Quick Links: Table of Contents
- Finnish Spitz Versus Kishu Ken: Introduction
- Finnish Spitz versus Kishu Ken: Overview
- Finnish Spitz versus Kishu Ken: Comparison Table
- The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Finnish Spitz and the Kishu Ken
- The Similarities Between the Finnish Spitz and the Kishu Ken
- Size (Weight and Height) of Finnish Spitz versus Kishu Ken
- Tolerates Being Alone: Finnish Spitz versus Kishu Ken
- Which one drools more, the Finnish Spitz or the Kishu Ken
- Which is Easier to Groom, the Finnish Spitz or the Kishu Ken?
- Can Finnish Spitzs Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Kishu Kens Tolerate Hot Weather?
- Is the Finnish Spitz Easier to Train than the Kishu Ken?
- Does the Finnish Spitz Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Kishu Ken?
- Do Finnish Spitzs shed more than Kishu Kens?
- Wanderlust Potential: Finnish Spitz vs. Kishu Ken
- Can Finnish Spitzs Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Kishu Kens Tolerate Cold Weather?
- Are Finnish Spitzs good family dogs? What about Kishu Kens?
- How Kid-friendly are Finnish Spitzs and Kishu Kens?
- Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Finnish Spitz or the Kishu Ken?
- Do Finnish Spitzs Bark and Howl? What about Kishu Kens?
- Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Finnish Spitz
- Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Kishu Ken
- Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You
- Conclusion: Finnish Spitz versus Kishu Ken. Which One is a Better Pet?
Finnish Spitz Versus Kishu Ken: Introduction
Are you thinking of getting a new pet dog, and you have narrowed down your choices to the Finnish Spitz 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 Finnish Spitz 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 Finnish Spitz and the Kishu Ken.
Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Finnish Spitz 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 Finnish Spitz 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 Finnish Spitz 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 Finnish Spitz or the Kishu Ken
Finnish Spitz versus Kishu Ken: Overview
Both the Finnish Spitz and the Kishu Ken are similar in size. The Finnish Spitz and the Kishu Ken are both medium-sized dogs.
Furthermore, the Finnish Spitz 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 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.
Finnish Spitz versus Kishu Ken: Comparison Table
The table below compares the Finnish Spitz 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 | Finnish Spitz | Kishu Ken |
|---|---|---|
| Tolerates Being Alone | 1/5 | 3/5 |
| Does NOT Drool | 5/5 | 4/5 |
| Life Span | 12 to 15 years | 9 to 13 years |
| Height | 15 to 20 inches tall at the shoulder | 17 to 22 inches |
| Easy To Groom | 2/5 | 3/5 |
| Weight | 20 to 35 pounds | 30 to 60 pounds |
| Adapts Well To Apartment Living | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| Good For Novice Owners | 3/5 | 2/5 |
| Easygoing | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| Tolerates Hot Weather | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| Friendly Toward Strangers | 3/5 | 2/5 |
| Potential NOT to Gain Weight | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| Easy To Train | 3/5 | 4/5 |
| Does NOT chew on things | 3/5 | 4/5 |
| Low Prey Drive | 3/5 | 2/5 |
| Does NOT Shed | 2/5 | 2/5 |
| General Health | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| Intelligence | 4/5 | 5/5 |
| Tendency NOT to Wander | 2/5 | 4/5 |
| Calmness/ Low Vigor | 2/5 | 3/5 |
| Tolerates Cold Weather | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| Affectionate With Family | 5/5 | 3/5 |
| Kid-Friendly | 5/5 | 3/5 |
| Dog Friendly | 5/5 | 2/5 |
| Does NOT Bark or Howl | 1/5 | 5/5 |
| NOT Rambunctious | 1/5 | 3/5 |
| Minimal Exercise Needs | 1/5 | 2/5 |
| Potential For Playfulness | 5/5 | 2/5 |
| Average Lifespan | 13.5 years | 11.0 years |
| Average Price | $900 | No Data |
| Price Range | $600 – $1100 | No Data |
| Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests | No Data | 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 Finnish Spitz 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 Finnish Spitz is 77 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for a Kishu Ken is 79 out of 125.
Based on their Better-Pet scores, the Kishu Ken is a better pet than the Finnish Spitz. 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 Finnish Spitz 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 Finnish Spitz and the Kishu Ken
Below is a list of where the Finnish Spitz and the Kishu Ken are most different:
The Similarities Between the Finnish Spitz and the Kishu Ken
The Finnish Spitz and the Kishu Ken are very similar in certain aspects. Below is the list of where the Finnish Spitz and the Kishu Ken are most similar:
Size (Weight and Height) of Finnish Spitz versus Kishu Ken
Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Finnish Spitz and the Kishu Ken.
Finnish Spitzs weigh 20 to 35 pounds when fully grown. Finnish Spitzs are 15 to 20 inches tall 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.
Tolerates Being Alone: Finnish Spitz versus Kishu Ken
Finnish Spitzs do not like to be left alone.
Kishu Kens can be left alone only for a short time.
Which one drools more, the Finnish Spitz or the Kishu Ken
Finnish Spitzs do have a very low tendency to drool.
Kishu Kens do have a very low tendency to drool.
Which is Easier to Groom, the Finnish Spitz or the Kishu Ken?
Finnish Spitzs require a lot of grooming and they are not very easy to groom.
Kishu Kens are moderately easy to groom.
Is the Finnish Spitz Better for Apartment Owners than the Kishu Ken?
Finnish Spitzs adapt moderately well to apartment living.
Kishu Kens adapt moderately well to apartment living.
Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Finnish Spitz or the Kishu Ken?
Finnish Spitzs are OK for new dog owners.
Kishu Kens are not the best dogs for new dog owners.
Can Finnish Spitzs Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Kishu Kens Tolerate Hot Weather?
Finnish Spitzs 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.
Is the Finnish Spitz Easier to Train than the Kishu Ken?
Finnish Spitzs are fairly easy to train.
Kishu Kens are very easy to train.
Does the Finnish Spitz Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Kishu Ken?
Finnish Spitzs 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 Finnish Spitzs shed more than Kishu Kens?
Finnish Spitzs shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.
Kishu Kens shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.
Wanderlust Potential: Finnish Spitz vs. Kishu Ken
Finnish Spitzs have a high tendency to wander. They are easily 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 Finnish Spitzs Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Kishu Kens Tolerate Cold Weather?
Finnish Spitzs can very well tolerate cold weather.
Kishu Kens can very well tolerate cold weather.
Are Finnish Spitzs good family dogs? What about Kishu Kens?
Finnish Spitzs 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 Finnish Spitzs and Kishu Kens?
Finnish Spitzs get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
Kishu Kens get along fairly well with kids. They are quite kid-friendly.
Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Finnish Spitz or the Kishu Ken?
Finnish Spitzs get along very well with other dogs.
Kishu Kens do not get along well with other dogs.
Do Finnish Spitzs Bark and Howl? What about Kishu Kens?
Finnish Spitzs 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.
Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Finnish Spitz
Furthermore, there are other dog breeds that are very similar to the Finnish Spitz 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 Finnish Spitz:
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:
Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You
You may also be interested in how the Finnish Spitz and how the Kishu Ken compares to other breeds. So, see below the comparison of the Finnish Spitz and of the Kishu Ken to other breeds:
Finnish Spitz Versus Other Dog Breeds
Finnish Spitz versus Basset Fauve de Bretagne Finnish Spitz versus Redbone Coonhound Finnish Spitz versus Scottish Deerhound Finnish Spitz versus Whippet Finnish Spitz versus Lakeland Terrier Finnish Spitz versus Cairn Terrier Finnish Spitz versus Pomsky Finnish Spitz versus Shiranian Finnish Spitz versus Treeing Tennessee Brindle Finnish Spitz versus Icelandic Sheepdog
Kishu Ken Versus Other Dog Breeds
Kishu Ken versus Black Mouth Cur Kishu Ken versus Schipperke Kishu Ken versus Scottish Deerhound Kishu Ken versus Briard Kishu Ken versus Schipperke Kishu Ken versus Irish Terrier Kishu Ken versus Brussels Griffon Kishu Ken versus Shiloh Shepherd Kishu Ken versus German Longhaired Pointer Kishu Ken versus Pomeranian
Conclusion: Finnish Spitz 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 Finnish Spitz and the Kishu Ken better suits you and your family.