We can understand why you might have fallen in love with the Alaskan Klee Kai without even knowing much about them, as they are absolutely adorable.
However, they are much more than this, and there is so much to learn about them if this is a dog breed that you are seriously considering bringing into your home.
The Alaskan Klee Kai is a dog breed that was developed in the late 20th century as a companion-sized dog that greatly resembles the larger Alaskan Husky and Siberian Husky.
The term Klee Klai actually means small dog, but while they resemble the Husky breed, there are lots of things that make them completely different from them, especially when it comes to their temperament.
In this article, we are going to share with you our ultimate guide to the Alaskan Klee Kai breed, so you can find out everything that there is to know about them.
The best thing about this guide is that all of the information you need is in one place, so you don’t have to spend endless hours searching the internet for answers to your questions.
Alaskan Klee Kai Key Facts
Before we get into all of the detailed information that you need to know about owning an Alaskan Klee Kai, there are some key facts that you should be aware of first. We are going to explain more about the lifespan, exercise needs, coat, and monthly costs of the Alaskan Klee Kai below.
Average Lifespan
On average, the Alaskan Klee Kai will live for between 12 and 16 years, which is a really long time for a dog. You will need to be prepared for a very long commitment if you are considering this breed.
Minimum Exercise (Per Day)
Alaskan Klee Kai dogs do need a moderate amount of exercise. They will need to get at least 60 minutes of exercise per day in the form of walks and playtime. Without this, they can become bored and destructive at home.
Coat Length
Alaskan Klee Kai dogs are basically bred to be the smaller versions of Huskies, and so they also inherit their long and double-layered coat. They have a short and soft undercoat and a longer and coarser top coat.
Minimum Cost (Per Month)
You can expect to pay a minimum of $65 a month on caring for your Alaskan Klee Kai dog. This cost will cover things like food, treats, pet insurance, and other essentials. You will need to ensure that you can fit this amount into your monthly budget if you are considering getting this dog.
Alaskan Klee Kai Appearance
The markings, body shape, and coat of the Alaskan Klee Kai are just like their larger Husky relatives, just on a smaller scale. They look almost like wolves, and they have the distinctive eyebrows and mask colouration of the Husky. These dogs also have prick ears and legs that are in good proportion to the body.
The Alakan Klee Kai also has a thick protective double coat, and three color variations are accepted for their coats. These colors are white with the addition of either red, grey, or black markings. They also have thickly furred tails that are carried in a happy curl over their rump. The breed can be subdivided into three different sizes, which are toy, miniature, and standard. Although, there isn’t too much of a difference in size between these 3 types.
Size
The Alaskan Klee Kai is typically small in size, but you can also get toy and miniature varieties that are even smaller.
Average Height
You can get 3 different sizes of Alaskan Klee Kai, and these are toy, miniature, and standard. The toy variety can be up to and including 13 inches, the miniature variety is usually over 13 inches and up to 15 inches, and the standard variety is usually between 15 and 17 inches. As you can see, there isn’t too much of a difference in size between these 3 types of Alaskan Klee Kai.
Average Weight
The Alaskan Klee Kai is known to weigh anywhere between 7.3 and 10 kg. The males are usually slightly bigger than the females.
Temperament
Alaskan Klee Kai dogs are known for being energetic, intelligent, and very loving towards members of their families. They do not care much for strangers, but they are usually friendly towards them as long as they have been properly socialized as puppies. Although, their weariness with strangers is something that makes them excellent watch dogs.
When it comes to their training, the Alaskan Klee Kai breed is really good at picking up basic commands quickly, and they are usually pretty good at doing so. They are very eager to please and are highly food motivated, which are two qualities that make for an easier training experience.
They are also more than capable of taking on agility training, which can help burn off some of their high energy throughout the day. As long as they have a good long walk and a healthy play session throughout the day, they are usually happy to spend the rest of the day relaxing at home. On the other hand, if you neglect their exercise needs, they can easily become bored, anxious, and destructive.
You should also be really careful on walks, as these dogs have a high prey drive that may cause them to bolt if they see wildlife. They also love to be the center of attention in their families, but they will definitely bevocal if their needs are not being met adequately enough. They don’t tend to be overly vocal and are generally quieter than Huskies, but they will bark and whine to express their displeasure.
Apartment Living
Their small size would make these dogs suitable for apartment living, but their high energy levels might not. Some dogs will get on well living in apartments as long as they are provided with enough daily exercise, but others prefer to have a backyard to run around in to burn off any excess energy.
Good for Novice Owners
The Alaskan Klee Kai is a great dog to own, even if you do not already have any experience with owning dogs. They are easy to get along with due to their friendly and loving nature, and
Sensitivity Level
These dogs can be very sensitive at times, and they like to be vocal if they are unhappy with something. Put it this way, if your dog is ever feeling down, or they don’t like something that you have done, they will let you know. This could be through barking, whining, or even howling, but they are very sensitive, especially when it comes to displays of emotion.
Tolerates Being Alone
Some Alaskan Klee Kai dogs will be fine when left alone, but others will not fare so well. Some of these dogs will suffer from separation anxiety when they are left alone for more than a few hours at a time. This can lead to destructive behavior, like chewing and tearing things apart, and even excessive barking. If your dog doesn’t like to be left alone, they will be sure to show you through their behavior.
Tolerates Cold Weather
This breed of dog can tolerate cold temperatures really well. This is because they have a double layered coat that offers them the thermal protection that they need from really cold weather. They are also used to the climate in Alaska, so the cold doesn’t bother them too much. If it snows in the winter, they love to play in it.
Tolerates Hot Weather
They can also tolerate hot weather moderately well due to their coat that allows them to better regulate their temperature. However, they will still need access to lots of water and shade to ensure that they do not overheat.
Affectionate With Family
Alaskan Klee Kai dogs love to be affectionate towards their family members. One of their favorite things to do is to cuddle up with members of their family. They love to give affection as much as they love to receive it, which is why they often demand your attention at times.
Kid-Friendly
The Alaskan Klee Kai is a breed of dog that is known to love the humans that surround them, even children. Although, they are small dogs, and young children could injure them if they do not know how to properly interact with them. They can also provoke your dog to nip if they are testing their patience, which is why they might not always be suited to households with young children.
All children should always be supervised when they are playing with dogs, just to be on the safe side. This way, you will be able to supervise the behavior of the child and the dog.
Dog Friendly
Alaskan Klee Kais are typically good with other dogs, especially if they have been properly socialized early on. However, these dogs do have a high prey drives, which makes them unsuitable for homes that have smaller pets, unless they have been specifically trained to live with them.
Friendly Toward Strangers
These dogs are usually quite weary around strangers, which is what makes them such good watchdogs. You will need to introduce new people to them slowly and calmly to ensure that they don’t feel intimidated or that they need to protect you. You will also need to ensure that your dog is properly socialized with people from a young age.
Health And Grooming
Now that you are well informed about the appearance and characteristics of the Alaskan Klee Kai, it is important to understand more about their health and grooming requirements, which we will explain below.
Shedding
If you are looking for a low-shedding dog, then the Alaskan Klee Kai probably isn’t the right dog breed for you. These dogs shed all year round, but even more so during the spring and autumn seasons change, when they will shed their entire coat. You can expect them to leave a lot of hair around the house, and it will constantly be getting on your clothes.
Drooling
Alaskan Klee Kai dogs are not known for excessive drooling and don’t really drool much at all. They might drool if they have just been on a long walk or they are anticipating food, but other than that, they won’t drool. If your dog is drooling excessively, it could be a sign of an underlying health condition.
General Health
Generally, these dogs are really healthy. However, some health conditions are at a higher risk of developing, and it is important to be aware of them. We will leave a list of these health conditions below for you to read about.
Common Health Problems
Some of the most common health problems for Alaskan Klee Kai dogs to develop are:
- Luxating Patella
- Thyroid Disease
- Heart Conditions
- Liver Shunts
- Factor VII Deficiency
- Cataracts
Something else that you should know about these dogs health-wise is that they might hang on to their baby teeth. This can cause problems when their adult teeth grow in, and they might need to have their baby teeth removed. This would allow space for the adult teeth to grow in.
Potential For Weight Gain
Their potential for weight gain is fairly low, which is mostly due to their energetic nature, which allows them to burn off a lot of what they get from their food.
Trainability
It shouldn’t be too difficult to train your Alaskan Klee Kai as they are always eager to please and they are highly intelligent dogs. As long as you are keeping their training new, rather than repetitive , you should get along just fine.
Easy To Train
If you didn’t already know, the Alaskan Klee Kai is an intelligent and high-activity dog, but they are not typically hyperactive like some other breeds. Unlike Huskies, they are highly trainable and they make excellent watchdogs. They tend to pick up new commands and tricks quite easily, and their training also helps keep them mentally stimulated simultaneously, which is a great bonus.
Intelligence
This is a highly intelligent breed of dog, which is great when it comes to their training as it means they pick things up quite quickly.
Potential to Bite
The Alaskan Klee Kai does not typically have a high tendency to bark, but they do sometimes nip as puppies. They will need to be taught that this behavior is not okay, as it could develop as they get older.
Tendency To Bark Or Howl
Generally, these dogs are quite vocal and have been known to bark, whine, and howl quite often.
History
The Alaskan Klee Kai is originally from Wasilla in Alaska, where the breed was developed by a woman that is called Linsa S. Spurlin and her family. She aimed to create a smaller type of Husky that could serve as a companion dog after seeing a small version of a Husky in Oklahoma. When she came back to Alaska, she got to work on trying to create the dog that we now call the Alaskan Klee Kai today.
Unlike other breeders that simply want to create smaller breeds, she did not breed dogs that suffered with conditions like dwarfism. Instead, she bred Siberian and Alaskan Huskies with breeds like the Schipperke and Alaskan Eskimo Dog to reduce the size of the puppies. Around 10 years after the Alaskan Klee Kai was announced to the public, Spurlin retired from breeding.
Other breeders still continue to produce these dogs today, but they are much fewer in number, which is why the breed remains rare. As a newer breed, the Alaskan Klee Kai has not yet been recognized by some kennel clubs, including the American Kennel Club, as a purebred dog. However, the breed has been recognised by the American Rare Breed Association since 1995, and the United Kennel Club since 1997.
Costs
Due to the fact that this is a rare breed of dog, you can expect to pay a higher price for them. An Alaskan Klee Kai puppy can cost anywhere from $1200 to $5000. This price can vary depending on the coat and eye color of the dog, their sex, and the quality of the breed. The most expensive type of Alaskan Klee Kai would be one that is female, has a red coat color and blue eyes, and that is of show quality.
Alaskan Klee Kai Fun Facts
- They are not simply mini Huskies, as they are their own breed
- Four different breeds have been used to create the Alaskan Klee Kai
- These dogs can come in 4 different color combinations
- This breed can have two eyes that are different colors
- Alaskan Klee Kai’s aer known for being very vocal and communicative
