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Alaskan Klee Kai

loyal / intelligent / vigilant
>>

Average sizes and life
expectancy of the breed.

Height

12 – 17 inches

Weight

6 – 25 lbs

Life Expectancy

13-16 years

Breed Traits & Characteristics

Affectionate With Family
  • Independent Lovey-Dovey
    80% 80%
How affectionate a breed is likely to be with family members, or other people he knows well. Some breeds can be aloof with everyone but their owner, while other breeds treat everyone they know like their best friend.
Good With Young Children
  • Not Recommended Good With Children
    85% 85%
A breed's level of tolerance and patience with childrens' behavior, and overall family-friendly nature. Dogs should always be supervised around young children, or children of any age who have little exposure to dogs.
GOOD WITH OTHER DOGS
  • Not Recommended Good With Other Dogs
    98% 98%
How generally friendly a breed is towards other dogs. Dogs should always be supervised for interactions and introductions with other dogs, but some breeds are innately more likely to get along with other dogs, both at home and in public.

Shedding Level

How much fur and hair you can expect the breed to leave behind. Breeds with high shedding will need to be brushed more frequently, are more likely to trigger certain types of allergies, and are more likely to require more consistent vacuuming and lint-rolling.

Coat Grooming Frequency

How frequently a breed requires bathing, brushing, trimming, or other kinds of coat maintenance. Consider how much time, patience, and budget you have for this type of care when looking at the grooming effort needed. All breeds require regular nail trimming.

Drooling Level

How drool-prone a breed tends to be. If you're a neat freak, dogs that can leave ropes of slobber on your arm or big wet spots on your clothes may not be the right choice for you.

Coat Type

Corded
Curly
Double
Hairless
Rough
Silky
Smooth
Wavy
Wiry
Canine coats come in many different types, depending on the breed's purpose. Each coat type comes with different grooming needs, allergen potential, and shedding level. You may also just prefer the look or feel of certain coat types over others when choosing a family pet.

Coat Length

Long
Medium
Short
How long the breed's coat is expected to be. Some long-haired breeds can be trimmed short, but this will require additional upkeep to maintain.

Openness To Strangers

How welcoming a breed is likely to be towards strangers. Some breeds will be reserved or cautious around all strangers, regardless of the location, while other breeds will be happy to meet a new human whenever one is around!

Playfulness Level

How enthusiastic about play a breed is likely to be, even past the age of puppyhood. Some breeds will continue wanting to play tug-of-war or fetch well into their adult years, while others will be happy to just relax on the couch with you most of the time.

Watchdog/Protective Nature

A breed's tendency to alert you that strangers are around. These breeds are more likely to react to any potential threat, whether it's the mailman or a squirrel outside the window. These breeds are likely to warm to strangers who enter the house and are accepted by their family.

Adaptability Level

How easily a breed handles change. This can include changes in living conditions, noise, weather, daily schedule, and other variations in day-to-day life.

Trainability Level

How easy it will be to train your dog, and how willing your dog will be to learn new things. Some breeds just want to make their owner proud, while others prefer to do what they want, when they want to, wherever they want!

Energy Level

The amount of exercise and mental stimulation a breed needs. High energy breeds are ready to go and eager for their next adventure. They'll spend their time running, jumping, and playing throughout the day. Low energy breeds are like couch potatoes - they're happy to simply lay around and snooze.

Barking Level

How often this breed vocalizes, whether it's with barks or howls. While some breeds will bark at every passer-by or bird in the window, others will only bark in particular situations. Some barkless breeds can still be vocal, using other sounds to express themselves.

Mental Stimulation Needs

How much mental stimulation a breed needs to stay happy and healthy. Purpose-bred dogs can have jobs that require decision-making, problem-solving, concentration, or other qualities, and without the brain exercise they need, they'll create their own projects to keep their minds busy -- and they probably won't be the kind of projects you'd like.

Affectionate With Family

  • Independent Lovey-Dovey
    80% 80%

How affectionate a breed is likely to be with family members, or other people he knows well. Some breeds can be aloof with everyone but their owner, while other breeds treat everyone they know like their best friend.

Good With Young Children

  • Not Recommended Good With Children
    85% 85%
A breed's level of tolerance and patience with childrens' behavior, and overall family-friendly nature. Dogs should always be supervised around young children, or children of any age who have little exposure to dogs.

GOOD WITH OTHER DOGS

  • Not Recommended Good With Other Dogs
    98% 98%
How generally friendly a breed is towards other dogs. Dogs should always be supervised for interactions and introductions with other dogs, but some breeds are innately more likely to get along with other dogs, both at home and in public.

Shedding Level

How much fur and hair you can expect the breed to leave behind. Breeds with high shedding will need to be brushed more frequently, are more likely to trigger certain types of allergies, and are more likely to require more consistent vacuuming and lint-rolling.

Coat Grooming Frequency

How frequently a breed requires bathing, brushing, trimming, or other kinds of coat maintenance. Consider how much time, patience, and budget you have for this type of care when looking at the grooming effort needed. All breeds require regular nail trimming.

Drooling Level

How drool-prone a breed tends to be. If you're a neat freak, dogs that can leave ropes of slobber on your arm or big wet spots on your clothes may not be the right choice for you.

Coat Type

Corded
Curly
Double
Hairless
Rough
Silky
Smooth
Wavy
Wiry
Canine coats come in many different types, depending on the breed's purpose. Each coat type comes with different grooming needs, allergen potential, and shedding level. You may also just prefer the look or feel of certain coat types over others when choosing a family pet.

Coat Length

Long
Medium
Short
How long the breed's coat is expected to be. Some long-haired breeds can be trimmed short, but this will require additional upkeep to maintain.

Openness To Strangers

How welcoming a breed is likely to be towards strangers. Some breeds will be reserved or cautious around all strangers, regardless of the location, while other breeds will be happy to meet a new human whenever one is around!

Playfulness Level

How enthusiastic about play a breed is likely to be, even past the age of puppyhood. Some breeds will continue wanting to play tug-of-war or fetch well into their adult years, while others will be happy to just relax on the couch with you most of the time.

Watchdog/Protective Nature

A breed's tendency to alert you that strangers are around. These breeds are more likely to react to any potential threat, whether it's the mailman or a squirrel outside the window. These breeds are likely to warm to strangers who enter the house and are accepted by their family.

Adaptability Level

How easily a breed handles change. This can include changes in living conditions, noise, weather, daily schedule, and other variations in day-to-day life.

Trainability Level

How easy it will be to train your dog, and how willing your dog will be to learn new things. Some breeds just want to make their owner proud, while others prefer to do what they want, when they want to, wherever they want!

Energy Level

The amount of exercise and mental stimulation a breed needs. High energy breeds are ready to go and eager for their next adventure. They'll spend their time running, jumping, and playing throughout the day. Low energy breeds are like couch potatoes - they're happy to simply lay around and snooze.

Barking Level

How often this breed vocalizes, whether it's with barks or howls. While some breeds will bark at every passer-by or bird in the window, others will only bark in particular situations. Some barkless breeds can still be vocal, using other sounds to express themselves.

Mental Stimulation Needs

How much mental stimulation a breed needs to stay happy and healthy. Purpose-bred dogs can have jobs that require decision-making, problem-solving, concentration, or other qualities, and without the brain exercise they need, they'll create their own projects to keep their minds busy -- and they probably won't be the kind of projects you'd like.

About the Breed

The Alaskan Klee Kai is a little companion dog that is alert, lively, inquisitive, yet reserved around new people and situations.

The Alaskan Klee Kai is a tiny companion dog with a smooth, agile, and balanced gait, a well-proportioned body with a flat topline, and a slightly longer length than its height. Its arctic lineage is reflected in its wedge-shaped head, prominent triangle-shaped ears, well-furred double coat in three symmetrical contrasting color variants, and loosely curled tail.

Alaskan Klee Kai
What To Expect When Caring For a Alaskan Klee Kai

Owning a dog is not just a privilege; it’s a responsibility. They depend on us for, at minimum, food and shelter, and deserve much more. When you take a dog into your life, you need to understand the commitment that dog ownership entails.

Health

The Alaskan Klee Kai (AKK) breed is generally healthy. Breeders are responsible examine their breeding stock for health issues such as patellar luxation, autoimmune thyroiditis, heart murmurs, eye diseases, and Factor VII deficiency. Prospective AKK owners are recommended to buy from responsible/reputable breeders who conduct these examinations and confirm the sire and dam's health screening. Responsible breeders use the various techniques at their disposal, as well as their knowledge of their dogs' pedigrees, to select breeding dogs with the least amount of temperament, structure, and health issues.

Grooming

The Alaskan Klee Kai (AKK) is a double-coated breed that has a longer, guard-haired outer coat and a short, dense undercoat. They benefit from this coat's ability to shield the skin from the sun as well as from cold and heat. Some owners joke that even though the undercoat is shed (or blown) twice a year, it can last for up to six months at a period. Weekly combing and/or brushing helps maintain the skin and coat healthy and helps lessen hair around the house. As their coats frequently naturally repel dirt and do not have the "dog odor" that many breeds have, AKK frequently only requires a few baths each year. The dog can also be blown with a powerful, cool blow dryer. Another effective method for removing loose hair and debris from the dog is to blow it with a powerful, cool blow drier. Any tool with a blade should be avoided. Regular nail trimming is necessary to avoid any foot issues. For the finest presentation, Alaskan Klee Kai competing in conformation require a little more selective grooming or bathing. According to the breed standard, "The Alaskan Klee Kai is shown in its natural state, and the only trimming permissible is around the foot area to present a clean/neat appearance. Any trimming of the whiskers, or the fur on any other part of the dog, is to be severely penalized."

Exercise

Alaskan Klee Kai (AKK) is an active dog with a medium-high energy level. Regular exercise and doing activities together, both physically and mentally, strengthens the bond between dog and owner and helps to avoid potentially destructive behavior. AKK enjoy doing performance sports or exploring life with their people in many activities such as camping, hiking, climbing, swimming, boating, kayaking, and even on paddle boards! For those who live in a more urban setting, or have a more sedate lifestyle, daily walks or a game of fetch can also provide great exercise. Alaskan Klee Kai is the foremost loving companion dog who forms strong bonds with its family and is as happy playingfully interacting with its owners while exploring the outdoors as they are relaxing lovingly on the laps of their youthful or elderly owners. Like many dog breeds, the Alaskan Klee Kai is curious, clever, fast, and sneaky, and may have a high prey drive, so it is important to keep the dog on a leash or in a securely fenced area at all times when outside of the home. AKK is not suitable for people who cannot spend time with their dogs

Training

The observant Alaskan Klee Kai is a breed that appreciates mental and physical challenges. They have a strong desire to engage in a wide range of activities and enjoy learning new things, which makes them ideal for a variety of performance sports like agility, racing, obedience, rally, scent work, weight pulling, dock diving, and carting. Additionally, they are employed as emotional support dogs, therapy dogs, service dogs, and canines that detect gluten and diabetes. AKK people tend to be sensitive, restrained, and watchful. The right early socialization, a loving hand, good reinforcement, and training throughout their lives are all highly beneficial.

Nutrition

The Alaskan Klee Kai should thrive on premium dog food, whether it is produced commercially or is made at home under the guidance and consent of your veterinarian. Depending on the dog's age (puppy, adult, or senior), the diet should be suitable. Watch your dog's calorie intake and weight level because certain dogs are prone to excessive weight gain. Treats can be a valuable training tool, but offering them in excess might lead to obesity. Discover which foods fit the bill for canine consumption and which don't. If you have any worries about your dog's weight or diet, consult your veterinarian. At all times, clean, fresh water should be available.

History

The numerous native dogs that have inhabited Alaska for countless years are the ancestors of the Alaskan Klee Kai. In Alaska’s hard environment, many of these dogs not only made wonderful family pets but also played a vital role in indigenous communities and nomadic people’s survival. They were excellent sled pullers, hikers, hunters, trackers, and early warning systems for impending risks like wild animals or foes. The Alaskan Interior Village dogs are one of the biggest subgroups of indigenous canines that served as the foundation for the breed that came to be known as the Alaskan Husky.They produced a canine that was cheerful by temperament, intelligent, active, and hardworking.

Beginning in the early 1970s, Linda Spurlin and her family in Alaska began breeding these well-bred husky dogs to create the modern Alaskan Klee Kai breed. She developed a companion-sized version of the Alaska Husky with a very distinctive contrasting symmetrical facial mask and markings by carefully selecting the somewhat smaller dogs with the type/look she envisioned and meeting her high standards for health, structure, and temperament. She did this using a strict breeding program to select the dogs that met these criteria. Similar to their progenitors, Alaskan Klee Kais are versatile companion dogs for people of all ages who enjoy traveling, hiking, sports, entertainment, therapy, and service.