# Alaskan Klee Kai
The **Alaskan Klee Kai** is a small companion dog breed developed in Alaska between the early 1970s and 1988 by Linda Spurlin and her family, intended as a companion-sized version of the Alaskan Husky sled dog[1](https://vgl.ucdavis.edu/sites/g/files/dgvnsk15116/files/media/documents/AlaskanKleeKai20191008_0.pdf). It is often called a "mini husky" because of its husky-like masked face, erect triangular ears, and thick double coat, but it is a separate, purpose-bred companion breed rather than a small [Siberian Husky](https://www.edgepedia.org/siberian-husky)[2](https://askthepaw.com/dogs/dog-breeds/alaskan-klee-kai/). The name comes from Alaskan Athabaskan words meaning "little dog"[3](https://www.akkcoa.org/_files/ugd/d32624_19080275506d4484a7157eab1fbb6ccf.pdf).
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Origin | Developed in Alaska from the early 1970s to 1988 by Linda Spurlin and her family[1](https://vgl.ucdavis.edu/sites/g/files/dgvnsk15116/files/media/documents/AlaskanKleeKai20191008_0.pdf) |
| Foundation stock | Purportedly a limited number of crosses between only 9 dogs: several Siberian and Alaskan Huskies, a Schipperke, and an American Eskimo Dog[1](https://vgl.ucdavis.edu/sites/g/files/dgvnsk15116/files/media/documents/AlaskanKleeKai20191008_0.pdf) |
| Sizes | Toy (up to 13 in), Miniature (over 13 to 15 in), Standard (over 15 to 17 in) at the withers[1](https://vgl.ucdavis.edu/sites/g/files/dgvnsk15116/files/media/documents/AlaskanKleeKai20191008_0.pdf) |
| AKC averages | Height 12–17 inches, weight 6–25 lbs, life expectancy 13–16 years[4](https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/alaskan-klee-kai/) |
| Colors | Three varieties: black with white, gray with white, and red with white, with a contrasting symmetrical facial mask[4](https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/alaskan-klee-kai/) |
| Recognition | American Rare Breed Association 1995; United Kennel Club January 1, 1997; AKC Foundation Stock Service October 2020[5](https://akkaob.org/breed-history-2/) • [4](https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/alaskan-klee-kai/) |
| Temperament | Intelligent, alert, curious, and talkative; reserved with unfamiliar people and situations[6](https://www.akc.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Alaskan-Klee-Kia-Standard-9.22.22-.pdf) |
## History
The breed's developer traced its roots to the native dogs of Alaska, which hauled sleds, hunted, and served as early-warning animals for thousands of years. In the late 1940s, Alaskan mushers developed these village dogs into the Alaskan Husky, an intelligent and hardworking sled dog[3](https://www.akkcoa.org/_files/ugd/d32624_19080275506d4484a7157eab1fbb6ccf.pdf).
**The Spurlin program.** In the early 1970s, the Ken Spurlin family in Fairbanks began breeding smaller huskies after an accidental mating between one of their sled dogs and a neighbor's small unregistered dog, thought to be an [American Eskimo Dog](https://www.edgepedia.org/american-eskimo-dog), produced husky markings on a smaller dog. Linda Spurlin later took a little gray and white female called "Curious" back to Alaska from family in Oklahoma, and built a breeding program around developing a smaller-sized version of the Alaskan Husky, selecting for health, structure, temperament, soundness, and size[3](https://www.akkcoa.org/_files/ugd/d32624_19080275506d4484a7157eab1fbb6ccf.pdf). According to the Veterinary Genetics Laboratory at the [University of California, Davis](https://www.edgepedia.org/university-of-california-davis), Linda Spurlin and her family alone created the breed from the early 1970s through 1988, drawing on just 9 dogs in a small set of matings: several Siberian and Alaskan Huskies, a [Schipperke](https://www.edgepedia.org/schipperke), and an American Eskimo Dog.[1](https://vgl.ucdavis.edu/sites/g/files/dgvnsk15116/files/media/documents/AlaskanKleeKai20191008_0.pdf) The first official Alaskan Klee Kai puppy was sold in 1987[7](https://alaskankleekai.org/en-usd).
**Recognition.** In 1988 Linda Spurlin and Eileen Gregory of Colorado began working together to gain recognition for the breed and created what became the Alaskan Klee Kai Association of America; the early registry required every dog to pass an Adult Evaluation Exam to qualify as breeding stock[3](https://www.akkcoa.org/_files/ugd/d32624_19080275506d4484a7157eab1fbb6ccf.pdf). The breed was recognized by the American Rare Breed Association in 1995 and received full recognition from the [United Kennel Club](https://www.edgepedia.org/united-kennel-club) on January 1, 1997, which became its primary registry for over two decades[5](https://akkaob.org/breed-history-2/) • [8](https://www.furrycritter.com/pages/descriptions/dogs/k/klee_kai.htm). The [American Kennel Club](https://www.edgepedia.org/american-kennel-club) accepted the breed into its Foundation Stock Service in October 2020, allowing AKC record-keeping but not full recognition[4](https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/alaskan-klee-kai/) • [9](https://www.furrycritter.com/pages/descriptions/dogs/a/alaskan_klee_kai.htm), and the breed became eligible to compete in the AKC Miscellaneous class at conformation events on June 25, 2025[10](https://images.akc.org/pdf/gazette/july-2025.pdf). By 2020, according to Spurlin's account, the breed was present in Alaska, throughout the continental United States, in Hawaii, and in twenty other countries[3](https://www.akkcoa.org/_files/ugd/d32624_19080275506d4484a7157eab1fbb6ccf.pdf).
## Appearance and breed standard
The UKC and AKC standards describe a small, well-proportioned companion dog with a level topline, a body slightly longer than tall, a wedge-shaped head, erect triangular ears, a well-furred double coat, and a loosely curled tail that reflect its arctic heritage[6](https://www.akc.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Alaskan-Klee-Kia-Standard-9.22.22-.pdf). Height is 12 to 17 inches at the withers, with over 17.5 inches a disqualification[6](https://www.akc.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Alaskan-Klee-Kia-Standard-9.22.22-.pdf). The breed comes in the three size varieties of toy, miniature, and standard[1](https://vgl.ucdavis.edu/sites/g/files/dgvnsk15116/files/media/documents/AlaskanKleeKai20191008_0.pdf).
The most distinctive characteristic is the contrasting symmetrical facial mask and body markings, in three color varieties: black with white, gray with white, and red with white[4](https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/alaskan-klee-kai/). The standard requires white on the inside of the ears, lower face and jaw, cheeks, throat, chest, abdomen, legs, feet, and underside of the tail, and treats asymmetrical markings, a missing mask, or a solid coat without contrasting markings as disqualifications[6](https://www.akc.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Alaskan-Klee-Kia-Standard-9.22.22-.pdf). Eyes may be any color or combination of colors, and the breed is shown in its natural state, with trimming permitted only around the feet[6](https://www.akc.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Alaskan-Klee-Kia-Standard-9.22.22-.pdf).
## Temperament and care
The breed standard describes the Alaskan Klee Kai as intelligent, alert, curious, and talkative, with a sensitive and reserved nature around unfamiliar people and situations, so positive reinforcement and early socialization are important[6](https://www.akc.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Alaskan-Klee-Kia-Standard-9.22.22-.pdf). The AKC characterizes the breed as loyal, intelligent, and vigilant, and notes that Klee Kai "talk" with howling, grumbling, yodeling, purring, and chirping[4](https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/alaskan-klee-kai/). Compared with the Siberian Husky, the Klee Kai is generally less outgoing and can be skittish, while Siberians tend to excel in social situations[11](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=34HOhEhpC6g). The UKC standard notes that loyalty and alertness make the breed effective watchdogs that may be territorial despite their small size[12](https://www.ukcdogs.com/alaskan-klee-kai).
## Klee Kai versus the "mini husky"
The Alaskan Klee Kai is frequently confused with the so-called Miniature Husky, but the two are different dogs. The Klee Kai is a recognized breed, down-bred from the Alaskan Husky sled dog with Schipperke and American Eskimo Dog ancestry, and bred for companionship from the start[13](https://adk-akk.com/assets/pdf_files/Info%20Packet.pdf) • [9](https://www.furrycritter.com/pages/descriptions/dogs/a/alaskan_klee_kai.htm). The "miniature husky" is not a recognized breed: it describes a smaller Siberian Husky bred selectively for reduced size, or a husky crossbreed, and no purebred Siberian Husky is naturally miniature[14](https://www.huskyspot.com/breeds/mini-husky-guide) • [15](https://a-z-animals.com/pets/dogs/dog-comparison/miniature-husky-vs-klee-kai-2/). Miniature huskies share the Siberian's traits but do not meet the Siberian Husky breed standard's size requirements[16](https://www.cuteness.com/article/difference-husky-amp-klee-kai/). Buyer guides therefore advise treating any seller who advertises a miniature Siberian Husky and an Alaskan Klee Kai as equivalent with caution[17](https://www.petful.com/dog-breeds/alaskan-klee-kai-vs-husky/).
## Genetic diversity
The UC Davis Veterinary Genetics Laboratory has developed a short tandem repeat (STR) marker panel for the breed, covering 33 STR loci across the genome plus markers linked to the DLA class I and II immune regions, to help breeders track and increase the breed's genetic diversity as a long-term goal[1](https://vgl.ucdavis.edu/sites/g/files/dgvnsk15116/files/media/documents/AlaskanKleeKai20191008_0.pdf). The small founding population of roughly nine dogs makes such monitoring relevant to a young breed built from a limited gene pool[1](https://vgl.ucdavis.edu/sites/g/files/dgvnsk15116/files/media/documents/AlaskanKleeKai20191008_0.pdf).
## References
1. [Genetic Diversity Testing for Alaskan Klee Kai, UC Davis Veterinary Genetics Laboratory](https://vgl.ucdavis.edu/sites/g/files/dgvnsk15116/files/media/documents/AlaskanKleeKai20191008_0.pdf)
2. [Alaskan Klee Kai: Mini Husky Breed Guide, Size & Price, AskThePaw](https://askthepaw.com/dogs/dog-breeds/alaskan-klee-kai/)
3. [Alaskan Klee Kai History for American Kennel Club FSS Consideration, by Linda S. Spurlin, AKKCOA](https://www.akkcoa.org/_files/ugd/d32624_19080275506d4484a7157eab1fbb6ccf.pdf)
4. [Alaskan Klee Kai, Dog Breed Information, American Kennel Club](https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/alaskan-klee-kai/)
5. [Breed History, Alaskan Klee Kai Association of British Columbia](https://akkaob.org/breed-history-2/)
6. [Official Standard of the Alaskan Klee Kai, AKC (approved 09/02/2022)](https://www.akc.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Alaskan-Klee-Kia-Standard-9.22.22-.pdf)
7. [Cordell & Klee Kai, Alaskan Klee Kai Products & Rescue Support](https://alaskankleekai.org/en-usd)
8. [Klee Kai, Complete Breed Guide, Furry Critter Network](https://www.furrycritter.com/pages/descriptions/dogs/k/klee_kai.htm)
9. [alaskan klee kai - complete breed guide | furry critter network](https://www.furrycritter.com/pages/descriptions/dogs/a/alaskan_klee_kai.htm)
10. [The AKC Gazette, July 2025](https://images.akc.org/pdf/gazette/july-2025.pdf)
11. [Alaskan Klee Kai or Siberian Huskies? Discover 12 Important Differences, Life With Klee Kai (YouTube, 2023)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=34HOhEhpC6g)
12. [Breed Standards: Alaskan Klee Kai, United Kennel Club](https://www.ukcdogs.com/alaskan-klee-kai)
13. [Helderberg Huskies Alaskan Klee Kai Info Packet](https://adk-akk.com/assets/pdf_files/Info%20Packet.pdf)
14. [Mini Husky: Complete Guide to the Small Husky Lookalike, HuskySpot](https://www.huskyspot.com/breeds/mini-husky-guide)
15. [Miniature Husky vs. Klee Kai, A-Z Animals](https://a-z-animals.com/pets/dogs/dog-comparison/miniature-husky-vs-klee-kai-2/)
16. [Difference Between the Miniature Husky & A Klee Kai, Cuteness](https://www.cuteness.com/article/difference-husky-amp-klee-kai/)
17. [Alaskan Klee Kai vs. Husky: Size, Temperament, and Care, Petful](https://www.petful.com/dog-breeds/alaskan-klee-kai-vs-husky/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Life and health › Animals › Vertebrates › Mammals › Carnivorans › Domestic dog breeds › Toy and companion breeds*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 21, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Last review: Oct 21, 2026*
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License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license