The Alaskan Klee Kai is a guard dog breed specifically bred for city dwellers who wanted a good, compact watchdog. These intelligent, sweet, kind, loyal, understanding, and active dogs offer many advantages and virtually no disadvantages.
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Klee Kai - Origin Story
The miniature husky originated in the United States. In 1970, American Linda Spurlin's Siberian Husky bred an unusual puppy, which became the ancestor of the Alaskan Klee Kai. She became obsessed with the idea of creating a unique dog. with an obedient and calm temperament, but with the luxurious appearance of a husky. After several years of hard work (1995), the American Rare Breed Association recognized the first Klee Kai, but the dog has not yet achieved international recognition.
Alaskan Klee Kai: Description and Personality
A small dog distinguished by a contrasting "mask" on its face, the Klee Kai appears to be no different from a Siberian Husky at first glance, but upon closer inspection, there are differences.
The most important thing to immediately notice is the animal's size. The Klee Kai is a short dog, 5-25 cm shorter than its "relative." Since the breed is still young, developing and improving, the animal's class is determined by its height and weight:
- Standard: 38–44.5 cm, 7.3–10 kg.
- Mini - 32.5-38.5 cm, 4.5-6.8 kg.
- Toy - up to 32.5 cm, up to 4 kg.
Breed standard
Head The muzzle is wedge-shaped, almost triangular, with a pointed muzzle. The nose is straight, slightly convex compared to the chin. The bridge of the nose is slightly shorter than the forehead. The lips and cheeks are firm, and the lower jaw is well developed. The forehead is rounded, with a smooth transition from it to the bridge of the nose. The ears are set high, close together, erect, slightly rounded, and triangular in shape. The auricle is open, wide, and covered with hair on the back. The dog's ears appear large in proportion to the head.
Eyes — almond-shaped (or oval or round), slightly convex, set at a medium distance from the bridge of the nose. Excessively convex eyes are considered a defect.
PawsThe forelimbs are thin or medium in thickness (depending on the body proportions). The joints are flexible and strong. The elbows are strictly parallel to the body. The hind legs are moderately wide apart and level. The hands are tight, slender or medium in size. The wrists are parallel to each other, not "falling" inward or outward.
Body Rectangular in shape, with the shoulder blades slightly protruding above the body. The neck is proportionate to the croup, slightly arched when standing. The chest is deep, medium in size, but fairly strong, projecting slightly forward from the shoulder girdle. The back is straight and broad, with a slight arch in the lumbar region. The pelvis is slightly narrower than the ribcage, and the ribs are well rounded.
Tail When relaxed, it hangs down; when excited, it is raised and curled into 1-2 curls. When raised, the tail is carried slightly inclined to one side or the other, or perpendicular to the spine. The tail is set low and strong. When raised, its tip should touch the back.
Alaskan Klee Kai coloring
The pigmentation of the eyelids, lips, and nose is determined by the color of the coat. Gray animals have black pigmentation, while red animals have dark brick-red pigmentation. Mini huskies can have the following coat colors:
- Black and white;
- red with white;
- gray with white.
For all color types, the belly, breeches, chest, neck, and limbs are white.
A very important aspect is the presence of a contrasting mask, ideally a pattern on the muzzle. must be symmetrical and closed, and the presence of light spots under the eyes and a white stripe dividing the color of the frontal part along the line of the bridge of the nose is welcome.
The breed standard also includes a white color for dogs. Such a dog may be considered purebred, but it will not be allowed to breed due to the "updated gene pool." Albino animals are disqualified.
The Alaskan Klee Kai has a soft, dense undercoat that keeps the hair naturally raised. During shedding season, the Klee Kai sheds its undercoat completely—this is normal.
Dogs of this breed have two types of wool:
- Long. The dog's guard hairs are more developed, but this fluffy "coat" still doesn't conceal the contours of the body. Longer hair on the tail, paws, and ears is acceptable.
- Short standard - hair is straight and elastic.
Remember! The Alaskan Husky's coat is designed to accentuate the body's contours and features, never to conceal them. Show dogs are strictly prohibited from being trimmed; only trimming of the hair between the toes and on the wrist is permitted.
Character
The Alaskan Klee Kai is a very active, agile, curious, and intelligent dog. Although similar in appearance to the Husky, the two breeds have distinct personalities. The Klee Kai is extremely wary of strangers and tends to keep their distance, while the Siberian Husky joyfully welcomes guests and is not at all afraid of strangers. Alaskan Klee Kais make excellent watchdogs, immediately alerting their owner to the presence of strangers. The dog is always alert, constantly scanning the area for any unusual or changing behavior.
Alaskan Klee Kai cannot stand physical violence (Kicks, pinches, etc.), including from children, and they also dislike being handled roughly or teased. They may respond to such behavior with a bite. Siberian Huskies, on the other hand, stoically tolerate children's antics and get along well with children. However, if a Klee Kai puppy grows up around children, and you, in turn, try to explain to your children the rules of behavior around the dog, they will be excellent friends.
Being devoted and loyal to their family, Klee Kais always want to be informed and actively participate in family activities. Left alone at home, however, boredom can cause them to attack your furniture and household items, which can have dire consequences. To relieve stress, they will howl and whine, often quite loudly.
Alaskan mini huskies are extremely talkative little creatures who are happy to share their stories with everyone around them. Furthermore, you'll hear their joyful, loud, and lengthy greetings every time you return home. So, if your neighbors require quiet, you might want to consider a different breed.
Kli-kai also famous huntersKeep them away from small animals such as cats, hamsters, rabbits, and birds. A dog that has been properly socialized and trained and raised with other animals is less susceptible to instincts, but is not completely free of them.
Miniature Huskies (even puppies) have the ability to sense their owner's mood through facial expressions and body language. So, if you're unhappy about something, there's no need to voice it rudely—a simple frown is enough, and the dog will understand. Klee Kai are very energetic, active, and need constant exercise. Simply letting them out for a walk without much time to themselves isn't enough. They'll soon get bored and will inevitably find something else to do, which you're unlikely to enjoy. A Klee Kai will be delighted if you run, jump, ride a bike, and play sports with them.
Maintenance and care
Although Alaskan Klee Kai are the proud owners of luxurious, thick, and long fur, it's very easy to care for. Dogs are naturally quite clean and can spend several hours grooming themselves. A characteristic of all northern breeds is the absence of a doggy odor, and the Klee Kai is no exception.
They shed twice a year, so it's advisable to brush them daily during this period, otherwise you'll end up with a huge amount of hair lying around the apartment. During shedding, your pet may scratch against fences and furniture to speed up the process. Otherwise, these dogs don't require much grooming. Owners only need to periodically inspect their pet and trim their nails.
Alaskan Klee Kai puppy prices
This is still a fairly rare breed of dog, so finding and purchasing a purebred puppy is only possible at a kennel. Klee Kais are quite expensive, average price - $2,000, and in some cases it reaches as much as $6 thousand!
So, if you've decided to bring this wonderful dog into your home, first thoroughly study all of its habits and personality traits. The puppy should receive basic vaccinations and be socialized as early as possible. This will protect you and your family from potential problems later.
