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Alaskan Klee Kai Bio | Wiki
The Alaskan Klee Kai ( or simply Klee Kai) is a small-sized companion dog that was developed in the United States in the late 20th century. The Klee Kai were bred in three size varieties that may have a height of 13 to 17 inches ( approx. 33 to 43 cm ) and a weight of 5 to 22 pounds (approx. 2.3 to 10.0 kg ) depending on whether the dog is a toy, miniature, or Standard. This is a vocal breed that expresses itself in sometimes amusing and strange noises of howling, purring, yodeling, grumbling, and chirping. Klee Kai are intelligent, curious, agile, energetic, and yet reserved with unfamiliar people and situations.
Alaskan Klee Kai Origin | History
The Alaskan Klee Kai was developed in Wasilla, Alaska by Linda Spurlin in the early 70s. She was inspired to develop a smaller version husky following her visit from Oklahoma where she spotted a small version of a Siberian Husky. Linda created the breed using Alaskan Husky, some Schipperkes, a small amount of Siberian Husky and a slightly larger amount of the American Eskimo Dog. Much like its progenitors, Klee Kai are versatile to multiple lifestyles like being loving companion dogs, therapy and service, hiking, traveling, sports, and entertainment. The name ‘Klee Kai’ comes from the indigenous Athabaskan language meaning ” little dog”. The Alaskan Klee Kai has been UKC recognized since 1997. AKC is yet to give the breed full recognition. Although, Klee Kai have been part of AKC’s FSS program since October 2020.
Alaskan Klee Kai Lifespan
The Alaskan Klee Kai has a lifespan of 12 to 16 years.
Alaskan Klee Kai Grooming
The Alaskan Klee Kai has a medium length double coat that sheds all-year round at moderate levels. Weekly brushing helps to remove loose hair and keep the coat looking its best. Klee Kai also shed heavily twice a year when blowing off their coats. During this period, brush the coat at least thrice a week if not daily to minimize the loose hair on the floor. Regular brushing keeps the coat free of mats and tangles. Before brushing the coat, spritz it with water conditioner solution or a detangling spray to prevent hair breakage.
Klee Kai needs a few baths a year every 3 to 4 months. This breed has a natural dirt repellant coat and it is devoid of the dog odor that many dogs have. Although, parents may bath their dogs sooner than the stipulated time frame if they roll in something stinky. Use a hypoallergenic canine shampoo and conditioner made for double-coated breeds. After a bath, thoroughly rinse off the cleaning products from the coat to prevent skin irritation. Use a clean damp washcloth to clean the eye corners in between baths.
Trim the nails of a Klee Kai every 3 to 5 weeks using nail clippers or grinders to prevent cracking, splitting, and overgrowth. Brush the teeth of Alaskan Klee Kai at least twice a week if not daily to remove tartar buildup using a dog formulated toothpaste and toothbrush. Clean the ears on a weekly basis using an ear cleanser solution and cotton balls to remove debris or wax. While cleaning the ears, checkout for signs of dog’s ear infection such as odor, dark discharge, and redness.
Alaskan Klee Kai Shedding
The Alaskan Klee Kai has a double coat that sheds throughout the year at moderate levels and heavily twice a year while blowing off the undercoat.
Alaskan Klee Kai Coat | Coat Type
The Klee Kai has a medium length double coat composed of the topcoat and an undercoat. The top coat has straight guard hairs that are somewhat smooth lying while the undercoat is dense, soft, and of sufficient length to support the outer coat.
Alaskan Klee Kai Hypoallergenic
The Klee Kai is not a hypoallergenic breed. It has a moulting coat that sheds moderately all-year round and heavily twice a year while blowing off the coat. Shedding releases fur and dander into the environment which aggravates allergies. Apart from fur and dander, Klee Kai’s saliva, mucus, and urine contain a protein allergen that triggers an allergic reaction.
Alaskan Klee Kai Training
The Klee Kai are intelligent, curious, and love learning new things hence easily trainable. However, they may develop a stubborn streak which makes training a bit difficult. This is especially true if they are not properly trained starting from puppyhood. Therefore, they get inclined towards bad behaviors and stubbornness can start to root itself in your dog. Its a lot easy to teach a puppy the desired behavior than trying to make a dog unlearn bad habits. By the time the dogs are mature, they will think they run the pack which means trouble to the owner. Pet parents should, therefore, start training their puppies immediately they join them home from the breeder.
Alaskan Klee Kai are a bit reserved around strangers. They were bred as companion dogs hence they are more comfortable around their owners and handlers. To raise a well-mannered, well-adjusted, and friendly Klee Kai, socialize your dog. This training starts from the age of 3 weeks while the pup is with the breeder until the age of 16 weeks after the pet has already settled in its new home. Since these dogs are reserved with strangers, socialization should be a life-long process to ensure they develop a well-rounded temperament. Normally, parents take their pets home from the age of 8 weeks.
To socialize a Klee Kai, expose it to a wide variety of people, places, animals, surfaces, smell, sights, situations, experiences, and sounds such as baby crying sounds, door bells, lawn mowers, vacuum cleaners, washing machines, sirens, and whistles. Enrolling a Klee Kai in a puppy class will also serve as a form of socialization. These classes create a controlled environment where dogs interact. A puppy class is also beneficial to parents. It not only allows them to identify and correct bad habits but also have access to training information and assistance. Klee Kai also respond well to positive reinforcements methods such as the use of treats, toys, verbal praise, playtime, and petting.
Trainers and owners should avoid use of harsh correction methods such as yelling, kicking, beating, shoving, and use of prong or choke collars. They are counterproductive. Keep the training sessions for a period of 5 minutes distributed throughout the day to avoid boredom and distraction. Start teaching a Klee Kai basic command words like come, lie down, sit, stay, heel, wait, drop it, etc. immediately the pup joins you home. Start teaching one basic command at a time until the dog is well-acquainted before proceeding to the next command word. Avoid issuing a command to a Klee Kai while too excited or frustrated since it no longer sound the same for your pet. Effectively housebreak a Klee Kai by creating a feeding schedule, potty training, and crate training. This is a small-sized breed that will go for potty breaks often as compared to medium and large-sized breeds.
Alaskan Klee Kai Temperament | Personality
- Curious.
- Intelligent.
- Energetic.
- Alert.
- Reserved with strangers and new situations.
- Cautious.
- Active.
- Sneaky.
- Stubborn.
- Loving.
Alaskan Klee Kai Exercise
A Klee Kai has medium energy levels. Regular physical and mental exercise with the owner helps to reduce potential destructive behavior. Exercising together improves the bond between the dog and the owner. This breed also enjoys doing performance sports such as obedience, rally, agility, carting, weight pull, scent work, and racing. Alaskan Klee Kai also love exploring life with their people in many activities such as swimming, kayaking, boating, climbing, camping, and hiking. Owners who live in an urban setting or have a more sedate lifestyle, game of fetch or daily walks will suffice. Due to the high prey drive, Klee Kai should be kept on a leash or in a securely fenced area when outside the home at all times.
Alaskan Klee Kai Barking
A Klee Kai is not an overly mouthy breed. However, it will bark and whine to express its displeasure if the needs of the dog are neglected.
Alaskan Klee Kai Height
There are three size varieties of Klee Kai which have different height range as listed below:
The Standard Sized Klee Kai has a height of 15 to 17 inches ( approx. 38 to 43 cm ).
The Miniature Alaskan Klee Kai has a height of 13 to 15 inches ( approx. 33 to 38 cm).
Toy-sized Klee Kai may have a height of up to 13 inches ( approx.33 cm ).
Alaskan Klee Kai Weight
A Toy-sized Klee Kai has a weight of less than 10 pounds ( approx. 4.5 kg ).
Miniature Alaskan Klee Kai have a weight of 10 to 15 pounds ( approx. 4.5 to 6.8 kg ).
Standard Klee Kai has a weight of 15 to 20 pounds ( approx. 6.8 to 9.07 kg ).
Alaskan Klee Kai Sizes | Size | Full Grown
There are three size varieties of Alaskan Klee Kai; toy, miniature, and Standard that have a height of 13 to 17 inches ( approx. 33 to 43 cm ) and a weight of less than 10 to 20 pounds ( approx. 4.5 to 9.07 kg ) depending on the size. The specific height and weight of the three size varieties are listed below:
Standard Alaskan Klee Kai has a height of 15 to 17 inches ( approx. 38 to 43 cm ) and a weight of 15 to 20 pounds ( approx. 6.8 to 9.07 kg ).
Miniature Klee Kai have a height of 13 to 15 inches ( approx. 33 to 38 cm) and a weight of 10 to 15 pounds ( approx. 4.5 to 6.8 kg ).
A toy-sized Alaskan Klee Kai has a height of up to 13 inches ( approx.33 cm ) and a weight of less than 10 pounds ( approx. 4.5 kg ).
Alaskan Klee Kai Health Issues
The Alaskan Klee Kai is a healthy breed that has a lifespan of 12 to 16 years. However, the breed is relatively young hence possible that not enough time has elapsed to fully determine the generality of genetic diseases in Klee Kai. Some of the health issues that affect Alaskan Klee Kai include eye disorders like juvenile cataracts, heart murmur, patellar luxation, Factor VII deficiency, autoimmune thyroiditis, liver disease, cryptorchidism, and pyometra.
Alaskan Klee Kai Names
A Klee Kai owner may decide to get a name for the pet before it joins them home from the breeder or days after the pet settles home to ensure they understand the personality of a particular dog. Parents may get name inspirations from the Alaskan heritage of the breed, coat color and texture, personality, celebrity Alaskan Klee Kai, movies, books, songs, historical figures, or nature.
Regardless of where the Klee Kai owner sources the name, he or she should ensure the name freely rolls off the tongue and will not make them embarrassed if uttered out loud in the public places. Klee Kai and other dog breeds better understand names that have vowels. Avoid giving your pet a name that rhymes with the command word to avoid confusion.
If the parent settles with a long name, he or she should ensure they find a cute nickname for the pooch. If a Klee Kai shares a name with any family member or guest who frequent the home it may cause chaos. Some of the names that Alaskan Klee Kai parents give to their pets include:
- Pixie.
- Rex.
- Pepper.
- Downy.
- Dash.
- Hooper.
- Eagle.
- Teller.
- Diesel.
- Ginger.
- Bobby.
- Sammy.
- Winston.
- Kimber.
- Archie, etc.
Alaskan Klee Kai Feeding | Food
The amount of food that a Klee Kai feeds on depends on its age, activity level, metabolism, size, and body build. Puppies tend to eat small portions of food 3 or 4 times a day due to high metabolism rates from when they start weaning until the age of 6 months. From the age of 6 months, Klee Kai should feed on a total two meals a day. Remember to watch weight level and calorie consumption to avoid overfeeding especially with treats.
Klee Kai may feed on dry food, wet food, home made, or a raw diet depending on the budget and time of the pet parent. Regardless of the food type, parents should ensure that the dog feeds on a balanced diet to maintain a good health eventually allowing it to develop cognitively and physically. If a Klee Kai parent decides to feed the pet with the commercial dry or wet food, he or she should ensure the first three ingredients are proteins from a known source.
The commercial dog food should neither contain preservatives, chemicals, additives, Meat by-products, generic meat products, nor fillers. The same goes to the snacks. Dry or wet food should also be formulated for toy-sized, puppies, adults, and senior depending on the age and size variety of your Klee Kai. Check the physique of your fur baby to tell whether it is overweight or underweight.
If you can see the ribs, chances are the dog is underweight. However, if the ribs are not visible but can be felt without pressing hard, a Klee Kai has an ideal weight. If the ribs can’t be felt, the pet is overweight and should be exercised. Pet owners who want to switch to another quality food should gradually do this over a period of one month by mixing both new food and old food. As the weeks progresses, the amount of old food reduces as the new food increases until the Klee Kai is only feeding on new food during the fourth week.
Apart from Alaskan Klee Kai, other dog breeds include:
Alaskan Klee Kai Colors | White | Red
The Klee Kai may have an all white, red and white, gray and white, and black and white coat colors. Within each color, there are subdivisions such as silver gray and wolf gray, dark red and cinnamon red, white and jet black as well as salt and pepper black and white.
Are Alaskan Klee Kai Hypoallergenic
No. Alaskan Klee Kai are not hypoallergenic. They shed all-year round at moderate levels and heavily twice a year while experiencing seasonal change. Shedding allows dander and fur to spread around the house triggering allergic reactions.
Are Alaskan Klee Kai Good Family Dogs
Yes. Klee Kai are curious, active, intelligent, alert, loving, and energetic dogs. Although, they are reserved with strangers and new situations. Therefore, they require a life-long socialization training.
Do Alaskan Klee Kai Shed
Yes. Klee Kai sheds at moderate levels throughout the year and heavily while blowing off the undercoat twice a year.
Do Alaskan Klee Kai Bark A Lot
No. Although, Klee Kai will express its displeasures through bark and whine.
Alaskan Klee Kai Quick Facts
- It is a new breed developed in the 1970s in Alaska.
- Klee Kai have a distinctive and symmetrical dark and white contrasting-colored markings.
- There are three sizes of Klee Kai; toy, miniature, and standard.
