Which is Better between the Airedale Terrier and the Kishu Ken? A Very Detailed Review.

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Airedale Terrier Versus Kishu Ken: Introduction

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

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Airedale Terrier 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 Airedale Terrier 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 Airedale Terrier 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 Airedale Terrier or the Kishu Ken

Airedale Terrier versus Kishu Ken: Overview

Both the Airedale Terrier and the Kishu Ken are similar in size. The Airedale Terrier and the Kishu Ken are both medium-sized dogs.

Furthermore, the Airedale Terrier belongs to the Terrier Dogs group. Terrier Dogs were originally bred to go underground to hunt rodents and other small wild animals (vermin). Terriers come in a wide range of sizes and shapes, but all terriers are energetic, highly intelligent, and territorial. Terries also have the tendency to escape. They require a securely fenced yard.

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.

Airedale Terrier versus Kishu Ken: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Airedale Terrier 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 Airedale Terrier Kishu Ken
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 1/5 3/5
Does NOT Drool 5/5 4/5
Life Span 10 to 13 years 9 to 13 years
Good For Novice Owners 2/5 2/5
Tolerates Being Alone 2/5 3/5
Does NOT Shed 4/5 2/5
Easy To Groom 2/5 3/5
Height 21 to 23 inches tall at the shoulder 17 to 22 inches
Easygoing 3/5 3/5
Tolerates Cold Weather 3/5 5/5
Tolerates Hot Weather 3/5 3/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 3/5 2/5
General Health 3/5 4/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 3/5 3/5
Affectionate With Family 4/5 3/5
Kid-Friendly 4/5 3/5
Dog Friendly 4/5 2/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 2/5 3/5
Easy To Train 4/5 4/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 2/5 5/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 2/5 4/5
Weight 40 to 65 pounds 30 to 60 pounds
Intelligence 5/5 5/5
Does NOT chew on things 1/5 4/5
Low Prey Drive 1/5 2/5
NOT Rambunctious 1/5 3/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 1/5 2/5
Potential For Playfulness 5/5 2/5
Average Lifespan 11.5 years 11.0 years
Average Price $1360 No Data
Price Range $950 – $1800 No Data
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination
  • 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 Airedale Terrier 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 Airedale Terrier is 70 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 Airedale Terrier. 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 Airedale Terrier 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 Airedale Terrier and the Kishu Ken

    Below is a list of where the Airedale Terrier and the Kishu Ken are most different:

  • Airedale Terriers are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl. However, Kishu Kens are not very vocal. They have very low tendency to bark and howl.
  • Airedale Terriers are prone to nip and chew at things. However, Kishu Kens are not prone to nip and chew at things.
  • Airedale Terriers are very playful. However, Kishu Kens not very playful.

    • The Similarities Between the Airedale Terrier and the Kishu Ken

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

  • Both the Airedale Terrier and the Kishu Ken do not have the tendency to drool.
  • Both the Airedale Terrier and the Kishu Ken are not the best dogs for new dog owners.
  • Both the Airedale Terrier and the Kishu Ken do not like to be left alone.
  • Both the Airedale Terrier and the Kishu Ken require a lot of grooming and are not very easy to groom.
  • Both the Airedale Terrier and the Kishu Ken are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Both the Airedale Terrier and the Kishu Ken get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
  • Both the Airedale Terrier and the Kishu Ken gain weight easily. You need to pay careful attention to what you feed them.
  • Both the Airedale Terrier and the Kishu Ken are very easy to train.
  • Both the Airedale Terrier and the Kishu Ken are highly intelligent.
  • Both the Airedale Terrier and the Kishu Ken have a high prey drive. They do not get along well with other pets.
  • Both the Airedale Terrier and the Kishu Ken require a lot of exercise. They are good for owners who like to exercise.

    • Size (Weight and Height) of Airedale Terrier versus Kishu Ken

    Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Airedale Terrier and the Kishu Ken.

    Airedale Terriers weigh 40 to 65 pounds when fully grown. Airedale Terriers are 21 to 23 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.

    Is the Airedale Terrier Better for Apartment Owners than the Kishu Ken?

    Airedale Terriers do not adapt well to apartment living.

    Kishu Kens adapt moderately well to apartment living.

    Which one drools more, the Airedale Terrier or the Kishu Ken

    Airedale Terriers do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Kishu Kens do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Airedale Terrier or the Kishu Ken?

    Airedale Terriers are not the best dogs for new dog owners.

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

    Tolerates Being Alone: Airedale Terrier versus Kishu Ken

    Airedale Terriers do not like to be left alone.

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

    Do Airedale Terriers shed more than Kishu Kens?

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

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

    Which is Easier to Groom, the Airedale Terrier or the Kishu Ken?

    Airedale Terriers require a lot of grooming and they are not very easy to groom.

    Kishu Kens are moderately easy to groom.

    Can Airedale Terriers Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Kishu Kens Tolerate Cold Weather?

    Airedale Terriers can moderately tolerate cold weather.

    Kishu Kens can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Can Airedale Terriers Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Kishu Kens Tolerate Hot Weather?

    Airedale Terriers can tolerate hot weather as long as the weather is not too hot.

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

    Are Airedale Terriers good family dogs? What about Kishu Kens?

    Airedale Terriers 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 Airedale Terriers and Kishu Kens?

    Airedale Terriers get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

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

    Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Airedale Terrier or the Kishu Ken?

    Airedale Terriers get along very well with other dogs.

    Kishu Kens do not get along well with other dogs.

    Is the Airedale Terrier Easier to Train than the Kishu Ken?

    Airedale Terriers are very easy to train.

    Kishu Kens are very easy to train.

    Do Airedale Terriers Bark and Howl? What about Kishu Kens?

    Airedale Terriers are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.

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

    Wanderlust Potential: Airedale Terrier vs. Kishu Ken

    Airedale Terriers 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.

    Does the Airedale Terrier Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Kishu Ken?

    Airedale Terriers 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.

    Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Airedale Terrier

    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 Airedale Terrier vs Dutch Shepherd.
  • Kai Ken (79 percent match with Kishu Ken). Here is our comparison of the Airedale Terrier 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 Airedale Terrier 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 Airedale Terrier:

  • Australian Shepherd (80 percent match with Airedale Terrier). Here is our comparison of the Kishu Ken vs Australian Shepherd.
  • Curly-Coated Retriever (82 percent match with Airedale Terrier). Here is our comparison of the Kishu Ken vs Curly-Coated Retriever.
  • English Springer Spaniel (80 percent match with Airedale Terrier). Here is our comparison of the Kishu Ken vs English Springer Spaniel.

    • Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You

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

    Airedale Terrier Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Airedale Terrier versus Xoloitzcuintli     Airedale Terrier versus Beaglier     Airedale Terrier versus Pointer     Airedale Terrier versus Puggle     Airedale Terrier versus French Bulldog     Airedale Terrier versus Rhodesian Ridgeback     Airedale Terrier versus Bulldog     Airedale Terrier versus Maltipoo     Airedale Terrier versus Maremma Sheepdog     Airedale Terrier versus Frenchton     

    Kishu Ken Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Kishu Ken versus West Highland White Terrier     Kishu Ken versus Norwegian Lundehund     Kishu Ken versus Australian Cattle Dog     Kishu Ken versus Cairn Terrier     Kishu Ken versus Braque du Bourbonnais     Kishu Ken versus Shiloh Shepherd     Kishu Ken versus Neapolitan Mastiff     Kishu Ken versus Frenchton     Kishu Ken versus Bergamasco Sheepdog     Kishu Ken versus Tibetan Mastiff     

    Conclusion: Airedale Terrier 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 Airedale Terrier and the Kishu Ken better suits you and your family.