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Breed Name: Klee Kai

National Club Name: Klee Kai National Kennel Club

National Club Address: 51 Katies Lane

Washougal, WA 98671

Breed Description:

Original Purpose: The Klee Kai was developed as a companion dog by Linda Spurlin.

Breed History: These dogs were bred down from Siberian and Alaskan Huskies.

Earliest History: Mid 1970

Country of Origin: The United States of America specifically Wasilla, Alaska.

Breed Registration Statistics:

General Appearance- The Klee Kai is a small domestic dog, quick and light on his feet and free and graceful in motion. His moderately compact, well-furred body, erect ears and fox-like tail suggests his Northern heritage, as in the Siberian Husky His body proportions and form reflect his basic heritage of balance of power, speed and endurance. Pulling is a strong instinct and can be done in proportion even by this small dog. In proper condition the Klee Kai has well-developed firm muscles and does not carry excess weight.

Mask - The facial mask is a distinctive trait of this breed and must be clearly visible due to contrasting colors. Different combinations of mask markings are possible. A full mask being having contrasting color on the head, under the eyes, down the nose and framing the face, A three-quarter mask is the same but lacking color underneath the eyes. A half mask is lacking the color over and under the eyes, a Widow's Peak which is the least desirable has only contrasting color on the head and framing the face. The lighter contrasting facial area, must extend back to cover the jaw bones and down to cover the area under the chin. It is not mandatory, but is desirable to have light spots above the eyes. It is also mandatory to have a dark strip down the center of the muzzle. A blaze centered in the middle of the forehead and muzzle is allowed. The fur on the inside of the ears should be of the same lighter contrasting color as the facial mask.

DISQUALIFICATIONS: A muzzle the same color all the way down the nose, or having a small amount of contrasting color over the lips (as in a fox mask). The color under the eyes extends more than half of the way to the end of the nose (as in a non-existant or unbalanced mask.)

Size:

Height - is measured from the withers to the ground. The Klee Kai should be proportionate in size neither appearing too heavy or too thin.

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.
OVERSIZE - Over 17 inches up to and including 18 inches.

If an animal in this oversized category continually throws puppies who get too large for showing or breeding, then s/he should lose his/her breeding status but not showing status. If the owner breaks the ban on puppies for this animal then s/he will also lose his/her showing status.

DISQUALIFICATION: Dogs and Dames over 18 inches at the withers.

Weight - is in proportion to height.

The weights and measurements mentioned above represent the extreme height and weight limits, with no preference given to either extreme.

Head:

Eyes - Almond shaped or oval to moderately round, moderately spaced. The expression is keen, but friendly, interested and even mischievous, opened wide and bright.

Eye Color - may be brown or blue in color, one of each or parti- colored are acceptable.

Faults: - Eyes set too obliquely; set too close together, so round as to appear buldging.

Skull - Of small size and in proportion to the body, slightly rounded on top and tapering gradually from the widest point to the eyes. It should measure five-eights to one-half of head from stop to occiput. The stop must be clearly defined but not too steep. The lips should be tight fitting over a scissors bite.

Faults: - Head clumsy or too heavy for the body hinting at dwarfism. A major fault is a snow nose (pink streaked). A straight bite or a cross scissors bite is a fault.

DISQUALIFICATIONS: A nose any complete color other than black or chocolate in the case of a red coated dog.

Muzzle - Of medium length, that is, the distance from the tip of the nose to the stop is equal to the distance from the stop to the occiput or slightly less as in three-eights of the head. The stop is well-defined but not pronounced and should slope into the skull. The bridge is straight from the stop to the tip. The muzzle is of medium width, tapering gradually to the nose, with the tip neither too pointed nor too short and square. The lips are well-pigmented and close fitting, teeth closing in a scissors bite.

Faults: - Muzzle either too sharp or too broad, too short or too long, insufficient or prominent stop; any bite other than scissors.

DISQUALIFICATION: - Overshot or undershot jaw.

Nose - Black or chocolate in red dogs.

Ears - Of medium to slightly large size but in proportion, triangular in shape, close fitting and set high on the head. They are thick, well-furred, slightly arched at the back, and strongly erect, with slightly rounded tips pointing straight up and foxlike. The inside base of the ears should be straight up from between the center and inner edge of each eye.

Faults: - Ears too large in proportion to the head, too wide-set; not strongly erect or any color contrasting or not other than the contrasting color on the rest of the body.

DISQUALIFICATION: Ears that are not strongly erect.

Cosmetic Surgery is not allowed except that dew claws may be removed.

Color - All colors from black to lightest gray, sable in varying degrees, and all white is acceptable as long as the dog is not albino. Markings on all parts of the body must appear to be balanced and pleasing to the eye. A variety of markings is common, however, each side should mirror the other. The lips should be black except in the case of a red dog, then the lips may be chocolate.

DISQUALIFICATIONS: A white cape. Any markings on the coat that are not symmetrical. A dog of any solid color which results in no mask and/or no contrasting color on the legs and undertrim except a white dog unless it is albino. Definite contrasting spots anywhere on the coat (other than over the eyes, a blaze in the middle of the forehead or a white tip at the end of the tail).

Coat - The coat of the Klee Kai is double and normally medium in length though long-haired Klee Kai are perfectly acceptable, giving a well-furred appearance, but is never so long as to obscure the clean-cut outline of the dog. The undercoat is soft and dense and of sufficient length to support the outer coat. The guard hairs of the outer coat are straight and somewhat smooth-lying, never harsh nor standing straight off from the body. It should be noted that the absence of the undercoat during shedding season is normal. Trimming fur of the paws and between the toes to present a neater appearance is permissible. Trimming of the fur on any other part of the dog is not to be condoned and should be severely penalized.

Faults:­ Extremely long, rough or shaggy coat, texture too harsh or too flat, the coat being such as to obscure the shape of the dog and trimming of the coat, except as permitted above.

Temperament - The characteristic temperament is friendly but protective of territory and family, but is also alert and outgoing once introduced, is otherwise standoffish of strangers and is agressive toward trespassers whether human or animal. He is defensive with other dogs. His loyalty and loving nature make him a great companion.

BODY:

Neck - Medium in length, that is approximately one-third of body length, arched and carried proudly erect when dog is standing. When moving at a trot, the neck is extended so that the head is carried slightly forward.

Faults: - Neck too short and thick; neck too long.

Shoulders - The shoulder blade is well laid back as an angle of approximately 45 degrees to the ground. The upper arc angles slightly backward from point of shoulder to elbow, and is never perpendicular to the ground. The muscles and ligaments holding the shoulder to the rib cage are firm and well-developed.

Faults: - Straight shoulders; loose shoulders.

Chest - Deep and strong well muscled but not too broad, with the deepest point being just behind and slightly above the elbows to one-half of the distance from the whiters to ground. The ribs are well-sprung from the spine but are slightly rounded at the sides.

Faults: - Chest too broad, "barrel ribs"; ribs too flat or weak.

Back - The back is straight with a level topline from withers to croup. The length of the body from the sternum to the buttoks is an inch or two longer than the withers to the ground It may be neither cobby nor slack from being too long in the body. The loin is taut and lean, slightly narrower than the rib cage, and with a slight tuck-up. The croup sloped away from the spine at an angle, but never so steeply as to restrict the rearward thrust of the hind legs. In profile, it is of medium length giving an almost square appearance.

Faults: - Weak or slack back; roached back; sloping topline.

LEGS AND FEET:

Forelegs - When standing and viewed from the front, the legs are moderately spaced, parallel and straight, with elbows close to the body and turned neither in nor out. Viewed from the side, pasterns are slightly slanted, with pastern joint strong, but flexible. Bone is substantial, but never heavy or fragile. Length of the leg from elbow to ground is one half or slightly less than half the distance from withers to ground erring only to slightly long in the leg. Dewclaws on the forelegs and hindlegs may be removed.

Faults: - Weak pasterns, too heavy bone; too narrow or too wide in the front; elbows turned in or out. Bones so petite and fragile looking so as to defy the heritage of the Siberian Husky. Excessively long in the leg so as to look like stilts.

Hindquarters - When standing and viewed from the rear, the hind legs are moderately spaced and parallel. The upper thighs are well-muscled, the stifles well-bent, the hock joint well-defined and set low to the ground. Dewclaws (if any) should be removed. The overall picture of the hindquarters should exhibit some degree of power as the Klee Kai was originally developed from working breeds of the Artic regions.

Faults: - Too narrow or too wide in the rear.

Major faults: Are Straight stifles and cowhocks.

Feet - Oval in shape, but not long. The paws are small in size but not fragile looking, compact and well-furred between the toes and pads. The pads are tough and thickly cushioned. The paws turn neither in nor out when dog is in natural stance.

Faults: - Soft or splayed toes, paws too large and clumsy, paws too fragile, toeing in or out.

Tail - The tail should be moderately long with the tail bone terminating slightly longer than the hock when down, but at least long enough to curl over the back and still touch the back. It should be profusely covered with long hair. It should set on just below the level of the top line and carried forward over the back or over the back and to the side when alert, but sometimes dropped when at rest. It should not be high or low set and should be mobile and loose - not laying flat against the back.

FAULT: A tail that flags only.

TESTICLES: Male dogs must have had, and have been able to retain both testicles in the scrotal sac unless there has been accidental damage causing the dog to lose one or more. This fact must have been documented by a Vet.

Faults: - A double hook or laying flat on the back. The judge should see the tail over the back at least once during competition.

DISQUALIFICATIONS: A tail that is not long enough to curl up to touch the back.

Gait - The Klee Kai's characteristic gait is prancing or deerlike. The forelegs and hind legs are carried straight forward, with neither elbows nor stifles turned in or out. While the dog is gaiting, the topline remains firm and level.

Faults: - Lumbering or rolling gait; crossing, or crabbing.

Summary - The most important breed characteristics in the Klee Kai are toy to oversize in size, making both great house and lap dogs, small bone well-balanced proportions, ease and freedom of movement, proper coat, pleasing head and ears, the appearance of laughing at times of play, curled fox-like tail, intelligent demeaner and good family disposition. Any appearance of excessive bone or weight, constricted or clumsy gait, or long, rough coat should be penalized. In both sexes the Klee Kai gives the appearance of being quick but not light and fragile as to suggest a sprint-racing animal. He is a hunter; birds, squirrels, mice, etc. and is smart enough to overcome any of his shortcomings such as size, speed, etc.

In addition to the faults already noted, obvious structural faults common to all breeds are as undesirable in the Klee Kai as in any other breed, even though they are not specifically mentioned herein.

PUPPIES: Puppies are judged as closely to adult standards as possible. Unless the pup is a black and white it must be noted that Klee Kai puppies do not get their adult color until approximately six months of age. The density of the coat is not that of the adult for approximately one year. Occasionally the color under the eyes will show up at closer to one year old. The puppy's tail can change dramatically when the adult coat comes in. The mask; however, should be in place much earlier. Male puppies should have both testicles in the scrotal sac by six months of age.

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Notice to Klee Kai Owners regarding registrations

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More Klee Kai photos

Puppy Pictures.

Birth Announcements.

Pictures of Klee Kai and their people.

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Klee Kai available for Adoption

Eskimo Dictionary

The Home Carroll's Klee Kai

Klee Kai National Kennel Club