Alaskan Klee Kai
Temperament
Intelligent, Vigilant and Loyal
Alaskan Klee Kai or the Klee Kai for short is a small sized dog which is also a Husky cousin. They comes in three sizes, Toy, Miniature or Standard. This breed is alert, energetic, and curious, yet reserved with unfamiliar people and situations. Their body is well-proportioned, with a level top line and a length slightly longer than height. When a Klee Kai walks, there is a smooth, agile, and well-balanced yet elegant stride. The Klee Kai gait is smooth, balanced, and agile. The wedge-shaped head, triangle-shaped erect ears, double coat, and lightly furred tail show its arctic heritage.
It was a long uphill fight for Klee Kai lovers, However, they were recognized by the American Kennel Club, or short for AKC on the first day of 1997.
Breed Characteristics
Adaptability
- Unexperienced Owners
- Apartment/Small Living
- Sensitivity Level
- Tolerates Being Alone
- Tolerates Cold Weather
- Tolerates Hot Weather
Klee Kai comes from Huskies, Siberian Huskies, as smart as they are, they are very stubborn and firm on their own decisions. We recommend experienced owners with huskies for this breed.
Despite what most believe in, small size or toy dogs does not always mean easily adaptable in small homes or apartment-style living. Klee Kai is no exception to this rule, while they loves to roam the snowy fields, most are able to adapt to a smaller living size. However, just like all huskies, if they are not constantly wasting their energy, they get very pent up and aggressive and/or destructive.
Some dogs do not take a “dirty look” or a “leer” to heart, while others are grudge holders. Dogs with low sensitivity level are usually the easy-going and tolerant ones. This breed, Klee Kai, is quite sensitive.
The Klee Kai is just like any husky, they have very low tolerance to being alone.
Klee Kai is a husky after all, and huskies are snow dogs, they have no issues living in very cold weather.
Klee Kai does not tolerate very well with hot weather, in hotter climates countries such as Australia, it is best to keep them inside with the Air Conditioner running.
Friendliness
Klee Kai gets very attached to their pet owners and family in general. They show constant affectionate at their own terms. They do make a great family dog as long as it been well trained. They are a very loyal breed.
While they are a great family dog, majority of them do get well along with kids.
Klee tolerates other dogs within the same household as long they were introduced to them from a young age. Otherwise, they have very low tolerance being around other dogs constantly.
Just like having other dogs around, you will need to introduce cats into their live at a young age.
Some dogs will run towards strangers with their tail wagging and beg for pets, cuddles and smooches. Your Klee Kai is not stranger friendly, it is not in their interest to attack, however, they do get quite protective.
Grooming and Health
Klee Kai is a small-sized dog that comes in three sizes.
Toy: 33cm and under in Height
Miniature: 33cm to 38cm in height
Standard: 38 to 44.5cm in height
Klee Kai does not require constant shredding, grooming your dog is part of their life needs.
But with their double-coat, they will shred quite often.
Some great grooming tools includes
- Pet Grooming Tool by Pat Your Pet
- Pet Grooming Brush by MalsiPree
Have you ever cuddled a dog and it licks you, completely dousing you with drool? Well I got news for you, the Klee Kai does not have very high drool potential meaning, you won’t be slobbered with drool everywhere but you may find random pools of drool on the ground every now and then when they are super excited.
Do you need special grooming needs for a Klee Kai.
The short answer is no, they don’t require any special bathing, clippers or brushes to keep them clean, health and groomed. But, they are just simply not easy to groom, ontop of shredding lots, their double-coat makes it all the more harder.
Klee Kai is a very healthy breed. It is a mixture breed of mostly Alaskan Husky and Siberian Husky. Taking the best qualities of each breed. Thus having a very good DNA background and they don’t suffer from other special diseases.
However, just like all dogs, they are still subject to genetic health issues such as hip dysplasia, luxating patellas or eye diseases. They just don’t have an increased chance.
It is always recommended to have your dog up to the latest on their medicine needs, including but not limited to vaccines & worming
Dogs are known to eat eat eat eat and eat without knowing when to stop. Klee Kai are no different, but the difference is, they are not at high risk for overweight. Even though that’s the case, you still need to make sure your husky is getting it’s daily exercise needs and the right portion servings of food daily.
If you are unsure how much exercise or food your dog needs, please visit your local Vet for a full examination.
Trainability
Klee Kai are an intelligence breed bred as an companion as opposed to sled working dogs.
However, due their Siberian and Alaskan Husky’s DNA, they are at times very difficult to train.
The Klee Kai does not have an official Intelligence ranking in the world.
Biting issues are usually more present during puppyhood as it is more recommended for them to play-fight with their brothers and sisters so they learn about bite inhibition. Klee Kai can be mouthy if not trained from a young age. While they are usually more aggression than an affectionate gesture, however, if not trained correctly by a very experienced owner, the Klee Kai may get themselves into trouble.
Klee Kai have a massive prey drive, they will chase just about anything. As the owner, you will need to constantly keep their energy levels in check which will help keep their prey drive in check, you can do this by setting it daily activities with your husky such as daily walks and jogs.
Some breeds loves to bark at anything in sight, other enjoys howling. One of the most common rehome issues is due to the tendency to bark or howl. When choosing a dog, you need to understand how much you can withstand their natural behavioural before it becomes an issue.
With a Klee Kai, it depends on which breed it was used, most tend to only howl, however, some do bark. They do have quite a tenacity to bark/howl but not as bad as a Beagle or Fox Terrier. You & your neighbour would need to not have an issue as anything passes by, you can bet on your mini husky is already barking at it.
Just like having a massive prey drive, do they have wanderlust potential, absolutely. They are escape artists at all times. They will work on ways to escape at all times when left in an enclosure.
Important Factors
While Klee Kai is a companion dog, they have tons of energy and needs to have a very active owner.
Klee Kai it not a vigorous dog, despite having lots of energy. However, if the upbringing is not the best, they may develop some unwanted habits such as straining on leash during walks or eating and drinking in excessive mouthfuls.
Klee Kai not just have the energy to walk daily, they need to be walking daily. They are fine with long walks or jogs.
Without enough exercise daily, you may see unwanted behaviours such as barking, howling, chewing, digging, and at times even destruction.
Klee Kai cannot tolerate being alone, that means, they love being around their family at all times, with their huge energy reserve to back it up, they can play all day as well.
The Klee Kai is a intelligent, energetic and loyal breed. While they are not shy dogs, they don’t particularly care for strangers. They require lifelong socialization training from a young age to have consistent friendly interactions with new people. They are constantly wary of uninvited guess making them quite good watchdogs despite their small size.
When compared to the training of other dogs, Alaskan Klee Kais learn basic commands quickly. With some food motivation and basic agility training, they can be successful almost anywhere. They have an innate desire to please their owners, and they are highly food-motivated. If Klee Kais are properly trained for agility, they won’t have any trouble burning off some of their energy throughout the day. After a good walk and play session, these dogs are usually happy to spend the rest of the day being couch potatoes, but neglect their exercise needs, and they may become bored, anxious, and destructive. If you want to keep your dog happy and healthy, take them for a daily, brisk walk. If they see wildlife on their walks, however, they may become over-stimulated and bolt from your side.
Alaskan Klee Kais not only love being the centre of attention in the family, they will also be very vocally displeased if their needs are not being met. They are generally quieter than their Husky cousins, but they will bark, howl and whine to express displeasure making them quite a sensitive breed.
Klee Kai are not known to be fussy eaters, they will generally eat anything you throw at them.
They is no recommended daily amount for a Klee Kai as they are 3 sizes to them, and each one may have slightly different heritage then the next Klee Kai. It is most recommended to consult your local vet for the best options for a healthy balanced diet.
Breed History
The Alaskan Klee Kai have ancient roots descending from dogs which populated Alaska for thousands of years. These include the Alaskan and Siberian Husky and at times the Alaskan Malamute. As being from the husky branch, they can survive the harsh environment of Alaska. They excelled at pulling sleds, hiking, hunting and alerting owners to danger such as wildlife and approaching enemies.
The Alaskan Klee Kai breed was developed in Alaska starting in the 1970s by the Spurlin Family. By selecting dogs that matched her vision for size and temperament, Spurlin carefully picked smaller dogs in the strict breeding program to attempt to recreate a smaller version of the Alaska Husky. Ultimately creating the Klee Kai breed which is later known for their sweet demeaner, loyalty and beauty.
Fun Fact: Klee Kai are independent thinkers and problem solvers with a natural knack of being an escape artist by digging, climbing and squeezing through any openings possible.

