Last Updated: Jun 15, 2022
Quick Links: Table of Contents
- Australian Shepherd Versus Kai Ken: Introduction
- Australian Shepherd versus Kai Ken: Overview
- Australian Shepherd versus Kai Ken: Comparison Table
- The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Australian Shepherd and the Kai Ken
- The Similarities Between the Australian Shepherd and the Kai Ken
- Size Comparison of the Australian Shepherd versus Kai Ken
- Lifespan of Australian Shepherd versus Kai Ken
- Temperament of the Australian Shepherd Versus the Kai Ken
- Health Problems of Australian Shepherd versus Health Problems of Kai Ken
- Tolerates Being Alone: Australian Shepherd versus Kai Ken
- Do Australian Shepherds shed more than Kai Kens?
- Which is Easier to Groom, the Australian Shepherd or the Kai Ken?
- Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Australian Shepherd or the Kai Ken?
- Are Australian Shepherds good family dogs? What about Kai Kens?
- Is the Australian Shepherd Easier to Train than the Kai Ken?
- Which one drools more, the Australian Shepherd or the Kai Ken
- How Kid-friendly are Australian Shepherds and Kai Kens?
- Does the Australian Shepherd Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Kai Ken?
- Do Australian Shepherds Bark and Howl? What about Kai Kens?
- Can Australian Shepherds Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Kai Kens Tolerate Cold Weather?
- Wanderlust Potential: Australian Shepherd vs. Kai Ken
- Can Australian Shepherds Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Kai Kens Tolerate Hot Weather?
- Australian Shepherd Versus Other Dog Breeds
- Conclusion: Australian Shepherd versus Kai Ken. Which One is a Better Pet?
Australian Shepherd Versus Kai Ken: Introduction
Are you thinking of getting a new pet dog, and you have narrowed down your choices to the Australian Shepherd and the Kai 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 Australian Shepherd 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 Australian Shepherd and the Kai Ken.
Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Australian Shepherd 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 Australian Shepherd 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 with more insight into deciding which pet to get between the Australian Shepherd 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 Australian Shepherd or the Kai Ken.
Australian Shepherd versus Kai Ken: Overview
Both the Australian Shepherd and the Kai Ken are similar in size. The Australian Shepherd and the Kai Ken are both medium-sized dogs.
Furthermore, the Australian Shepherd 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 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.
Australian Shepherd versus Kai Ken: Comparison Table
The table below compares the Australian Shepherd 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.
Later in this article, we will further explain each factor as it applies to the Australian Shepherd and the Kai Ken
| Factor | Australian Shepherd | Kai Ken |
|---|---|---|
| Adapts Well To Apartment Living | 1/5 | 2/5 |
| Does NOT Drool | 5/5 | 4/5 |
| Easy To Groom | 1/5 | 2/5 |
| Life Span | 12 to 15 years | 12 to 16 years |
| Height | 18 to 23 inches tall at the shoulder | 17 to 22 inches |
| Good For Novice Owners | 2/5 | 2/5 |
| Tolerates Being Alone | 2/5 | 3/5 |
| General Health | 2/5 | 4/5 |
| Friendly Toward Strangers | 3/5 | 2/5 |
| Does NOT Shed | 3/5 | 2/5 |
| Tolerates Cold Weather | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| Tolerates Hot Weather | 4/5 | 3/5 |
| Kid-Friendly | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| Potential NOT to Gain Weight | 2/5 | 3/5 |
| Does NOT chew on things | 2/5 | 4/5 |
| Low Prey Drive | 2/5 | 1/5 |
| Does NOT Bark or Howl | 2/5 | 4/5 |
| Calmness/ Low Vigor | 2/5 | 2/5 |
| Weight | 40 to 65 pounds | 25 to 45 pounds |
| Easygoing | 1/5 | 4/5 |
| Affectionate With Family | 5/5 | 4/5 |
| Dog Friendly | 5/5 | 3/5 |
| Easy To Train | 5/5 | 3/5 |
| Intelligence | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| Tendency NOT to Wander | 1/5 | 3/5 |
| NOT Rambunctious | 1/5 | 1/5 |
| Minimal Exercise Needs | 1/5 | 1/5 |
| Potential For Playfulness | 5/5 | 3/5 |
| Average Lifespan | 13.5 years | 14.0 years |
| Average Price | $1180 | No Data |
| Price Range | $800 – $1500 | No Data |
| Temperament Score | 82.2 percent | 100.0 percent |
| Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests |
|
|
*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 Australian Shepherd 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 the Australian Shepherd is 70 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for the Kai Ken is 73 out of 125.
Despite the higher Better-Pet score of the Kai Ken, we still believe that the Australian Shepherd is a better pet than the Kai Ken.
This is because Australian Shepherds are much cuter but you cannot put a score on cuteness. If you could put a score on cuteness, then the Australian Shepherd will come out on top.
Also, we are biased in favor of the Australian Shepherd :-). We are for the Australian Shepherd. So get a Australian Shepherd!
The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Australian Shepherd and the Kai Ken
Below is a list of where the Australian Shepherd and the Kai Ken are most different:
The Similarities Between the Australian Shepherd and the Kai Ken
The Australian Shepherd and the Kai Ken are very similar in certain aspects. Below is the list of where the Australian Shepherd and the Kai Ken are most similar:
Size Comparison of the Australian Shepherd versus Kai Ken
Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Australian Shepherd and the Kai Ken.
The Australian Shepherd weighs 40 to 65 pounds when fully grown. The Australian Shepherd is 18 to 23 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.
On the other hand, the Kai Ken weighs 25 to 45 pounds when fully grown. The Kai Ken is 17 to 22 inches when fully grown.
Lifespan of Australian Shepherd versus Kai Ken
The lifespan of the Australian Shepherd is between 12 to 15 years. The average lifespan of the Australian Shepherd is 13.5 years.
The lifespan of the Kai Ken is between 12 to 16 years. The average lifespan of the Kai Ken is 14.0 years.
The Kai Ken live longer than the Australian Shepherd.
Temperament of the Australian Shepherd Versus the Kai Ken
The Kai Ken has a better temperament than the Australian Shepherd.
This is because the temperament score for the Kai Ken is 100.0 percent while the temperament score for the Australian Shepherd is 82.2 percent, according to the American Temperament Test Society (ATTS).
The American Temperament Test Society (ATTS) is a non-profit organization whose mission is to provide fair and objective evaluations of the temperaments of dog breeds.
Dog breeds with low temperament scores tend to show unprovoked aggression, they easily panic without quickly recovering from the panic, and they tend to avoid people. However, dog breeds with high temperament scores are not aggressive and are not shy. Also, these dogs are generally friendly and are protective of their owners.
The average temperament score across all dog breeds (over 250 breeds) is 83.7 percent.
With its temperament score of 82.2 percent, the Australian Shepherd has a below-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.
With its temperament score of 100.0 percent, the Kai Ken has an above-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.
The ATTS obtained the temperament scores of the Australian Shepherd and the Kai Ken by measuring the temperaments of 702 Australian Shepherds and 1 Kai Kens.
Health Problems of Australian Shepherd versus Health Problems of Kai Ken
Every dog breed has its own set of health problems that it has a tendency to develop. There is nothing like a perfect dog breed.
Both the Australian Shepherd 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 Australian Shepherd is prone to more genetic health problems than the Kai Ken.
This is because the OFA recommends more screening health tests for the Australian Shepherd than for the Kai Ken.
7 health tests are recommended for Australian Shepherd while 2 tests are recommended for the Kai Ken.
Below is a detailed discussion of health problems in Australian Shepherds and in Kai Kens.
Australian Shepherd Health Problems
Australian Shepherds are genetically prone to certain health problems. However, breeders can reduce the chances of producing Australian Shepherd 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 Australian Shepherd puppy that will grow up to be healthy, make sure that your Australian Shepherd 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 Australian Shepherds for:
You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Australian Shepherds 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:
You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Kai Kens here.
Tolerates Being Alone: Australian Shepherd versus Kai Ken
Australian Shepherds do not like to be left alone.
Kai Kens can be left alone only for a short time.
Do Australian Shepherds shed more than Kai Kens?
Australian Shepherds shed moderately.
Kai Kens shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.
Which is Easier to Groom, the Australian Shepherd or the Kai Ken?
Australian Shepherds require a lot of grooming and they are not very easy to groom.
Kai Kens require a lot of grooming and they are not very easy to groom.
Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Australian Shepherd or the Kai Ken?
Australian Shepherds get along very well with other dogs.
Kai Kens get along fairly well with other dogs.
Are Australian Shepherds good family dogs? What about Kai Kens?
Australian Shepherds are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
Kai Kens are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
Is the Australian Shepherd Easier to Train than the Kai Ken?
Australian Shepherds are very easy to train.
Kai Kens are fairly easy to train.
Which one drools more, the Australian Shepherd or the Kai Ken
Australian Shepherds do have a very low tendency to drool.
Kai Kens do have a very low tendency to drool.
How Kid-friendly are Australian Shepherds and Kai Kens?
Australian Shepherds get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
Kai Kens get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
Does the Australian Shepherd Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Kai Ken?
Australian Shepherds 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.
Do Australian Shepherds Bark and Howl? What about Kai Kens?
Australian Shepherds are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.
Kai Kens are not very vocal. They do not tend to bark and howl.
Can Australian Shepherds Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Kai Kens Tolerate Cold Weather?
Australian Shepherds can very well tolerate cold weather.
Kai Kens can very well tolerate cold weather.
Wanderlust Potential: Australian Shepherd vs. Kai Ken
Australian Shepherds 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.
Can Australian Shepherds Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Kai Kens Tolerate Hot Weather?
Australian Shepherds can tolerate hot weather.
Kai Kens can tolerate hot weather as long as the weather is not too hot.
Is the Australian Shepherd Better for Apartment Owners than the Kai Ken?
Australian Shepherds do not adapt well to apartment living.
Kai Kens do not adapt well to apartment living.
Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Australian Shepherd or the Kai Ken?
Australian Shepherds are not the best dogs for new dog owners.
Kai Kens are not the best dogs for new dog owners.
Australian Shepherd Versus Other Dog Breeds
You may also be interested in how the Australian Shepherd compares to other breeds aside from the Kai Ken. So, see below the links to the comparison of the Australian Shepherd to other breeds:
Australian Shepherd versus Field Spaniel Australian Shepherd versus Pomsky Australian Shepherd versus Sloughi Australian Shepherd versus Bernese Mountain Dog Australian Shepherd versus Pomchi Australian Shepherd versus Pyrenean Mastiff Australian Shepherd versus German Shepherd Dog Australian Shepherd versus Maremma Sheepdog Australian Shepherd versus Dalmatian Australian Shepherd versus Basset Hound Australian Shepherd versus West Highland White Terrier Australian Shepherd versus Chinese Crested Australian Shepherd versus Greater Swiss Mountain Dog Australian Shepherd versus Border Collie Australian Shepherd versus Affenhuahua Australian Shepherd versus American Hairless Terrier Australian Shepherd versus Belgian Tervuren Australian Shepherd versus Schipperke Australian Shepherd versus English Setter
Conclusion: Australian Shepherd 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 Australian Shepherd and the Kai Ken better suits you and your family.