Well my girlfriend has been taking an interest in getting a dog so the breed search has begun. She was the one who bought be Ruger so she loves Huskies as much as I do, but she wants kind of a smaller dog. So after doing some research we have come across the Alaskan Klee Kai, or aka "miniature husky". They only get a max of about 30 pounds unless you get a toy which is usually around 17ish. I had never heard of them before, but after looking at many pictures they look exactly like a Husky...just alot smaller. They have different temperments then a Husky but overall are nice dogs. If anyone has had any experience with this breed please feel free to throw your words of wisdom in.

Great thread

I have only seen a few Alaskan Klee Kais and it's very bizarre. It's like the dog should be bigger. Their tails are fluffier too. I don't have much personal experience with them though.

I also thought this breed would be perfect for myself. However, my Siberian Husky/German Shepard is a rather good size for me, not too big or too small. Those Alaskan Klee Kai's are probably smaller. I've never seen one in person... I've also heard that they can pretty darn expensive, too!

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Alaskan Klee Kai is a northern breed of dog of spitz type. The term "Klee Kai" was derived from Alaskan Athabaskan words meaning "small dog".[citation needed] The breed was developed to create a companion sized version of the Alaskan Husky (although it more closely resembles the Siberian Husky), resulting in an energetic, intelligent, apartment-sized dog with an appearance that reflects its northern heritage.


A Full-Coated AKK
The Alaskan Klee Kai should look like a miniature siberian husky. They come in three sizes based on their height:
Toy size Alaskan Klee Kai are under 13 inches in height.
Miniature Alaskan Klee Kai are over 13 inches high and up to 15 inches high.
Standard Alaskan Klee Kai are over 15 inches high and up to 17 inches in height.
Seriously Faulted - Any Alaskan Klee Kai over 17 inches and up to 17.5 inches.
Disqualified - Any Alaskan Klee Kai over 17.5 inches.
Alaskan Klee Kai come in four main color varieties. Black and White, which can appear with stark contrasts or with a more dilute diffusion of the colors. Grey and White, which comes in several variations. Red and White (rare) which appears either as a cinnamon or a dark auburn. Solid white which, lacking the contrasting colors required by the UKC standard, cannot be registered or bred. They also will very rarely come in tri-color but is not acceptable for the show ring.

Coat and Grooming

The Alaskan Klee Kai, like the Siberian Husky, is relatively easy to care for. They are extremely clean. Most don't like wet feet and will spend hours daily grooming themselves. They do not have a "doggy odor" nor do they have "dog breath." Most Klee Kai will seldom require a bath.
As in Siberians and unlike short haired dogs who shed all year long, the Klee Kai also blows their coat twice a year. Of course, the size of the dogs limit the amount of fur blown. It is best to groom the dog on a regular basis during this time. Some of the longer haired dogs can become matted if not groomed. Most Klee Kai will assist the loss of hair by rubbing against things such as fences.
Other than this period of blowing coat, the Klee Kai is very self sufficient. The normal preventative measures should be taken, such as trimming of nails, normal grooming in the form of brushing. This process is especially important in the bonding process.

Temperament

The Alaskan Klee Kai is a highly intelligent, very curious, active, quick and agile little dog that quickly become an integral part of any family that chooses to adopt one. Unlike the Siberian Husky whom they resemble, the Alaskan Klee Kai is standoffish and suspicious of strangers. Because of this they do make extremely good watch dogs. They are moderately active and have a high prey drive. This means unless they are properly introduced and raised with smaller furry or feathered animals such as rabbits, hamsters, cats, birds, etc, they will hunt and kill them. They can be a great family dog if raised with properly raised children. AKK are not likely to tolerate being mistreated (poked at, pinched, bullied) by children and may respond by nipping them, much like the Siberian Husky. Because of their intelligence they do well in obedience classes and have a high drive to please their owners which helps them to excel in this area as well as many other types of activities. Another such activity is Agility in which the AKK almost seems to have been bred to take part in. If you have an Alaskan Klee Kai that is highly active, this is a great way to help them use some of that up.

Health

Gray and White AKK
Alaskan Klee Kai have been remarkably free of genetic defects in comparison to other breeds.
Some issues that do affect them however are:
-Juvenile Cataracts
-Liver Disease
-Extreme Shyness
-Factor VII Deficiency
-Pyometra
-Luxating Patella
-Cryptorchids
-Cardiac Issues including PDA
-Thyroid disease-including autoimmune thyroiditis

Starting with Linda Spurlin, Alaskan Klee Kai breeders continue to follow her strict breeding practices, breeding only the healthiest dogs to each other. Most people will find it very difficult to buy an AKK puppy that does not come with a spay or neuter contract. This is done to prevent backyard breeding of dogs who, for one reason or another, were deemed not acceptable for breeding. This is not always the case however, many AKK breeders simply prefer that their puppies go into loving pet homes instead of show/breeder homes. To make sure that they remain a beloved pet and will never be used for breeding, the AKK breeder still requires them to be altered.

History

Alaskan Klee Kai in snow
The breed was developed in Wasilla, Alaska during the mid-1970s by Linda S. Spurlin after she observed the result of an accidental mating of an Alaskan Husky and an unknown small dog. The breed was developed with Siberian and Alaskan Huskies using Schipperke and American Eskimo Dog to bring down the size without dwarfism. She bred these dogs in private until she released them to the general public in 1988. Originally called the "Klee Kai", the breed split into "Alaskan Klee Kai" and "Klee Kai" for political reasons in 1995. The breed consolidated under the new name in 2002. The Alaskan Klee Kai was officially recognized by the American Rare Breed Association (ARBA) in 1995 and by the United Kennel Club (UKC) on January 1, 1997.


Sources

Dog Breed Info.com
Alaskan Klee Kai at Puppy Dog Web
Linda Spurlin's Website (the Originator of the breed)
Alaskan Klee Kai Breed Information

Thanks Chad for the info and sorry for puttin it in the wrong section...

Quote:

I've also heard that they can pretty darn expensive, too!

Yes, after looking at many of prices from good breeders I have come to find out they are VERY expensive. Most of them ranged in the $1,500 - $2,000 area just because they are pretty rare.

I have never seen a Klee Kai in the flesh as they are very rare in the UK but in my view its one of those 'designer' breeds and somehow just doesn't look right. Now whether it will catch on big time like the labradoodle and become accepted only time will tell. I just feel happy knowing that I have the 'real thing' in the right size

I saw a Klee Klai at a pet expo once and it was weird looking. Its eyes were bulging and it looked like a dwarf husky. It was about the size of a cocker spaniel. It just didn't look right!

Yea, after extensive research we have decided that the "miniature husky" is not the right dog for her. Plus they are extremely expensive and like some of yall have said, they just look kinda of ...weird to me. She is startin to lean towards a Beagle which is ok with me because they are really sweet dogs. Also they arent too small...Im not to much of a real small dog fan so a Beagle works for me.

This may not be appropriate here, but Beagles ARE very loud. They are barkers, so if you're in an apartment or a city, be careful of that. Otherwise I've always loved Beagles

Yeah we are in the Suburb so itll be perfect. Our neighbors have a few and they are so sweet. Ill keep everyone posted.

My neighbor has Beagle puppy - she's about 5 months now and I never hear a peep out of her. My friend, on the other hand, had one that bayed constantly - at other dogs, at dinner time, at her kids - you get the idea!

They're also runners, but you should know all about that from huskies!

Looks like a Chihuahua disguised as a sled dog.

I found this picture.
A cross between a pom and husky

Have you thought about a Lab? They aren't that big, but they have energy, you want to try to somewhat match the energy level of your husky. We got our lab first then got our husky, they get along so well. I love labs and huskys!