Last Updated on June 12, 2024 by Kieran Beckles

Are you thinking about getting an Alaskan Klee Kai but you’re worried they may be too loud?

The Alaskan Klee Kai is a relatively new breed when compared to other breeds that have been around for decades – if not centuries.

The Klee Kai was created in the 1970s by an American lady called Linda Spurlin before eventually being recognised as a breed by the United Kennel Club in 1997.

As a relatively new breed, it can sometimes be difficult to find accurate information about the Alaskan Klee Kai breed. However, as someone who has two Klee Kai, my goal is to shed light on these “mini huskies”.

In this article, I’m going to tackle the following question about AKK: Do Alaskan Klee Kai bark a lot?

Before we answer the questioned posed at the beginning of the article, I’ll briefly discuss the origins of the Alaskan Klee Kai before answering whether they bark a lot?

Alaskan Klee Kai History

The Alaskan Klee Kai breed was started by an American woman living in Alaska. Spurlin sought to create a husky-like dog that was more compact and smaller in size than the Alaskan Husky.

Spurlin adopted a undersized Husky called Curious and the interest generated by her dog prompted her to take on the challenge of creating a companion-sized dog that embodied the same traits.

The founding breed of the Alaskan Klee Kai is the Alaskan Husky, who were known for their good temperament, undoubted tenacity and superb versatility.

Spurlin is thought to have mixed Alaskan Husky with Siberian Husky, Schipperke and American Eskimo Dog to refine her new breed that she called Klee Kai.

By 1997, the Alaskan Klee Kai breed was recognised by the UKC. These “mini huskies” have also achieved recognition with the Federation of International Canines, the American Rare Breed Association and the Alaskan Klee Kai Association of America.

At the time of writing, there is thought to be over 16,000 Alaskan Klee Kai in the world but they still haven’t been granted status by the American Kennel Club despite featuring on their breed directory on their website.

Barking

It’s important to start this section by emphasising every dog is different. While some dogs of the same breed will share traits, no two dogs are the same so you should keep this in mind.

I’ll be addressing the question of whether Alaskan Klee Kai bark a lot by drawing on my firsthand experience of owning Copper and Skye.

In my experience, the Alaskan Klee Kai aren’t excessive barkers but you can expect them to bark a fair bit depending on the circumstances and the environment.

For instance, Copper and Skye are do bark a bit as they’re good watchdogs. So if they hear a knock on the door or they see movement outside the home, they’ll typically raise the alarm.

With their erect pointed ears, they’re sensitive to noises outside the front door, back door or window. This may or may not be a problem depending on where you live.

Fortunately, we’ve never had any noise complaints from our neighbours despite Copper and Skye occasionally barking in the apartment.

From speaking to other Alaskan Klee Kai owners about their experiences, it seems that this is a very common trait amongst the breed as they’re alert dogs.

Noise Levels

Like I said earlier in the article, every dog is different. So there are different occasions when Copper and Skye will bark and react.

For instance, Copper has a high prey drive and he’ll bark when he sees a cat, a squirrel, a rabbit, a fox – anything that moves! It doesn’t matter whether he’s inside or outside, if he can spot a moving animal, he’ll usually vocalise his excitement or desire to pursue.

He’s also very talkative so he enjoys conversing with both. Depending on whether he wants some food, he wants to go outside or he wants to play, Copper will vocalise his emotions (of which there are many!).

Skye, on the other hand, isn’t talkative like Copper but she does stretch her vocal chords when she’s excitement about a visitor. While Copper will head to his bed because he’s shy, Skye will squeal with glee.

Her prey drive isn’t as high as Copper’s but she is more reactive than her brother when she encounters other dogs. She’ll usually start to bark because of over excitement. This might be an issue if you live in a complex with other dogs.

What Do Other Klee Kai Owners Say?

secret-bee520: “Blizzard, my Klee Kai talks every morning in the kitchen when he wants a treat or when my husband comes home from work he’s always seeming to greet him with a ‘Hello.’ It’s the cutest cutest sound that this breed in particular makes! Siberian Huskies do as well, I believe.”

dvineownage: “Mine talks a lot, but it is more of a provokable thing rather than at random. She will make herself heard if need be though. Especially for potty time or walks.”

j-raydiate: “Mine does this only when I get home from work for the first 2-3 mins. He has to tell me all about his day in great detail! Then he is quiet all evening and the next morning when I leave. I’ll always see him in the window watching me leave though.”

blackoctober25: “Mine screams at me if she feels I am not giving adequate belly rubs. She’s so darn cute though so I can’t really do anything other than give in and give more belly rubs. What can I say? She owns me”

Wrapping Up – Our Final Conclusion

So there we have it, we’ve answered the question of whether Alaskan Klee Kai barks a lot. In my experience, they’re moderate barkers.

So if you’re thinking about getting an Alaskan Klee Kai, you should be prepared for them to bark. While they won’t be excessive barkers, they’ve got a watch dog mentality and they’ll raise the alarm if they see or suspect movement at the front door or outside your home.

Alternatively, they’ve got big personalities so they’re quick to express their feelings. If you live in an apartment complex or have neighbours close by, you may want to keep this in mind.