Alaskan Klee KAi - Personality Traits

The Alaskan Klee Kai is NOT as gregarious as other Husky breeds, they are by nature extremely loving to family and people they know well BUT also extremely reserved of strangers.

This is both a good and a not so good thing. An AKK will not likely go willingly with people they do not know really well. But also makes catching an escaped AKK much more difficult.

Their reserved nature means that AKK need to be intensely socialized as pups. Socialization should / must continue into early adulthood.

Socialized NOT only to people who come into your home, but to groomers, veterinarians, boarding kennel employees and people on the street.

As important, Alaskan Klee Kai need lots of socializing to and with other dogs and other animals.

AKK do have a strong prey drive like other northern breeds, so they should not be trusted off-lead since they do consider squirrels, rabbits, mice, and birds fair game.

The AKK is extremely intelligent and a fast learner. But also an independent thinker with a mischievous streak. A bored AKK can be a destructive AKK. Crate training = Definite Plus.

Truly, the Alaskan Klee Kai is an attention getter and their presence in a public area will likely result in crowds of people wanting to find out more about them AND wanting to meet and pet them.

Alaskan Klee Kai, in general, have a tendency to shrink away from people they don't know but this tendency is even greater when it comes to strangers hovering or bending over them to pet them.

It is strongly recommended that one moves, kneels and gestures slowly towards the AKK, stretching out one’s hand palm side down and under the AKK’s chin.

While prone to the 'husky' escape artist behavior (by digging, jumping, and / or climbing), the Alaskan Klee Kai who literally lives to be with their owner is less like other Husky breeds to run so far so fast that they forget where they came from. But AKK will wander and horrible accidents can happen right in front of the house.

Alaskan Klee Kai are by nature quite territorial and will provide 'early alarm' by barking to warn owners of people and animals approaching their home. When behind a fence or inside the home the AKK's territorial and protective nature can make them somewhat "nippy".

Very vocal, the AKK will do community sings as well as quiet chats with their owners. They will make you listen to their tales of the day when you first come home, and will sass back. They truly have an enormous vocal repertoire.