Klee Kai – literally “little dog” in an Alaskan indigenous dialect – is a fairly new dog breed designed as a smaller version of the popular Alaskan Husky.

The husky is one of the world’s most beloved dog breeds, but it’s no secret that their medium-to-large frame requires a lot of space, making them less-than-ideal apartment pets. Luckily, if you can’t settle for any other dog breed, you’ll be happy to know that there is such a thing as a miniature husky. Developed in the 1970s by an Alaskan breeder, the Klee Kai is a considerably smaller version of the Alaskan Husky that features the same iconic appearance and developed intellect that huskies are famous for.

Photo: Facebook

The Klee Kai breed is attributed to Linda Spurlin, a breeder from Wasilla, Alaska, who reportedly discovered an underdeveloped Alaskan husky and instantly fell in love with it. She went on to mix Alaskan Huskies with Siberian Husky, American Eskimo Dog and Skipperkes in order to create her own breed of mini huskies.

According to Wikipedia, although Spurlin is credited for having created the Klee Kai breed, her hardcore methods are considered controversial by some, as she would keep the best and cull the rest, in order to create the breed.

Klee Kai dogs come in three sizes – toy, miniature and standard – with weights ranging from less than 10 pounds to around 20 pounds. They are very active and agile, and despite their small size, they are thick-boned and can withstand high jumps.

Often characterized as curious and intelligent, Klee Kai dogs are sometimes so intelligent that they can sometimes be perceived as stubborn, not the trait you want to see when training a canine.

The United Kennel Club recognized the Alaskan klee kai breed in 1997, but the miniature husky continues to be an extremely rare dog breed, with only about 700 specimens, so getting your hands on one may prove challenging.

While Klee Kai may not require the spacious yard that larger huskies do in order to be comfortable, but don’t let their size make you forget that they are hunters. Owners should be very careful around pet rodents, birds and reptiles, as the prey drive of Klee Kai dogs can be very high, and since they are very clever, they almost always find ways to reach their victims when left unsupervised.