Breeds / Small
Alaskan Klee Kai puppies
Clever, quick and strongly bonded to its own people, the Alaskan Klee Kai is a companion sized spitz with the markings of a sled dog. It is reserved with strangers, vocal, and has enough prey drive that it should not be loose off lead.
The facts
- Size class Small
- Country of origin United States
- Adult weight 2.7 to 11.3 kg
- Adult weight in pounds 6 to 25 lb
- Adult height 30 to 43 cm
- Energy level Moderate
- Grooming Moderate
- Coat type Medium double
- Typical lifespan 13 to 16 years
- Good with children Fine with supervision
- Good with other dogs Reliably good
Where these come from:
- akc.org for adult weight and height, life expectancy, energy, grooming and the temperament ratings, coat type, country of origin and health notes
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. It is genuinely small, 30 to 43 centimetres tall, and carries a dense double coat with a short undercoat under longer guard hairs. In character it is clever, quick and noticeably reserved with strangers, and it bonds tightly to its 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 it is outside the home. The common mistake is buying the husky look and then leaving the dog alone all day, which this breed handles badly and complains about loudly.
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 it socialised before the vaccination course finishes. It 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 it meets calmly now, from vacuum cleaners to men in hats, is easier for the rest of its 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
From Alaskan Klee Kai breed information at https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/alaskan-klee-kai/. Discuss any of these with your own vet.
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.
Other small breeds
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Not veterinary advice. Breed information is general. Your own dog, and your own vet, always win.