Why you Should Get the Doberman Pinscher Instead of the Kishu Ken.

Last Updated: Jun 18, 2022

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Doberman Pinscher Versus Kishu Ken: Introduction

Are you thinking of getting a new pet dog, and you have narrowed down your choices to the Doberman Pinscher and the Kishu Ken? Well, you have come to the right place. Because in this article, we will provide you with a detailed comparison of these two dog breeds to help you decide which of the Doberman Pinscher and the Kishu Ken better suits you.

We will provide you a detailed discussion and comparison of dog attributes such as intelligence, price, general health, friendliness, etc, for both the Doberman Pinscher and the Kishu Ken.

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Doberman Pinscher and the Kishu Ken is better suited for new dog owners, for owners with kids, for owners that live in apartments, for owners with dog allergies, etc.

Importantly, we did some analysis and calculation and we obtained a number that we call the Better-Pet Score™ for both the Doberman Pinscher and for the Kishu Ken. The dog breed with the higher Better-Pet score is the `better` pet. We hope that these Better-Pet Scores will provide you with more insight into deciding which pet to get between the Doberman Pinscher and the Kishu Ken.

Our only goal here is to help you make a well-thought-out decision on your next long-term companion, be it the Doberman Pinscher or the Kishu Ken.

Doberman Pinscher versus Kishu Ken

Doberman Pinscher versus Kishu Ken: Overview

A very important difference between the Doberman Pinscher and the Kishu Ken is the size difference between the two dog breeds. The Doberman Pinscher is a large-sized dog while the Kishu Ken is a medium-sized dog.

Furthermore, both the Doberman Pinscher and the Kishu Ken are Working Dogs. This means both the Doberman Pinscher and the Kishu Ken were developed to assist humans in some capacity – including pulling sleds and carts, guarding flocks, guarding homes, and protecting their families. Breeds in the Working Group are known for their imposing stature, strength, intelligence, and fearless. Because of their size and strength, working dogs require a structured home life and firm, fair, consistent training by someone who can provide leadership without resorting to anger or physical force.

Doberman Pinscher versus Kishu Ken: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Doberman Pinscher to the Kishu Ken based on different important factors such as Price, Health, Kid-friendliness, etc.

When a dog breed scores higher for a factor than the other dog breed, the box of the breed that scores higher is shaded green and the box of the breed that scores lower is shaded red. When there is no difference between the breeds for a particular factor then the box is shaded gray for both pets. Also, when the factor is not important in picking a pet, or when the factor cannot be compared between two pets, the box for the factor is shaded gray for both pets

Most of the factors in the table for each dog breed are ranked on a scale of 1 to 5. “1” means “worst”, and “5” means “best”.

However, some factors such as “Price”, “Average Lifespan”, etc. cannot be on a scale of 1 to 5, so they are not on a scale of 1 to 5 in the comparison table.

Later in this article, we will further explain each factor as it applies to the Doberman Pinscher and the Kishu Ken

Factor Doberman Pinscher Kishu Ken
Tolerates Cold Weather 1/5 5/5
Dog Friendly 1/5 2/5
General Health 1/5 4/5
Low Prey Drive 5/5 2/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 5/5 5/5
Life Span 10 to 13 years 9 to 13 years
Tolerates Being Alone 2/5 3/5
Does NOT chew on things 4/5 4/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 4/5 4/5
Height 24 to 28 inches tall at the shoulder 17 to 22 inches
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 3/5 3/5
Good For Novice Owners 3/5 2/5
Kid-Friendly 3/5 3/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 3/5 2/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 3/5 3/5
NOT Rambunctious 3/5 3/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 3/5 3/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 3/5 2/5
Tolerates Hot Weather 4/5 3/5
Does NOT Shed 2/5 2/5
Does NOT Drool 2/5 4/5
Easygoing 1/5 3/5
Affectionate With Family 5/5 3/5
Easy To Groom 5/5 3/5
Easy To Train 5/5 4/5
Intelligence 5/5 5/5
Potential For Playfulness 5/5 2/5
Weight 60 to 80 pounds 30 to 60 pounds
Average Lifespan 11.5 years 11.0 years
Average Price $1910 No Data
Price Range $1100 – $2500 No Data
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Cardiac
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • von Willebrand`s Disease
  • Working Aptitude
  • No Data

    *Data from AKC.org (The American Kennel Club),dogtime.com, OFA.org (The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals), petcalculator.com, wikipedia.org, ATTS.org (The American Temperament Test Society)

    Next, we added the scores of the factors that can be added together for the Doberman Pinscher in the table (that is, `Ease of Grooming` score + `General Health` score + `Calmness` score + …etc) and we compared it to the corresponding total score for the Kishu Ken. We call these total scores the Better-Pet Scores, as we mentioned earlier. We called this score the Better-Pet score because the better dog breed will have a higher score. This is because the pet will the higher score will have minimal needs and be easier to have as a pet.

    The Better-Pet score for the Doberman Pinscher is 81 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for the Kishu Ken is 79 out of 125.

    Based on their Better-Pet scores, the Doberman Pinscher is a better pet than the Kishu Ken. So, you should get a Doberman Pinscher!

    Doberman Pinscher versus Kishu Ken

    The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Doberman Pinscher and the Kishu Ken

    Below is a list of where the Doberman Pinscher and the Kishu Ken are most different:

  • Doberman Pinschers cannot tolerate cold weather. They are vulnerable to the cold. However, Kishu Kens can tolerate cold weather.
  • Doberman Pinschers have the tendency to develop certain health problems. However, Kishu Kens are very healthy. They do not suffer from a lot of health problems compared to other dog breeds
  • Doberman Pinschers have a very low prey drive. This means they get along well with other pets. However, Kishu Kens have a high prey drive. They do not get along well with other pets.
  • Doberman Pinschers are very playful. However, Kishu Kens not very playful.
  • The Similarities Between the Doberman Pinscher and the Kishu Ken

    The Doberman Pinscher and the Kishu Ken are very similar in certain aspects. Below is the list of where the Doberman Pinscher and the Kishu Ken are most similar:

  • Both the Doberman Pinscher and the Kishu Ken do not get along well with other dogs.
  • Both the Doberman Pinscher and the Kishu Ken are not very vocal. They have very low tendency to bark and howl.
  • Both the Doberman Pinscher and the Kishu Ken do not like to be left alone.
  • Both the Doberman Pinscher and the Kishu Ken are not prone to nip and chew at things.
  • Both the Doberman Pinscher and the Kishu Ken do not have the potential to wander after things that capture their attention. They tend to stay around where you leave them.
  • Both the Doberman Pinscher and the Kishu Ken can tolerate hot weather.
  • Both the Doberman Pinscher and the Kishu Ken shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.
  • Both the Doberman Pinscher and the Kishu Ken are very easy to train.
  • Both the Doberman Pinscher and the Kishu Ken are highly intelligent.
  • Size Comparison of the Doberman Pinscher versus Kishu Ken

    Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Doberman Pinscher and the Kishu Ken.

    The Doberman Pinscher weighs 60 to 80 pounds when fully grown. The Doberman Pinscher is 24 to 28 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    On the other hand, the Kishu Ken weighs 30 to 60 pounds when fully grown. The Kishu Ken is 17 to 22 inches when fully grown.

    Size of Doberman Pinscher versus Size of Kishu Ken

    Lifespan of Doberman Pinscher versus Kishu Ken

    The lifespan of the Doberman Pinscher is between 10 to 13 years. The average lifespan of the Doberman Pinscher is 11.5 years.

    The lifespan of the Kishu Ken is between 9 to 13 years. The average lifespan of the Kishu Ken is 11.0 years.

    The Doberman Pinscher live longer than the Kishu Ken.

    Doberman Pinscher versus Kishu Ken
    Doberman Pinscher versus Kishu Ken

    Tolerates Being Alone: Doberman Pinscher versus Kishu Ken

    Doberman Pinschers do not like to be left alone.

    Kishu Kens can be left alone only for a short time.

    Do Doberman Pinschers shed more than Kishu Kens?

    Doberman Pinschers shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.

    Kishu Kens shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.

    Which is Easier to Groom, the Doberman Pinscher or the Kishu Ken?

    Doberman Pinschers are very easy to groom.

    Kishu Kens are moderately easy to groom.

    Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Doberman Pinscher or the Kishu Ken?

    Doberman Pinschers do not get along well with other dogs.

    Kishu Kens do not get along well with other dogs.

    Are Doberman Pinschers good family dogs? What about Kishu Kens?

    Doberman Pinschers are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    Kishu Kens are good family dogs. They are affectionate with family.

    Is the Doberman Pinscher Easier to Train than the Kishu Ken?

    Doberman Pinschers are very easy to train.

    Kishu Kens are very easy to train.

    Which one drools more, the Doberman Pinscher or the Kishu Ken

    Doberman Pinschers have a very high tendency to drool.

    Kishu Kens do have a very low tendency to drool.

    How Kid-friendly are Doberman Pinschers and Kishu Kens?

    Doberman Pinschers get along fairly well with kids. They are quite kid-friendly.

    Kishu Kens get along fairly well with kids. They are quite kid-friendly.

    Does the Doberman Pinscher Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Kishu Ken?

    Doberman Pinschers have a very low prey drive. This means they get won`t chase after smaller pets. They tend to get along well with other pets.

    Kishu Kens have a high prey drive. They have the tendency to chase after smaller animals and pets. They do not get along well with other pets.

    Do Doberman Pinschers Bark and Howl? What about Kishu Kens?

    Doberman Pinschers are not very vocal. They do not tend to bark and howl.

    Kishu Kens are not very vocal. They do not tend to bark and howl.

    Can Doberman Pinschers Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Kishu Kens Tolerate Cold Weather?

    Doberman Pinschers cannot tolerate cold weather. They are vulnerable to the cold.

    Kishu Kens can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Wanderlust Potential: Doberman Pinscher vs. Kishu Ken

    Doberman Pinschers do not have the potential to wander after things that capture their attention. They tend to stay around where you leave them.

    Kishu Kens do not have the potential to wander after things that capture their attention. They tend to stay around where you leave them.

    Can Doberman Pinschers Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Kishu Kens Tolerate Hot Weather?

    Doberman Pinschers can tolerate hot weather.

    Kishu Kens can tolerate hot weather as long as the weather is not too hot.

    Is the Doberman Pinscher Better for Apartment Owners than the Kishu Ken?

    Doberman Pinschers adapt moderately well to apartment living.

    Kishu Kens adapt moderately well to apartment living.

    Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Doberman Pinscher or the Kishu Ken?

    Doberman Pinschers are OK for new dog owners.

    Kishu Kens are not the best dogs for new dog owners.

    Doberman Pinscher Versus Other Dog Breeds

    You may also be interested in how the Doberman Pinscher compares to other breeds aside from the Kishu Ken. So, see below the links to the comparison of the Doberman Pinscher to other breeds:

    Doberman Pinscher versus Newfoundland     Doberman Pinscher versus Coton de Tulear     Doberman Pinscher versus Shih Tzu     Doberman Pinscher versus Flat-Coated Retriever     Doberman Pinscher versus Standard Poodle     Doberman Pinscher versus Tibetan Spaniel     Doberman Pinscher versus American Foxhound     Doberman Pinscher versus Polish Lowland Sheepdog     Doberman Pinscher versus Portuguese Pointer     Doberman Pinscher versus Staffordshire Bull Terrier     Doberman Pinscher versus Mountain Cur     Doberman Pinscher versus Pomchi     Doberman Pinscher versus Chorkie     Doberman Pinscher versus Barbet     Doberman Pinscher versus Boxer     Doberman Pinscher versus American Water Spaniel     Doberman Pinscher versus Pomapoo     Doberman Pinscher versus Norwich Terrier     

    Conclusion: Doberman Pinscher versus Kishu Ken. Which One is a Better Pet?

    In summary, there is nothing like a better dog breed or a worse dog breed. The important question to ask is which dog breed better matches your interests and lifestyle. We hope our discussion above will help you in deciding which dog breed between the Doberman Pinscher and the Kishu Ken better suits you and your family.