The year of 1986 was the beginning of a great change in the lives of the Gregory household. We went to Alaska to visit with our daughters, and were introduced to Linda S. Spurlin and her miniature Alaskan Huskies. I could not get these little dogs out of my mind, and was really fortunate to obtain one in January of 1988. Shortly after that the breed was given the name Klee Kai of Alaska, which was later changed to Alaskan Klee Kai. We began working with the breed, organizing a Board of Directors, educating people about the dogs and laying in the foundation stock for our own kennels. We lived in Colorado Springs, and there was a limit on how many dogs a household could have, so we began looking for property in Eastern El Paso County, where there was no zoning to keep us from starting our breeding kennel. We were really lucky to find 10 acres, with a house ready to move into. We jokingly tell people that we bought a four bedroom dog house which our dogs allow us to share.

The words "Klee Kai" were developed by studying and changing different Eskimo words that mean "little dog". Since we did not plan on having more than three or four breeding dogs, we named our property "Klee Kai Kennelette" as it was a little kennel for little dogs. We started with one dog, and we now usually have 30 dogs, so I guess the "Kennelette" part of our name is a bit outdated.

It is a good thing that we are both retired, as the construction and re-construction of the kennels, the care of the dogs, and the maintaining of the breed records consumes all of our time. Our dogs live in mobile homes with inside kennels containing their electric water dishes and their automatic feeders, and room to sleep. Each inside kennel (see photo below) has a doggy door that enters concrete outside runs (see photo below) that are eight feet wide and twelve feet long. The runs are constructed with two gates at the end, and a double side panel. This way, when another run is needed, we just move the side panel to the center to change it into two 4 x 12 runs. The concrete pad is sloped so that water runs towards a trough which drains into a septic system. To keep stray dogs, coyotes and other predators out we covered the runs with a roof of corrugated metal and fiberglass panels to afford shade and light from above as well as from the front of the runs. There is also a four foot wide concrete walkway along the front of the runs. This is all tied together with an exterior 6 foot chain link fence. In the winter time, when we are expecting a Colorado Blizzard, my husband hangs fiberglass panels on the exterior fence in an attempt to keep the runs from blowing full of snow. There is a large fenced play yard for the dogs to exercise in. In each building there are interior kennels that are designed to be puppy quarters, but we have never used these as our puppies are all raised in the house, but it is nice to know we have them there in case of need.

Interior Kennel View (Click photo to enlarge) This photo demonstrates the interior sleeping quarters. These quarters each contain a small door (not shown) that leads to the covered exterior runs.

. Exterior Kennel View (Click photo to enlarge) This photo demonstates the 4 foot concrete path that runs along the front of covered exterior runs. The runs are 8' X 12' and completely covered by fiberglass and corrugated metal panels.

Our expectant mothers are brought to our house about two weeks prior to anticipated delivery date. Temperatures are taken morning and evening, and when the temperature drops we cancel all appointments and stay home so we are present during birthing. Puppies are born in our bedroom, and they live there until they are two weeks old and the eyes open. Then Mother and babies are moved to a larger kennel in our living area where they live until the puppies are walking and wrestling with each other. Then they move to a six foot by six foot exercise pen in the puppy room which is attached to our house. Daily they come from the puppy room into the dining room and kitchen area for socialization and play time. Remember, I told you we bought a four bedroom dog house!

Klee Kai Kennelette is in Peyton, Colorado which is about 35 miles East of Colorado Springs. Our neighbors have been very tolerant of us and offer to care for our dogs if we need to leave town for a weekend or so. They tell us that if our dogs start barking excessively they always check to see what is the matter. It does get noisy whenever they see me coming or going, or if a stray dog is in the area, or if I have guests that are in the kennel area.

"Greg" and Eileen Gregory

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