The Alaskan Klee Kai:
2024 Breed Profile

Are you looking to learn more about the Alaskan Klee Kai breed?

As a relatively new dog breed, you may find a lot of conflicting information about Alaskan Klee Kai online.

The good news is that we’ve got you covered in this article because our experts have completed indepth research into the Klee Kai breed.

So if you’re thinking about bringing home one of these so-called Mini Huskies, you’ll get all the information you need about the AKK.

The Alaskan Klee Kai was a breed created in the 1980s by an American lady called Linda Spurlin.

Her goal was to create a Husky-like dog that would act as the perfect companion pet.

They come in three different sizes: standard, miniature and toy. Klee Kai have three permitted coat colours: black and white, grey and white, and red and white.

Alaskan Klee Kai Temperament & Personality 4/5

So you’ve come across the Alaskan Klee Kai and you’re thinking about getting one? Well if you’re unsure what type of temperament to expect from these Mini Huskies, keep reading.

Alaskan Klee Kai tend to have friendly personalities but they can be aloof around strangers. Unlike Siberian Huskies, the Klee Kai has a tendency to be a little skittish and wary of people that they’re unfamiliar with. For that reason, it’s a good idea to socialise these dogs from a young age in order to improve their social skills and ability to cope with different situations.

When it comes to the family, Alaskan Klee Kai will relish spending time with their loved ones. You may find that your Klee Kai becomes particularly attached to one member of the family. They’ll become that person’s permanent shadow as they follow them around the home, going from room to room to check on their favourite person.

Alaskan Klee Kai are smart dogs and they’ll try to outsmart you. They’re highly trainable but patience is required because these Mini Huskies do have an independent side and a sassy streak. If they don’t want to do something, they won’t do it. Even if there’s a treat involved!

They have a reputation for being escape artists - they’ll find any weak spots in your garden and yard. Klee Kai have a high prey drive and they’ll happily pursue smaller animals such as mice, rabbits, cats and anything moving on four legs. If you don’t have a secure fence, don’t be surprised if your Klee Kai leaves the safety of your yard in pursuit of prey.

Alaskan Klee Kai Child Friendliness - 3/5

It’s important to remember every dog is different - this applies to Alaskan Klee Kai. So some Alaskan Klee Kai may be fine around small children and enjoy spending time in their company. Other Alaskan Klee Kai may be nervous or wary of rambunctious toddlers.

Generally speaking, the Alaskan Klee Kai is a skittish breed. That’s to say it doesn’t take a lot to spook them. For instance, sudden loud noises, banging at the door, construction work and even the vacuum can send them running. Some Klee Kai may be skittish around children.

As a relatively small breed, Klee Kai may be vulnerable if children attempt to roughhouse them. We’re not talking about a sturdy Labrador Retriever or patient Golden Retriever. Alaskan Klee Kai are a companion-sized breed that can be prone to injury if they’re not handled with care.

If an Alaskan Klee Kai is to thrive in a home with children, it’s probably a good idea to carefully supervise interactions and ensure children are adequately educated on how to interact with these sometimes highly-strung dogs.

Alaskan Klee Kai Dog Friendliness - 3/5

Reiterating the point made at the start of the previous section, every Klee Kai will be different.

They’ll also be the sum of their experiences. If an Alaskan Klee Kai has enjoyed positive experiences with other dogs, there’s a good chance they’ll be dog friendly. However, if they’ve had a negative encounter, their behaviour may be defensive or they may be nervous around other dogs irrespective of size.

It’s a good idea to take an Alaskan Klee Kai puppy to socialisation classes from a young age to get them used to interacting with other dogs. Such socialisation classes can be supervised by professional trainers or dog behaviourists, providing a safe space for your Klee Kai to explore and make new friends.

Unlike the Siberian Husky, the Klee Kai isn’t an inherently outgoing breed so you can expect a little shyness around other dogs. They’re a spitz-type dog, some Klee Kai may be very alert and on edge around other dogs, so it could be a good idea to keep your Mini Husky on a leash so you can control interactions.

While some Alaskan Klee Kai have been known to be reactive around other dogs, there’s plenty of members of the breed who do just fine around other dogs at the dog park, at doggie day care or bumping into other dogs on their daily walk.

Alaskan Klee Kai Exercise Needs - 4/5

The original Alaskan Klee Kai was created using Siberian Husky, Alaskan Husky, Schipperke and American Eskimo Dog. These are four very active dog breeds so it’s no surprise that the Alaskan Klee Kai has relatively high energy levels. They’ll certainly keep their owners active!

Alaskan Klee Kai will benefit from at least 60 minutes of exercise a day. It could take the format of a walk, a hike or a romp around the garden with their owners. Klee Kai are a versatile breed so they could also excel at going for a jog with their owners or taking part in agility training.

These intelligent dogs will need lots of mental stimulation too. You may want to invest in some brain games or do some scent work to satisfy their prey drive.

Having said all that, Alaskan Klee Kai are highly adaptable to their environments. If you’re someone who likes to go for plenty of walks, they’ll be happy to join you. On the other hand, if you go for a 30 minute walk a day but like to be outside in your garden, they’ll be happy too.

Alaskan Klee Kai Intelligent 4/5

Alaskan Klee Kai are smart dogs that will try to outsmart their owners if given a chance. They’ll be quick to learn new commands and tricks, but whether they want to comply with their owner’s instruction is a whole other matter.

Some Klee Kai are food motivated which can help with the training sessions and obedience. But there’s plenty of cat-like Klee Kai who won’t be motivated to follow a command just because there’s a treat in your hand.

You can strengthen your bond with your Alaskan Klee Kai by playing games such as fetch and tug-of-war with them. The deeper your bond with your Klee Kai, the more chances these smart dogs will listen to you.

Alaskan Klee Kai Trainability 3/5

Touching upon the previous section, Alaskan Klee Kai are smart dogs that are quite trainable. However, they need consistent and persistent training because they’re independent thinkers.

In my experience with my Klee Kai, my male Alaskan Klee Kai was easier to train because he’s food motivated. Therefore, my male Klee Kai is quick to learn new commands provided there’s a chance to earn a treat.

While my female Alaskan Klee Kai is more stubborn and takes more repetitions to successfully learn a new command, she’s far more obedient once she’s become competent at a command or trick.

Ultimately, every Alaskan Klee Kai will have a slightly different personality with varying levels of trainability.

Alaskan Klee Kai Grooming 3/5

Alaskan Klee Kai require a lot of grooming seeing as they shed throughout the year. This breed has a double coat - a thick, dense undercoat and a coarse, longer outer coat. An Alaskan Klee Kai will tend to blowout their coat twice a year when the seasons change.

It’s a good idea to groom your Alaskan Klee Kai at least three times a week (if not more). They shed all year round so regularly brushing your Klee Kai will help to keep their shedding under control. It’s important to invest in a good dog brush that can remove dead hair and debris.

The Alaskan Klee Kai Association of America don’t recommend bathing your Klee Kai regularly. In my experience, you only need to give them a bath twice a year. They’re a fastidious breed that don’t suffer from a doggie odour unlike other breeds.

Alaskan Klee Kai Health Issues 3/5

As a relatively new dog breed, it’s still unclear what health conditions tend to impact the Alaskan Klee Kai breed. According to the American Kennel Club, responsible breeders should be screening their breeding stock for health conditions including patellar luxation, autoimmune thyroiditis, heart murmur, eye disorders, and Factor VII deficiency.

Alaskan Klee Kai Apartment Friendly 5/5

The Alaskan Klee Kai breed is extremely versatile. As a Klee Kai owner with six years experience, my Klee Kai have lived in a variety of different environments. They’ve lived in apartments in the USA and in the UK.

Klee Kai can make excellent apartment dogs thanks to their small size. They don’t need a lot of space. It’s more important to keep them physically and mentally stimulated rather than having a big house, garden or yard.

Final Thoughts

The Alaskan Klee Kai is a good candidate for a companion dog provided you’re willing to give them daily exercise and dedicate time to strengthening your bond with these Mini Huskies. They’re a versatile dog breed that can adapt to different environments.

While they’re not as outgoing as Siberian Huskies, Klee Kai can do well in a family environment with proper and responsible socialisation. They can become particularly attached to one member of the household.