Canaan Dog versus Kai Ken. Final Verdict on Which one is a Better Pet.

Quick Links: Table of Contents

Canaan Dog Versus Kai Ken: Introduction

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

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Canaan Dog and the Kai 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 Canaan Dog and for the Kai 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 Canaan Dog and the Kai Ken.

Our only goal here is to help you make a well-thought-out decision on your next long-term companion, be it the Canaan Dog or the Kai Ken.

Canaan Dog versus Kai Ken: Overview

Both the Canaan Dog and the Kai Ken are similar in size. The Canaan Dog and the Kai Ken are both medium-sized dogs.

Furthermore, the Canaan Dog belongs to the Herding Dogs group. Herding Dogs were bred for moving livestock, including sheep, cattle, and even reindeer. Herding dogs work closely with their human shepherds, and their natural intelligence and responsiveness make them highly trainable. They have high levels of energy, which needs to be channeled properly to prevent destructive behavior. Herding breeds are protective of their people and property and make excellent watchdogs. Their intelligence, agility, and activity level make them well suited to dog sports.

On the other hand, the Kai Ken 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.

Canaan Dog versus Kai Ken: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Canaan Dog to the Kai 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 Canaan Dog and the Kai Ken

Factor Canaan Dog Kai Ken
Does NOT Drool 5/5 4/5
Life Span 12 to 15 years 12 to 16 years
Height 19 to 24 inches tall at the shoulder 17 to 22 inches
Good For Novice Owners 2/5 2/5
Kid-Friendly 2/5 4/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 2/5 2/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 4/5 3/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 4/5 3/5
Tolerates Being Alone 3/5 3/5
Tolerates Cold Weather 3/5 4/5
Dog Friendly 3/5 3/5
Does NOT chew on things 3/5 4/5
Low Prey Drive 3/5 1/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 3/5 4/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 3/5 2/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 3/5 1/5
Weight 35 to 55 pounds 25 to 45 pounds
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 4/5 2/5
Easygoing 2/5 4/5
Affectionate With Family 4/5 4/5
Does NOT Shed 2/5 2/5
Intelligence 4/5 5/5
NOT Rambunctious 2/5 1/5
Potential For Playfulness 4/5 3/5
Tolerates Hot Weather 5/5 3/5
Easy To Groom 5/5 2/5
General Health 5/5 4/5
Easy To Train 5/5 3/5
Average Lifespan 13.5 years 14.0 years
Average Price $600 No Data
Price Range $600 – $600 No Data
Temperament Score 62.5 percent 100.0 percent
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Patellar Luxation
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) DNA Test
  • Next, we added the scores of the factors that can be added together for the Canaan 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 Kai 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 Canaan Dog is 85 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for the Kai Ken is 73 out of 125.

    Based on their Better-Pet scores, the Canaan Dog is a better pet than the Kai Ken. So, you should get the Canaan Dog!

    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 Canaan Dog and the Kai Ken so that you can make your own well-informed decision on which pet to get.

    The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Canaan Dog and the Kai Ken

    Below is a list of where the Canaan Dog and the Kai Ken are most different:

  • Canaan Dogs are very easy to groom. However, Kai Kens require a lot of grooming and are not very easy to groom.
  • The Similarities Between the Canaan Dog and the Kai Ken

    The Canaan Dog and the Kai Ken are very similar in certain aspects. Below is the list of where the Canaan Dog and the Kai Ken are most similar:

  • Both the Canaan Dog and the Kai Ken do not have the tendency to drool.
  • Both the Canaan Dog and the Kai Ken are not the best dogs for new dog owners.
  • Both the Canaan Dog and the Kai Ken are not very friendly towards strangers.
  • Both the Canaan Dog and the Kai Ken are not prone to gaining weight easily.
  • Both the Canaan Dog and the Kai Ken do not have the potential to wander after things that capture their attention. They tend to stay around where you leave them.
  • Both the Canaan Dog and the Kai Ken are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Both the Canaan Dog and the Kai Ken shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.
  • Both the Canaan Dog and the Kai Ken are highly intelligent.
  • Both the Canaan Dog and the Kai Ken have very high energy levels. They need a lot of exercise time to release their high energy.
  • Both the Canaan Dog and the Kai Ken are very playful.
  • Both the Canaan Dog and the Kai Ken are very healthy. They do not suffer from a lot of health problems compared to other dog breeds
  • Size (Weight and Height) of Canaan Dog versus Kai Ken

    Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Canaan Dog and the Kai Ken.

    Canaan Dogs weigh 35 to 55 pounds when fully grown. Canaan Dogs are 19 to 24 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    On the other hand, Kai Kens weigh 25 to 45 pounds when fully grown. Kai Kens are 17 to 22 inches when fully grown.

    Lifespan of Canaan Dog versus Kai Ken

    The lifespan of Canaan Dogs is between 12 to 15 years. The average lifespan of Canaan Dogs is 13.5 years.

    The lifespan of Kai Kens is between 12 to 16 years. The average lifespan of Kai Kens is 14.0 years.

    Kai Kens live longer than Canaan Dogs.

    Temperament of the Kai Ken Versus the Canaan Dog

    The Kai Ken has a better temperament than the Canaan Dog.

    This is because the temperament score for the Kai Ken is 100.0 percent while the temperament score for the Canaan Dog is 62.5 percent, according to the American Temperament Test Society (ATTS).

    The American Temperament Test Society (ATTS) is a non-profit organization whose mission is to provide fair and objective evaluations of the temperaments of dog breeds.

    Dog breeds with low temperament scores tend to show unprovoked aggression, they easily panic without quickly recovering from the panic, and they tend to avoid people. However, dog breeds with high temperament scores are not aggressive and are not shy. Also, these dogs are generally friendly and are protective of their owners.

    The average temperament score across all dog breeds (over 250 breeds) is 83.7 percent.

    With its temperament score of 62.5 percent, the Canaan Dog has a below-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    With its temperament score of 100.0 percent, the Kai Ken has an above-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    The ATTS obtained the temperament scores of the Canaan Dog and the Kai Ken by measuring the temperaments of 8 Canaan Dogs and 1 Kai Kens.

    Health Problems of Canaan Dog versus Health Problems of Kai Ken

    Every dog breed has its own set of health problems that it has a tendency to develop. There is nothing like a perfect dog breed.

    Both the Canaan Dog and the Kai Ken are prone to certain genetic health conditions. The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) is the organization that keeps track of health problems in dogs. Based on the extensive records that the OFA keeps, the OFA knows what health problems each dog breed is naturally prone to develop. Hence, the OFA recommends which health screening that breeders should perform on a dog breed to make sure that the breeders won`t breed `defective` dog parents that can pass down defective genes to their puppy offspring.

    The more health problems a dog breed is prone to develop, the more health tests the OFA will recommend for that dog breed.

    Based on our review of OFA records, we found that the Canaan Dog is prone to more genetic health problems than the Kai Ken.

    This is because the OFA recommends more screening health tests for the Canaan Dog than for the Kai Ken.

    5 health tests are recommended for Canaan Dog while 2 tests are recommended for the Kai Ken.

    Below is a detailed discussion of health problems in Canaan Dogs and in Kai Kens.

    Canaan Dog Health Problems

    Canaan Dogs are genetically prone to certain health problems. However, breeders can reduce the chances of producing Canaan Dog puppies with genetic defects by making sure that a puppy`s parents are free from genetic health problems before allowing the parent to make puppies.

    The OFA provides breeders recommendations on which genetic diseases that breeders should screen their dog parents and puppies for.

    If you want a Canaan Dog puppy that will grow up to be healthy, make sure that your Canaan Dog breeder screens your puppy or your puppy`s parents for the health problems that the OFA recommends for your puppy`s breed. This will increase the chances that your puppy is free from genetic defects.

    The following are the health tests that Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) recommends that breeders should screen Canaan Dogs for:

  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Patellar Luxation
  • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Canaan Dogs here.

    Kai Ken Health Problems

    Kai Kens are genetically prone to certain health problems. However, breeders can reduce the chances of producing Kai Ken puppies with genetic defects by making sure that a puppy`s parents are free from genetic health problems before allowing the parent to make puppies.

    The OFA provides breeders recommendations on which genetic diseases that breeders should screen their dog parents and puppies for.

    If you want a Kai Ken puppy that will grow up to be healthy, make sure that your Kai Ken breeder screens your puppy or your puppy`s parents for the health problems that the OFA recommends for your puppy`s breed. This will increase the chances that your puppy is free from genetic defects.

    The following are the health tests that Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) recommends that breeders should screen Kai Kens for:

  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) DNA Test
  • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Kai Kens here.

    Tolerates Being Alone: Canaan Dog versus Kai Ken

    Canaan Dogs can be left alone only for a short time.

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

    Do Canaan Dogs shed more than Kai Kens?

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

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

    Which one drools more, the Canaan Dog or the Kai Ken

    Canaan Dogs do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Kai Kens do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Which is Easier to Groom, the Canaan Dog or the Kai Ken?

    Canaan Dogs are very easy to groom.

    Kai Kens require a lot of grooming and they are not very easy to groom.

    Does the Canaan Dog Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Kai Ken?

    Canaan Dogs have a moderate prey drive. They can sometimes chase after smaller animals and pets.

    Kai 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 Canaan Dogs Bark and Howl? What about Kai Kens?

    Canaan Dogs bark and howl, but not very much.

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

    Can Canaan Dogs Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Kai Kens Tolerate Cold Weather?

    Canaan Dogs can moderately tolerate cold weather.

    Kai Kens can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Wanderlust Potential: Canaan Dog vs. Kai Ken

    Canaan Dogs do not have the potential to wander after things that capture their attention. They tend to stay around where you leave them.

    Kai Kens have a moderate tendency to wander. This means that they sometimes get distracted by other animals or objects.

    Can Canaan Dogs Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Kai Kens Tolerate Hot Weather?

    Canaan Dogs can tolerate hot weather.

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

    Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Canaan Dog or the Kai Ken?

    Canaan Dogs get along fairly well with other dogs.

    Kai Kens get along fairly well with other dogs.

    Are Canaan Dogs good family dogs? What about Kai Kens?

    Canaan Dogs are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    Kai Kens are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    How Kid-friendly are Canaan Dogs and Kai Kens?

    Canaan Dogs do not get along well with kids. They are not kid-friendly.

    Kai Kens get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

    Is the Canaan Dog Easier to Train than the Kai Ken?

    Canaan Dogs are very easy to train.

    Kai Kens are fairly easy to train.

    Is the Canaan Dog Better for Apartment Owners than the Kai Ken?

    Canaan Dogs adapt very well to apartment living.

    Kai Kens do not adapt well to apartment living.

    Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Canaan Dog or the Kai Ken?

    Canaan Dogs are not the best dogs for new dog owners.

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

    Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Canaan Dog

    Furthermore, there are other dog breeds that are very similar to the Canaan Dog 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 Canaan Dog:

  • Dutch Shepherd (78 percent match with Canaan Dog). Here is our comparison of the Kai Ken vs Dutch Shepherd.
  • Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Kai Ken

    Furthermore, there are other dog breeds that are very similar to the Kai 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 Kai Ken:

  • Icelandic Sheepdog (78 percent match with Kai Ken). Here is our comparison of the Canaan Dog vs Icelandic Sheepdog.
  • Kishu Ken (79 percent match with Kai Ken). Here is our comparison of the Canaan Dog vs Kishu Ken.
  • Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You

    You may also be interested in how the Canaan Dog and how the Kai Ken compares to other breeds. So, see below the comparison of the Canaan Dog and of the Kai Ken to other breeds:

    Canaan Dog Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Canaan Dog versus Belgian Sheepdog     Canaan Dog versus Beaglier     Canaan Dog versus Irish Wolfhound     Canaan Dog versus Cavapoo     Canaan Dog versus Flat-Coated Retriever     Canaan Dog versus Pomapoo     Canaan Dog versus Plott     Canaan Dog versus Irish Wolfhound     Canaan Dog versus Vizsla     Canaan Dog versus Beagle     Canaan Dog versus Siberian Husky     Canaan Dog versus Goldendoodle     Canaan Dog versus Whippet     Canaan Dog versus Curly-Coated Retriever     Canaan Dog versus Pointer     Canaan Dog versus Silky Terrier     Canaan Dog versus Dalmatian     Canaan Dog versus Silky Terrier     Canaan Dog versus Bichon Frise     Canaan Dog versus Xoloitzcuintli     Canaan Dog versus Dachshund     Canaan Dog versus Lhasa Apso     Canaan Dog versus Brittany     Canaan Dog versus Doberman Pinscher     Canaan Dog versus Cane Corso     

    Kai Ken Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Kai Ken versus Miniature Poodle     Kai Ken versus Affenhuahua     Kai Ken versus Chinese Shar-Pei     Kai Ken versus Kerry Blue Terrier     Kai Ken versus Fila Brasileiro     Kai Ken versus Hovawart     Kai Ken versus Bolognese     Kai Ken versus Irish Setter     Kai Ken versus Cockalier     Kai Ken versus Barbet     Kai Ken versus Frenchton     Kai Ken versus Italian Greyhound     Kai Ken versus Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever     Kai Ken versus Lagotto Romagnolo     Kai Ken versus Spanish Mastiff     Kai Ken versus Welsh Springer Spaniel     Kai Ken versus Greyhound     Kai Ken versus Vizsla     Kai Ken versus Afador     Kai Ken versus Bichon Frise     Kai Ken versus Saluki     Kai Ken versus Bedlington Terrier     Kai Ken versus Rhodesian Ridgeback     Kai Ken versus Puggle     Kai Ken versus Shiba Inu     

    Conclusion: Canaan Dog versus Kai 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 Canaan Dog and the Kai Ken better suits you and your family.