Alaskan Klee Kai

He is not recognized by the F.C.I.

Origin
U.S.A.
Translation
Francis Vandersteen
This breed is also known as
Klee Kai
Miniature Alaskan Husky
Mini Husky

A brief presentation of the Alaskan Klee Kai

Technically, the Alaskan Klee Kai is a new breed that was created to be a miniature of the Alaskan Husky. These dogs are relatively new to the world of pedigree dogs, dating back only to the 1970s. These are energetic, highly intelligent little dogs. The Alaskan Klee Kai, while resembling the Alaskan Husky, is more suited to being a companion than a working dog. It can also adapt more easily to life in an apartment, provided it has enough time to run and play. He can be shy or uncertain around people he doesn't know, and will let you know through vocalizations if he's frightened, happy or even sad.

History of the Alaskan Klee Kai

The Alaskan Klee Kai was created completely by accident. An Alaskan Husky crossed with a small dog in Oklahoma. The resulting litter produced puppies that resembled their Alaskan Husky parent but on a smaller scale. Linda Spurlin, originally from Alaska, visited a family in Oklahoma and fell in love with one of the puppies. They took the puppy, named Curious, to Alaska and Linda began trying to recreate the cross-breed, which was difficult, as no one knew what the little breed was. Back in Oklahoma, Spurlin's brother-in-law was the owner of the Alaskan Husky that had produced Curious. He also began trying to recreate the cross, but with limited results. Both Spurlin and his brother-in-law were able to trace the history of Curious and his littermates. However, the brother-in-law lost interest and sold his established kennel to Spurlin. Every litter produced was carefully evaluated, and those that didn't possess the ideal characteristics they had defined were spayed and placed in family homes. Once Spurlin began producing whole litters that exemplified the ideal traits they were looking for, a breed standard was drawn up. This standard is very important when a new breed is being developed, to ensure that its appearance and temperament are correctly cultivated. The Alaskan Klee Kai standard focuses on three main factors : composition, temperament and health. Once the breed had been refined, Spurlin began offering the Alaskan Klee Kai to the public under strict contracts. Any dog with unfavorable characteristics, health problems or personality disorders had to be neutered. Those wishing to breed the Alaskan Klee Kai had to follow strict breeding standards. Spurlin entrusted his breeding business to Eileen Gregory. Gregory contributed greatly to the development of the American Alaskan Klee Kai Association.

Appearance of the Alaskan Klee Kai

The Alaskan Klee Kai looks almost identical to its great ancestor, the Alaskan Husky. It can be found in any color except solid white. He has a distinctive face mask that gives him an inquisitive look. He has a double coat that will shed continuously throughout the year. His topcoat is straight and hard to the touch, weather-resistant, while his undercoat is lighter in color and soft. His eyes are round and dark brown, although he may have amber or blue eyes. It has a broad black nose with open nostrils. The Alaskan Klee Kai comes in three distinct sizes : toy, miniature and standard. The toy variety stands 33 centimeters at the shoulder and weighs less than 4.5 kilos. The miniature variety measures over 33 centimetres but no more than 38 centimetres at the shoulder, and weighs between 4.5 and 6.8 kilos. The standard Alaskan Klee Kai measures between 40.5 and 43 centimetres at the shoulder and weighs between 6.8 and 10.5 kilos.

Temperament of the Alaskan Klee Kai

Although directly descended from the Siberian and Alaskan Husky, the Alaskan Klee Kai was not bred to be a true working dog. He was bred strictly as a pet. He is naturally shy with strangers and will avoid them whenever possible. Many people characterize him as nervous. He is very devoted to his family and makes an excellent watchdog for the home. The Alaskan Klee Kai is a very vocal dog, making its wishes known through vocalization. Although his small size is perfect for apartment living, if his family ignores him most of the day, he can become a nuisance to neighbors with his barking and whining. He needs daily walks and time with his family. It's best for him to run and play in a fenced-in yard, but he can also enjoy long daily walks. Training and socialization should be undertaken from an early age to prevent his agility from becoming something more troublesome, and him from becoming an adjusted member of the family.

Needs and activities of the Alaskan Klee Kai

Never trust the Alaskan Klee Kai, even when you think he's perfectly trained. He can be a stubborn dog and needs a long leash or fenced yard to run and play without the temptation to take off after something interesting. He's a small dog, but he's also a fast one. He's an active little dog and needs plenty of time to play and enjoy his family. A good way to strengthen the bond between owner and Alaskan Klee Kai is to train together in dog sports. The Alaskan Klee Kai is an excellent candidate for agility, rally or even flyball.

Maintenance of the Alaskan Klee Kai

The Alaskan Klee Kai is not a hypoallergenic breed. It has a thick double coat that throws constantly. He's also a seasonal thrower and will take on heavy chores twice a year. For a small dog, he has a lot of hair when he sheds a lot. His grooming needs are generally minimal. Brush him thoroughly once a week with a comb, smooth bristle brush and brush to remove loose hair. He'll need brushing every day as he sheds more hair, and warm baths will help loosen the coat and speed up the shedding process. Don't bathe your Alaskan Klee Kai too much - he doesn't have a strong dog smell and should only be bathed twice a year, or only when he gets into mud or other unpleasant substances. Because he's an active dog, he may naturally wear out his nails, but check them at least every two weeks to make sure they don't need a quick trim. Have his teeth professionally cleaned once a year to maintain good oral hygiene.

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