Estrela Mountain Dog versus Kishu Ken. Final Verdict on Which is a Better Pet.

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Estrela Mountain Dog Versus Kishu Ken: Introduction

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

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Estrela Mountain Dog 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 Estrela Mountain Dog 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 more insight into deciding which pet to get between the Estrela Mountain Dog 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 Estrela Mountain Dog or the Kishu Ken

Estrela Mountain Dog versus Kishu Ken: Overview

A very important difference between the Estrela Mountain Dog and the Kishu Ken is the size difference between the two dog breeds. The Estrela Mountain Dog is a large-sized dog while the Kishu Ken is a medium-sized dog.

Furthermore, the Estrela Mountain 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 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.

Estrela Mountain Dog versus Kishu Ken: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Estrela Mountain Dog 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.

Factor Estrela Mountain Dog Kishu Ken
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 1/5 3/5
Low Prey Drive 5/5 2/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 5/5 4/5
Life Span 11 to 15 years 9 to 13 years
Easygoing 4/5 3/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 2/5 2/5
Easy To Groom 2/5 3/5
Does NOT chew on things 4/5 4/5
Height 24 to 30 inches 17 to 22 inches
Good For Novice Owners 3/5 2/5
Tolerates Being Alone 3/5 3/5
Tolerates Hot Weather 3/5 3/5
Dog Friendly 3/5 2/5
Does NOT Drool 3/5 4/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 3/5 3/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 3/5 5/5
NOT Rambunctious 3/5 3/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 3/5 3/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 3/5 2/5
Potential For Playfulness 3/5 2/5
Tolerates Cold Weather 4/5 5/5
Does NOT Shed 2/5 2/5
General Health 4/5 4/5
Easy To Train 4/5 4/5
Affectionate With Family 5/5 3/5
Kid-Friendly 5/5 3/5
Intelligence 5/5 5/5
Weight 75 to 130 pounds 30 to 60 pounds
Average Lifespan 13.0 years 11.0 years
Average Price $2000 No Data
Price Range $2000 – $2000 No Data
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Patellar Luxation
  • No Data

    *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 Estrela Mountain 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 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 a Estrela Mountain Dog is 85 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for a Kishu Ken is 79 out of 125.

    Based on their Better-Pet scores, the Estrela Mountain Dog is a better pet than the Kishu Ken. So, you should get the Estrela Mountain 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 Estrela Mountain Dog 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 Estrela Mountain Dog and the Kishu Ken

    Below is a list of where the Estrela Mountain Dog and the Kishu Ken are most different:

  • Estrela Mountain Dogs have a very low prey drive. This means they get along well with other pets. However, Kishu Kens have a high prey drive. They do not get along well with other pets.
  • The Similarities Between the Estrela Mountain Dog and the Kishu Ken

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

  • Both the Estrela Mountain Dog and the Kishu 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 Estrela Mountain Dog and the Kishu Ken are not very sensitive to their enviroment. They can tolerate noisy environments. They are also not very sensitive to the tone of your voice, firm or gentle.
  • Both the Estrela Mountain Dog and the Kishu Ken are not very friendly towards strangers.
  • Both the Estrela Mountain Dog and the Kishu Ken require a lot of grooming and are not very easy to groom.
  • Both the Estrela Mountain Dog and the Kishu Ken are not prone to nip and chew at things.
  • Both the Estrela Mountain Dog and the Kishu Ken can tolerate cold weather.
  • Both the Estrela Mountain Dog and the Kishu Ken shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.
  • Both the Estrela Mountain Dog and the Kishu Ken are very healthy. They do not suffer from a lot of health problems compared to other dog breeds
  • Both the Estrela Mountain Dog and the Kishu Ken are very easy to train.
  • Both the Estrela Mountain Dog and the Kishu Ken are highly intelligent.
  • Size (Weight and Height) of Estrela Mountain Dog versus Kishu Ken

    Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Estrela Mountain Dog and the Kishu Ken.

    Estrela Mountain Dogs weigh 75 to 130 pounds when fully grown. Estrela Mountain Dogs are 24 to 30 inches 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.

    Is the Estrela Mountain Dog Better for Apartment Owners than the Kishu Ken?

    Estrela Mountain Dogs do not adapt well to apartment living.

    Kishu Kens adapt moderately well to apartment living.

    Does the Estrela Mountain Dog Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Kishu Ken?

    Estrela Mountain Dogs 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.

    Wanderlust Potential: Estrela Mountain Dog vs. Kishu Ken

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

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

    Which is Easier to Groom, the Estrela Mountain Dog or the Kishu Ken?

    Estrela Mountain Dogs require a lot of grooming and they are not very easy to groom.

    Kishu Kens are moderately easy to groom.

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

    Estrela Mountain Dogs are OK for new dog owners.

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

    Tolerates Being Alone: Estrela Mountain Dog versus Kishu Ken

    Estrela Mountain Dogs can be left alone only for a short time.

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

    Can Estrela Mountain Dogs Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Kishu Kens Tolerate Hot Weather?

    Estrela Mountain Dogs can tolerate hot weather as long as the weather is not too hot.

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

    Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Estrela Mountain Dog or the Kishu Ken?

    Estrela Mountain Dogs get along fairly well with other dogs.

    Kishu Kens do not get along well with other dogs.

    Which one drools more, the Estrela Mountain Dog or the Kishu Ken

    Estrela Mountain Dogs drool moderately.

    Kishu Kens do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Do Estrela Mountain Dogs Bark and Howl? What about Kishu Kens?

    Estrela Mountain Dogs bark and howl, but not very much.

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

    Can Estrela Mountain Dogs Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Kishu Kens Tolerate Cold Weather?

    Estrela Mountain Dogs can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Kishu Kens can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Do Estrela Mountain Dogs shed more than Kishu Kens?

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

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

    Is the Estrela Mountain Dog Easier to Train than the Kishu Ken?

    Estrela Mountain Dogs are very easy to train.

    Kishu Kens are very easy to train.

    Are Estrela Mountain Dogs good family dogs? What about Kishu Kens?

    Estrela Mountain Dogs 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 Estrela Mountain Dogs and Kishu Kens?

    Estrela Mountain Dogs get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

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

    Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Estrela Mountain Dog

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

  • Akbash (81 percent match with Estrela Mountain Dog). Here is our comparison of the Kishu Ken vs Akbash.
  • Dutch Shepherd (75 percent match with Estrela Mountain Dog). Here is our comparison of the Kishu Ken vs Dutch Shepherd.
  • Pyrenean Mastiff (75 percent match with Estrela Mountain Dog). Here is our comparison of the Kishu Ken vs Pyrenean Mastiff.
  • Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Kishu Ken

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

  • Alaskan Klee Kai (76 percent match with Kishu Ken). Here is our comparison of the Estrela Mountain Dog vs Alaskan Klee Kai.
  • Dutch Shepherd (78 percent match with Kishu Ken). Here is our comparison of the Estrela Mountain Dog vs Dutch Shepherd.
  • Kai Ken (79 percent match with Kishu Ken). Here is our comparison of the Estrela Mountain Dog vs Kai Ken.
  • Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You

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

    Estrela Mountain Dog Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Estrela Mountain Dog versus Bordoodle     Estrela Mountain Dog versus Golden Cocker Retriever     Estrela Mountain Dog versus Clumber Spaniel     Estrela Mountain Dog versus Boston Terrier     Estrela Mountain Dog versus Cockalier     Estrela Mountain Dog versus Maltese     Estrela Mountain Dog versus English Setter     Estrela Mountain Dog versus Standard Poodle     Estrela Mountain Dog versus Rottweiler     Estrela Mountain Dog versus Tibetan Mastiff     

    Kishu Ken Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Kishu Ken versus Cockapoo     Kishu Ken versus King Shepherd     Kishu Ken versus Maltipoo     Kishu Ken versus Bracco Italiano     Kishu Ken versus Papillon     Kishu Ken versus Pomsky     Kishu Ken versus Bluetick Coonhound     Kishu Ken versus Bich Poo     Kishu Ken versus Lhasa Apso     Kishu Ken versus Standard Poodle     

    Conclusion: Estrela Mountain Dog 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 Estrela Mountain Dog and the Kishu Ken better suits you and your family.