AKK Breeder Questions - Part 2
COMPANIONS
Alaskan Klee Kai are truly companion dogs. They are devoted to their family and with their favorite spot being anywhere their owners are. Alaskan Klee Kai by nature are extremely reserved to the point of being extremely shy around strangers and people they do not know well. On the flip side of this issue, this is a breed that will not willingly be stolen from you.
SOCIALIZATION
In the Alaskan Klee Kai world, the Alaskan Klee Kai needs to be socialized and need to be socialized to the point where they will not bark at strangers. The Alaskan Klee Kai needs to be accepting of far more than just the immediate family and close friends. Therefore, new owners must earnestly work to socialize their Alaskan Klee Kai not just tolerate strangers, but to also accept strangers. By strangers, the breeders mean any and every person ranging from their veterinarian, to Alaskan Klee Kai pet sitters, house guests, and people you and the Alaskan Klee Kai will meet on the streets; because an Alaskan Klee Kai is a true attention getter. Everywhere you travel people will come up to you and want to meet your Alaskan Klee Kai.
Alaskan Klee Kai require this same socialization to get them use to other breeds of dogs and animals. Nevertheless, if you are not prepared to be inundated with attention and questions about your Alaskan Klee Kai, then this is NOT the breed for you. As a new owner to a precious Alaskan Klee Kai you need to make every effort to expose your Alaskan Klee Kai to as many different situations as you can; creating a well-rounded personality.
Again, the breeders encourage any approved person/family to take their Alaskan Klee Kai around at least 100 people by the time he/she is 4-months-old. Keep a record of this and you will find this suggestion will make all the difference in the world!
PERSONALITY
What is the personality of the Alaskan Klee Kai?
The Alaskan Klee Kai breed has a strong tendency to be very cautious with strangers. Some can also have an incredibly high tendency to have separation anxiety. Again, it is imperative you SOCIALIZE your Alaskan Klee Kai as much as you possibly can. Please always make every effort to expose your Alaskan Klee Kai to as many different situations as you can; again creating a well rounded personality.
The temperaments of the breeding pair from Alakkawa Kennels are friendly, social little critters. Abby is a little standoffish at first, but Chance never meets a stranger.
Even though the breeders no longer breed Montana and have never bred Valentino, Montana is very accepting, whereas Valentino is very shy and loves to bark at any and every person who entered the breeder’s front door. The breeders have worked very hard with Valentino, but he is one stubborn little guy. And, because Valentino has a PDA and had to have open chest surgery so the veterinarians at the University of Georgia could ‘attempt’ to correct his PDA, the breeder’s were very protective of Valentino; keeping him from harm’s way (probably a little too much) and the breeders sheltered him more than they should have. The breeders feared if any excitement came Valentino’s way, it would cause his heart to burst and therefore, they were overly protective of where they took him and who they exposed him to.
OUTSIDE
Is a yard big enough for an Alaskan Klee Kai?
It depends on the size of the yard. However, even though Alaskan Klee Kai require a lot of exercise, they will accomplish this in a nice size yard. An area consisting of the following sizes: 10x10, 12x12, 14x14, 16x16, or even a 20x20 area is not enough room for an Alaskan Klee Kai to get his/her exercise.
You should be prepared to walk your new Alaskan Klee Kai on a very regular basis. If you choose not to, you will raise one bored Alaskan Klee Kai.
And, if there is more than one dog, they will play chase with the other pet. The Alaskan Klee Kai will also chase squirrels, rabbits, birds, frogs, grasshoppers, snakes, or anything else that looks like it should be chased.
Can I take my Alaskan Klee Kai to a dog park and trust him/her off a leash?
The breeders do not recommend taking your Alaskan Klee Kai to a dog park until he/she is at least 4-months-old and has been fully vaccinated on all his/her shots. Once this accomplished, then yes, please do take your Alaskan Klee Kai to a dog park.
The breeders recommend keeping your Alaskan Klee Kai out of dog parks until he/she is at least 4-months-old for a very simple reason:
You do not know if there are other dogs at that dog park that are fully vaccinated. Therefore, if you take a chance and take your Alaskan Klee Kai to a dog park knowing this, then you are taking a huge chance that your new Alaskan Klee Kai may catch some sort of disease he/she is not vaccinated against.
The breeders also do NOT recommend taking your dog off his/her leash in a dog park unless the dog park is fenced in. If the dog park is fenced in, please make sure you review the entire area; making sure there are no holes under the fence or open gates where you’re Alaskan Klee Kai can escape.
PLEASE BEWARE
Alaskan Klee Kai are runners!! They will give chase (as mentioned above) and you may not ever see him/her again. The breeders know of several breeders/owners who “thought” they could “trust” their Alaskan Klee Kai and the breeders/owners allowed their Alaskan Klee Kai to be “off a leash.” The Alaskan Klee Kai ran away and it took one breeder/owner almost 2 weeks to find their Alaskan Klee Kai and another owner is struggling with the thought that she allowed her Alaskan Klee Kai to run in a front yard with NO fence and her Alaskan Klee Kai got hit by a car and passed away.
That said, PLEASE do NOT allow your Alaskan Klee Kai off a leash unless you are in a fenced area and know for certain there are no holes the Alaskan Klee Kai can crawl under and there are no open gates.
We have a large yard, but no fence. Is this o.k. for the Alaskan Klee Kai?
The breeders have a large yard; about 1/2 acre is fenced, however, their front yard is not. The breeders would not dream of allowing their Alaskan Klee Kai to run in their front yard where there is no enclosed fence without being on a leash. The reason for this is because Alaskan Klee Kai are a great deal just like their ancestors and will run, run, run if given the perfect opportunity and you may never catch or see your Alaskan Klee Kai again!
We have an electric fence. Is this o.k. for the Alaskan Klee Kai?
Other breeds may do well with having an electric fence and yet the breeders have found that having an Alaskan Klee Kai in an electric fence area is not something they recommend.
Is the Alaskan Klee Kai a digger?
The breeders have received some reports from previous owners that their dogs do not dig. This is not a guarantee though. If you teach your dog NOT to dig, then chances are he/she will obey your command. Chance is a digger. However, if Abby, Montana and Valentino are all left in the breeder’s fenced yard unattended, they will dig.
INSIDE
Will the Alaskan Klee Kai do o.k. living in an apartment/condo?
Yes. The Alaskan Klee Kai can be kept in an apartment since they were bred to be apartment sized animals. However, just as with most every breed, you need to know the Alaskan Klee Kai requires exercise beyond just going outside to take care of his/her business. Any dog needs to have an ample amount of time in the sun, and a great deal of exercise so he/she does not become bored.
Please know because of past experiences with former Alakkawa puppy owners, the breeders have changed their policy and feel it is best to no longer allow any of their Alaskan Klee Kai to become adopted by someone who resides in an apartment.
The breeder’s apologize for this, but have no choice but to withhold an Alaskan Klee Kai from those who live in an apartment. The breeder’s understand one bad seed should not spoil the whole bunch, but in the cases the breeders have experienced, it is simply best for their Alaskan Klee Kai to no longer be allowed to reside in an apartment.
Nevertheless, the Alaskan Klee Kai MUST have ample opportunity to run and exercise and if the Alaskan Klee Kai does not obtain that opportunity, then the Alaskan Klee Kai will become bored and will not grow in a healthy Alaskan Klee Kai.
If you do live in an apartment or condo, it is your responsibility to make sure you provide enough exercise opportunities for your Alaskan Klee Kai.
When the breeders did business with those who reside in an apartment/condo, the breeders asked an interested person to obtain a letter in writing to the breeders from the person’s landlord stating the apartments terms and conditions upon their ownership of a pet. Some landlords may not do this. However, the breeders needed to be certain that because of where the person lived, they must ask for this to be in writing on the apartment/condo's company's letterhead and it had to be signed and dated by the owner of the apartment/condo complex and/or manager at the location of where the interested party resided. If the person could not provide this document to the breeders ahead of time, then the breeder’s would not consider the person to adopt a puppy from Alakkawa Kennels.
Further, if a person rented a room from their immediate family such as parents, grandparents, etc. or any other person, then the document allowing the person permission to have a pet had to be notarized by an outside party and then signed and dated by the home owner.
OTHER ANIMALS
How is the Alaskan Klee Kai with other dogs/cats?
The breeders Alaskan Klee Kai have had no problems adapting to other Alaskan Klee Kai as well as other breeds to include both larger and smaller dogs. The breeders also own two cats and their Alaskan Klee Kai love to tease them so they will give chase and vice versa. However, if you consider adopting or rescuing an older Alaskan Klee Kai this situation will vary with how well an older Alaskan Klee Kai will do with other dogs/cats.
TO OWN OR NOT TO OWN
Who should not own an Alaskan Klee Kai from Alakkawa Kennels?
1. Anyone who does not agree with Alakkawa Kennels contracts (to include all addendums).
2. Anyone who cannot afford to take care of an Alaskan Klee Kai.
3. Anyone who refuses to keep their Alaskan Klee Kai updated on vaccinations.
4. Anyone who feels they cannot communicate with Alakkawa Kennels for the life of an Alakkawa puppy.
5. Anyone who cannot send Alakkawa Kennels photographs of their puppy for the first year of the puppy’s life and every three months thereafter.
6. Anyone who will not follow any directions from the breeders at Alakkawa Kennels.
7. Anyone who cannot tolerate dog hair.
8. Anyone who cannot tolerate barking/talking from an Alaskan Klee Kai.
9. Anyone who cannot be consistent with training an Alaskan Klee Kai.
10. Anyone who does not like to draw attention to them because everyone who sees an Alaskan Klee Kai will want to know what it is, where they can get one, and how much they cost should not own an Alaskan Klee Kai.
LIFETIME COMMITMENT
Is owning an Alaskan Klee Kai a lifetime commitment?
You bet it certainly is! Please read below for your commitment and promise to take care of an Alaskan Klee Kai should you be approved to adopt from Alakkawa Kennels. “You,” as a potential pet owner to an Alaskan Klee Kai, needto be completely certain you “need” an Alaskan Klee Kai for his/her “lifetime”and for “your lifetime.”
“You,” as a potential pet owner to an Alaskan Klee Kai, need to be completely certain you “know” owning a pet is a “lifetime commitment.”
The breeders at Alakkawa Kennels cannot share with you “all” that you need to be aware of before you take the steps necessary to adopt an Alaskan Klee Kai. This is also a part of your responsibility as a pet owner – to educate yourself. Nevertheless, the breeders can ask you to “please make certain you know and can do” the following for the “lifetime” of your Alaskan Klee Kai:
1. “You” can take care of your AKK financially;
2. “You” commit yourself to taking your AKK to your chosen veterinarian for vaccinations, worm preventatives, yearly check-ups and for any other reason not listed here;
3. “You” can assist your veterinarian in nursing your AKK back to health should
your AKK get ill;
4. “You” can give the AKK the time your AKK deserves;
5. “You” can conduct your own research on the AKK;
6. “You” are knowledgeable to “all” the health issues related to the AKK;
7. “You” have patience with your AKK;
8. “You” have the time needed to devote to housebreaking your AKK;
9. “You” have the time needed to devote to train your AKK in other areas;
10. “You” can walk your AKK so your AKK can get the exercise your AKK “deserves;”
11. “You” need to make certain you can do “EVERYTHING ELSE” that encompasses owning an AKK.
ON TO THE QUESTIONNAIRE
Please see the "QUESTIONNAIRE" tab on this website for further informatoin...
Alaskan Klee Kai breeder’s who do not question you about your home and family situation, or how you intend to care for your Alaskan Klee Kai, are those you probably should be cautious of. Those breeders are more likely to be concerned about financial aspects of the sale, rather than finding the very best family home possible for their Alaskan Klee Kai. If this happens, please find another breeder. Again, remember responsible breeders will want to insure their pups will go to responsible pet owners who have the same integrity the breeders have. Please do not copy these questions, answer them and send to the breeders. This is just a list of “some” of the questions that may be on the breeder’s questionnaire and they are provided here to give you a general idea as to the types of questions a breeder “should” ask you.
1. Have you ever given up ownership of a dog? If so, why?
2. Have you had a dog before? If not, please explain how you plan to educate yourself on owning a pet?
3. Have you ever owned an Alaskan Klee Kai before?
4. Why did you choose the Alaskan Klee Kai breed to adopt?
5. Do you have ample space for an Alaskan Klee Kai to run? If not, how do you plan to exercise your puppy?
6. Do you have the time to give the attention that an Alaskan Klee Kai requires?
7. What do you know about raising and training dogs?
8. Are you willing to take your Alaskan Klee Kai to obedience classes?
9. Is anyone in your family allergic to dogs?
10. Do you have other pets? If so, how will they be around another?
11. What type of socialization are you planning to do?
12. How much time (during any given point of the day) will the dog be alone?
13. Do you rent? If so, does the landlord allow pets?]
14. Do you have the patience needed to housebreak a new puppy?
15. Will this puppy be an inside dog?
16. Do you have a fenced in yard?
17. Do you have any young children? If so, are they knowledgeable about handling a small pup?
18. Have you read, understand and agree to abide by the AKKAOA Constitution and By-Laws, and Code of Ethics. The breeders require all interested future Alaskan Klee Kai owners to be screened by first filling out a questionnaire. If, for whatever reason, the breeders feel this will not turn into an excellent working relationship, they will politely be honest with the interested person/family and tell them they cannot allow them to adopt one of their Alaskan Klee Kai.
The breeders at Alakkawa Kennels are very selective and very serious about the process of adopting an Alaskan Klee Kai from them, and they MUST feel, know, understand and appreciate you will provide the same care they have provided to all their Alaskan Klee Kai before allowing them to go to any new person/family.
If the breeder makes you feel like you are trying to adopt one of their own children, then it’s certain you have found a responsible breeder. Hopefully, if a breeder does not know the answer to any of your questions, they will be resourceful enough to find it for you.
A responsible breeder should be very helpful with answers and should be at your beck and call for the rest of the pup’s life, especially for the first year of the pup’s life.
BREEDER REFERENCES
Can the breeder give you at least 2 references of someone who acquired one of their Alaskan Klee Kai in the past?
The references given should come from a person with who has an Alaskan Klee Kai that is at least one year of age.
The breeders have kept in close contact with most every owner of their litters and they feel certain several of them would provide a recommendation for them to be your breeder should you request this from them.
A personal recommendation will stem from a satisfied owner and is an excellent way to find an Alaskan Klee Kai breeder. Another way to find a good breeder is on the AKKAOA website located at: www.akkaoa.org.
A good breeder will not be nasty to you for your ignorance, nor will they insult you for your ignorance. The breeders have dealt with “nasty” breeders and it is not a pleasant experience and the breeders do not prefer to put anyone through an unpleasant experience. A good breeder will be professional, patient, understanding, and kind to you in all regards.
If you have doubts or questions, make them known to the breeder. If you are uncomfortable with the breeders or a puppy, then reconsider that breeder and that puppy, and talk to your friends and family.
**Please rest easy that the breeders will forever be here for each and every person who adopts one of their Alaskan Klee Kai.
A responsible breeder is the best source for a well-bred healthy dog. A breeder who sells carefully will have bred the litter carefully.
The breeders have carefully selected both parents regarding temperament and health so desirable attributes and minimal faults can be expanded or reduced out of the breed.
Believe it or not, there are breeders out there who breed other types of dogs, not necessarily the Alaskan Klee Kai, and those ‘may’ mislead you. These breeders are the one you should turn the other cheek to. These individuals typically have no regard for the advancement of any breed and are motivated solely by profit. Responsible breeders of any type of breed will never breed a litter without considering the advancement of the breed. Each litter should improve the quality of breeding stock; resulting in puppies with improved breed soundness.
The breeders at Alakkawa Kennels hope the above information will give you some great insight on what you should look for in a breeder of the Alaskan Klee Kai or with any breed. If you should have any questions that are not listed on this website, please do not hesitate to contact the breeders at: [email protected]
REFERENCES FROM YOU
Alakkawa Kennels requires three references from you; two business and one personal – no family members though please. If you cannot provide business references with those you have worked with five years or more, then you need to bring this fact to the breeder’s attention; same with the personal reference.
The breeders at Alakkawa Kennels wish you the very best in finding that perfect Alaskan Klee Kai and the “right” breeder!
Good Luck!!
***********************************
The materials (written content and photographs) on this web site are the property of ALAKKAWA KENNELS.
Reproduction or distribution of information and/or photographs whether or not for profit, without the express written authorization from the author of the content of this website and photographer of photographs on this website, is a violation of Federal Law, and may be subject to Civil remedies, including injunctions, impounding of infringing articles, statutory and actual damages, profits and attorney's fees, and criminal penalties including fines and imprisonment. Authorized usage will be considered for students and non-profit organizations.