Huskies in miniature, Alaskan klee kais possesses the impressive energy of their larger cousins but doesn't tend to be so vocal. Bred to be a companion dogs as opposed to workers, they are loyal to their families but wary of strangers. They require huge amounts of exercise and are happiest living in rural locations with active owners.
Which breed group is the Alaskan Klee Kai in?
Breed group: none - not recognised by the kennel club
Alaskan Klee kai breed history
Hailing from Wasilla, a town just north of Anchorage, the Alaskan Klee Kai was developed by breeder Linda S. Spurlin. She was looking to create smaller type of Husky that would be an excellent companion dog. To achieve this, she crossed Siberian and Alaskan huskies with schipperkes and Alaskan Eskimo dogs to reduce the size of her huskies. She later retired but her work has been continued by a few breeders. These dogs are rare and are not recognised by the Kennel Club or American Kennel Club. The name Klee Kai is derived from the Inuit language and means small dog.
Alaskan Klee Kai breed characteristics
The Alaskan klee kai is essentially a downsized husky. Double coats may be red and white, black and white or grey and white. They feature soft undercoats and longer, coarser outer coats and are highly effective at protecting the dogs from cold weather. These dogs shed profusely in spring and autumn but only moderately for the rest of the year. Klee kais are robust and powerful little dogs with huge amounts of energy. They tend to be wary of strangers but are loyal to their families.
Klee Kais are notable for grooming themselves and so don't require a great deal of intervention from their owners to remain clean. As a result, they do not tend to exhibit a doggy smell.
- Lifespan: 11-13 years
- Height: up to 40cm
- Weight: up to 10kg
- Double coats which shed
- Require minimal grooming
- Don't tend to smell
- Intelligent
- Energetic
- Wary of strangers
- Good guard dogs
- Intelligent
- Easily bored
Health issues with Alaskan Klee kais
- This breed suffers from few genetic issues but is prone to the following conditions:
- Luxating patella
- Thyroid disease
- Liver shunts
- Cataracts
What is the Alaskan klee kai bred for?
These lively little dogs were developed to be smaller versions of huskies to act as companions.
What sort of owners does the Alaskan klee kai suit?
Excellent watchdogs, klee kais are also loving and loyal. However, they are not friendly to strangers and require intensive socialisation. They also need a huge amount of exercise and so are suited to owners who spend a lot of time in the great outdoors. They possess strong prey drives which can prove problematic regarding small pets and they may become destructive when bored.
These dogs are not well suited to inexperienced owners or life in the urban environment. They need long walks, plenty of space and owners who can be with them all day. Klee kais are sensitive souls which can become anxious and so may not be happy living with small children.