Bernese Mountain Dog versus Kishu Ken. Final Verdict on Which one is a Better Pet.

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Bernese Mountain Dog Versus Kishu Ken: Introduction

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

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Bernese Mountain Dog 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 Bernese Mountain Dog 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 Bernese Mountain Dog 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 Bernese Mountain Dog or the Kishu Ken.

Bernese Mountain Dog versus Kishu Ken: Overview

A very important difference between the Bernese Mountain Dog and the Kishu Ken is the size difference between the two dog breeds. The Bernese Mountain Dog is a giant-sized dog while the Kishu Ken is a medium-sized dog.

Furthermore, both the Bernese Mountain Dog and the Kishu Ken are Working Dogs. This means both the Bernese Mountain Dog 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.

Bernese Mountain Dog versus Kishu Ken: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Bernese Mountain Dog 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 Bernese Mountain Dog and the Kishu Ken

Factor Bernese Mountain Dog Kishu Ken
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 1/5 3/5
Tolerates Being Alone 1/5 3/5
Tolerates Hot Weather 1/5 3/5
General Health 1/5 4/5
Good For Novice Owners 2/5 2/5
Height 23 to 28 inches 17 to 22 inches
Dog Friendly 3/5 2/5
Easy To Groom 3/5 3/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 3/5 4/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 3/5 3/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 3/5 2/5
Easygoing 2/5 3/5
Does NOT Drool 2/5 4/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 2/5 3/5
Easy To Train 4/5 4/5
Intelligence 4/5 5/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 2/5 5/5
NOT Rambunctious 2/5 3/5
Potential For Playfulness 4/5 2/5
Tolerates Cold Weather 5/5 5/5
Affectionate With Family 5/5 3/5
Kid-Friendly 5/5 3/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 5/5 2/5
Does NOT Shed 1/5 2/5
Does NOT chew on things 1/5 4/5
Low Prey Drive 1/5 2/5
Life Span 6 to 10 years 9 to 13 years
Weight 70 to 115 pounds 30 to 60 pounds
Average Lifespan 8.0 years 11.0 years
Average Price $2870 No Data
Price Range $1800 – $3438 No Data
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • AKC DNA Profile
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Degeneratative Mylopathy (DM) DNA results for both SOD1-A and SOD1-B, or an at-risk result for either SOD1-A or SOD1-B registered with the OFA.
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
    		•  No Data

    Next, we added the scores of the factors that can be added together for the Bernese Mountain Dog 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 Bernese Mountain Dog is 66 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for the Kishu Ken is 79 out of 125.

    Based on their Better-Pet scores, the Kishu Ken is a better pet than the Bernese Mountain Dog. 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 Bernese Mountain Dog 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 Bernese Mountain Dog and the Kishu Ken

    Below is a list of where the Bernese Mountain Dog and the Kishu Ken are most different:

    • Bernese Mountain Dogs 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
    • Bernese Mountain Dogs 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.
    • Bernese Mountain Dogs are very friendly towards strangers. However, Kishu Kens are not very friendly towards strangers.
    • Bernese Mountain Dogs are prone to nip and chew at things. However, Kishu Kens are not prone to nip and chew at things.

    The Similarities Between the Bernese Mountain Dog and the Kishu Ken

    The Bernese Mountain Dog and the Kishu Ken are very similar in certain aspects. Below is the list of where the Bernese Mountain Dog and the Kishu Ken are most similar:

    • Both the Bernese Mountain Dog and the Kishu Ken are not the best dogs for new dog owners.
    • Both the Bernese Mountain Dog and the Kishu Ken are easily disturbed by noise in their environments. They are sensitive to human tone. They will understand the tone of your voice when you try to correct their behaviors with a firm tone.
    • Both the Bernese Mountain Dog and the Kishu Ken gain weight easily. You need to pay careful attention to what you feed them.
    • Both the Bernese Mountain Dog and the Kishu Ken are very easy to train.
    • Both the Bernese Mountain Dog and the Kishu Ken are highly intelligent.
    • Both the Bernese Mountain Dog and the Kishu Ken have very high energy levels. They need a lot of exercise time to release their high energy.
    • Both the Bernese Mountain Dog and the Kishu Ken can tolerate cold weather.
    • Both the Bernese Mountain Dog and the Kishu Ken shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.
    • Both the Bernese Mountain Dog and the Kishu Ken have a high prey drive. They do not get along well with other pets.

    Size Comparison of Bernese Mountain Dog versus Kishu Ken

    Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Bernese Mountain Dog and the Kishu Ken.

    Bernese Mountain Dogs weigh 70 to 115 pounds when fully grown. Bernese Mountain Dogs are 23 to 28 inches 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.

    Lifespan of Bernese Mountain Dog versus Kishu Ken

    The lifespan of Bernese Mountain Dogs is between 6 to 10 years. The average lifespan of Bernese Mountain Dogs is 8.0 years.

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

    Kishu Kens live longer than Bernese Mountain Dogs.

    Tolerates Being Alone: Bernese Mountain Dog versus Kishu Ken

    Bernese Mountain Dogs do not like to be left alone.

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

    Do Bernese Mountain Dogs shed more than Kishu Kens?

    Bernese Mountain Dogs shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.

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

    Which one drools more, the Bernese Mountain Dog or the Kishu Ken

    Bernese Mountain Dogs have a very high tendency to drool.

    Kishu Kens do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Which is Easier to Groom, the Bernese Mountain Dog or the Kishu Ken?

    Bernese Mountain Dogs are moderately easy to groom.

    Kishu Kens are moderately easy to groom.

    Does the Bernese Mountain Dog Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Kishu Ken?

    Bernese Mountain Dogs 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.

    Do Bernese Mountain Dogs Bark and Howl? What about Kishu Kens?

    Bernese Mountain Dogs 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.

    Can Bernese Mountain Dogs Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Kishu Kens Tolerate Cold Weather?

    Bernese Mountain Dogs can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Kishu Kens can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Wanderlust Potential: Bernese Mountain Dog vs. Kishu Ken

    Bernese Mountain Dogs have a moderate tendency to wander. This means that they sometimes get 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.

    Can Bernese Mountain Dogs Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Kishu Kens Tolerate Hot Weather?

    Bernese Mountain Dogs cannot tolerate hot weather. They are not suited for hot environments.

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

    Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Bernese Mountain Dog or the Kishu Ken?

    Bernese Mountain Dogs get along fairly well with other dogs.

    Kishu Kens do not get along well with other dogs.

    Are Bernese Mountain Dogs good family dogs? What about Kishu Kens?

    Bernese Mountain Dogs 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 Bernese Mountain Dogs and Kishu Kens?

    Bernese Mountain Dogs get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

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

    Is the Bernese Mountain Dog Easier to Train than the Kishu Ken?

    Bernese Mountain Dogs are very easy to train.

    Kishu Kens are very easy to train.

    Is the Bernese Mountain Dog Better for Apartment Owners than the Kishu Ken?

    Bernese Mountain Dogs do not adapt well to apartment living.

    Kishu Kens adapt moderately well to apartment living.

    Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Bernese Mountain Dog or the Kishu Ken?

    Bernese Mountain Dogs are not the best dogs for new dog owners.

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

    Conclusion: Bernese Mountain Dog 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 Bernese Mountain Dog and the Kishu Ken better suits you and your family.