Why the Miniature Schnauzer is Better than the Kishu Ken as a Pet

Last Updated: May 01, 2022

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Miniature Schnauzer Versus Kishu Ken: Introduction

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

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Miniature Schnauzer 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 Miniature Schnauzer 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 with more insight into deciding which pet to get between the Miniature Schnauzer 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 Miniature Schnauzer or the Kishu Ken.

Miniature Schnauzer versus Kishu Ken

Miniature Schnauzer versus Kishu Ken: Overview

A very important difference between the Miniature Schnauzer and the Kishu Ken is the size difference between the two dog breeds. The Miniature Schnauzer is a small-sized dog while the Kishu Ken is a medium-sized dog.

Furthermore, the Miniature Schnauzer belongs to the Terrier Dogs group. Terrier Dogs were originally bred to go underground to hunt rodents and other small wild animals (vermin). Terriers come in a wide range of sizes and shapes, but all terriers are energetic, highly intelligent, and territorial. Terries also have the tendency to escape. They require a securely fenced yard.

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.

Miniature Schnauzer versus Kishu Ken: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Miniature Schnauzer 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.

Later in this article, we will further explain each factor as it applies to the Miniature Schnauzer and the Kishu Ken

Factor Miniature Schnauzer Kishu Ken
Does NOT Drool 5/5 4/5
Weight 11 to 20 pounds 30 to 60 pounds
Life Span 12 to 14 years 9 to 13 years
Height 13 to 14 inches tall at the shoulder 17 to 22 inches
Does NOT Shed 4/5 2/5
Easy To Groom 2/5 3/5
Does NOT chew on things 4/5 4/5
Good For Novice Owners 3/5 2/5
Kid-Friendly 3/5 3/5
Dog Friendly 3/5 2/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 3/5 2/5
General Health 3/5 4/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 3/5 5/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 3/5 4/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 3/5 3/5
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 4/5 3/5
Easygoing 2/5 3/5
Tolerates Cold Weather 4/5 5/5
Tolerates Hot Weather 4/5 3/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 2/5 3/5
Intelligence 4/5 5/5
Low Prey Drive 2/5 2/5
Potential For Playfulness 4/5 2/5
Tolerates Being Alone 5/5 3/5
Affectionate With Family 5/5 3/5
Easy To Train 5/5 4/5
NOT Rambunctious 1/5 3/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 1/5 2/5
Average Lifespan 13.0 years 11.0 years
Average Price $1950 No Data
Price Range $1400 – $2500 No Data
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Eye Examination
  • Mycobacterium Avian Complex
  • Myotonia Congenita
  • No Data

    *Data from AKC.org (The American Kennel Club),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 Miniature Schnauzer 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 the Miniature Schnauzer is 82 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for the Kishu Ken is 79 out of 125.

    Based on their Better-Pet scores, the Miniature Schnauzer is a better pet than the Kishu Ken. So, you should get a Miniature Schnauzer!

    Miniature Schnauzer versus Kishu Ken

    The Similarities Between the Miniature Schnauzer and the Kishu Ken

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

  • Both the Miniature Schnauzer and the Kishu Ken do not have the tendency to drool.
  • Both the Miniature Schnauzer and the Kishu Ken require a lot of grooming and are not very easy to groom.
  • Both the Miniature Schnauzer and the Kishu Ken are not prone to nip and chew at things.
  • Both the Miniature Schnauzer and the Kishu Ken adapt well to apartment living.
  • Both the Miniature Schnauzer 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 Miniature Schnauzer and the Kishu Ken can tolerate cold weather.
  • Both the Miniature Schnauzer and the Kishu Ken can tolerate hot weather.
  • Both the Miniature Schnauzer and the Kishu Ken gain weight easily. You need to pay careful attention to what you feed them.
  • Both the Miniature Schnauzer and the Kishu Ken are highly intelligent.
  • Both the Miniature Schnauzer and the Kishu Ken have a high prey drive. They do not get along well with other pets.
  • Both the Miniature Schnauzer and the Kishu Ken are very easy to train.
  • Both the Miniature Schnauzer and the Kishu Ken require a lot of exercise. They are good for owners who like to exercise.
  • Size Comparison of the Miniature Schnauzer versus Kishu Ken

    Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Miniature Schnauzer and the Kishu Ken.

    The Miniature Schnauzer weighs 11 to 20 pounds when fully grown. The Miniature Schnauzer is 13 to 14 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    On the other hand, the Kishu Ken weighs 30 to 60 pounds when fully grown. The Kishu Ken is 17 to 22 inches when fully grown.

    Size of Miniature Schnauzer versus Size of Kishu Ken

    Lifespan of Miniature Schnauzer versus Kishu Ken

    The lifespan of the Miniature Schnauzer is between 12 to 14 years. The average lifespan of the Miniature Schnauzer is 13.0 years.

    The lifespan of the Kishu Ken is between 9 to 13 years. The average lifespan of the Kishu Ken is 11.0 years.

    The Miniature Schnauzer live longer than the Kishu Ken.

    Miniature Schnauzer versus Kishu Ken
    Miniature Schnauzer versus Kishu Ken

    Tolerates Being Alone: Miniature Schnauzer versus Kishu Ken

    Miniature Schnauzers can be left alone for some time without problems.

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

    Do Miniature Schnauzers shed more than Kishu Kens?

    Miniature Schnauzers do not shed a lot. They are good for people with dog allergies.

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

    Which is Easier to Groom, the Miniature Schnauzer or the Kishu Ken?

    Miniature Schnauzers require a lot of grooming and they are not very easy to groom.

    Kishu Kens are moderately easy to groom.

    Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Miniature Schnauzer or the Kishu Ken?

    Miniature Schnauzers get along fairly well with other dogs.

    Kishu Kens do not get along well with other dogs.

    Are Miniature Schnauzers good family dogs? What about Kishu Kens?

    Miniature Schnauzers are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

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

    Is the Miniature Schnauzer Easier to Train than the Kishu Ken?

    Miniature Schnauzers are very easy to train.

    Kishu Kens are very easy to train.

    Which one drools more, the Miniature Schnauzer or the Kishu Ken

    Miniature Schnauzers do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Kishu Kens do have a very low tendency to drool.

    How Kid-friendly are Miniature Schnauzers and Kishu Kens?

    Miniature Schnauzers get along fairly well with kids. They are quite kid-friendly.

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

    Does the Miniature Schnauzer Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Kishu Ken?

    Miniature Schnauzers 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.

    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 Miniature Schnauzers Bark and Howl? What about Kishu Kens?

    Miniature Schnauzers bark and howl, but not very much.

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

    Can Miniature Schnauzers Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Kishu Kens Tolerate Cold Weather?

    Miniature Schnauzers can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Kishu Kens can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Wanderlust Potential: Miniature Schnauzer vs. Kishu Ken

    Miniature Schnauzers have a moderate tendency to wander. This means that they sometimes get 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 Miniature Schnauzers Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Kishu Kens Tolerate Hot Weather?

    Miniature Schnauzers can tolerate hot weather.

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

    Is the Miniature Schnauzer Better for Apartment Owners than the Kishu Ken?

    Miniature Schnauzers adapt very well to apartment living.

    Kishu Kens adapt moderately well to apartment living.

    Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Miniature Schnauzer or the Kishu Ken?

    Miniature Schnauzers are OK for new dog owners.

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

    Miniature Schnauzer Versus Other Dog Breeds

    You may also be interested in how the Miniature Schnauzer compares to other breeds aside from the Kishu Ken. So, see below the links to the comparison of the Miniature Schnauzer to other breeds:

    Miniature Schnauzer versus American Pit Bull Terrier     Miniature Schnauzer versus Alaskan Malamute     Miniature Schnauzer versus Schnoodle     Miniature Schnauzer versus German Shepherd Dog     Miniature Schnauzer versus Frenchton     Miniature Schnauzer versus Patterdale Terrier     Miniature Schnauzer versus Bearded Collie     Miniature Schnauzer versus Bluetick Coonhound     Miniature Schnauzer versus Black and Tan Coonhound     Miniature Schnauzer versus Cocker Spaniel     Miniature Schnauzer versus West Highland White Terrier     Miniature Schnauzer versus Maltese     Miniature Schnauzer versus Saint Berdoodle     Miniature Schnauzer versus Lagotto Romagnolo     Miniature Schnauzer versus Whippet     Miniature Schnauzer versus Sloughi     

    Conclusion: Miniature Schnauzer 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 Miniature Schnauzer and the Kishu Ken better suits you and your family.