Breed Comparison: Boston Terrier Versus Kishu Ken

by

Quick Links: Table of Contents

Boston Terrier Versus Kishu Ken: Introduction

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

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Boston 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 Boston 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 with more insight into deciding which pet to get between the Boston 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 Boston Terrier or the Kishu Ken.

Boston Terrier versus Kishu Ken: Overview

A very important difference between the Boston Terrier and the Kishu Ken is the size difference between the two dog breeds. The Boston Terrier is a small-sized dog while the Kishu Ken is a medium-sized dog.

Furthermore, the Boston Terrier belongs to the Companion Dogs group. Companion Dogs 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.

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.

Boston Terrier versus Kishu Ken: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Boston 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.

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

Factor Boston Terrier Kishu Ken
Does NOT Drool 5/5 4/5
Weight 10 to 25 pounds 30 to 60 pounds
Height 12 to 15 inches tall at the shoulder 17 to 22 inches
Life Span 13 to 15 years 9 to 13 years
Tolerates Hot Weather 2/5 3/5
Does NOT Shed 4/5 2/5
Does NOT chew on things 4/5 4/5
Low Prey Drive 4/5 2/5
Tolerates Being Alone 3/5 3/5
Tolerates Cold Weather 3/5 5/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 3/5 3/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 3/5 5/5
Good For Novice Owners 4/5 2/5
Affectionate With Family 4/5 3/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 4/5 2/5
General Health 4/5 4/5
Easy To Train 4/5 4/5
Intelligence 4/5 5/5
NOT Rambunctious 2/5 3/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 2/5 2/5
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 5/5 3/5
Easygoing 1/5 3/5
Kid-Friendly 5/5 3/5
Dog Friendly 5/5 2/5
Easy To Groom 5/5 3/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 1/5 4/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 1/5 3/5
Potential For Playfulness 5/5 2/5
Average Lifespan 14.0 years 11.0 years
Average Price $1670 No Data
Price Range $1200 – $1999 No Data
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • Congenital Deafness
  • Eye Examination
  • Patellar Luxation
    		•  No Data

    Next, we added the scores of the factors that can be added together for the Boston 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 the Boston Terrier is 87 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for the Kishu Ken is 79 out of 125.

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

    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 Boston 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 Boston Terrier and the Kishu Ken

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

    • Boston Terriers get along well with other dogs. However, Kishu Kens do not get along well with other dogs.
    • Boston Terriers 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.
    • Boston Terriers are very playful. However, Kishu Kens not very playful.

    The Similarities Between the Boston Terrier and the Kishu Ken

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

    • Both the Boston Terrier and the Kishu Ken do not have the tendency to drool.
    • Both the Boston Terrier and the Kishu Ken cannot tolerate hot weather. They are not suited for hot environments.
    • Both the Boston Terrier and the Kishu Ken are not prone to nip and chew at things.
    • Both the Boston Terrier and the Kishu Ken are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
    • Both the Boston Terrier and the Kishu Ken are very healthy. They do not suffer from a lot of health problems compared to other dog breeds
    • Both the Boston Terrier and the Kishu Ken are very easy to train.
    • Both the Boston Terrier and the Kishu Ken are highly intelligent.
    • Both the Boston Terrier and the Kishu Ken have very high energy levels. They need a lot of exercise time to release their high energy.
    • Both the Boston Terrier and the Kishu Ken require a lot of exercise. They are good for owners who like to exercise.

    Size Comparison of Boston Terrier versus Kishu Ken

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

    Boston Terriers weigh 10 to 25 pounds when fully grown. Boston Terriers are 12 to 15 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.

    Lifespan of Boston Terrier versus Kishu Ken

    The lifespan of Boston Terriers is between 13 to 15 years. The average lifespan of Boston Terriers is 14.0 years.

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

    Boston Terriers live longer than Kishu Kens.

    Tolerates Being Alone: Boston Terrier versus Kishu Ken

    Boston Terriers can be left alone only for a short time.

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

    Do Boston Terriers shed more than Kishu Kens?

    Boston 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 one drools more, the Boston Terrier or the Kishu Ken

    Boston Terriers do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Kishu Kens do have a very low tendency to drool.

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

    Boston Terriers are very easy to groom.

    Kishu Kens are moderately easy to groom.

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

    Boston Terriers 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 Boston Terriers Bark and Howl? What about Kishu Kens?

    Boston Terriers bark and howl, but not very much.

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

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

    Boston Terriers can moderately tolerate cold weather.

    Kishu Kens can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Wanderlust Potential: Boston Terrier vs. Kishu Ken

    Boston 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.

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

    Boston Terriers 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 Boston Terrier or the Kishu Ken?

    Boston Terriers get along very well with other dogs.

    Kishu Kens do not get along well with other dogs.

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

    Boston 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 Boston Terriers and Kishu Kens?

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

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

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

    Boston Terriers are very easy to train.

    Kishu Kens are very easy to train.

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

    Boston Terriers adapt very well to apartment living.

    Kishu Kens adapt moderately well to apartment living.

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

    Boston Terriers are very good for new dog owners.

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

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