees for tournaments. Ask around.