Arctickkai

So you have seen or met your first Alaskan Klee Kai and fell in love with the beautiful pup and are thinking of adding one to your family.  Before buying a puppy of any breed you need to do some serious research and decide if dog ownership and the breed you are interested in is right for you.  Some things you should consider are:

• Do I have enough time to spend training and socializing a puppy?  AKK thrive on lots of love and attention.  It is not fair to buy a puppy and leave it alone day after day.  Most people work full time and that can be fine, but also think about what your schedule is when you are not working.  Will you have time to train a puppy?  Can you take him with you to work? Is doggy daycare an option?
• Can I afford to purchase and take care of a puppy?  AKK pups are expensive.  They are a rare breed and breeders work very hard to ensure the breed is healthy.  This requires several tests on adults before breeding.  AKK have small litters, usually 1-3 pups.  With the breed being new quality pups are always south after by other breeders seeking to improve the breed.  AKK pups are typically $1400 to $2400. With the price of a puppy being high you also need to be aware that there are many scammers out there.  If someone is offering a puppy that you can buy for $500 it is probably a scam.  Never send money to anyone before you do some research, talk to them on the phone, get a vet reference or look up their dogs on show results, a breed club site or meet them in person. Then there are the costs of vet care, annual wellness checks, preventative care such as heart worm tablets and teeth cleaning and the cost of food.  All things to consider before buying a puppy.
• Is my home puppy proof?  AKK pups are curious and can be destructive.  They can be big on chewing.  Look around, cords, shoes, candy…pretty much anything your puppy can reach will be seen as a toy to investigate and chew.  
• How will I exercise my AKK?  While AKK are a small dog they do have a lot of energy.  If you do not have a safe fenced yard, you will have to walk your AKK on a leash, they should not be let outside in an unfenced yard off leash as they are runners!  They are small and can be fearful of strangers, so off leash in a dog park my not be a good option as bigger dogs may hurt them and people trying to catch them can scare them.
• Is my yard escape proof?  AKK can be big escape artists.  They have lots of energy and will look for any hole or weak spot in a fenced yard.  Once out they can be extremely difficult to catch as they are naturally fearful of strangers and do not like being chased.  They can be hurt by bigger dogs or get hit by cars on a busy road, so it is extremely important that you have a safe escape proof yard for your AKK.
• Will my other pets be OK with an AKK?  Most AKK are good with cats and other dogs of a similar size.  Some AKK have a high prey drive and will kill chickens or small house birds and pets.
• Am I prepared for shedding?  AKK are small, but they do have a thick double coat that will come out in handfuls twice a year.  A warm bath and lots of combing to remove the dead coat is the best way to deal with this.  Make sure you get your puppy used to baths or the groomer at an early age!
• Am I prepared to train a dog?  If you have never owned a dog you probably do not realize what it takes to discipline and train a puppy.  Good dogs have been trained and socialized from an early age.  Dogs need to have a pack leader who is firm and fair as well as fun.  If you have never trained a dog be prepared to spend time at obedience classes where a trainer can see how you and your dog interact and answer your questions as your puppy is growing and learning.
• Everyone loves my AKK, can I breed him or her?  AKK pups draw a lot of attention and many people think they want one when they meet a well trained social dog.  Breeding should not be taken lightly.  First talk to the breeder you got your puppy from.  Do they feel the pup you purchased would have potential as a breeding dog?  They will know if the litter mates had any health problems and if the parents produced any health problems.  You will need to have your dog checked to see if there are any issues that could be passed on to pups.  Thyroid, heart, patellas tooth alignment and eye health should all be checked and certified before a dog is used for breeding.  Is there an suitable AKK to breed my dog to?  The AKK is a unique rare breed.  They should never be bred to Pomeranians, Huskies, Shibas, American Eskimo or any other breed.  This will only create a small mix breed pup and will not benefit the AKK breed.  If your friends are looking for a small mixed breed there are many available at shelters for a low cost and many have attractive masked faces and sweet personalities.
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