A Detailed Comparison of the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Kai Ken.

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Curly-Coated Retriever Versus Kai Ken: Introduction

Are you thinking of getting a new pet dog, and you have narrowed down your choices to the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Kai Ken? Well, you have come to the right place. In this article, we will provide you a detailed comparison of these two dog breeds to help you decide which of the Curly-Coated Retriever 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 Curly-Coated Retriever and the Kai Ken.

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Curly-Coated Retriever 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 Curly-Coated Retriever 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 more insight into deciding which pet to get between the Curly-Coated Retriever 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 Curly-Coated Retriever or the Kai Ken

Curly-Coated Retriever versus Kai Ken: Overview

Both the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Kai Ken are similar in size. The Curly-Coated Retriever and the Kai Ken are both medium-sized dogs.

Furthermore, the Curly-Coated Retriever belongs to the Sporting Dogs group. Sporting Dogs were bred to help hunters catch and retrieve feathered game. Some sporting dog breeds such as Retrievers, which were built for swimming, were bred to hunt waterfowl in water. Whereas sporting dog breeds like setters, spaniels, and pointing breeds were bred to hunt quail, pheasant, and other game birds nest on grasslands. Many Sporting Group breeds have thick, water-repellent coats that protect them from harsh hunting conditions.

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.

Curly-Coated Retriever versus Kai Ken: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Curly-Coated Retriever 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.

Factor Curly-Coated Retriever Kai Ken
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 1/5 2/5
Height 1 foot, 11 inches to 2 feet, 3 inches tall at the 17 to 22 inches
Does NOT Drool 4/5 4/5
General Health 2/5 4/5
Good For Novice Owners 3/5 2/5
Easygoing 3/5 4/5
Tolerates Being Alone 3/5 3/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 3/5 2/5
Does NOT Shed 3/5 2/5
Easy To Groom 3/5 2/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 3/5 3/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 3/5 4/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 3/5 2/5
Tolerates Cold Weather 4/5 4/5
Tolerates Hot Weather 4/5 3/5
Dog Friendly 4/5 3/5
Easy To Train 4/5 3/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 2/5 3/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 2/5 1/5
Affectionate With Family 5/5 4/5
Kid-Friendly 5/5 4/5
Intelligence 5/5 5/5
Does NOT chew on things 1/5 4/5
Low Prey Drive 1/5 1/5
NOT Rambunctious 1/5 1/5
Potential For Playfulness 5/5 3/5
Weight 65 to 100 pounds 25 to 45 pounds
Life Span 9 to 12 years 12 to 16 years
Average Lifespan 10.5 years 14.0 years
Price Range No Data No Data
Average Price No Data No Data
Temperament Score 91.7 percent No Data
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Cord-1 PRA
  • EIC (Exercise Induced Collapse)
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination
  • GSD IIIa
  • Hip Dysplasia
    		•
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) DNA Test
    		•

    *Data from dogtime.com, OFA.org (The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals), petcalculator.com, wikipedia.org, ATTS.org (the American Temperament Test Society)

    Next, we added the scores of the factors that can be added together for the Curly-Coated Retriever 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 a Curly-Coated Retriever is 77 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for a Kai Ken is 73 out of 125.

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

    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 Curly-Coated Retriever 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 Curly-Coated Retriever and the Kai Ken

    Below is a list of where the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Kai Ken are most different:

  • Curly-Coated Retrievers are prone to nip and chew at things. However, Kai Kens are not prone to nip and chew at things.

    • The Similarities Between the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Kai Ken

    The Curly-Coated Retriever and the Kai Ken are very similar in certain aspects. Below is the list of where the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Kai Ken are most similar:

  • Both the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Kai Ken do not adapt well to apartment living.
  • Both the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Kai Ken do not have the tendency to drool.
  • Both the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Kai Ken can tolerate cold weather.
  • Both the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Kai Ken can tolerate hot weather.
  • Both the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Kai Ken get along well with other dogs.
  • Both the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Kai Ken are very easy to train.
  • Both the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Kai Ken have a high tendency to wander. They are easily distracted by other animals or objects.
  • Both the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Kai Ken require a lot of exercise. They are good for owners who like to exercise.
  • Both the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Kai Ken are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Both the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Kai Ken get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
  • Both the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Kai Ken are highly intelligent.
  • Both the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Kai Ken have a high prey drive. They do not get along well with other pets.
  • Both the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Kai Ken have very high energy levels. They need a lot of exercise time to release their high energy.

    • Size (Weight and Height) of Curly-Coated Retriever versus Kai Ken

    Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Kai Ken.

    Curly-Coated Retrievers weigh 65 to 100 pounds when fully grown. Curly-Coated Retrievers are 1 foot, 11 inches to 2 feet, 3 inches tall at the 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.

    Health Problems of Curly-Coated Retriever versus Health Problems of Kai Ken

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

    Both the Curly-Coated Retriever 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 Curly-Coated Retriever is prone to more genetic health problems than the Kai Ken.

    This is because the OFA recommends more screening health tests for the Curly-Coated Retriever than for the Kai Ken.

    7 health tests are recommended for Curly-Coated Retriever while 2 tests are recommended for the Kai Ken.

    Below is a detailed discussion of health problems in Curly-Coated Retrievers and in Kai Kens.

    Curly-Coated Retriever Health Problems

    Curly-Coated Retrievers are genetically prone to certain health problems. However, breeders can reduce the chances of producing Curly-Coated Retriever 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 Curly-Coated Retriever puppy that will grow up to be healthy, make sure that your Curly-Coated Retriever 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 Curly-Coated Retrievers for:

  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Cord-1 PRA
  • EIC (Exercise Induced Collapse)
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination
  • GSD IIIa
  • Hip Dysplasia

    • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Curly-Coated Retrievers 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.

    Is the Curly-Coated Retriever Better for Apartment Owners than the Kai Ken?

    Curly-Coated Retrievers do not adapt well to apartment living.

    Kai Kens do not adapt well to apartment living.

    Which one drools more, the Curly-Coated Retriever or the Kai Ken

    Curly-Coated Retrievers do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Kai Kens do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Curly-Coated Retriever or the Kai Ken?

    Curly-Coated Retrievers are OK for new dog owners.

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

    Tolerates Being Alone: Curly-Coated Retriever versus Kai Ken

    Curly-Coated Retrievers can be left alone only for a short time.

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

    Do Curly-Coated Retrievers shed more than Kai Kens?

    Curly-Coated Retrievers shed moderately.

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

    Which is Easier to Groom, the Curly-Coated Retriever or the Kai Ken?

    Curly-Coated Retrievers are moderately easy to groom.

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

    Do Curly-Coated Retrievers Bark and Howl? What about Kai Kens?

    Curly-Coated Retrievers bark and howl, but not very much.

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

    Can Curly-Coated Retrievers Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Kai Kens Tolerate Cold Weather?

    Curly-Coated Retrievers can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Kai Kens can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Can Curly-Coated Retrievers Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Kai Kens Tolerate Hot Weather?

    Curly-Coated Retrievers 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 Curly-Coated Retriever or the Kai Ken?

    Curly-Coated Retrievers get along very well with other dogs.

    Kai Kens get along fairly well with other dogs.

    Is the Curly-Coated Retriever Easier to Train than the Kai Ken?

    Curly-Coated Retrievers are very easy to train.

    Kai Kens are fairly easy to train.

    Wanderlust Potential: Curly-Coated Retriever vs. Kai Ken

    Curly-Coated Retrievers have a high tendency to wander. They are easily distracted by other animals or objects.

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

    Are Curly-Coated Retrievers good family dogs? What about Kai Kens?

    Curly-Coated Retrievers 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 Curly-Coated Retrievers and Kai Kens?

    Curly-Coated Retrievers get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

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

    Does the Curly-Coated Retriever Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Kai Ken?

    Curly-Coated Retrievers 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.

    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.

    Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Curly-Coated Retriever

    Furthermore, there are other dog breeds that are very similar to the Curly-Coated Retriever 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 Curly-Coated Retriever:

  • Airedale Terrier (82 percent match with Curly-Coated Retriever). Here is our comparison of the Kai Ken vs Airedale Terrier.
  • English Springer Spaniel (79 percent match with Curly-Coated Retriever). Here is our comparison of the Kai Ken vs English Springer Spaniel.
  • Irish Setter (82 percent match with Curly-Coated Retriever). Here is our comparison of the Kai Ken vs Irish Setter.

    • 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 Curly-Coated Retriever vs Icelandic Sheepdog.
  • Kishu Ken (79 percent match with Kai Ken). Here is our comparison of the Curly-Coated Retriever vs Kishu Ken.

    • Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You

    You may also be interested in how the Curly-Coated Retriever and how the Kai Ken compares to other breeds. So, see below the comparison of the Curly-Coated Retriever and of the Kai Ken to other breeds:

    Curly-Coated Retriever Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Curly-Coated Retriever versus Greyhound     Curly-Coated Retriever versus Tibetan Spaniel     Curly-Coated Retriever versus Beaglier     Curly-Coated Retriever versus Miniature Pinscher     Curly-Coated Retriever versus Alaskan Malamute     Curly-Coated Retriever versus Irish Wolfhound     Curly-Coated Retriever versus Valley Bulldog     Curly-Coated Retriever versus Affenpinscher     Curly-Coated Retriever versus Cane Corso     Curly-Coated Retriever versus Pyrenean Shepherd     

    Kai Ken Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Kai Ken versus Cocker Spaniel     Kai Ken versus Catahoula Bulldog     Kai Ken versus Flat-Coated Retriever     Kai Ken versus Sealyham Terrier     Kai Ken versus Entlebucher Mountain Dog     Kai Ken versus Black Mouth Cur     Kai Ken versus Papipoo     Kai Ken versus Spinone Italiano     Kai Ken versus Puli     Kai Ken versus Lancashire Heeler     

    Conclusion: Curly-Coated Retriever 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 Curly-Coated Retriever and the Kai Ken better suits you and your family.