If you have seen a husky and loved it, then you will probably have the same sentiments with this one. The Alaskan Klee Kai will remind you of a husky but will be a whole lot sociable, affectionate, and easier to train. A favorite among households, this breed will definitely make your days a little brighter than it is. Husky fanatics will be amazed to see and interact with their favorite miniature version. They make the best fur buddies, watchdogs, but not so much of a guard dog. They are keen on details and will definitely let you know when something is up. Are you ready to learn more about this adorable mini-Husky?
Getting to Know about the Alaskan Klee Kai
Smart little dogs that are adept at learning tricks and keeping their owners entertained. The Alaskan Klee Kai is quite watchful, barker, and can be suspicious of strangers.
History
We all know that Siberian Huskies are adorable and very easy to get along with. After spotting a Husky look-alike miniature in Oklahoma, Spurlin and her family thought so too. Hence, they wanted a smaller version of it. So as soon as they went back to Alaska, they tried to outcross Huskies with smaller breeds like Schipperkes and Alaskan Eskimo Dogs.
Spurlin name the breed “Klee Kai,” an Inuit term in Eskimo dialect meaning “little dog.”The name was changed to Alaskan Klee Kai in 1995 and officially recognized by the United Kennel Club in 1997. The Alaskan Klee Kai is one of the rarest dog breeds, with only 700 dogs registered.
Height
This cute breed can be as tall as 13 inches high for toy versions. An Alaskan Klee Kai miniature can grow up to 13 to 15 inches and as tall as 15 – 17 inches high for standard variety.
Weight
The Alaskan Klee Kai male can weigh from 12 to 20 lbs, while a female can weigh from 10 to 18 lbs.
Origin
The Alaskan Klee Kai is a breed that originated from the United States in Wasilla, Alaska.
Colors
Be ready to be asked several times whether that Klee Kai is a husky puppy because they share the same traits and appearance. Klee Kai’s coat can often be almost all black with a little splash of white.
There are three different colors of Alaskan Klee Kai’s coat. The Black and white combination is the most common colors of the Alaskan Klee Kai, which has two different variations, namely jet black and white and salt and pepper black and white. Another popular color is gray and white. You tend to find either a dark grey and white or silver and white. They can also be found with a red and white coat. Their blue eyes contrast against their red coats, which makes them particularly stand out a lot. The cinnamon red and white members are the result of a crossbreed of some Klee Kai dogs with different shades of red.
Dog breed group
This dog belongs to the Northern breed group and a companion type breed.
Temperament
Alaskan Klee Kais are smart, full of energy, and loving to their owners. They are more likely to enjoy a setting where they are the center of attention. These adorable dogs are very food motivated too. They may become anxious and destructive when they get bored or don’t get much attention from their families. Klee Kais have a high prey drive that may cause them to bolt if they see smaller animals once they have at least a good, long walk ad a healthy play session.
Alaskan Klee Kais love to be the center of attention in their families, but they will also be expressive when their needs are not being addressed and fulfilled. They can be sensitive and tend to whine or bark.
Average life span
Between 15 to 20 years is the longevity range of Alaskan Klee Kai, with an average life expectancy of 14 years.
Activity level
Alaskan Klee Kai makes a good walking and jogging companion. The amount of exercise a Klee Kai needs each day depends on its age and overall activity level.
When taking your Alaskan Klee Kai out in public, make sure that you put on their leash. They have a very high prey drive and will instinctively run after alluring butterflies, birds, and smaller animals if given a chance. A leash will help you control your Klee Kai when they are being wary of strangers and will likely be fearful and defensive around them in these and other situations. When your pet is exercising in your own yard, the area will need to be well-fenced to keep the dog from running after other animals.
Regular physical activities are important to keep this breed of dog happy and peaceful, too, and keep their boredom at bay. They will become disobedient, frustrated, and even turn destructive when they are anxious or lonely.
You can start by taking them to a 30-minute walk at least twice a day or playing a good time playing fetch indoors or outdoors. There are also some dogs that enjoy playing hide and seek as they are smart enough to do so. You can also be sure that the Alaskan Klee Kai is going to excel in Canine sports, especially when it comes to agility trials and other games. You can also count on the Alaskan Klee Kai to go hike with you. In fact, you can take them off the leash and join them in this awesome adventure.
Ability to be trained
That cleaver Alaskan Klee Kai is a clever and ideal companion, but their natural hunting instinct has to be controlled. They tend to be very wary of strangers, dominant over other pets and children if they are not trained early. This is why it is important to have them undergo obedience and socialization training. Early training with their owners with the use of a leash can be helpful to keep them friendly and keep them away from chasing critters.
Grooming needs
Unlike many other breeds, Alaskan Klee Kais generally like to groom themselves, which prevents them from developing a dog odor. They only shed moderately the rest of the year. Before summer and winter, their coats blow out; they tend to shed profusely. They will likely need regular during the seasons.
Good with children
The Alaskan Klee Kai is a loving companion to its humans, even children. However, cute and tiny, and very young children are not always taught how to interact with animals. They may provoke an Alaskan Klee Kai to snap or nip. When playing with dogs, children should be under a parent’s or an adult’s supervision.
Good with other pets
Though they have a high prey drive, Alaskan Klee Kais are usually good with other dogs, especially if they have been specifically trained to live with them. They are not suitable for homes that have smaller pets unless they have been trained to socialize with them at an early age.
The Pros of Having an Alaskan Klee Kai
Alaskan Klee Kais mostly take care of themselves and do not require much grooming. They are intelligent and easy to train. They resemble the appearance of Siberian Huskies and can be a company in your small apartment.
The Cons of Having an Alaskan Klee Kai
They require early socialization training but have to last for the rest of their lives because they tend to bark at unfamiliar faces. Kids that are not taught how to interact with dogs may hurt Alaskan Klee Kais, provoking them to bark or nip. They require regular exercise.
Other fun facts
If there is one thing that we can count on, it would be that this breed will have one of the most stunning eyes among other breeds. They usually have amazing green, brown, or blue eyes. Some can have two different colored eyes, or what we call bi-eyes, while some may have the same colors for both eyes, something that we call party-eye.
