The name Klee Kai translates as small dog in Alaskan. The breed was purposely developed to be a small companion sized version of the Siberian Husky and the Alaskan Husky. During the 1970s and 1980s breeders worked to combine traits of the Siberian Husky, Alaskan Husky, American Eskimo and Schipperke to produce the Alaskan Klee Kai.
Klee Kais are popular dogs in America where they were initially bred. They are often mistaken for Siberian husky puppies, even at adulthood. There are currently no active Klee Kai breeders in Australia. The breed was not formally recognised until the 1990s.
Appearance
Many people casually refer to the Alaskan Klee Kai as the miniature husky, due to the similar features between the two dogs. Lovers of the Siberian Husky who are limited with a small backyard often choose the Alaskan Klee Kai as an alternative.
There are three sizes that the Klee Kais come in; toy, miniature and standard. The Standard is up to 17 inches tall, the toy is 15 inches and the miniature is 13 inches.
The Klee Kai has a long snout, short ears, a full coat and a high set tail. They come in colour variations of black, grey, white and red.
Temperament
Mischievous and adventurous, Klee Kais combine the strong hunter instincts of the husky with the playful personality of a smaller dog. They love to play and go for walks, and while suitable to live in a small house of apartment, you will need to devote some time to them every day.
While some Klee Kais are naturally social form birth, others can have a shy personality. If you socialise your puppy from a young age you will find that they grow out of this and will quickly become healthy, happy dogs that get on well with everyone that they meet.
The Klee Kai will always prefer to be with their master rather than be alone. If you are planning on travelling or being away form home for long periods, then you should arrange for you Klee Kai to come with you.
Working and Tasks
Naturally strong and alert, the Klee Kai make excellent watch dogs. Their loving and affectionate nature and close connection that they form with their master means that being a companion dog is their true forte.
If not used to small animals such as birds and rabbits from a young age, the natural inclination of the Klee Kai will be to hunt and kill small creatures.
Their intelligent nature means that the Klee Kai will do well in obedience classes. The standoffish nature of some dogs means that this is highly recommended for all Klee Kai puppies.
Health
Klee Kais shed their coat twice a year and require grooming during this time. For the rest of the year they are quite self sufficient and will spend some time each day grooming themselves.
The Klee Kai is relatively healthy compared to other purebred breeds. The developers of the breed were careful in choosing dogs who became part of the gene pool and were particularly aware of not allowing dwarfism to emerge.