Which is Better Between the Bullmastiff and the Kishu Ken?

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Bullmastiff Versus Kishu Ken: Introduction

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

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

Bullmastiff versus Kishu Ken: Overview

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

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

Bullmastiff versus Kishu Ken: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Bullmastiff 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 Bullmastiff and the Kishu Ken

Factor Bullmastiff Kishu Ken
Does NOT Shed 5/5 2/5
Weight 100 to 130 pounds 30 to 60 pounds
Good For Novice Owners 2/5 2/5
Tolerates Being Alone 2/5 3/5
Tolerates Hot Weather 2/5 3/5
General Health 2/5 4/5
NOT Rambunctious 4/5 3/5
Height 24 to 27 inches at the shoulder 17 to 22 inches
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 3/5 3/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 3/5 2/5
Easy To Train 3/5 4/5
Intelligence 3/5 5/5
Does NOT chew on things 3/5 4/5
Low Prey Drive 3/5 2/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 3/5 4/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 3/5 2/5
Easygoing 2/5 3/5
Tolerates Cold Weather 4/5 5/5
Dog Friendly 4/5 2/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 2/5 5/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 2/5 3/5
Affectionate With Family 5/5 3/5
Kid-Friendly 5/5 3/5
Does NOT Drool 1/5 4/5
Easy To Groom 5/5 3/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 1/5 3/5
Potential For Playfulness 5/5 2/5
Life Span 8 to 10 years 9 to 13 years
Average Lifespan 9.0 years 11.0 years
Average Price $2230 No Data
Price Range $1500 – $3000 No Data
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Kidney Disease
    		•  No Data

    Next, we added the scores of the factors that can be added together for the Bullmastiff 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 Bullmastiff is 77 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 Bullmastiff. 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 Bullmastiff 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 Bullmastiff and the Kishu Ken

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

    • Bullmastiffs do not shed a lot. They are good for people with dog allergies. However, Kishu Kens shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.
    • Bullmastiffs 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.
    • Bullmastiffs have a very high tendency to drool. However, Kishu Kens do not have the tendency to drool.
    • Bullmastiffs are very playful. However, Kishu Kens not very playful.

    The Similarities Between the Bullmastiff and the Kishu Ken

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

    • Both the Bullmastiff and the Kishu Ken are not the best dogs for new dog owners.
    • Both the Bullmastiff and the Kishu Ken do not like to be left alone.
    • Both the Bullmastiff and the Kishu Ken cannot tolerate hot weather. They are not suited for hot environments.
    • Both the Bullmastiff and the Kishu Ken have low energy levels. They do not require a lot exercise time.
    • Both the Bullmastiff 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 Bullmastiff and the Kishu Ken can tolerate cold weather.
    • Both the Bullmastiff and the Kishu Ken do things with high intensity. They can be very forceful.

    Size Comparison of Bullmastiff versus Kishu Ken

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

    Bullmastiffs weigh 100 to 130 pounds when fully grown. Bullmastiffs are 24 to 27 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 Bullmastiff versus Kishu Ken

    The lifespan of Bullmastiffs is between 8 to 10 years. The average lifespan of Bullmastiffs is 9.0 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 Bullmastiffs.

    Tolerates Being Alone: Bullmastiff versus Kishu Ken

    Bullmastiffs do not like to be left alone.

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

    Do Bullmastiffs shed more than Kishu Kens?

    Bullmastiffs 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 Bullmastiff or the Kishu Ken

    Bullmastiffs have a very high tendency to drool.

    Kishu Kens do have a very low tendency to drool.

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

    Bullmastiffs are very easy to groom.

    Kishu Kens are moderately easy to groom.

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

    Bullmastiffs 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 Bullmastiffs Bark and Howl? What about Kishu Kens?

    Bullmastiffs 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 Bullmastiffs Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Kishu Kens Tolerate Cold Weather?

    Bullmastiffs can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Kishu Kens can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Wanderlust Potential: Bullmastiff vs. Kishu Ken

    Bullmastiffs 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 Bullmastiffs Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Kishu Kens Tolerate Hot Weather?

    Bullmastiffs 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 Bullmastiff or the Kishu Ken?

    Bullmastiffs get along very well with other dogs.

    Kishu Kens do not get along well with other dogs.

    Are Bullmastiffs good family dogs? What about Kishu Kens?

    Bullmastiffs 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 Bullmastiffs and Kishu Kens?

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

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

    Is the Bullmastiff Easier to Train than the Kishu Ken?

    Bullmastiffs are fairly easy to train.

    Kishu Kens are very easy to train.

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

    Bullmastiffs adapt moderately well to apartment living.

    Kishu Kens adapt moderately well to apartment living.

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

    Bullmastiffs are not the best dogs for new dog owners.

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

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