Last Updated: Jun 18, 2022
Quick Links: Table of Contents
- Great Dane Versus Kai Ken: Introduction
- Great Dane versus Kai Ken: Overview
- Great Dane versus Kai Ken: Comparison Table
- The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Great Dane and the Kai Ken
- The Similarities Between the Great Dane and the Kai Ken
- Size Comparison of the Great Dane versus Kai Ken
- Lifespan of Great Dane versus Kai Ken
- Temperament of the Great Dane Versus the Kai Ken
- Health Problems of Great Dane versus Health Problems of Kai Ken
- Tolerates Being Alone: Great Dane versus Kai Ken
- Do Great Danes shed more than Kai Kens?
- Which is Easier to Groom, the Great Dane or the Kai Ken?
- Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Great Dane or the Kai Ken?
- Are Great Danes good family dogs? What about Kai Kens?
- Is the Great Dane Easier to Train than the Kai Ken?
- Which one drools more, the Great Dane or the Kai Ken
- How Kid-friendly are Great Danes and Kai Kens?
- Does the Great Dane Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Kai Ken?
- Do Great Danes Bark and Howl? What about Kai Kens?
- Can Great Danes Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Kai Kens Tolerate Cold Weather?
- Wanderlust Potential: Great Dane vs. Kai Ken
- Can Great Danes Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Kai Kens Tolerate Hot Weather?
- Great Dane Versus Other Dog Breeds
- Conclusion: Great Dane versus Kai Ken. Which One is a Better Pet?
Great Dane Versus Kai Ken: Introduction
Are you thinking of getting a new pet dog, and you have narrowed down your choices to the Great Dane 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 Great Dane 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 Great Dane and the Kai Ken.
Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Great Dane 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 Great Dane 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 Great Dane 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 Great Dane or the Kai Ken.
Great Dane versus Kai Ken: Overview
A very important difference between the Great Dane and the Kai Ken is the size difference between the two dog breeds. The Great Dane is a giant-sized dog while the Kai Ken is a medium-sized dog.
Furthermore, the Great Dane 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.
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.
Great Dane versus Kai Ken: Comparison Table
The table below compares the Great Dane 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 Great Dane and the Kai Ken
| Factor | Great Dane | Kai Ken |
|---|---|---|
| Adapts Well To Apartment Living | 1/5 | 2/5 |
| Good For Novice Owners | 1/5 | 2/5 |
| Tolerates Being Alone | 1/5 | 3/5 |
| Weight | 100 to 200 pounds | 25 to 45 pounds |
| Tolerates Cold Weather | 2/5 | 4/5 |
| Potential NOT to Gain Weight | 4/5 | 3/5 |
| Does NOT chew on things | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| Height | 26 to 34 inches tall at the shoulder | 17 to 22 inches |
| Tolerates Hot Weather | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| Intelligence | 3/5 | 5/5 |
| Low Prey Drive | 3/5 | 1/5 |
| Tendency NOT to Wander | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| Does NOT Drool | 2/5 | 4/5 |
| General Health | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| Does NOT Bark or Howl | 2/5 | 4/5 |
| Easygoing | 1/5 | 4/5 |
| Affectionate With Family | 5/5 | 4/5 |
| Kid-Friendly | 5/5 | 4/5 |
| Dog Friendly | 5/5 | 3/5 |
| Friendly Toward Strangers | 5/5 | 2/5 |
| Does NOT Shed | 1/5 | 2/5 |
| Easy To Groom | 5/5 | 2/5 |
| Easy To Train | 5/5 | 3/5 |
| NOT Rambunctious | 1/5 | 1/5 |
| Calmness/ Low Vigor | 1/5 | 2/5 |
| Minimal Exercise Needs | 1/5 | 1/5 |
| Potential For Playfulness | 5/5 | 3/5 |
| Life Span | 7 to 10 years | 12 to 16 years |
| Average Lifespan | 8.5 years | 14.0 years |
| Average Price | $1560 | No Data |
| Price Range | $1000 – $2000 | No Data |
| Temperament Score | 81.5 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 Great Dane 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 Great Dane is 73 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for the Kai Ken is 73 out of 125.
Despite the equal Better-Pet score of the Great Dane and the Kai Ken, we still think that the Great Dane is a better pet than the Kai Ken.
This is because Great Danes are much cuter but you cannot put a score on cuteness. If you could put a score on cuteness, then the Great Dane will come out on top.
Also, we are biased in favor of the Great Dane :-). We are for the Great Dane. So get a Great Dane!
The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Great Dane and the Kai Ken
Below is a list of where the Great Dane and the Kai Ken are most different:
The Similarities Between the Great Dane and the Kai Ken
The Great Dane and the Kai Ken are very similar in certain aspects. Below is the list of where the Great Dane and the Kai Ken are most similar:
Size Comparison of the Great Dane versus Kai Ken
Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Great Dane and the Kai Ken.
The Great Dane weighs 100 to 200 pounds when fully grown. The Great Dane is 26 to 34 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 Great Dane versus Kai Ken
The lifespan of the Great Dane is between 7 to 10 years. The average lifespan of the Great Dane is 8.5 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 Great Dane.
Temperament of the Great Dane Versus the Kai Ken
The Kai Ken has a better temperament than the Great Dane.
This is because the temperament score for the Kai Ken is 100.0 percent while the temperament score for the Great Dane is 81.5 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 81.5 percent, the Great Dane 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 Great Dane and the Kai Ken by measuring the temperaments of 314 Great Danes and 1 Kai Kens.
Health Problems of Great Dane 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 Great Dane 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 Great Dane is prone to more genetic health problems than the Kai Ken.
This is because the OFA recommends more screening health tests for the Great Dane than for the Kai Ken.
4 health tests are recommended for Great Dane while 2 tests are recommended for the Kai Ken.
Below is a detailed discussion of health problems in Great Danes and in Kai Kens.
Great Dane Health Problems
Great Danes are genetically prone to certain health problems. However, breeders can reduce the chances of producing Great Dane 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 Great Dane puppy that will grow up to be healthy, make sure that your Great Dane 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 Great Danes for:
You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Great Danes 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: Great Dane versus Kai Ken
Great Danes do not like to be left alone.
Kai Kens can be left alone only for a short time.
Do Great Danes shed more than Kai Kens?
Great Danes shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.
Kai Kens shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.
Which is Easier to Groom, the Great Dane or the Kai Ken?
Great Danes are 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 Great Dane or the Kai Ken?
Great Danes get along very well with other dogs.
Kai Kens get along fairly well with other dogs.
Are Great Danes good family dogs? What about Kai Kens?
Great Danes are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
Kai Kens are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
Is the Great Dane Easier to Train than the Kai Ken?
Great Danes are very easy to train.
Kai Kens are fairly easy to train.
Which one drools more, the Great Dane or the Kai Ken
Great Danes have a very high tendency to drool.
Kai Kens do have a very low tendency to drool.
How Kid-friendly are Great Danes and Kai Kens?
Great Danes get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
Kai Kens get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
Does the Great Dane Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Kai Ken?
Great Danes have a moderate prey drive. They can sometimes chase after smaller animals and 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 Great Danes Bark and Howl? What about Kai Kens?
Great Danes 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 Great Danes Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Kai Kens Tolerate Cold Weather?
Great Danes cannot tolerate cold weather. They are vulnerable to the cold.
Kai Kens can very well tolerate cold weather.
Wanderlust Potential: Great Dane vs. Kai Ken
Great Danes have a moderate tendency to wander. This means that they sometimes get 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 Great Danes Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Kai Kens Tolerate Hot Weather?
Great Danes can tolerate hot weather as long as the weather is not too hot.
Kai Kens can tolerate hot weather as long as the weather is not too hot.
Is the Great Dane Better for Apartment Owners than the Kai Ken?
Great Danes do not adapt well to apartment living.
Kai Kens do not adapt well to apartment living.
Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Great Dane or the Kai Ken?
Great Danes are not the best dogs for new dog owners.
Kai Kens are not the best dogs for new dog owners.
Great Dane Versus Other Dog Breeds
You may also be interested in how the Great Dane compares to other breeds aside from the Kai Ken. So, see below the links to the comparison of the Great Dane to other breeds:
Great Dane versus Lhasapoo Great Dane versus English Springer Spaniel Great Dane versus Akita Great Dane versus Doberman Pinscher Great Dane versus Cockalier Great Dane versus Berger Picard Great Dane versus Portuguese Pointer Great Dane versus Aussiedoodle Great Dane versus Pomsky Great Dane versus Boxer Great Dane versus Mal Shi Great Dane versus Boston Terrier Great Dane versus Skye Terrier Great Dane versus West Highland White Terrier Great Dane versus American Eskimo Dog
Conclusion: Great Dane 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 Great Dane and the Kai Ken better suits you and your family.