The Alaskan Klee Kai is a new version of an old arctic favorite. Still a very young and rare dog breed, the Alaskan Klee Kai has proven to be everything its originators wanted it to be.
On You Tiny Huskies
The Alaskan Klee Kai breed was initiated in the mid 1970's by Linda Spurlin after chancing upon a miniature Alaskan Husky at the home of relatives in Oklahoma. Spurlin took the dog, dubbed 'Curious' for her size, back to her home in Alaska and set off to replicate and improve upon her.
Curious was a small female weighing only 17 pounds with a distinct husky look. Spurlin found the dog to be the ideal sized companion dog.
Thus, Spurlin's drive to create a companion-sized Alaskan Husky was born, and this chance meeting became the catalyst for an entirely new dog breed-the Alaskan Klee Kai.
Best Intentions Make A Prime Companion Animal
Spurlin's intentions were always admirable; she wanted to build a new and small breed of dog that maintained the beauty, intelligence, and health of the Alaskan Husky, yet was a more manageable household pet.
This end was achieved through careful and conscientious breeding, coupled with examination and subsequent culling of dogs with unfavorable traits. The dog as it is known today went through many generations of controlled breeding to ensure a sound, healthy, temperate animal.
The resulting dog, the now widely recognized Alaskan Klee Kai, is a vastly popular rare breed of dog with good health and excellent companion abilities.
Alaskan Klee Kais are small dogs that range in size from 13 to 17 inches tall. They look very much like their Alaskan Husky ancestors. They also share their intelligence and good nature.
The Alaskan Klee Kai is more suited to life in the home, particularly in homes in-town. According to Alaskan Klee Kai breeders, these dogs do very well in homes and apartments, provided that some outside time is given for their good health and exercise. It does not have the extreme exercise and maintenance needs of the Husky. The Alaskan Klee Kai does require more regular exercise than many small dog breeds, but not to the extent of the working husky breed. This makes the Alaskan Klee Kai a nice middle-ground compromise for owners seeking all around companionship who enjoy walks and activity with their dog.
This smaller husky relative does not require the large personal area of the full-sized breed, and so is more manageable for a home-life. Still, this hardy arctic native does equally well outside as in and is not subject to the extreme outdoor restrictions some other small dogs are.
Being smaller in stature, the grooming and care needs of the Alaskan Klee Kai are also more manageable for an in-town lifestyle. The dog does still shed and "blow", but owners report that the toll on the household is much less, simply because there is less hair involved. During this time, daily brushing is recommended but for most of the year, a weekly brush will suffice.
The Alaskan Klee Kai has delivered all that it promised-faithful companionship, friendliness and intelligence in a compact, manageable townhouse companion size.
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