Alaskan Klee Kai puppies

About the Alaskan Klee Kai

The Alaskan Klee Kai was developed in the United States from the 1970s as a companion sized spitz with the look of a working sled dog: a wedge shaped head, a facial mask, prick ears and a plumed tail. They are genuinely small, 30 to 43 centimetres tall, and carry a dense double coat with a short undercoat under longer guard hairs. In character they are clever, quick and noticeably reserved with strangers, and they bond tightly to their own household.

Exercise is moderate rather than punishing: daily walks or a game of fetch will do, though the breed takes happily to hiking, swimming and boats. Brush weekly, more while the undercoat is blowing, and expect few baths since the coat repels dirt. Prey drive is high, so a lead or a secure fence whenever they are outside the home. Come for the husky look by all means, but plan your days around company too, because this breed copes badly with being left alone all day and complains loudly when they are.

What to expect at eight weeks

At eight weeks a Alaskan Klee Kai puppy is sleeping around 18 to 20 hours a day, is not house trained, and cannot hold on for more than an hour or two at a stretch. A small breed puppy at eight weeks is light enough to carry everywhere, which is exactly how you get them socialised before the vaccination course finishes. They will still need four meals a day. Expect moderate energy, in short bursts separated by long naps. Grooming needs are moderate, so build the brushing habit now while the coat is still short and easy. The socialisation window is open and closing: everything they meet calmly now, from vacuum cleaners to men in hats, is easier for the rest of their life.

Health worth knowing about

Conditions this breed is reported to be predisposed to. Predisposed does not mean inevitable, it means ask about it.

• Patellar luxation, graded by a veterinary orthopaedic exam
• Autoimmune thyroiditis, screened by a thyroid evaluation of breeding stock
• Heart murmurs and other cardiac disease, picked up on a cardiac exam
• Inherited eye disease, screened by an ophthalmologist evaluation
• Factor VII deficiency, a mild inherited bleeding disorder detectable by DNA test

Your Alaskan Klee Kai puppy's first six months

• Vaccination schedule, dated for your country.
• Worming and parasite schedule.
• Feeding calculator. Set expected adult size to Small for a Alaskan Klee Kai.
• Adult size predictor, to check growth against the 2.7 to 11.3 kg adult range.
• Puppy names and the first week checklist.

Kit sizes: crate 24 inch (24 x 18 x 20 in, 61 x 46 x 51 cm) for an adult of up to 11.3 kg; chew toys made for small breeds. Worked out the same way as the crate size calculator. PetMD bases a crate on the dog's own measurements, not weight or breed alone, so measure once the puppy is home.

Buying guides for this

• Best crate for a puppy: wire, plastic or soft, and how to size one with a divider

Other small breeds

More on the Alaskan Klee Kai

Previous: Akita · Next: Alaskan Malamute

Sources

• akc.org for adult weight and height, life expectancy, energy, grooming, shedding and the temperament ratings, coat type, country of origin and health notes
• Health notes from Alaskan Klee Kai breed information at https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/alaskan-klee-kai/. Discuss any of these with your own vet.

Photo: Gnuyen, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped. All photographers are listed on the photo credits page.