French Spaniel versus Kishu Ken. Final Verdict on Which is a Better Pet.

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French Spaniel Versus Kishu Ken: Introduction

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

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the French Spaniel 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 French Spaniel 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 French Spaniel 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 French Spaniel or the Kishu Ken

French Spaniel versus Kishu Ken: Overview

Both the French Spaniel and the Kishu Ken are similar in size. The French Spaniel and the Kishu Ken are both medium-sized dogs.

Furthermore, the French Spaniel 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.

French Spaniel versus Kishu Ken: Comparison Table

The table below compares the French Spaniel 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 French Spaniel Kishu Ken
Life Span 10 to 12 years. 9 to 13 years
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 2/5 3/5
Tolerates Hot Weather 2/5 3/5
Does NOT Drool 4/5 4/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 4/5 3/5
Does NOT chew on things 4/5 4/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 4/5 5/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 4/5 4/5
Height 21 to 24 inches. 17 to 22 inches
Tolerates Being Alone 3/5 3/5
Does NOT Shed 3/5 2/5
Easy To Groom 3/5 3/5
Low Prey Drive 3/5 2/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 3/5 3/5
Good For Novice Owners 4/5 2/5
Easygoing 2/5 3/5
Tolerates Cold Weather 4/5 5/5
Kid-Friendly 4/5 3/5
Dog Friendly 4/5 2/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 4/5 2/5
General Health 4/5 4/5
Easy To Train 4/5 4/5
Intelligence 4/5 5/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 2/5 2/5
Potential For Playfulness 4/5 2/5
Weight 45 to 60 pounds. 30 to 60 pounds
Affectionate With Family 5/5 3/5
NOT Rambunctious 1/5 3/5
Average Lifespan 11.0 years 11.0 years
Average Price $4250 No Data
Price Range $3875 – $4625 No Data
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • 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 French Spaniel 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 French Spaniel 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 French Spaniel is a better pet than the Kishu Ken. So, you should get the French Spaniel!

    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 French Spaniel and the Kishu Ken so that you can make your own well-informed decision on which pet to get.

    The Similarities Between the French Spaniel and the Kishu Ken

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

  • Both the French Spaniel and the Kishu Ken do not adapt well to apartment living.
  • Both the French Spaniel and the Kishu Ken cannot tolerate hot weather. They are not suited for hot environments.
  • Both the French Spaniel and the Kishu Ken do not have the tendency to drool.
  • Both the French Spaniel and the Kishu Ken are not prone to gaining weight easily.
  • Both the French Spaniel and the Kishu Ken are not prone to nip and chew at things.
  • Both the French Spaniel and the Kishu Ken are not very vocal. They have very low tendency to bark and howl.
  • Both the French Spaniel 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 French Spaniel 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 French Spaniel and the Kishu Ken can tolerate cold weather.
  • Both the French Spaniel and the Kishu Ken get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
  • Both the French Spaniel and the Kishu Ken are very healthy. They do not suffer from a lot of health problems compared to other dog breeds
  • Both the French Spaniel and the Kishu Ken are very easy to train.
  • Both the French Spaniel and the Kishu Ken are highly intelligent.
  • Both the French Spaniel and the Kishu Ken require a lot of exercise. They are good for owners who like to exercise.
  • Size (Weight and Height) of French Spaniel versus Kishu Ken

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

    French Spaniels weigh 45 to 60 pounds. when fully grown. French Spaniels are 21 to 24 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 French Spaniel Better for Apartment Owners than the Kishu Ken?

    French Spaniels do not adapt well to apartment living.

    Kishu Kens adapt moderately well to apartment living.

    Can French Spaniels Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Kishu Kens Tolerate Hot Weather?

    French Spaniels 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 one drools more, the French Spaniel or the Kishu Ken

    French Spaniels do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Kishu Kens do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Do French Spaniels Bark and Howl? What about Kishu Kens?

    French Spaniels are not very vocal. They do not tend to bark and howl.

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

    Wanderlust Potential: French Spaniel vs. Kishu Ken

    French Spaniels 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.

    Tolerates Being Alone: French Spaniel versus Kishu Ken

    French Spaniels can be left alone only for a short time.

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

    Do French Spaniels shed more than Kishu Kens?

    French Spaniels shed moderately.

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

    Which is Easier to Groom, the French Spaniel or the Kishu Ken?

    French Spaniels are moderately easy to groom.

    Kishu Kens are moderately easy to groom.

    Does the French Spaniel Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Kishu Ken?

    French Spaniels 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.

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

    French Spaniels are very good for new dog owners.

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

    Can French Spaniels Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Kishu Kens Tolerate Cold Weather?

    French Spaniels can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Kishu Kens can very well tolerate cold weather.

    How Kid-friendly are French Spaniels and Kishu Kens?

    French Spaniels 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 French Spaniel or the Kishu Ken?

    French Spaniels get along very well with other dogs.

    Kishu Kens do not get along well with other dogs.

    Is the French Spaniel Easier to Train than the Kishu Ken?

    French Spaniels are very easy to train.

    Kishu Kens are very easy to train.

    Are French Spaniels good family dogs? What about Kishu Kens?

    French Spaniels are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    Kishu Kens are good family dogs. They are affectionate with family.

    Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the French Spaniel

    Furthermore, there are other dog breeds that are very similar to the French Spaniel 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 French Spaniel:

  • Dutch Shepherd (80 percent match with French Spaniel). Here is our comparison of the Kishu Ken vs Dutch Shepherd.
  • 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 French Spaniel vs Alaskan Klee Kai.
  • Dutch Shepherd (78 percent match with Kishu Ken). Here is our comparison of the French Spaniel vs Dutch Shepherd.
  • Kai Ken (79 percent match with Kishu Ken). Here is our comparison of the French Spaniel vs Kai Ken.
  • Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You

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

    French Spaniel Versus Other Dog Breeds

    French Spaniel versus Bich Poo     French Spaniel versus Lowchen     French Spaniel versus Boston Terrier     French Spaniel versus English Setter     French Spaniel versus Maltese     French Spaniel versus Great Dane     French Spaniel versus American Pit Bull Terrier     French Spaniel versus German Shorthaired Pointer     French Spaniel versus Bullmastiff     French Spaniel versus Toy Fox Terrier     

    Kishu Ken Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Kishu Ken versus Wirehaired Pointing Griffon     Kishu Ken versus Biewer Terrier     Kishu Ken versus Golden Retriever     Kishu Ken versus Basenji     Kishu Ken versus Cavapoo     Kishu Ken versus Yorkshire Terrier     Kishu Ken versus Azawakh     Kishu Ken versus Welsh Springer Spaniel     Kishu Ken versus Japanese Chin     Kishu Ken versus Boerboel     

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