Last Updated on July 23, 2026 by Kieran Beckles
The question we get asked perhaps the most on social media is: “What is an Alaskan Klee Kai?“
My answer is usually some variation of this:
The Alaskan Klee Kai is a small companion dog recognized by the United Kennel Club and recorded in the AKC’s Foundation Stock Service. It’s a purebred dog developed in Alaska in the 1970s by an American lady called Linda Spurlin. While they look like miniature huskies, the Alaskan Klee Kai is a recognized breed that’s increasing in popularity.
Alaskan Klee Kai Breed At-A-Glance
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Size | Toy (<13 in), Miniature (13–15 in), Standard (15–17.5 in) |
| Weight | 6 to 25 lbs |
| Temperament | Intelligent, highly loyal, vocal, cautious with strangers |
| Lifespan | 13–16 years |
| Good for | You travel often |
Brief History of Alaskan Klee Kai
Spurlin was inspired to create the Klee Kai breed after she met a Husky mix called Curious who weighed just 17 pounds.
Spurlin met a dog called Curious while she was visiting family in Oklahoma. Her meeting with Curious inspired her to create a breed that resembled a Husky.
The Alaskan Klee Kai founder used Alaskan Husky, Siberian Husky, Schipperke and American Eskimo to create the initial stock of AKK.
She describes the Alaskan Husky as the Alaskan Klee Kai’s ancestors.
You can discover Copper and Skye's favorite dog food ranked here.
Key Traits & Personality
The Alaskan Klee Kai are companion dogs that become attached to family members, forming a strong bond with one member in particular. In our case, Skye is attached to Yasmin and Copper is attached to me.
They’re energetic dogs with big personalities, whether that comes through as being extremely vocal, like Copper or as sassy and stubborn, like Skye. They require lots of mental and physical stimulation.
Alaskan Klee Kai can be fussy dogs when it comes to their food, while many members of the breed are known to struggle with separation anxiety.
Every Alaskan Klee Kai is different, and my experience may differ from that of other Klee Kai owners. To prove my point, Skye is extremely outgoing with family and strangers, whereas Copper is cautious and shy around people he doesn’t know.
Learn more about the Alaskan Klee Kai breed standard.
Is it a Mini Husky or Pomsky?
Apart from viewers asking what an Alaskan Klee Kai is, the next two most common questions we get are “is that a mini husky” or “is that a pomsky”.
Klee Kai aren’t mini huskies or pomskies. Pomskies are the result of breeding between a Husky and a Pomeranian.
Alaskan Klee Kai are a purebred dog that was recently recognized and recorded in the American Kennel Club’s Foundation Stock Service.
I discuss the difference between a Klee Kai and a Pomsky in more detail in the video below on our YouTube channel.
Copper and Skye love having a den-like feel. Here are their favorite crates.
Kieran Beckles is an NCTJ-qualified journalist, a former pet nutrition student, and co-founder of Life With Klee Kai. He has been reviewing pet food and products since 2018, testing over 50+ brands, and has raised his dogs, Skye and Copper, since 2017. His work blends hands-on testing and nutrition knowledge to help pet owners make informed decisions.