Toy – Up to and including 13 inches
Miniature – over 13 inches up to and including 15 inches
Standard – over 15 inches up to and including 17 inches

Yes, some AKK grow over 17 inches but are disqualified from the show ring at over 17 1/2 inches. Check out the complete breed standard on the UKC website.

Purple Ribbon ‘PR’ Pedigree. In the early part of the 1930s, UKC registered and trademarked with the United States Department of Commerce the Purple Ribbon Pedigree. This pedigree is only offered by the United Kennel Club, Inc., and is the mark of the United Kennel Club purebred dog. The Purple Ribbon designation is awarded to eligible dogs at birth by the UKC and is signified in all UKC records by the letters ‘PR” appearing before the dog’s name.

‘PR’ dogs will have six generations of known ancestors and all 14 ancestors within the last three generations must be registered with UKC. This insures that the dogs are purebred. If a parent of the pup you are thinking of buying does not have ‘PR’ in front of there names on the pedigree, they do not fit the guidelines from UKC to be Purple Ribbon Pedigree or have not been registered as ‘PR’. If the parents do not have this designation it does not mean they are not purebred. Some breeders want this designation for their dogs – others are not concerned. Check out the bloodlines before you purchase on the UKC website.

A Champion or Grand Champion should be an excellent specimen of the breed, closely resembling the breed standard for AKK. Many breeders or owners put a lot of time, training and money into getting their dogs to be Champion or Grand Champions. If the dogs do not have the characteristics to closely match the ideals of the breed standard, the dogs will not get the designation, ribbons and points awarded at conformation shows.

Not all breeders will or can show each of their dogs for various reasons. To some breeders it is not important. Some dogs just hate the show ring and will not perform well but are wonderful specimens of the breed. I choose not to show my dogs that hate the show ring. I have one that does not like to show. She quickly became a Champion but I will not force her into the show ring to become a Grand.

Alaskan Klee Kai must have contrasting color to comply with breed standard. They can be:

• Black & white
• Grey & white
• Red & white

The eye color on an Alaskan Klee Kai is only important to the beholder. Any color or combination thereof is acceptable. Some will have one blue eye and one brown eye, bi-eyed, and some will have a combination of blue and brown in one eye called parti-eyed. The browns and the blues can range from dark to lighter. Some now have green eyes although this is very rare.

AKK shed their undercoats twice a year. This is major shedding but can be controlled with plenty of brushing during this period. They do shed all year round but because they are smaller dogs the shedding is not as much as if you had a regular size husky. Shedding is a consideration if you are thinking of acquiring this breed. Most have wonderful thick coats you just want to run your hand through.

Most AKK are on the shy side. They love their families but don’t want anyone else to touch them. This does not mean they attack. If given the choice, they will just stay away from visitors. Mine enjoy people who pet them when I am holding them and giving the visitor a treat to feed the dogs works wonders. This is great because they do not jump up on people right when they come through the door to visit. Most have manners. I do have a few that just love people and will crawl into your arms.

These dogs were bred to be companion dogs. They need a yard or to be walked like all dogs but do well with a nice sized yard. They are active and will play chase with any moving thing in the yard. This may be another dog, person, bird, grasshoppers and the list continues. Anything that moves or looks like it might move is prey. They will entertain you with their antics.

All dog breeds have genetic defects within their breeds. The AKK have remarkably few genetic defects and most breeders strive to keep it that way. All my puppies are sold on a spay/neuter contract as pets or to established breeders to assure this continues. The disorders listed below are being carefully monitored by most breeders of Alaskan Klee Kai. Most breeders will remove a dog from their breeding program if one of these disorders is found.

My dogs are checked with OFA for Patella, Cardiac and Thyroid, Cerf. eye tested and liver enzyme tested. I’m striving to have all FVII clear dogs in my breeding program. The health of this breed is very important to me.

• Cryptorchid/Monorchid – one or both testicles not descending into the scrotal sack. Must be neutered to help prevent cancer.
• Patella Luxation
• Heart Murmur-Innocent and Genetic
• Portosystemic Shunt (liver shunt)
• Juvenile Cataracts
• Factor VII blood clotting disorder – Only one symptomatic dogs so far but several are in the affected category. If a dog is a carrier, the dog will not be symptomatic and will not have any problem. A carrier should probably not be bred with another carrier because this could cause an affected pup.
• Cleft Palettes
• Thyroid issues

Visit akkaoa.org for more info about the Alaskan Klee Kai Association of America, and akkcoa.org for more info about the Alaskan Klee Kai Club of America.