Alaskan Klee Kai General Chat

Have you considered Vallhunds, or Buhunds? They've got that spitzy foxy look, but there are good responsible breeders out there. Plus you are not limited to which shows to can take them to, as they a recognised breeds. They are generally healthy and long lived, too.

I am hoping that my daughter will want to be more involved with dogs as she gets older (she is five). In which case I may look into getting a Vallhund, as they are like little Elkhounds and are in the same group as my Estrela, so we could show together. I totally agree that it is good for kids to learn to raise animals, and as you say the dog would be a part of the whole family, not a toy for your daughter. Good luck with your search!

Thank you

The first time we talked about her getting a dog was just after xmas, I told her that she needs to prove she is responsable enough to have one by helping me care for the dogs we already have. Since then she has helped with every aspect of canine day to day care, inc scrubbing out the kennel. I don't intend on getting her one till after we move next year, so it's not something that we are rushing into.

i will go look at the breeds you have suggested, thank you

Don think the Klee Kai are recognised here, so any serious showing would be a no go.

I've had to Google it as I've never heard of that breed before! They are quite pretty, what a shame they have so many possible defects.:-(

A friend who i used to go to ringcraft has an Alaskan Klee Kai. He is gorgeous, like a little Mal or something lol

I have a picture on a photobucket album somewhere, i shall try to dig it out.

I know she said they are very hard to get hold of (expect a 3 year waiting list!!) and very expensive. Not for everyone as you cant trust them off a lead and they are VERY noisy and destructive. Hers was a sweetie, but they are sometimes wary of strangers. That said, we dog-sat her klee kai and german spitz whilst they went to crufts a couple of years ago. The Klee Kai had never been in our house before and he just made himself at home, sat on the sofa and was very well behaved

They can be shown in America i think, certainly not over here though and wont be for the forseeable future as theres only a few breeders.

Thank you for posting

A good freind of mind bought my daughter a huge book of dog breeds for Christmas, and I think she has settled on a Sheltie, but as it will be many months before she gets a pup this might change ;-) .

As sweet as they are, I have decided not to get a Klee Kai because of all the health problems, I really don't want to get involve with another breed with such a high count of inherited illness.

Sadly, i think all breeds will have a fair number of inherited illnesses (im sure Shelties have their own problems as well) so its just down to careful research and checking out the breeders to make sure they are testing their breeding stock.

Just thought i'd put that so people dont think all Klee Kai breeders are producing unhealthy dogs

How about a Finnish Spitz? Lovely dogs, foxy looking and not too big. (I'm going to have one, one day )

Well done to your little girl for being so committed, my kids love the dogs but seriously whinge about walking them.

Incidentally there have been a few threads on the Klee Kai on Dogsey, another Dogsey user had met 4, all with temperament problems, like you I was interested until I found out a bit more about them, see this thread...

http://www.dogsey.com/showthread.php?t=93551

J

Aww thank you

I am so proud of my girl, and must admit I didn't think she would work so hard at helping me with our dogs, or for so long. She is such a motivated kid, it is so heart warming to see, she really gives a damb. She also goes horse riding too when ever I can aford it, as a horse person myself, I find it amazing how natural she looks on a horse, and the other kids too. I spoke to the lady that is teaching her, and she says that kids pick up and feel body laugue better and sooner than aduts, so see's and feels things almost instantly and therefore react fast so have better timing.

I want to do and give Andi all the chance I can to follow her dream what ever that may be, at the moment it is to be an RSPCA Inspector. How can I go about that other than to envolve her and give her the responesabiltiy of owning a dog, the best I can do imo is for her experience what it really takes to be a dog owner!

Sorry went off on one there lol

Mother*Ship

Thank you for you post, I love the Finnish Spitz,and have tried to talk Andi into getting one, she has so many breeds she likes, and is finding it v hard to choose. She has as long as it takes, I plan to go and visit many breeders of the breeds she likes before she chooses.

I will of course let you all know what she chooses in the end

Are you going to be using this dog in your crossbreeding programme or is it going to be seperate?x

Yes my 7yr old daughter plans on putting her small/medium breed to my NI's to inprove what ever we can make up! What a silly bloody question

Who said that my daughter is going to breed her dog in the first place, talk about jumping the gun and judging people without knowing them and making assumptions at a whim

Never said she was gonna breed I asked a question, bit touchy arn't we hun?

LOL of course..cos a blue merle sheltie x NI would be worth so much more as it might be blue....

My cousin has two Shelties.. a tri colour girly and a tan and white boy.. BOTH spayed and neutered!
They are adorable...when they wag their tails their whole body goes too...I prefer the build of the girl though..she has a shorter muzzle and is stocky and solid..whereas he is taller and leaner with a longer muzzle..both from the same Mum but different dads..

No you didn't you just assumed

Not touchy it was just a stupid question

Yes they are sweet, I am looking into the breed at the mo as I don't know much about them