Differences and Similarities between the Affenpinscher and the Kai Ken.

Quick Links: Table of Contents

Affenpinscher Versus Kai Ken: Introduction

Are you thinking of getting a new pet dog, and you have narrowed down your choices to the Affenpinscher and the Kai Ken? Well, you have come to the right place. In this article, we will provide you a detailed comparison of these two dog breeds to help you decide which of the Affenpinscher and the Kai 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 Affenpinscher and the Kai Ken.

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Affenpinscher and the Kai 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 Affenpinscher and for the Kai Ken. The dog breed with the higher Better-Pet score is the `better` pet. We hope that these Better-Pet Scores will provide you more insight into deciding which pet to get between the Affenpinscher and the Kai Ken.

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

Affenpinscher versus Kai Ken: Overview

A very important difference between the Affenpinscher and the Kai Ken is the size difference between the two dog breeds. The Affenpinscher is a tiny-sized dog while the Kai Ken is a medium-sized dog.

Furthermore, both the Affenpinscher and the Kai Ken are Companion Dogs. This means both the Affenpinscher and the Kai Ken were bred to be companions for humans. Their main goal in life is to be with people, and they will be very sad if left to themselves for long hours day after day.

Affenpinscher versus Kai Ken: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Affenpinscher to the Kai 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.

Factor Affenpinscher Kai Ken
Tolerates Being Alone 1/5 3/5
Kid-Friendly 1/5 4/5
Does NOT Shed 5/5 2/5
Does NOT Drool 5/5 4/5
Life Span 12 to 14 years 12 to 16 years
Easy To Train 2/5 3/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 4/5 4/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 4/5 3/5
Easygoing 3/5 4/5
Tolerates Cold Weather 3/5 4/5
Tolerates Hot Weather 3/5 3/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 3/5 2/5
Easy To Groom 3/5 2/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 3/5 3/5
Low Prey Drive 3/5 1/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 3/5 2/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 3/5 1/5
Good For Novice Owners 4/5 2/5
Dog Friendly 4/5 3/5
General Health 4/5 4/5
Intelligence 4/5 5/5
Does NOT chew on things 2/5 4/5
NOT Rambunctious 2/5 1/5
Potential For Playfulness 4/5 3/5
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 5/5 2/5
Affectionate With Family 5/5 4/5
Weight 7 to 9 pounds 25 to 45 pounds
Height 9 to 11 inches tall at the shoulder 17 to 22 inches
Average Lifespan 13.0 years 14.0 years
Average Price $2220 No Data
Price Range $500 – $1962 No Data
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Legg-Calve-Perthes
  • Patellar Luxation
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) DNA Test
  • *Data from dogtime.com, OFA.org (The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals), petcalculator.com, wikipedia.org

    Next, we added the scores of the factors that can be added together for the Affenpinscher 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 Kai 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 a Affenpinscher is 83 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for a Kai Ken is 73 out of 125.

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

    Although we have done our best to analyze these two dog breeds in a very unbiased way, however, we will like to let you know that there are some dog attributes that cannot be assigned a number for comparison. We cannot put a number on how cute a dog breed is, for example. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

    Also, the dog breed that best suits you will depend on your peculiar lifestyle, your taste, and your priorities, which we do not know. So, for you to decide on which breed is right for you, read through the rest of the article to further understand both the Affenpinscher and the Kai Ken so that you can make your own well-informed decision on which pet to get.

    The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Affenpinscher and the Kai Ken

    Below is a list of where the Affenpinscher and the Kai Ken are most different:

  • Affenpinschers do not get along well with kids. They are not kid-friendly. However, Kai Kens get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
  • Affenpinschers do not shed a lot. They are good for people with dog allergies. However, Kai Kens shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.
  • Affenpinschers adapt well to apartment living. However, Kai Kens do not adapt well to apartment living.
  • The Similarities Between the Affenpinscher and the Kai Ken

    The Affenpinscher and the Kai Ken are very similar in certain aspects. Below is the list of where the Affenpinscher and the Kai Ken are most similar:

  • Both the Affenpinscher and the Kai Ken do not have the tendency to drool.
  • Both the Affenpinscher and the Kai Ken are not easy to train.
  • Both the Affenpinscher and the Kai Ken are not very vocal. They have very low tendency to bark and howl.
  • Both the Affenpinscher and the Kai 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 Affenpinscher and the Kai Ken get along well with other dogs.
  • Both the Affenpinscher and the Kai Ken are very healthy. They do not suffer from a lot of health problems compared to other dog breeds
  • Both the Affenpinscher and the Kai Ken are highly intelligent.
  • Both the Affenpinscher and the Kai Ken have very high energy levels. They need a lot of exercise time to release their high energy.
  • Both the Affenpinscher and the Kai Ken are very playful.
  • Both the Affenpinscher and the Kai Ken are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Size (Weight and Height) of Affenpinscher versus Kai Ken

    Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Affenpinscher and the Kai Ken.

    Affenpinschers weigh 7 to 9 pounds when fully grown. Affenpinschers are 9 to 11 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    On the other hand, Kai Kens weigh 25 to 45 pounds when fully grown. Kai Kens are 17 to 22 inches when fully grown.

    Health Problems of Affenpinscher versus Health Problems of Kai Ken

    Every dog breed has its own set of health problems that it has a tendency to develop. Therefore, there is nothing like a perfect puppy.

    Both the Affenpinscher and the Kai Ken are prone to certain genetic health conditions. The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) is the organization that keeps track of health problems in dogs. Based on the extensive records that the OFA keeps, the OFA knows what health problems each dog breed is naturally prone to develop. Hence, the OFA recommends which health screening that breeders should perform on a dog breed to make sure that the breeders won`t breed `defective` dog parents that can pass down defective genes to their puppy offspring.

    The more health problems a dog breed is prone to develop, the more health tests the OFA will recommend for that dog breed.

    Based on our review of OFA records, we found that the Affenpinscher is prone to more genetic health problems than the Kai Ken.

    This is because the OFA recommends more screening health tests for the Affenpinscher than for the Kai Ken.

    4 health tests are recommended for Affenpinscher while 2 tests are recommended for the Kai Ken.

    Below is a detailed discussion of health problems in Affenpinschers and in Kai Kens.

    Affenpinscher Health Problems

    Affenpinschers are genetically prone to certain health problems. However, breeders can reduce the chances of producing Affenpinscher puppies with genetic defects by making sure that a puppy`s parents are free from genetic health problems before allowing the parent to make puppies.

    The OFA provides breeders recommendations on which genetic diseases that breeders should screen their dog parents and puppies for.

    If you want a Affenpinscher puppy that will grow up to be healthy, make sure that your Affenpinscher breeder screens your puppy or your puppy`s parents for the health problems that the OFA recommends for your puppy`s breed. This will increase the chances that your puppy is free from genetic defects.

    The following are the health tests that Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) recommends that breeders should screen Affenpinschers for:

  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Legg-Calve-Perthes
  • Patellar Luxation
  • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Affenpinschers here.

    Kai Ken Health Problems

    Kai Kens are genetically prone to certain health problems. However, breeders can reduce the chances of producing Kai Ken puppies with genetic defects by making sure that a puppy`s parents are free from genetic health problems before allowing the parent to make puppies.

    The OFA provides breeders recommendations on which genetic diseases that breeders should screen their dog parents and puppies for.

    If you want a Kai Ken puppy that will grow up to be healthy, make sure that your Kai Ken breeder screens your puppy or your puppy`s parents for the health problems that the OFA recommends for your puppy`s breed. This will increase the chances that your puppy is free from genetic defects.

    The following are the health tests that Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) recommends that breeders should screen Kai Kens for:

  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) DNA Test
  • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Kai Kens here.

    Tolerates Being Alone: Affenpinscher versus Kai Ken

    Affenpinschers do not like to be left alone.

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

    How Kid-friendly are Affenpinschers and Kai Kens?

    Affenpinschers do not get along well with kids. They are not kid-friendly.

    Kai Kens get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

    Do Affenpinschers shed more than Kai Kens?

    Affenpinschers do not shed a lot. They are good for people with dog allergies.

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

    Which one drools more, the Affenpinscher or the Kai Ken

    Affenpinschers do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Kai Kens do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Is the Affenpinscher Easier to Train than the Kai Ken?

    Affenpinschers are not easy to train.

    Kai Kens are fairly easy to train.

    Do Affenpinschers Bark and Howl? What about Kai Kens?

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

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

    Wanderlust Potential: Affenpinscher vs. Kai Ken

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

    Kai Kens have a moderate tendency to wander. This means that they sometimes get distracted by other animals or objects.

    Can Affenpinschers Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Kai Kens Tolerate Cold Weather?

    Affenpinschers can moderately tolerate cold weather.

    Kai Kens can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Can Affenpinschers Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Kai Kens Tolerate Hot Weather?

    Affenpinschers can tolerate hot weather as long as the weather is not too hot.

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

    Which is Easier to Groom, the Affenpinscher or the Kai Ken?

    Affenpinschers are moderately easy to groom.

    Kai Kens require a lot of grooming and they are not very easy to groom.

    Does the Affenpinscher Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Kai Ken?

    Affenpinschers have a moderate prey drive. They can sometimes chase after smaller animals and pets.

    Kai 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.

    Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Affenpinscher or the Kai Ken?

    Affenpinschers are very good for new dog owners.

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

    Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Affenpinscher or the Kai Ken?

    Affenpinschers get along very well with other dogs.

    Kai Kens get along fairly well with other dogs.

    Is the Affenpinscher Better for Apartment Owners than the Kai Ken?

    Affenpinschers adapt very well to apartment living.

    Kai Kens do not adapt well to apartment living.

    Are Affenpinschers good family dogs? What about Kai Kens?

    Affenpinschers are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    Kai Kens are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Affenpinscher

    Furthermore, there are other dog breeds that are very similar to the Kai Ken that you can consider on your quest to get the best pet.

    We crunched the numbers and found that the following dog breeds have similar personality and temperament as the Kai Ken:

  • Icelandic Sheepdog (78 percent match with Kai Ken). Here is our comparison of the Affenpinscher vs Icelandic Sheepdog.
  • Kishu Ken (79 percent match with Kai Ken). Here is our comparison of the Affenpinscher vs Kishu Ken.
  • Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Kai Ken

    Furthermore, there are other dog breeds that are very similar to the Affenpinscher that you can consider on your quest to get the best pet.

    We crunched the numbers and found that the following dog breeds have similar personality and temperament as the Affenpinscher:

  • Dandie Dinmont Terrier (75 percent match with Affenpinscher). Here is our comparison of the Kai Ken vs Dandie Dinmont Terrier.
  • Peek A Poo (75 percent match with Affenpinscher). Here is our comparison of the Kai Ken vs Peek A Poo.
  • Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You

    You may also be interested in how the Affenpinscher and how the Kai Ken compares to other breeds. So, see below the comparison of the Affenpinscher and of the Kai Ken to other breeds:

    Affenpinscher Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Affenpinscher versus Estrela Mountain Dog     Affenpinscher versus Silky Terrier     Affenpinscher versus Scottish Deerhound     Affenpinscher versus Pembroke Welsh Corgi     Affenpinscher versus Chinook     Affenpinscher versus Belgian Tervuren     Affenpinscher versus Rhodesian Ridgeback     Affenpinscher versus Westiepoo     Affenpinscher versus Beaglier     Affenpinscher versus Australian Terrier     

    Kai Ken Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Kai Ken versus Tibetan Mastiff     Kai Ken versus Border Terrier     Kai Ken versus Bolognese     Kai Ken versus Japanese Chin     Kai Ken versus Maremma Sheepdog     Kai Ken versus Shiba Inu     Kai Ken versus Border Terrier     Kai Ken versus Mudi     Kai Ken versus French Spaniel     Kai Ken versus Schnoodle     

    Conclusion: Affenpinscher versus Kai 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 Affenpinscher and the Kai Ken better suits you and your family.