Is the Boxer Better than the Kishu Ken as a Pet? Our Answer.

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Boxer Versus Kishu Ken: Introduction

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

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Boxer 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 Boxer 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 Boxer 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 Boxer or the Kishu Ken.

Boxer versus Kishu Ken: Overview

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

Furthermore, both the Boxer and the Kishu Ken are Working Dogs. This means both the Boxer 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.

Boxer versus Kishu Ken: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Boxer 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 Boxer and the Kishu Ken

Factor Boxer Kishu Ken
Tolerates Being Alone 1/5 3/5
Tolerates Hot Weather 1/5 3/5
Life Span 10 to 12 years 9 to 13 years
Tolerates Cold Weather 2/5 5/5
Does NOT Drool 4/5 4/5
General Health 2/5 4/5
Does NOT chew on things 4/5 4/5
Height 21 to 25 inches at the shoulder 17 to 22 inches
Good For Novice Owners 3/5 2/5
Dog Friendly 3/5 2/5
Low Prey Drive 3/5 2/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 3/5 5/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 3/5 4/5
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 4/5 3/5
Easygoing 2/5 3/5
Kid-Friendly 4/5 3/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 4/5 2/5
Does NOT Shed 2/5 2/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 2/5 3/5
Easy To Train 4/5 4/5
Intelligence 4/5 5/5
Affectionate With Family 5/5 3/5
Easy To Groom 5/5 3/5
NOT Rambunctious 1/5 3/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 1/5 3/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 1/5 2/5
Potential For Playfulness 5/5 2/5
Weight 60 to 70 pounds 30 to 60 pounds
Average Lifespan 11.0 years 11.0 years
Average Price $1620 No Data
Price Range $1200 – $2000 No Data
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests No Data No Data

Next, we added the scores of the factors that can be added together for the Boxer 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 Boxer is 73 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 Boxer. 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 Boxer 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 Boxer and the Kishu Ken

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

  • Boxers cannot tolerate cold weather. They are vulnerable to the cold. However, Kishu Kens can tolerate cold weather.
  • Boxers are very playful. However, Kishu Kens not very playful.

The Similarities Between the Boxer and the Kishu Ken

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

  • Both the Boxer and the Kishu Ken do not have the tendency to drool.
  • Both the Boxer and the Kishu Ken are not prone to nip and chew at things.
  • Both the Boxer and the Kishu Ken adapt well to apartment living.
  • Both the Boxer 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 Boxer and the Kishu Ken get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
  • Both the Boxer and the Kishu Ken shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.
  • Both the Boxer and the Kishu Ken gain weight easily. You need to pay careful attention to what you feed them.
  • Both the Boxer and the Kishu Ken are very easy to train.
  • Both the Boxer and the Kishu Ken are highly intelligent.
  • Both the Boxer and the Kishu Ken require a lot of exercise. They are good for owners who like to exercise.

Size Comparison of Boxer versus Kishu Ken

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

Boxers weigh 60 to 70 pounds when fully grown. Boxers are 21 to 25 inches 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 Boxer versus Kishu Ken

The lifespan of Boxers is between 10 to 12 years. The average lifespan of Boxers is 11.0 years.

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

Tolerates Being Alone: Boxer versus Kishu Ken

Boxers do not like to be left alone.

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

Do Boxers shed more than Kishu Kens?

Boxers 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 Boxer or the Kishu Ken

Boxers do have a very low tendency to drool.

Kishu Kens do have a very low tendency to drool.

Which is Easier to Groom, the Boxer or the Kishu Ken?

Boxers are very easy to groom.

Kishu Kens are moderately easy to groom.

Does the Boxer Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Kishu Ken?

Boxers have a moderate prey drive. They can sometimes chase after smaller animals and 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 Boxers Bark and Howl? What about Kishu Kens?

Boxers bark and howl, but not very much.

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

Can Boxers Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Kishu Kens Tolerate Cold Weather?

Boxers cannot tolerate cold weather. They are vulnerable to the cold.

Kishu Kens can very well tolerate cold weather.

Wanderlust Potential: Boxer vs. Kishu Ken

Boxers 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 Boxers Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Kishu Kens Tolerate Hot Weather?

Boxers 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 Boxer or the Kishu Ken?

Boxers get along fairly well with other dogs.

Kishu Kens do not get along well with other dogs.

Are Boxers good family dogs? What about Kishu Kens?

Boxers 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 Boxers and Kishu Kens?

Boxers get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

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

Is the Boxer Easier to Train than the Kishu Ken?

Boxers are very easy to train.

Kishu Kens are very easy to train.

Is the Boxer Better for Apartment Owners than the Kishu Ken?

Boxers adapt very well to apartment living.

Kishu Kens adapt moderately well to apartment living.

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

Boxers are OK for new dog owners.

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

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