The Alaskan Klee Kai (also called Mini Husky) is a young breed considered to be one of the friendliest. Indeed, it is difficult to find a more cheerful and sociable creature than the Klee Kai.
Alaskan Klee Kai photos
[foogallery id=”43961″]
Physical characteristics
Klee Kai are divided into three categories: standard, mini and toy. Representatives of different groups have different body sizes. All are proportional, so it’s hard to tell which group it belongs to just from the photo of the Alaskan Klee Kai.
- Standard. The height of the animal at the withers varies between 38 – 45 cm, weight – 7 – 10 kg.
- Min. The height of the dog reaches 33 – 39 cm, Klee Kai weigh from 5 to 7 kg.
- Toy. The size of the animal is surprisingly small: up to 33 cm. The mass of such living toys corresponds to their parameters and does not exceed 4 kg.
If the weight of the Alaskan Klee-kai exceeds 10 kilograms, it is most likely a mixed breed husky and not a purebred Klee Kai.
Distinctive features
- Head: Wedge-shaped, without folds on the integument. Rounded forehead, moderately pronounced bump on the back of the head. The skull tapers towards the nose.
- Eyes: Of medium size, not protruding. They can be oval, round or almond-shaped. The iris can be of different colors. Most often there are blue, amber and brown eyes. There are also animals with eyes of different colors. This is not considered a defect. The eyelids have a dark outline.
- Ears: Clear triangular ears, set close and high. Visually, it looks like the ears are disproportionately large compared to the head. From the outside, the ear cups are densely covered with wool. They are wide and open.
- Jaw/Teeth: The lower jaw is stronger and more powerful than the upper jaw. The breed has a characteristic scissor bite. Tooth enamel is white and strong.
- Body: Resembles a rectangle. If you look at the animal in profile, you can see that its height is less than the length of the body. The back of the animal is straight, the loin is strong. The rib cage with an oval front part protrudes slightly forward. The pelvis seems narrower than the shoulders. The belly is turned up.
- Coat: The breed inherited a long coat from the Husky. The thick undercoat lifts the guard hair. With a seasonal moult, the undercoat may be absent. In the collar and “apron” area, the undercoat is denser. On the ears, the lower part of the tail, the body, on the back of the legs, elongated hair is possible.
Character and behavior
Character is one of the main characteristics that, along with size, sets the Alaskan Klee Kai apart from the husky. The temperament of this miniature replica is not at all the same as that of its ancestors – the sled dogs. If huskies are distinguished by prudence, imposing movements, stubbornness and sometimes stubbornness, then the Alaskan Klee Kai are happy little ones who prefer active games and like to frolic while walking.
Sociable and cheerful dogs do not tolerate loneliness. A logical conclusion follows: Alaskan Klee Kai are not suitable for people who are away from home for a long time. Leave the mini-husky unattended for the whole day – and out of boredom, the animal will spend its energy on objects and household items. Prepare to deal with the consequences of clique loneliness, such as gnawed furniture or, say, torn shoes.
Alaskan Klee Kai are very loyal to the owner and strive to show their love in a variety of ways. It is important to remember that this feeling must be mutual, otherwise your indifference will negatively affect the character of the dog and its subsequent behavior. The animal will follow you, demand attention, whimper, and try to “complain” about its difficult dog life.
Unlike huskies, who are not afraid of strangers and always greet guests, Alaskan Klee Kai is careful with strangers in the house and tries to stay away, being vigilant. However, at the sight of a relaxed and well-disposed owner towards a stranger, the vigilance of the animal is replaced by a confident and friendly demeanor.
With the children
Representatives of the breed get along with children and love babies! Klee Kai from Alaska will be an excellent nanny for a child. However, it should be remembered that these dogs do not like rude relations with elderly children. Klee Kais can barely bare their teeth in response to nipping or kicking (although their Husky ancestors tolerate such pranks). However, these incidents can be easily avoided if children learn how to behave properly around a pet. We must not forget that a dog is not a toy, but a living being.
With other animals
Klee Kais show sociability and friendliness to other pets, getting along well with dogs, cats, and other animals. However, it is better to refrain from the company of rodents and decorative birds.
Health
The Klee Kai are in perfect health and have strong immunity. It all came about thanks to strict selection. In some cases, there may be problems with the blood clotting, but the likelihood is very low. There is a small percentage of developmental disorders of the hip joints, there is a risk of eye diseases. No genetic disease was found in the breed.
It is very rare, in about one in a thousand dogs, to have congenital disorders of the hematopoietic system. Historically, the following diseases have been recorded in dogs of the Klee Kai breed from Alaska:
- Cataract
- Diseases of the heart, thyroid gland, liver
- Ball joint
- Umbilical hernia
Life expectancy
With proper care, the Alaskan Klee Kai can live 10 to 15 years.
Care
The basic rules for the care and maintenance of the Alaskan clique are a brisk walk (on average 2-3 times a day), a well-composed diet, hygiene, lots of activity and exercise. Warning. The dogs are quite clean. They themselves skillfully clean their fur, eyes and ears, lick their paws. But 1-2 times a week, the owner should do this, bathing with shampoos, dry products, conditioners. For combing wool, you can buy special brushes or mittens with small tips at a pet store. For the hygiene of the eyes and ears of the dog, you will need clean rags, cottons.
Despite the small size of the Klee Kai, they do not need clothes in winter. The natural fur coat perfectly warms even on the coldest days. These furry friends love big snowdrifts, puddles, so you should learn to avoid such objects while walking. But sometimes you can lower the leash, giving free rein to the antics.
History of the breed
Compared to the rest of the “Northerners”, the breed is considered quite young. The story of her origin is as follows: In the 1970s, a young Alaskan girl named Linda Sparlink went with her husband to visit relatives in Oklahoma. While visiting, she saw a wonderful pet named Curis (translated from English as “curious”, “strange”, “inquisitor”).
He was exactly like a big husky, but much smaller, with a very docile and exemplary demeanor. The girl was so touched and admired by the miniature hairy inhabitant of the house that she later decided to take her to her home and then start raising similar small dogs.
People around were surprised, delighted, just bewildered, to meet such a strange and cute creature. At that time, a large number of American residents wanted to make four-legged friends, but in the conditions of cramped apartments this gave rise to difficulties. The appearance of decorative and tame tetrapods caused a sensation.
Linda has developed a large and detailed plan to breed a new breed of dogs through crossbreeding. The main roots were from huskies, Alaskan malamutes, huskies and Eskimo dogs. Professional breeding for about 20 years, an enterprising Northerner has bred the desired breed. The first to see and photograph her was journalist Eilen Gregory.
In the 85s of the 20th centuries, Sparlink gave his close friends a puppy for a vacation. It was a real blast for those years. The woman has received an endless number of messages and requests for such a “gift” by phone and mail. After a while, his house became a local landmark in Alaska.
Everyone who bought a new puppy has agreed to send different information, photos, any information on development, growth, behavior changes. After some time, the dog handlers carried out a detailed description of the signs, appearance, and then in America they created an official Klee Kai club.
Eilene Gregory greatly influenced the recognition of the species created by the English dog community, becoming the mistress of two magnificent doggies. In the 94s, the first presentation of the Alaskan Klee Kai took place at the International Exhibition in the city of Danver.
In the official Alaska register, doggies were listed in the 95th year of the 20th century. In the 97th year, they became full representatives of the United Cynological Union and received universal recognition.
For a long time, Linda Sparlink continued to carry out strict slaughter of dogs according to strict criteria. But the pressure from the breeders was too strong, so she had to relax her own demands and leave the Club.