THE ALASKAN KLEE KAI

<---Karen E Street & Ken Compton w/
Siberian Husky & Alaskan Klee Kai
GRCH Trillium Blue I Scream Shiver &
GRCH Aliak's Kona Longboard

What is an Alaskan Klee Kai?

The Alaskan Klee Kai is a small companion breed, resembling a miniature husky. The breed founder, Linda Spurlin, developed the Alaskan Klee Kai through strict selective breeding practices during the 1970s and 80s with the use of Alaskan Huskies, Schipperke, and American Eskimo Dogs. The breed became available to the public in 1987 and is currently recognized by the United Kennel Club (UKC) and the American Kennel Club Foundation Stock Service (AKC-FSS). There are only a few thousand Alaskan Klee Kai nationwide, making them a rare breed.

Temperament:

Alaskan Klee Kai can range dramatically in temperament. Most breeders will tell you that every dog is an individual to be judged on its own merits and that idea is never anymore true than with the Alaskan Klee Kai breed. Some are very hyper and need lots of stimulation to prevent destructive behaviors and some are very mellow. Some are lap dogs and some like to have their own space. Most Alaskan Klee Kai are very "talkative" and have an impressive vocal range.

One thing that it very important with the Alaskan Klee Kai is extensive socialization, especially during the early months of development. Puppy socialization classes are becoming more popular and more available throughout the country. We highly encourage signing up a new Alaskan Klee Kai puppy in one of these classes to enable success later in life as they encounter other dogs and people. Though there are a number of very outgoing Alaskan Klee Kai out there, most of them would not have become such friendly dogs without socialization at a young age.

Physical Characteristics:

The UKC Alaskan Klee Kai Breed Standard

The Alaskan Klee Kai is a small spitz-type breed, most closely resembling a Siberian Husky, with its wedge-shaped head featuring a striking masked face, prick ears, and a double coat. The length of body is just slightly longer than the height. The tail is well-furred and curls over the back or to either side when the dog is alert or moving. The appearance of the Alaskan Klee Kai reflects the breed’s Northern heritage. The Alaskan Klee Kai comes in four color varieties, which include black and white, grey and white, red and white, and solid white. The solid white variety has only just become recognized by the UKC in 2012, though most breeders still choose to place solid white Alaskan Klee Kai in pet-only homes because the lack of contrasting color is considered an eliminating fault by the breed standard.

The Alaskan Klee Kai also has eye color varieties similar to that of the husky. You can find double brown, double blue, bi-eyes and parti-eyes within the breed. Double brown used to be more common, but there has been a recent popularity in the double blue eyes, particularly in California. Bi-eyes and parti-eyes tend to be less common.

There are three size varieties recognized in Alaskan Klee Kai. These include Toy (13 inches and below), Miniature (greater than 13 inches but not exceeding 15 inches), and Standard (greater than 15 inches but not exceeding 17 inches). Any height between 17 and 17.5 inches is considered a serious fault, while any height above 17.5 inches is a disqualification. Toys typically weigh anywhere from 5 to 12 pounds, Miniatures are typically 12 to 18 pounds, and Standards are generally around 18 to 25 pounds. However, it is not unusual to see overlaps in weight between the different size varieties.

There are three size varieties recognized in Alaskan Klee Kai. These include Toy (13 inches and below), Miniature (greater than 13 inches but not exceeding 15 inches), and Standard (greater than 15 inches but not exceeding 17 inches). Any height between 17 and 17.5 inches is considered a serious fault, while any height above 17.5 inches is a disqualification. Toys typically weigh anywhere from 5 to 12 pounds, Miniatures are typically 12 to 18 pounds, and Standards are generally around 18 to 25 pounds. However, it is not unusual to see overlaps in weight between the different size varieties.

Grooming:
The Alaskan Klee Kai requires a moderate amount of grooming. If you are looking for a breed that doesn't shed, this is not the breed for you. Like the husky and many other double-coated breeds, the Alaskan Klee Kai blows its coat twice a year, during which all of the undercoat is shed over a period of about two weeks. During this time, it is best that an Alaskan Klee Kai receives daily grooming to help remove loose hairs. It is always a good idea to have lent rollers on hand when owning an Alaskan Klee Kai because they shed moderately year-round. Luckily though, Alaskan Klee Kai require few baths because they tend to be very clean and engage in frequent self-grooming.

Health Concerns:
The Alaskan Klee Kai is a relatively healthy breed with minimal heritable health defects seen through the generations. However, responsible breeders are still working to eliminate what health defects there are by removing affected dogs from the breeding pool. Some of the health concerns to look out for in the Alaskan Klee Kai breed are Factor VII deficiency, patellar luxation, autoimmune thyroiditis, and congenital cardiac disease. If you are looking to obtain an Alaskan Klee Kai puppy, it is always a good idea to ask for the OFA records of the parents. OFA stands for the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals, which is a globally recognized organization that collects and publishes health records for purebred dogs.

Autoimmune Thyroiditis (AIT) is a genetic disease that progressively destroys the thyroid gland, usually leading to chronic hypothyroidism. There are a wide array of clinical signs (such as obesity, sluggishness, weakness, cold intolerance and hair loss) but the most accurate way to determine if a dog has a thyroid-related disease, is to run a blood panel. Autoimmune thyroiditis is not life-threatening but the quality of life for the affected dog is substandard. Most breeders test for thyroid problems in their breeding dogs but some do not. The main problem breeders face when testing for AIT is that many times the disease does not develop until a dog is three years or older, which is why annual thyroid tests are so important. Avoid breeders that don't have their dogs regularly tested! For more information on AIT, you can visit the OFA website.

Patellar Luxation is a condition in which the patella (kneecap) moves out of place, causing intermittent lameness. There are multiple grades of patellar luxation dependent upon the severity of the condition. The disease is usually inherited but has been known to also result from certain incidences of trauma. For more information on patellar luxation, you can visit the OFA website.

Congenital Cardiac Disease is a broad term for different types of valve, vessel and tissue malformations within the heart. Depending upon the severity of the condition, congenital cardiac disease can cause anything from mild heart murmurs to death. Fortunately, the Alaskan Klee Kai breed has had only minimal incidences with the disease to record. For more information on congenital cardiac disease, you can visit the OFA website.

Factor VII Deficiency is a blood clotting disorder in dogs, similar to hemophilia in humans. Since the gene controlling Factor VII deficiency has recently been identified, Alaskan Klee Kai breeders are now able to test their dogs for the gene. There have been major efforts by the Alaskan Klee Kai community to wipe out Factor VII deficiency entirely from the breed by removing carriers and affected dogs from their breeding programs. All dogs used at Nornir Kennels are Factor VII normal.