"D E A R    L I N D A" spurlin@theofficenet.com

Specific questions about the Alaskan Klee Kai and/or general questions about breeding, obedience and agility are welcome here. This is your space to "SPEAK". When I receive questions that I believe represent the general interest, I will publish responses to those questions in part, or in their entirety on these pages so that others may gain a similar perspective. If you prefer to remain anonymous, please advise me of that intention in your email message. The opinions expressed herein are my own and they should not be misinterpreted to represent the opinions of the Alaskan Klee Kai Association of America nor the United Kennel Club.

"Looking back, is there anything you would have done differently? Overall, did things turn out as you expected them to? Maybe you should write a book about the breed and your experiences in developing it. Any plans for something like that?"
Lisa

Yes Lisa, to be honest, I would do things differently if I were to have the chance to do them over again. I probably would not have combined some of the breeds that I used in the beginning. For example, since I originally wrote the Breed Standards to exclude solid black or solid white from the breeding program, I would exclude the dogs that I originally bred because that choice allowed this to occasionally reappear. I wanted a little husky with perfectly symmetrical markings, including a facial mask. I realize that color doesn't make the dog, but I do believe you can have a good dog with good coloring too.As for wondering if things turned out as I expected them to; life just isn't always what we expect. I became disillusioned with many things, including the difficulties of dealing with a Board of Directors, allowing Breeding Privileges to dogs according to the Breed Standards instead of my
common sense, and the knowledge that people were beginning to breed the dogs for 'Show' instead of just to be companions. I no longer own or breed Alaskan Klee Kai, but do remain on the Board of Directors as 'Breed Advisor'. And no, I have no immediate plans for a book, but since it has been
suggested several times, I think I will have to start considering it! - L.S.

"In your "World of the Alaskan Klee Kai" you make reference to 'not giving your grandma's secret recipes' in regards to not telling people what breeds you used to make up this dog of yours. Why is that?"
Janet Ranee
Houston, TX

When I first started having people coming into my backyard to see the little huskies, it was common for them to ask me what I 'put into them'. They couldn't seem to accept that this was a 'real' breed of dog, that ALL breeds of dogs were man made. Sighthounds, scenthounds, guardian breeds, herding
dogs, working breeds, were all created by man for his own best interests- according to the task he needed help with at the time. And yet when I asked the people in return what breeds went into the making of whatever dog they owned, the majority of them looked shocked at the thought that their own breed had perhaps been created by other than God himself! Just because their breed was created several hundred years ago in Europe doesn't mean it wasn't created by man by mixing other existing breeds together for a specific purpose. So I began to joke about it and said that I just washed the dogs in hot water and they shrunk! Some laughed. Some apparently thought I was
full of it! Then a woman made the comment that 'my grandmother doesn't give out her secret recipes, and neither do I"! I thought this was probably more appropriate than suggesting they shrunk in the dryer, so I began to use the comment. I simply saw no reason to try to explain all the breeds used in the creation of the Alaskan Klee Kai. Mostly, I suppose, because I was tired of the implication that they were 'just mutts'. Certainly the first one was an accident (and not my own either) but when you can reproduce the same dog consistently, you are on the road to creating a breed. There are several other American made breeds, such as the Boston Terrier, the Australian Shepherd, and the Louisiana Catahoula Leopard Dog to name only a few. So although the Alaskan Klee Kai has been recognized as a breed by the United Kennel Club, the American Rare Breed Association, etc., I realize there are those who still worry about the ancestors of these little huskies. I decorate my home as I wish, without concern as to what my German ancestors would have done. Maybe in time people will just accept these little dogs as companionable lap warmers and stop worrying about their relatives.- L.S.

"I grew up on a farm and think it gave me a healthy view on birth, life and death. I want to get a dog for my kids so they can see the pups born. I think this should be a cool way to explain sex and birth on their level. Does this breed have any problems giving birth, or would this be a good dog for us to get.?
John Doe USA

My biggest concern would be that since I openly advocate and encourage the spay and neuter of dogs in an effort to control the over population of unwanted pets in the world, I do not encourage the majority of people to breed their pets. Breeding a family pet is never the way to introduce children to the miracle of birth. There are wonderful books and videos available that can show
this, without subjecting more pets to uncertain futures. If you have researched the Alaskan Klee Kai, you are also aware that there are certain breeding criteria that must be met before an Alaskan Klee Kai can even be bred. In a long standing effort to breed only quality dogs in order to continue to upgrade the breed, many people can become frustrated with the strict breeding rules regarding the Alaskan Klee Kai. As for birthing problems, the Alaskan Klee Kai has no more problems than the
average breed. In all my years of breeding, only two of my females had to have cesareans.-L.S.

"Question of the day- why don't you allow all white Klee Kai to breed? I
think white dogs would be beautiful!"

I agree that white dogs are beautiful. American Eskimos are adorable. Samoyeds are great dogs. Great Pyrenees are wonderful. If you want a white dog, check out one of these breeds because white is not an acceptable color in the standards for the Alaskan Klee Kai by either the United Kennel Club nor the Alaskan Klee Kai Association of America. Because the solid white color is an extreme fault in the Alaskan Klee Kai, it is therefore only sold with a spay or neuter contract in an attempt to discourage this color from repeating in the future. The typical Alaskan Klee Kai is either grey and white or black and white. The reasoning is simple. The huskies I grew up with in Alaska all had beautiful masks and were either black and white or grey and white. Therefore having grown up with this mental picture of a husky, I could only visualize the miniature version in the same colors. A white dog is a white dog is a white dog...(and another breed). - L.S.

"We live in Florida and are interested in knowing if the little huskies could adapt to the heat here?"
(Name withheld)

They probably would. Are you also aware that being a northern breed, these dogs have a thick double coat and do shed quite a bit. Over the years I have sent two Alaskan Klee Kai to California and both have done quite well despite the extreme heat. They simply grow a thinner coat in warmer
climates, but still retain their tendency to shed. There are also a large number of AKK in Colorado, New Mexico, and other 'warmer states'. But as with ANY breed of dog, please be sure your pet has shade and water! - L.S.

"Just as 'clothes don't make the man', I don't understand your concern with symmetrical markings. I would think that conformation and personality would be of far greater interest to you than a variation in markings. Siberians don't have to have symmetrical markings either."
John Akers
New York State

I would be the first to agree with you in that conformation and personality should be of primary concern in any breeding program. However I believe that an Alaskan Klee Kai breeder can have it all, conformation, personality, and symmetrical markings! May I point out that it is my understanding from talking with a person that raises Irish Setters, that the Irish Setter was originally red and white
until those who favored the solid red began to breed the red and whites out. Now the original red and white is apparently a whole separate registry which had to be started all over again after they nearly disappeared! And I'll be darned if after talking to Pit Bull and Staffordshire Terrier people, if I can figure out any difference besides the name and the color of the noses! The point here is that color has been an issue in several breeds and probably will continue to be. And since the Alaskan Klee Kai (and its coloring) was my dream, if I had so chosen for them to be green with purple
trim- then so they would be. (However if they were, I can assure you they would also have good conformation and personalities!) I believe you CAN have your cake and eat it too! And by the way, the Siberian people are welcome to have their dogs any color that meets their standards. The Alaskan Klee Kai is NOT a miniature Siberian. - L.S.

"I recently saw on another website that you have dogs in your pedigrees that your Standards say are not allowed to be there. What do you have to say about this?"
Shannon
Renton, WA

You are correct in your observation. Since this newly developed breed was developed by myself, (and I kept good records), and was not created 500 years ago in another country where the records were eventually lost, I can see where people could easily be confused by the names on the pedigrees. Certain breeds, and colors, were used in the beginning to develop this breed. But it doesn't mean if I had it to do over again that I would do it the same way. It took many many generations of breeding, and culling, to make the Alaskan Klee Kai what it is today. Now after watching the breed develop over the years, it is much easier to look back and make observations
as to what may or may not have worked the same or better. And, contrary to popular opinion, this breed like many other breeds, still has room for improvement. If breeders would breed only the best, and spay/neuter the other 99%, the dog world could be vastly improved. But if you are going to worry about the past, look at mincemeat pie. If I told my kids that people used to make it with venison, they would probably never look at Thanksgiving dinner the same again! - L.S.

"What was the reason for having an 'oversize' category in the AKK Standards?"

Considering the fact that the Alaskan Klee Kai was developed by mixing in the Alaskan Husky and Siberians along with smaller breeds, there were many years of a variety of sizes of puppies in the resulting litters. If there were puppies of outstanding conformation and lighter bone structure that
were still larger than my goal, I occasionally bred those larger females with smaller males in hopes of producing pups more to my satisfaction. Assuming of course, that they had the 'smaller dog genes' to pass on. Logically then, one would not breed two larger 'oversize' dogs if the goal is to produce a smaller size. It was often suggested that there be a 'toy', 'miniature', and 'standard' size, and to go by height instead of weight as I did in the beginning. While this had obviously always been the eventual
goal, it was not feasible in the beginning. I had to weigh and measure one heck of a lot of dogs before I could come up with the data to create these categories. With the help of many willing owners, enough information was eventually collected to make the Standards read as they exist today. The term 'oversize' should suggest to you that while it was used for a purpose, it was not the most desirable size.

"Would you please recommend a breeder for us to contact? Like, who would you get one from if you were me?"

Sorry, but I cannot in good faith do this. If you will read the article I wrote entitled "The World of the Alaskan Klee Kai" which is on this website and was reprinted in the April issue of Bloodlines magazine, you will see that I suggest strongly that prospective owners visit the homes of the breeders, discuss expectations and paperwork, and meet the puppies parents. Therefore different breeders and different prospective buyers may or may not 'click'. While admittedly there are people breeding many breeds of dogs that I would not consider buying a puppy from, I do not feel it is my place here to suggest those individual's shortcomings. Different breeders have different requirements for buyers, and many have waiting lists for people wanting a particular color or sex. I would suggest you contact several breeders until you find the breeder and puppy for you. And then I hope you will choose to get that puppy spayed or neutered when you do get it, regardless of its quality. - L.S.