How long does a Kishu Ken live?

The listed lifespan for a Kishu Ken is 12–15 years.

How tall is a Kishu Ken?

The listed height for a Kishu Ken is 19–22 in.

Is a Kishu Ken good with children?

The AKC good-with-children score for a Kishu Ken is 3 out of 5.

When is a Kishu Ken full grown?

The growth size band for a Kishu Ken is up to 24 months.

Foundation Stock Service

Kishu Ken

Kishu Ken is a large dog in the Foundation Stock Service. Adult weight is 30–60 lb, height is 19–22 in, and the listed lifespan is 12–15 years. AKC describes the temperament as Alert, Good-natured, Confident.

Last reviewed November 1, 2026.

Kishu Ken dog — Photo: CJ Hammond · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Lifespan12–15 years

Weight30–60 lb

SizeLarge

GroupFoundation Stock Service

Height

19–22 in

Energy

3 / 5

Shedding

3 / 5

Grooming

1 / 5

Trainability

3 / 5

Good with kids

3 / 5

The breed record

Across 119 single-size large breeds, a lifespan midpoint of 13.5 years is about 0.9 years longer than the 12.6-year average. A midpoint adult weight of 45 lb is about 14.2 lb lighter than the 59.2 lb average for those large breeds.

The listed origin is Japan. The coat is described as double, short. The AKC energy score is 3 out of 5, 0.6 points below the group average of 3.6 for the Foundation Stock Service. Shedding scores 3 out of 5. Grooming scores 1 out of 5, so home brushing covers most weeks. Trainability scores 3 out of 5. Good with children scores 3 out of 5. Good with other dogs scores 3 out of 5.

Adult size is usually reached in up to 24 months (size-band statement (Salt et al. 2017): larger breeds require up to 24 months). AKC parent-club recommended health screenings: Patella Evaluation, Hip Evaluation, Elbow Evaluation, Ophthalmologist Evaluation, and Thyroid Evaluation. These are screening tests, not a list of diseases the breed is guaranteed to develop.

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