Alaskan Klee Kai- 7 Facts you should know before buying

The Alaskan Klee Kai is small to a medium-sized dog weighing between 8 and 23 pounds and standing at 10 to 17 inches. Alaskan Klee Kais were created by crossing the Siberian Husky with the American Eskimo dog. This dog breed belongs to the Spitz-type dog family.

The Alaskan Klee Kai is not a very popular dog but has seen an increase in popularity over recent years being owned by several celebrities such as Sophie Turner, Bill Belichick, and Joe Jones.

One reason for the steady increase in popularity is due to his resemblance to the Siberian Husky and his traits but is often confused for the Pomsky which is a mix between a Pomeranian and a Husky.

This is a dog for any Siberian Husky lover that that is looking for a more compact and manageable dog.

But is this the right addition to you and your family? Keep reading to find out more.

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About the Alaskan Klee kai

The Alaskan Klee Kai is a relatively rare breed belonging to the Spitz dog family which are breeds that resemble wolves.

This dog comes in 3 different sizes and 4 coat colors.

Klee Kais are known for their close resemblance to Siberian Huskies with the most notable difference between them being the body size.

There are also several differences between the Husky’s and Klee Kai’s temperament and personality traits.

These are some of the reasons why this dog breed has been increasingly getting popular coupled with their intelligence and high energy levels.

Klee Kai is an Eskimo name meaning “small dog.”

You may also be interested in learning more about the American Eskimo dog.

Registration and recognition

The Alaskan Klee Kai is considered to be a purebred dog by the major kennel clubs and is recognized by both the UKC and AKC.

This dog has also been a member of the American Rare Breed Association since 1995.

With that in mind, you should pass a chance to adopt this dog if you are lucky to find one that has been put up for adoption.

alaskan-klee-kai

Pros and cons

Pros:

✓ Is very intelligent and highly trainable.

✔ Klee Kais are highly adaptable and great for apartment living.

✓ Compact.

✔ Is an affectionate companion and family dog.

Cons:

✗ Is an independent thinker that can make training difficult.

✘ Alaskan Klee Kai puppies are expensive.

✗ Prone to excessive howling.

✘ Sheds throughout the year and is not hypoallergenic.

7 Fun Facts about the Klee Kai dog breed

  1. Alaskan Klee Kais are known to be expert escape artists and have high prey drives with poor recalls.
  2. Over recent years, these dogs have gained somewhat of a celebrity status.
  3. These dogs have mesmerizing eyes that can come in either of these three colors namely, blue, brown, or green.
  4. They are very vocal dogs and are known to howl a lot.
  5. The Alaskan Klee Kai was first bred in the 1970s by an American breeder known as Linda Spurlin.
  6. Klee Kai is an Eskimo name meaning small dog.
  7. These dogs are often confused for the Miniature Husky and the Pomeranian Husky mix due to their very close resemblance in both appearance and size.

General Appearance and characteristics of the Alaskan Klee Kai

Alaskan Klee Kai summary table
Height 10 to 17 inches
Weight 8 to 23 pounds
Lifespan 12 to 16 years
Breed Type Working-dog
Purpose Companion and family dog
Suitable For Experienced dog owners
Grooming requirements Moderate grooming
Color Variations White, black, red, grey
Health concerns Cardiac issues, juvenile cataracts, patellar luxation, and even thyroid diseases
Temperament Friendly, loving, intelligent, active, alert, loyal, and sometimes independent
Other Names Klee Kai, AKK

Height and weight

The Alaskan Klee Kai is small to a medium-sized dog that can come in three different sizes that include;

  • Standard Klee Kais– Stand at between 15 and 17 inches and weigh from 17 to 23 pounds.
  • Miniature Klee Kais– Stand at between 13 and 15 inches and weigh from 13 to 18 pounds.
  • Toy Klee Kais– Stand at under 13 inches and weigh from 8 to 13 pounds.

The Physical appearance

The most notable Alaskan Klee Kai feature is the facial mask. This mask is whitish which is in contrast to the dog’s darker body.

This dog is also known for his round eyes that can either be blue, green, or brown. Some also have heterochromia where both eyes have different colors.

And just like the rest of his Spitz cousins, he has a curly tail that lies on his back.

His muzzle is medium-sized with a wide black nose and open nostrils.

miniature-alaskan-klee-kai

Coat appearance and shedding

The Klee Kai is a ball of fluff with a soft, thick, and double coat. This coat has a soft undercoat with a coarser weather-proof outercoat.

The coat sheds moderately throughout the year with 2 blow out seasons per year.

You should equip yourself with a proper vacuum dryer one that can help you deal with the excess fur from your car, house, and furniture.

During the heavy shedding season, you might also want to restrict your Alaskan Klee Kai from some parts of your house like the kitchen and your bedroom.

Check our guide on some dog shedding remedies.

Colors:

Klee Kais has four main colors:

  • White
  • Black
  • Grey
  • Red

The ones that are solid white exist but the solid white color is not recognized.

Temperament and personality traits

The Alaskan Klee Kai is an intelligent, loyal, and devoted family dog.

They may be recognized as working dogs but they do not have the same drive to work as the Siberian Husky. If you are going to get this dog it should be for companionship.

This dog will take any chance that he gets to hug and cuddle with you.

He is also energetic and active and will need an owner that can match his level of energy. If you are not that much of an active person you might need to consider another dog breed like the Cavapoo.

They may be aloof around the stranger and this is where socialization comes in handy. This skittish behavior around strangers is not one that you see in Huskies and another difference that the two have.

Their alertness and intelligence can make them great watchdogs and will make sure when they hear strange noises or movement outside.

Some Alaska Klee Kais have also been known to be master escape artists and you should ensure that your home is well fenced.

Is the Alaskan Klee Kai a good family dog?

The Alaskan Klee Kai is a perfect family dog and is also suitable for apartment dwellers. He is, however, very vocal and can be a nuisance to your neighbors.

This dog is playful but should be supervised around children as he is prone to mounting in case of rough play. Your children should also be shown how to handle and interact with this dog to avoid issues.

Once this dog gets used to you, he forms strong emotional attachments and craves a lot of attention.

You should, therefore, not leave this dog alone for extended periods as he is prone to suffering from separation anxiety and can also get super destructive.

Klee kai has a strong prey drive and may not be suited for houses with smaller pets like cats, hamsters, or rabbits.

You can manage this high prey drive using some of the prey drive management tips in this guide.

He is vocal

This dog is known to howl making that ‘woo hoo’ noise when they are relaxed or when he is excited. They may also be vocal when they are trying to talk to you but this is also a sign that they are comfortable and happy.

This may not be a problem for you but for your neighbors, it may be an issue, especially if you are living in an apartment.

These dogs hardly bark but only do so when they spot an intruder or they hear strange noises and movements.

The small Askan Dog

History and origin

Just as his name suggests, this dog was developed in Alaska by a breeder known as Linda Spurlin. She did this with the help of her family to create a more manageable and less exercise intensive version of the Siberian Husky.

Linda crossed the Siberian Husky, the Alaskan Husky, and the American Eskimo Dog to create the Alaskan Klee Kai. This is where he got his spitz look.

She claims to have been inspired by the Eskimo name Klee Kai which means little or small dog as she named this breed.

Originally this dog was just called Klee Kai but was later changed to Alaskan Klee kai to avoid any political conflicts in 1995.

This is the same year that the American Rare Breed association recognized this dog followed by the UKC in 1997.

It did not take long for this dog to start appearing in dog shows after the recognition.

This dog now has breeding standards and is considered to be a purebred dog.

Klee Kai puppies

Litter size:

1 to 5 puppies.

How much does an Alaskan Klee Kai cost?

The average price of an Alaskan Klee Kai puppy is anywhere between $1500 and $ 3000. But the price will depend on the location where you get the pup and the breeder. Conformation and show line puppies will cost considerably more.

One of the reasons that these puppies are so expensive is because there are only a few recognized breeders. Also, most of these breeders usually have a waiting list of dog lovers that are looking to get their hands on one of them.

Finding a Klee Kai puppy may be a struggle but you should avoid backyard breeders and puppy mills.

Adoption may be the best option for you if you are looking for a better price and you can check the Alaskan Klee Kai National Rescue as you may just be lucky enough.

You can also check the adoption center in your area.

How long do Klee Kai pups take to reach their full size?

Alaskan Klee Kai pups take about 18 months to be fully grown.

However, it may be a bit difficult to exactly estimate how long your puppy is going to take to reach adulthood because there are three different recognized sizes.

At about 6 months most of these doggos could weigh less than 10 pounds. It is at this phase when they go through a weird transition where their legs become skinny and long but without gaining much weight.

Eventually, they become less skinny and fill out.

Frequently asked questions

Do Klee kai bark a lot? 

Klee Kai dogs do not bark a lot but are rather prone to howling. They may only bark when they spot an intruder or when they hear some movement or noise at the back of your house.

What is the cost of getting a puppy?

The price of the puppy will depend on the breeder and the location where you get him. Generally, they cost anywhere from $1500 to $3000 for a single pup.

Are Alaskan Klee Kais good pets?

Yes, they are good family pets and companions. But if you have any small kids in the house you should always make sure that their play is supervised to avoid any incidences.

There are also good watchdogs because of how alert they are.

The small Askan Dog

Grooming an Alaskan Klee Kai

The Alaskan Klee Kai has moderate grooming needs as they were also bred to have coats that are fairly easy to groom.

They are also known to be self-grooming to be the point of being finicky. But he needs a fair amount of attention because he sheds.

You should brush the coat twice weekly and daily during the heavy shedding seasons to remove dead hair and minimize grooming.

A vacuum cleaner can also be important to get rid of the hair that has already been shed.

Bath this dog once a month at most using a dog shampoo and warm water as bathing him too often will strip the coat of essential oils and cause the skin to dry out.

The ears will also need to be checked and cleaned to remove wax and the nails clipped when they start getting long.

Dental hygiene is equally as important and can be done through frequent brushing and using dental chews and dental sticks.

You should strive to make sure that grooming is a positive experience for your pooch and make him get used to it.

Visiting a professional groomer two or three times a year is helpful for tasks that you may not be able to undertake all by yourself.

How much food does he need?

Around one cup of high quality, dry food will be good for the Alaskan Klee Kai daily but this will depend on the size of the dog.

The meals should be divided into meals, one in the morning and the other in the evening.

This may vary depending on several factors like:

  • Age
  • Size
  • Metabolism
  • How active your pooch is

Larger and more active dogs need to eat more to satisfy their energy levels.

A good way to know how much you should feed your pooch is by using 30 calories of food per pound of the dog’s weight. This means that is your Klee Kai is 20 pounds in the weight you should give him about 600 calories.

One cup of kibble has around 350 calories and you can do the math and determine how many cups he will need.

Alaskan Klee Kai Daily Food Consumption
Guide 250 to 700 calories
Cups of Kibble 1 to 2

Different meals have different amounts of calories and this is something that you need to check before buying.

Do not overfeed or free-feed this pooch as this can get him overweight.

Husky Alskan Cousins

Exercise requirements

About 45 minutes of daily exercise will be enough for the Alaskan Klee Kai. You should ensure that this dog gets both mental and physical stimulation.

Taking him for walks can help this dog reach his daily exercise needs. Jogging and going for hikes with your Klee kai may also be a great way to meet his exercise quota.

You can engage this dog is some agility training and dog competition to keep him mentally and physically challenged.

But when you are taking this pawsome pooch outdoors always remember to carry your leash and harness.

Collars can cause to much strain on your dog and you would rather use a harness that cannot harm or injure your dog.

Even if your Klee Kai is well trained he may try to run off. Fenced yards and areas that are secure like the dog park are the only places that you can let your dog be leash-free.

Number of walks 2 (15 minutes each)
Exercise needs upwards of 30 minutes

How to train an Alaskan Klee Kai

Just like the Husky, this dog is also as intelligent.

However, they may have an independent and stubborn streak that can make training a bit difficult. This is especially when you are trying to housebreak him or during obedience training.

Patience and consistency are important during training to make sure that you achieve the best possible results.

Any type of positive reinforcement or reward-based training should be used when they are young.

Socialization is another essential part of the training that should be well taken care of. Dogs learn from experiences that they have and the more that they experience the better.

They should learn not to be warry about other animals, people, and daily things like moving vehicles.

Some of the health concerns

Generally, these are healthy dogs because of how careful Linda was when she was breeding these pooches.

And this is why they have such a long lifespan of 12 to 16 years.

They may still be prone to some health issues like obesity. You should monitor the diet that you give to your Alaskan Klee Kai and avoid giving him to many treats.

Patellar luxation is another condition that this doggie may be prone to and one can affect his ability to move around. This is due to a malformation in the knee joint that is common in small and medium-sized dogs and the reason that the Alaskan Klee Kai may be at risk.

Summary

The Alaskan Klee Kai is a relatively rare and new dog breed that first appeared between the 1970s and the 1980s.

They have been gaining popularity since then and dog lovers have been wanting to get their hands on them.

These are wonderful companions and family pets for people that love Husky but are not able to handle his enormous size.

Leave your feedback in the comment section below telling us if this article was helpful to and if you would get one of this dog. 

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