Is the Afghan Hound Better than the Kishu Ken as a Pet? Answer…

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Afghan Hound Versus Kishu Ken: Introduction

Are you thinking of getting a new pet dog, and you have narrowed down your choices to the Afghan Hound and the Kishu 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 Afghan Hound 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 Afghan Hound and the Kishu Ken.

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Afghan Hound 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 Afghan Hound 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 more insight into deciding which pet to get between the Afghan Hound 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 Afghan Hound or the Kishu Ken

Afghan Hound versus Kishu Ken: Overview

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

Furthermore, the Afghan Hound belongs to the Hound Dogs group. Hound Dogs were bred to pursue and hunt warm-blooded animals. Hounds hunt by using their good sight or their good sense of smell. Dogs that belong to the Hound Group have strong prey drives and often will stop at nothing to catch what they are pursuing.

On the other hand, the Kishu Ken belongs to the Working Dogs group. Working Dogs 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.

Afghan Hound versus Kishu Ken: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Afghan Hound 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.

Factor Afghan Hound Kishu Ken
Does NOT Drool 5/5 4/5
Easy To Groom 1/5 3/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 5/5 3/5
Easy To Train 1/5 4/5
Life Span 10 to 12 years 9 to 13 years
Tolerates Being Alone 2/5 3/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 2/5 2/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 4/5 5/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 4/5 3/5
Height 24 to 26 inches tall at the shoulder 17 to 22 inches
Good For Novice Owners 3/5 2/5
General Health 3/5 4/5
Does NOT chew on things 3/5 4/5
Dog Friendly 4/5 2/5
Does NOT Shed 2/5 2/5
Intelligence 4/5 5/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 2/5 2/5
Potential For Playfulness 4/5 2/5
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 5/5 3/5
Easygoing 1/5 3/5
Tolerates Cold Weather 5/5 5/5
Tolerates Hot Weather 5/5 3/5
Affectionate With Family 5/5 3/5
Kid-Friendly 5/5 3/5
Low Prey Drive 1/5 2/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 1/5 4/5
NOT Rambunctious 1/5 3/5
Weight 50 to 60 pounds 30 to 60 pounds
Average Lifespan 11.0 years 11.0 years
Average Price $2390 No Data
Price Range $2250 – $2500 No Data
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Eye Examination- minimum age 12 months
  • Hip Dysplasia
    		•  No Data

    *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 Afghan Hound 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 a Afghan Hound is 78 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for a Kishu Ken is 79 out of 125.

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

    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 Afghan Hound and the Kishu Ken so that you can make your own well-informed decision on which pet to get.

    The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Afghan Hound and the Kishu Ken

    Below is a list of where the Afghan Hound and the Kishu Ken are most different:

  • Afghan Hounds are not easy to train. However, Kishu Kens are very easy to train.
  • Afghan Hounds have a high tendency to wander. They are easily distracted by other animals or objects. However, Kishu Kens do not have the potential to wander after things that capture their attention. They tend to stay around where you leave them.

    • The Similarities Between the Afghan Hound and the Kishu Ken

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

  • Both the Afghan Hound and the Kishu Ken do not have the tendency to drool.
  • Both the Afghan Hound and the Kishu Ken do not like to be left alone.
  • Both the Afghan Hound and the Kishu Ken are not very friendly towards strangers.
  • Both the Afghan Hound and the Kishu Ken are not very vocal. They have very low tendency to bark and howl.
  • Both the Afghan Hound and the Kishu Ken do the things they do with very low vigor. They are not forceful.
  • Both the Afghan Hound and the Kishu Ken shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.
  • Both the Afghan Hound and the Kishu Ken are highly intelligent.
  • Both the Afghan Hound and the Kishu Ken require a lot of exercise. They are good for owners who like to exercise.
  • Both the Afghan Hound and the Kishu Ken can tolerate cold weather.
  • Both the Afghan Hound and the Kishu Ken have a high prey drive. They do not get along well with other pets.

    • Size (Weight and Height) of Afghan Hound versus Kishu Ken

    Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Afghan Hound and the Kishu Ken.

    Afghan Hounds weigh 50 to 60 pounds when fully grown. Afghan Hounds are 24 to 26 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    On the other hand, Kishu Kens weigh 30 to 60 pounds when fully grown. Kishu Kens are 17 to 22 inches when fully grown.

    Which one drools more, the Afghan Hound or the Kishu Ken

    Afghan Hounds do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Kishu Kens do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Which is Easier to Groom, the Afghan Hound or the Kishu Ken?

    Afghan Hounds require a lot of grooming and they are not very easy to groom.

    Kishu Kens are moderately easy to groom.

    Is the Afghan Hound Easier to Train than the Kishu Ken?

    Afghan Hounds are not easy to train.

    Kishu Kens are very easy to train.

    Tolerates Being Alone: Afghan Hound versus Kishu Ken

    Afghan Hounds do not like to be left alone.

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

    Do Afghan Hounds Bark and Howl? What about Kishu Kens?

    Afghan Hounds 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.

    Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Afghan Hound or the Kishu Ken?

    Afghan Hounds are OK for new dog owners.

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

    Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Afghan Hound or the Kishu Ken?

    Afghan Hounds get along very well with other dogs.

    Kishu Kens do not get along well with other dogs.

    Do Afghan Hounds shed more than Kishu Kens?

    Afghan Hounds shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.

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

    Is the Afghan Hound Better for Apartment Owners than the Kishu Ken?

    Afghan Hounds adapt very well to apartment living.

    Kishu Kens adapt moderately well to apartment living.

    Can Afghan Hounds Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Kishu Kens Tolerate Cold Weather?

    Afghan Hounds can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Kishu Kens can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Can Afghan Hounds Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Kishu Kens Tolerate Hot Weather?

    Afghan Hounds can tolerate hot weather.

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

    Are Afghan Hounds good family dogs? What about Kishu Kens?

    Afghan Hounds are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

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

    How Kid-friendly are Afghan Hounds and Kishu Kens?

    Afghan Hounds get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

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

    Does the Afghan Hound Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Kishu Ken?

    Afghan Hounds 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.

    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.

    Wanderlust Potential: Afghan Hound vs. Kishu Ken

    Afghan Hounds have a high tendency to wander. They are easily distracted by other animals or objects.

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

    Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Afghan Hound

    Furthermore, there are other dog breeds that are very similar to the Kishu 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 Kishu Ken:

  • Dutch Shepherd (78 percent match with Kishu Ken). Here is our comparison of the Afghan Hound vs Dutch Shepherd.
  • Kai Ken (79 percent match with Kishu Ken). Here is our comparison of the Afghan Hound vs Kai Ken.

    • Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Kishu Ken

    Furthermore, there are other dog breeds that are very similar to the Afghan Hound 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 Afghan Hound:

  • Bedlington Terrier (69 percent match with Afghan Hound). Here is our comparison of the Kishu Ken vs Bedlington Terrier.
  • Standard Schnauzer (72 percent match with Afghan Hound). Here is our comparison of the Kishu Ken vs Standard Schnauzer.

    • Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You

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

    Afghan Hound Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Afghan Hound versus Lagotto Romagnolo     Afghan Hound versus Shiranian     Afghan Hound versus Akita     Afghan Hound versus Schnoodle     Afghan Hound versus Basenji     Afghan Hound versus Japanese Chin     Afghan Hound versus Dutch Shepherd     Afghan Hound versus Irish Terrier     Afghan Hound versus Belgian Malinois     Afghan Hound versus Basenji     

    Kishu Ken Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Kishu Ken versus Pyrenean Mastiff     Kishu Ken versus Basenji     Kishu Ken versus Dogo Argentino     Kishu Ken versus Great Pyrenees     Kishu Ken versus Cavalier King Charles Spaniel     Kishu Ken versus Afador     Kishu Ken versus Curly-Coated Retriever     Kishu Ken versus Boykin Spaniel     Kishu Ken versus Lagotto Romagnolo     Kishu Ken versus Akbash     

    Conclusion: Afghan Hound 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 Afghan Hound and the Kishu Ken better suits you and your family.