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A large portion of the following document was originally composed for the use of the Alaskan Klee Kai Association of America, Inc. I have made some adaptations to reflect recent happenings in the requirements for the Breed, and have added comments that pertain to Alaskan Klee Kai Kennelette and the resulting requirements for any AKK that is from our kennels.
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THE ALASKAN KLEE KAI is one of the newest breeds to the World of dogs. The following information will help you learn more about the breed, as well as about the history of the breed's development.
THE ALASKAN KLEE KAI have that beautiful husky mask and eyes that are blue, brown or part blue and part brown. There are a variety of coat colors with shades of grey and white, red and white and black and white. Red and white is the most rare. Coats can be either short smooth coat or longer coat with the long hair being more rare, and according to the breed standards not as desirable. The long hair is not so long as to hang to the floor, but the ruff, tail and pantaloons are definitely longer than the shorter coat, and the longer hair on the sides falls a bit below the underside of the dog.
Most animals reflect the temperament of their owners, and the ALASKAN KLEE KAI is no exception. The way the puppy is handled as an infant and on through the rest of its life, definitely reflects on its personality just as is the case in all other breeds. ALASKAN KLEE KAI are usually cautious with strangers, and should be intensely socialized as puppies to keep them from developing their natural wary tendencies. They are territorial so they are generally good watch dogs, but they seldom make good guard dogs as it is their nature to alert, but not to attack. They adapt well to most climates and those that are allowed to share your home usually pick your lap as their favorite spot.
HISTORY
THE ALASKAN KLEE KAI had its beginnings with the Alaskan Husky, which is a mixture of breeds, most of which are of the Husky type. Linda S. Spurlin, with the help of her family and a few special friends, carefully selected her foundation stock. She mentally developed some breed standards and did not allow dogs into her breeding program if they fell short of her standards. Her foundation stock was chosen for health, structural stability, composition, personality, size, and markings, and were of the Nordic type, primarily the Alaskan Husky. (you can find Linda's story by going into my web site http://www.alaskankleekai.com and clicking on AKK LINKS and click on the first link which is Linda's report.)
The Spurlin family did not share with many people their plans for this unique little dog as they wanted to be certain of the dogs' physical and mental stability. For fifteen years, they carefully guarded their secret venture and reluctantly, in November of 1988 they opened their registry and their hearts to the public, and allowed others to become involved with the breed.
It was now time to name this new breed which was being opened to the public. Linda talked to many Eskimo people trying to find suitable words that would mean "little" or "small dogs" - finding none that sounded like a dog breed, she and some friends took the Eskimo words apart and put them together in different ways, until suddenly the words "KLEE KAI" appeared and sounded just right. Linda also determined the plural and the singular would be the same, just as the plural of Moose is Moose, and Deer is Deer, the plural of Klee Kai is Klee Kai.
In 1990 the group was incorporated under the name of Klee Kai of Alaska - Alaska Chapter. The initial organization to be the Parent Club whose purpose was to educate people and to set the breed standards and the procedures by which future groups interested in forming similar dog clubs of this breed would use as a guide-line on which to base their club's activities.
Breed Standards and Rules for selecting breeding stock were in effect verbally, and were not published until it was determined the breed would remain stable since others were now involved in the breeding program. The standards were tested prior to being put into print, and they were later re-written and published to clarify some points including the clarification of the description of the required mask and markings and the size qualifications.
The Bylaws allowed for a period of time to be known as the "Formative Years" during which time all registered owners of the breed would have a free membership in the parent club, and during which time the Board of Directors, under the direction of Linda Spurlin, would make all final decisions pertaining to the breed. Much progress was made during these years.
The breed went on to another test period, as due to personal circumstances, Linda Spurlin felt the need to retire in January 1995, and step down from her position as President of the Board of Directors. In an effort to carry on Linda's breeding principles, and not to lose the blood lines of her personal dogs she sold her stock to Eileen Gregory of Peyton, Colorado. Eileen had been on the Board of Directors since the beginning and it was determined that she should now replace Linda as the Registrar as well as remain Secretary for the organization.
The office, the Registry, the base for the Parent Club and the Board of Directors were all transferred to Colorado. Club meetings were held, and new officers were elected. It was determined that the Breed had advanced and remained as stable as most long established breeds, so new membership categories were established with dues being charged. Now paid members would have a vote in Breed affairs.
There was a vote to change the Breed name from KLEE KAI to THE ALASKAN KLEE KAI in keeping with other breeds whose country of origin is stated at the beginning of the breed name. The Club name was changed from KLEE KAI OF ALASKA - ALASKA CHAPTER, INC. to the current name of THE ALASKAN KLEE KAI ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA, INC.
In August 1995, THE AMERICAN RARE BREED ASSOCIATION gave full recognition to the ALASKAN KLEE KAI upon first application, and promptly several dogs attended shows and earned the right to be called a Champion.
In 1996 THE FEDERATION OF INTERNATIONAL CANINES gave full recognition to THE ALASKAN KLEE KAI, again on first application.
In mid 1996 application was made to THE UNITED KENNEL CLUB. It took a trip from Colorado to Michigan with many pictures and much documented data and five ALASKAN KLEE KAI to be examined and discussed fully with many Judges from UKC - this followed with many telephone calls, and much hard work on the part of the Board of Directors who had the obligation of making minor changes in the Breed Standards to meet with UKC format, followed by a vote of approval by majority of the voting members of the AKKAOA, and finally by formal approval by UKC.
On January 1, 1997 UNITED KENNEL CLUB granted full recognition to the ALASKAN KLEE KAI, and now is the owner of the Official Registry of THE ALASKAN KLEE KAI. AKKAOA no longer had a Registry, but continued to maintain a Book of Records on the breed so proper consideration could be made for the requests for Breeding Qualification, as it was a requirement that prior to mating all AKK submit to a Qualification Examination and deemed to be Breeding Quality by the AKKAOA Board of Directors or the offspring would not be allowed on the Book of Records nor on the UKC Registry. The AKKAOA records also reflected health issues, personality traits, size and color of each dog, color of eyes and also reflected which dogs were altered so would not be producing offspring.
In the year 2000 some changes were made within the United Kennel Club which included changes pertaining to the AKKAOA responsibilities. UKC determined it was no longer to be a requirement to do a qualification examination before mating, and no longer a requirement for AKKAOA Board of Directors to make the decision as to which dogs were top quality for breeding, and which ones would be required to be neutered.
Following this decision, UKC has allowed any offspring of UKC Registered Alaskan Klee Kai to be placed on the UKC Registry, without any examination and without any decision by the Association and with no concern for the structure, health, genetic traits or Breed Standard Disqualifications. The control of the breeding of this special dog is now in the hands of the individual breeders rather than being under any group control, including the AKKAOA.
NOTE: It is the intention of Eileen Gregory of the Alaskan Klee Kai Kennelette to continue the work that was previously done by AKKAOA of advising breeders on possible matings, and of recording reported problems and successes of the individual AKK. It is only through many years of concentrated effort by Linda S. Spurlin, and the Breeders that have carefully followed her Breeding Program and Rules and Regulations, that the Alaskan Klee Kai Breed has come so far and so successfully in such a relatively short period of time, and it will be due to the continued dedication of owners and breeders and the close adherence to Linda Spurlin's wise lead that this breed will remain healthy and structurally sound.
The goal of Alaskan Klee Kai Kennelette remains as it always has been - that everything is done for the betterment of THE ALASKAN KLEE KAI breed, and not for the benefit of any one individual or group of individuals. The breed, the Association, and the Kennelette have come a long way since the beginning, and there is still a long way to go.
As the governing bodies make changes in the future, Alaskan Klee Kai Kennelette will also make changes as the need becomes apparent, but only after very careful consideration and a concentrated effort to see into the future to envision the results of any debated changes. Most of the changes that will be considered by the Kennelette will be changes to tighten the requirements and the rules, rather than to loosen them. If other governing bodies choose to loosen present requirements and rules, the Kennelette will probably not be following their lead.
It is suggested that if you want just any AKK produced from just any AKK then you should not be contacting the Kennelette, as this is a place where breedings are considered carefully prior to matings, and where every one must go through an evaluation process prior to having puppies registered.
Alaskan Klee Kai Kennelette will continue to follow the Rules of the Alaskan Klee Kai Association of America, Inc. with very few adjustments. Additional stipulations may be stated in the Sale/Purchase Contracts, all in an effort to have offspring from Alaskan Klee Kai Kennelette dogs Registered with UKC only if the Parent dogs are free of disqualifying traits.
I am happy to report that other AKK Breeders, and soon to be Breeders, have agreed to do the same and thus continue in the effort to make this breed one of the best on the face of the earth.
Eileen Gregory
http://www.alaskankleekai.net