Dwarf Husky (Alaskan Klee Kai, Mini Husky, Miniature Husky): description of the breed

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

The Alaskan Klee Kai, or pygmy husky, belongs to the northern dog breed and has a playful and outgoing nature. A quick-witted dog will quickly find an approach to all family members, becoming an indispensable companion.

How and when was the breed bred?

The Klee Kai breed was first bred by mating the Siberian and Alaskan Husky, and in order to reduce overall characteristics, the Laika and the American Eskimo Dog were added to the mating, which made it possible to obtain a unique medium-sized breed that did not show dwarf properties.

The Mini Husky Klee Kai was started by Linda S. Spurlin of Alaska in the 1970s. She bred as a private owner, and in the late eighties allowed the use of the genus for general breeding.

Dwarf huskies originally had a common name - klee-kai, but due to political trends in 95 they began to be classified into Alaskan klee-kai and kli-kai. The subsequent unification of the genus happened after the breed was recognized by clubs and associations for rare breeds.

Features of external characteristics

Dog Klee Kaicharacterized by the following external features:

1. The transition from the forehead to the muzzle is moderate. The skull is wedge-shaped, the muzzle narrows towards the nose.
2. The size of the muzzle is equal to the size of the head from the occiput to the forehead. The lower jaws are not prominent. The lip is predominantly black, but a lighter, liver color is acceptable for red and white dogs.
3. The nose is predominantly black, but whitish inclusions (snowiness) are acceptable, in lighter colors it is dark gray.
4. Medium sized eyes set a little obliquely. The color of the cornea can be different, different shades can be combined. The section of the eyes is either almond-shaped, or oval, or round. The rim around the eyes should be black, and for light colors - dark gray.
5. Ears are triangular, erect, rounded tips, located perpendicular to the head. Densely covered with wool. Looks big relative to the head.
6. The structure of the body: the average size of the cervical region is arched and raised. While running, the dog stretches its neck so that the head is parallel to the body. The topline, from the withers to the front of the sternum, is straight. The sternum itself is wide, oval in shape, slightly protruding beyond the line of the front paws. The croup is powerful. The lumbar region is shortened and powerful, the groin is flat and narrower than the chest.
7. The forelegs are straight, the shoulders go back at an angle of about 100 degrees relative to the shoulder blades. The pasterns are shortened, slightly inclined, distinguished by strength and flexibility.
8. The hind limbs are slightly apart, the lower leg and metatarsus form a slight angleregarding the heels and hocks, which form a 90 degree angle to the ground.
9. The paws form an oval shape and have a thick coat of wool. The pads are thick and dense.
10. The tail is fluffy and wrapped in a pretzel. The tip is dyed a darker tone.
11. Wool cover double. The pile in the neck is longer than on the body, and forms a gate. The undercoat is thick and delicate, serving as a support for the top coat.

Height and weight characteristics

Pygmy Husky has three dimensions:

1. Klee-kai toy grows up to 35 cm and weighs four kilograms.
2. The miniature husky is in the height range from 34 to 39 cm and the weight category from 4.5 to 6.9 kg.
3. Standard Klee Kai is 39 to 44 cm tall and weighs 7.2 to 11 kg.

The height of the dog, exceeding 44 cm, qualifies as a fault, and above 45 cm - as a disqualification defect. Such dogs are no longer suitable for contests and competitions.

Features of color and coat

Dogs from the dwarf husky breed have four characteristic colors:

• gray and white;
• black and white;
• red with white (the red suit means the color of cinnamon or chestnut);
• white - this suit was recognized relatively recently and is not always allowed to participate in exhibitions and breeding matings.

Kli-kai coat is divided into standard and long-haired. However, the length of the pile should not hidenatural silhouette. Otherwise, the owner of too long wool runs the risk of losing the competition and getting the stigma of "flaw".

Psychological characteristics

If in appearance the Klee Kai is very similar to the Husky, then in character these breeds have significant differences:

• miniature husky has a cheerful character and loves to participate in outdoor games, never refuses to have fun in the fresh air or take part in long walks;
• the dog does not tolerate loneliness, so this breed is not suitable for those who are away from home all day long;
• klee-kai do not bark, but communicate with the owner, and the individual sounds of the "speech" of dogs are very similar to human speech, one can also note the vocal abilities of dogs of this breed and the art of washing with the help of their front paws, like cats;
• the dog is very affectionate and obedient in the family circle, and is on the alert with strangers;
• well trainable, remembering a lot of commands and performing them with pleasure;
• can easily live in apartment conditions and in a country house;
• does not conflict with other pets. Excellent with children, never showing aggression.

By all psychological characteristics, the dwarf husky is recognized as an ideal family dog, capable of defending its owner if necessary.

How to choose the right puppy?

Alaskan Klee Kai puppies at a young agemay not show signs of the breed. It is recommended to purchase a pet at the age of eight months, when the bite has already been formed, tests for the color of the back mask have been carried out and the necessary vaccinations have been made. If a puppy is purchased for exhibitions, then you should contact an authoritative specialist who can easily identify the flaws and shortcomings of the animal. It is also recommended to buy a pet in special nurseries or from trusted reliable breeders, and not from hands or on the Internet.

The cost of dwarf huskies ranges from two thousand in dollar terms, which indicates the rarity of the breed. According to experts, the Klee-Kai justifies such an investment - it is a great friend and companion who will become a member of the family for a long time, because the life expectancy of a dog is from 11 to 17 years.

Subtleties of care

The Klee Kai, like the Siberian Husky, is easy to care for. These dogs are distinguished by cleanliness and rarely go dirty. Many members of the breed spend about an hour and a half on their hygiene daily. They do not have a pronounced canine smell and stench from the mouth. The only thing they can't clean is their paws when the weather is wet and dirty.

When caring for a miniature husky, you should follow some simple principles:

1. They bathe the dog quite rarely, as it is practically not susceptible to diseases and is not allergic.
2. Due to rare shedding, the coat needs to be combed out as needed.
3. To avoid diseaseoral cavity, you need to replace rubber toys in time.
4. Ears are a weak spot, so pay close attention to them.
5. Food should be varied, because mini-huskies, along with an active lifestyle, can rest for half a day. The diet should include both dry and wet food, vitamins in the form of treats and vegetables. Moderate consumption of sweets will not harm the dog.
6. Cut your nails twice a year.
7. Due to the thick undercoat, the Klee Kai does not need extra warm clothing in winter. And for the same reason, you should not be in direct sunlight for a long time in summer.

Grooming

Pygmy Husky is the owner of a thick coat, which is recommended to be combed once a week using a fumigator or a thick comb. When seasonal shedding occurs, the interval between combing is reduced to two or three days to prevent tangles.

Pet walking requirements

In the conditions of the city, the dog needs to be allowed to walk in a spacious area with the organization of games, and in crowded places it is advisable not to let the dog off the leash.

If the animal is kept in the yard of a country house, then you need to pay attention to the behavior of the pet.

Klee-kai is very good at digging under fences, and this may not be safe for his he alth. After all, many dangers can lie in wait outside the native and familiar courtyard.

Food Selection

Mini Huskies are not particularly picky eaters. It's possibleexplained by a hereditary trait adopted from the parent breeds.

The pet does not need a special diet. It is easy to please him by offering porridge or vegetables. When feeding an animal, you should adhere to the principle of "do not overfeed".

When using dry food, experts advise buying premium food designed for small and active dogs.

Possible diseases and necessary vaccinations

Since the moment of breeding, no genetic defects have been revealed in this species, which means that there are no characteristic diseases in the Kli-Kai. However, there is always the risk of contracting typical canine diseases such as cystitis, diarrhea, fleas, lichen, colds and poisoning.

Very rarely, a blood disorder can be diagnosed that is fatal if no action is taken in terms of treatment. But this is rather an exception to the rule.

Despite excellent he alth, it is still necessary to vaccinate Klee Kai.

The first scheduled comprehensive vaccination is carried out by the breeder when the puppy reaches the age of 8-9 weeks, and the second - after 3-4 weeks.

Subsequent preventive vaccinations are carried out at yearly intervals.

The vaccine includes agents that can withstand such canine ailments as parvovirus (hemorrhagic) enteritis, piroplasmosis, leptospirosis, distemper and rabies.

How to knit Klee Kaev?

Due to the small number and youth of the breed, it is not easy to find a partner for generic breeding. Alsodifferent kennel associations have different breed standards. In addition to all this, it is quite difficult to identify the defects of the family.

For mating, you should use the services of a proven nursery, or even better, choose a partner in your historical homeland, but this is quite troublesome and expensive.

Before mating, both partners must be dewormed and in good physical condition and he alth.

Also, the presence of an experienced mating handler is mandatory, because the breed is quite rare and expensive.

Mistakes in upbringing

A feature of the Alaskan Kli-kai is the ability to instantly grasp commands and quickly get used to human speech, including its imitation. Due to such features, it is necessary to know what can and cannot be done in the process of raising a pet:

• the dog should have enough rest time to recover the expended energy;
• you can’t leave your pet alone for a long time, and when leaving for a while, you should close windows and balconies so that the jumper does not have a desire to jump out into the street and get hurt;
• since klee-kai are companion dogs, any activity should be common for the owner and the pet. It will entertain and please a devoted friend.

Mini Husky is an exclusive breed that looks like the famous Husky, but is the complete opposite in terms of character. The dog is not afraid of cold weather or urban smog. Feels equally comfortable both in the apartment and in the country. They do not cause much trouble and willingly respond with kindnessfor care. In addition, this is an excellent and faithful friend and nanny who is not afraid to entrust a child. Acquiring a companion like a mini-husky (klee-kai) involves noise and fun. You will never feel bored or alone with him.