The Alaskan Klee Kai is a spitz-type dog breed developed in the late 20th century as a companion-sized dog resembling the larger Siberian Husky. It is an energetic, intelligent dog with an appearance that reflects its northern heritage. Bred in three sizes, its weight range is from 5 to 22 pounds as an adult, depending on whether its a toy, miniature, or standard.
The name Klee Kai comes from an Athabaskan phrase meaning, “little dog”. The breed was originally developed in Alaska by Linda Spurlin in the 1970s. Breeds that were incorporated to create this unique little dog were the Alaskan Husky, Siberian Husky, American Eskimo Dog, and some Schipperkes.
The average Alaskan Klee Kai's temperament is curious but aloof, and very intelligent. They are so intelligent that they can become strong-willed and stubborn. They excel at agility, and even though they are small dogs they are thick-boned and can withstand high jumps. Their small size can be advantageous to agility training, allowing them to move with ease and gracefulness, and their sturdy bones can lend themselves to activities like flyball. They are energetic and therefore have high activity needs, but they are very adaptable to apartment living and copious amounts of travel due to their small size. They are capable of tasks similar, though scaled down to their proportions, to that of their cousin, the Siberian Husky; cart pulling, hiking, long treks, etc.
They come in four colors: red and white; black and white; gray and white; and all white. Each color has a variety of sub-colors that are permitted in the official breed standard.
The Alaskan Klee Kai is prone to developing juvenile cataracts, liver disease, factor VII deficiency and sometimes heart problems. Thyroid problems have also been observed. Due to the relatively young age of the breed in general, it is possible that not enough time has passed to fully determine the prevalence of genetic disease in this breed, although it is believed that this breed is relatively healthy, all things considered. Still, only purchase a puppy from a reputable breeder who health tests their breeding dogs for all recommended issues prior to mating.
Recommended Health Tests From the National Breed Club:
Patella Evaluation
Ophthalmologist Evaluation
Thyroid Evaluation
Factor VII DNA Test
Cardiac Evaluation
Resources:
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