This weekend I saw two Alaskan Klee Kai's in my local common area.  I have to say even from a distance they were very striking and looked like toy versions of Alaskan Huskys.  Here's a link for anyone interested http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alaskan_Klee_Kai

Close up though and observing them their temperaments were not great.  They were both on leads because the owner said they could not be trusted off lead because they are too "stubborn."  That's okay.  One of them seemed very aggressive to other dogs - which at least in part could be explained by the fact that the dog was on a lead and most other dogs in the area were not.  So that's okay too.

However, the owner explained to someone that the dogs could not be approached by someone putting their hands above their heads to pet them - they might snap.  They had to be approached by bringing your hand up underneath - she said it was a "breed characteristic."   I call this "hand shy", or worse.  Just wondering if anyone knows about this breed and if this in fact a breed characteritic or poor temperament (or potentially both, I supposed.)   Not being able to approach a toy breed with your hand reaching over them is a bit of a problem, IMO.  If you know about it and you are an adult, okay - but sounds like a recipe for trouble to me.

Have heard that the temprement is not good, not just spitzy but, not good. What is a Alaskan Huskys please, new one on me.

Just read the link about this breed and mentions OK with " PROPERLY TRAINED CHILDREN" and in the list of health problems listed is extreme shyness. I thought by looking at them they were a great looking dog but reading that would not want to own one now.

Jackie - I typed in one two many "Alaskan's".  The two Alaskan Klee Kais looked like toy versions of Huskys.

I've only met a couple of Alaskan Klee Kai's, but was told by the owners that temperaments can be a problem. They are not at all like Siberian Huskies in temperament. I believe they have a strong guarding instinct and they need a lot of socialisation as a puppy, otherwise they are very wary of people they don't know.

I think you mean Siberian Huskies rather than Alaskan's. Alaskan Huskies are sled dogs, bred purely for their working ability and are mix of various breeds. Here's pictures of a couple of teams of Alaskan's in this year's Iditarod.

http://iditarodblogs.com/news/wp-content/blogs.dir/3/files/koyuk-2008-2/img_8512.jpg

http://iditarodblogs.com/news/wp-content/blogs.dir/3/files/ruby-2008-3/img_8189.jpg

Just out of interest does anyone know what kind of price do these dogs sell for ? Are they designer dog prices ?

Yes designer dog cost.

The ones I have met have been very very barky and not very social with humans or dogs ......

I love the way that because they obviously can't get them to breed true to any standard - they now come in about 5 sizes - so any of them can be classed as correct .... bonkers!

I did once, a while ago try to contact a breeder in the Uk about them but never got a reply back , so i got a husky ... thank goodness ...

We met a couple of them last year while doing a "Hug-A-Husky" event for breed welfare. They were just as described above - snappy, bad-tempered and unsociable. I had only seen photos previously, which looked like mini-huskies. In real life they looked a little wierd - like chihuahas with husky faces.

It's really too bad.  If this breed is going to be around for any length of time I sure hope they can sort out the temperament problems. 

like chihuahas with husky faces

I didn't realise that they were that small!  Then I read the wikipedia link and it says 10 - 17 inches - a 7" difference in correct height, as Julie says - bonkers!! I really cant see the point of introducing a breed that is unsociable and snappy, especially when the whole point of a toy breed is that it is a companion . I'm sure they look cute but does the world really need another new breed!

i have a 10month old alaskan kleekai and he is fantastic he has never even attempted to bite a human (or dog for that matter) and the only agression he has ever shown is growling on the lead at other dogs if very close but not close enough to get to, im not saying this is acceptible behavior at all but i would put it more down to my inexperience a dog training than his breed and we are working on it. he has never been snappy and only barks to anouce people he does not know coming on to our property otherwise is a very quite dog. please dont pre judge this beautiful breed on a few inderviduals as you all prob know what bad press has done for other breeds whos problems are mainly down to pore ownership than breed.

thanks x

Hi Kleekailover,
Great to hear you have this new breed of dog and your finding him a little dear... I have never seen one in the flesh- so your very right in that I can not judge them as a pet!
They do look adorable and with lots of socialization I'm sure they can be fab little pets. When I brought my dog first time buyer from a breeder they told me that they are no good in a multi pet household and definitely no cats allowed- well my lad is great with both, so it's how you bring them up i am sure. I remember years ago Shelties had the same wrap for being nervous & shy. Be good to see a picture of him?   

Hi Folks, I had never heard of this breed until a 3 years ago.  My wife's cousin had one given to her as the owner could no longer look after it.  It was badly over weight and not the greatest looker.  When she told me what the breed was I laughed at her, but then she shows my the kennel papers and its fully registered.  So anyway the dog gets out and mates and low and behold 9 weeks later she has a litter of 6 pups.  Which is big for a small dog, i think, but they weren't sure what it was crossed with.
So she had these puppies and I said I would take one, the only bitch in the litter and she was Black all but a white paw or two.
Now she's fully grown she is coloured like an Alastian (weird) but has the bushy curled tail of the husky, also very broad and strong round her shoulders and a thick neck.  She is lovely, loads of people have asked me about her and what she is.  It's hard to explain!!
But anyway the temper is a problem with other dogs, on a lead she is very protective of me and will drag and pull on her lead to try to get to other dogs.  Barks at people she doesn't know that come to teh house, but she is so friendly with anyone she has met as a pup.  She seems to remember them!  She has never snapped at anyone, I suppose that's because I keep her back from strangers. Although she does hate the vet.  She is a great guard dog, I can tell when someones coming as she is doing her prowling round the back.  These dogs are great, but as said below, they need lots of interaction as a pup with everyone close to teh family and loads of excerise as they are very, very active.  My dog went through two chairs and a patio table while left to her own devices out the back. Two walks a day stopped that!

Good grief, I am amazed that people pay top dollar for a Mongrel! They surely aren't KC registered!?

What a poor attitude newfiedreams every breed must have started somewhere! They are AKC registered.

To correct some misunderstandings, the breed is producing a standard and there are three sizes, as with the poodle. Yes they need a lot of socialisation when puppies as with any breed, they are brilliant guard dogs and very alert and observant. They have the look of a Sibe but are very intelligent so easy to train and can be off lead, but like with any dog, you get out what you put in. Not for people that can't be bothered.

I beleive they have a breed club in the UK and have been introduced with the aim of KC acceptance.

The original post is three years old... ...

> They are AKC registered.

They are NOT recognised by the AKC, not even on the foundation stock service. They are however registered with the United Kennel Club in the USA.