Many people have the need to know how much an Alaskan Klee Kai will cost before they feel comfortable with answering questions and getting on waiting lists or before they place a deposit for a puppy.
I am sorry, there is no way that I can give you a positive figure as to how much an Alaskan Klee Kai from my kennels will cost you. I, personally, believe in judging animals (as well as people) based on their own attributes, rather than based on sex, color, size, breed or whatever.
I look at each individual puppy to make my evaluation. The resulting price is based on various factors, including how badly I need to keep that pup in my own breeding program, how badly that pup is needed for the benefit of the entire breed, the health of the pup, any faults that pup might have, any temperament problems or potential personality problems.
After doing this evaluation I then make my offer for placement of this puppy. sometimes I really could benefit by keeping that puppy myself, but I will be willing to share with someone if we have a contract where I get one or more puppies back, other times I give a discount to help offset potential medical problems --- and I offer a refund if the dog has disqualifying faults or medical problems and I require the dog to be spayed or neutered. Each contract is written with individual conditions.
Because I cannot be more exact than this, I post each puppy as it becomes available and give you the opportunity to decide if everything meets your own requirements, including price. If everything looks suitable to you, then you send me a message and tell me that this is the puppy you are most interested in. It is a good idea to place your first, second and third choices so if someone before you has chosen your first choice, then you might get your second or third. This method saves a lot of time and disappointments.
I know that you are accustomed to being told an exact price, and if I was working with a more commonly known breed, and one that has an abundance of dogs on the ground, then perhaps I could quote --- but that is not the case as this is a very rare breed that has been carefully protected with strict breeding requirements for more than 30 years.
I can only tell you that at this particular time my AVERAGE price for a puppy is between 1200.00 and 1800.00. I can also tell you that I have priced as low as $200.00 and as high as $3,000.00. The $200.00 dog had a serious medical problem that perhaps would grow into extreme medical bills and the $3,000.00 dog was one that I did not want to place, however one person considered me selfish for wanting to keep that dog in my own breeding pool, so I said I would not let it go for less than $3,000.00. I did not place the dog and still have it.
If the dog grows up to have disqualifications or serious faults per the breed standards, or medical conditions that could be genetic, then it is required that the dog be surgically altered so it cannot pass on those faults. If that happens you are given partial refund. This is explained more thoroughly in the Sale and Purchase Contract.
You should also be aware that every breeder makes their own contracts, and own rules for placing their puppies.
My husband and I have been active with the Alaskan Klee Kai breed for over 20 years which is longer than the other breeders have, therefore we have the largest kennel, with more dogs than the others do so we produce more puppies and have a large following.
We have a reputation that we have earned through hard work -- most often you will hear good reports about us and there are also some breeders and owners who have little to say that is good about us which is perfectly all right. It is your responsibility to listen to what people have to say about the breed, about themselves and their beliefs about different matters as well as what they say about the other breeders, and then it is your responsibility to decide which methods and people will be most likely to work well with you and your requirements in a puppy..
My personal recommendation is that you interview as many breeders as you can, ask a lot of questions and see what kind of answers you get --- and read their sale contracts --- and then get on the breeder's waiting list if you feel comfortable with them and with their contracts. Remember, especially with a rare breed, your relationship with the breeder does not end the day you obtain your puppy.
I hope this helps a little bit.
Eileen Gregory
http://www.alaskankleekai.net