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FAQ #1
Q. How big do these dogs get?
A. Check out the Link to BREED STANDARDS link and you will find the
heights for the three varieties. This is a rather new breed, and we
do still have some "throw-backs" that will go oversized, and those
dogs are not allowed in the Breeding Pool nor in the Show Ring.
Weights are not addressed in the Breed Standards, as an animal’s
weight can fluctuate. Toys usually weigh up to ABOUT 10 pounds.
Miniatures are usually from about 10 to 15 pounds, and Standard
sizes usually are from about 15 to 22 pounds.
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FAQ #2
Q. Where are you located?
Can we come and visit your kennel and the dogs in person?
A. We are located in Northern Utah. Yes, we welcome people
who are on our waiting list to come
and visit; however, ONLY BY APPOINTMENT. This is our home, so we do
require knowing when someone is going to arrive. When you schedule
your appointment we will send you our physical address. We can
also send
directions if you wish. You should also know that regardless of the
appointment, if you do not arrive within one hour after your
appointed time, and have not called, then we feel free to cancel the
appointment. Also, if you show up at our residence without an
appointment, we are sorry, but you will be asked to leave. Again, this is also our home.
We get more requests for visits to our
kennels than you can imagine. Many of the requests are from
out-of-town folks who are in Utah for other reasons and want to
visit us while they are here. Others live in Utah or surrounding
states. People can visit our kennel to see our dogs once they are
on our waiting list. They simply have to make an appointment.
We have a large family and our kennel is located at our private
residence, so we limit visits to serious people only. Otherwise the
visits would have a negative impact on our family. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FAQ #3
Q. What sizes do you have?
A. We have all three sizes; however, we specialize in the toy and
miniature sizes, so we may not have Standard pups available very
often.
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FAQ #4
Q. Do you have any puppies available now or soon?
A. We may or may not have puppies at this time, but the people on
our waiting list are eligible to make their choices before new
people on the waiting list would be able to choose. Obtaining an Alaskan Klee Kai is
different from most other breeds as they are so rare and most of the
breeders are so loyal and dedicated to following the Rules that have
been established by Linda S. Spurlin, Breed Developer, and accepted
by the Alaskan Klee Kai Association of America. One of the Rules is
that every adult dog will be examined and deemed to carry none of
the disqualifications that are listed in the Breed Standards, and
thus can be declared Breeding Quality. This qualification is done
prior to mating so that the litter can be listed on the AKKAOA Book
of Records. The Breeders who have faithfully followed this
requirement have helped maintain the quality of the breed, which has
resulted in the breed remaining quite rare. The first thing you
should do is carefully read the information we have made available
to you and determine if this breed is really for you or not, and if
you think you can personally live under the Rules and Regulations of
the Alaskan Klee Kai Association of America. The AKKAOA is the
Association which was established to be the parent club of the breed
and assist in the formation of any new local clubs that wish to
become established. The AKKAOA is the organization which has tried
to protect this breed since its origination. You should also
determine if you can live under the Rules of the United Kennel Club
which holds the Registry for the Alaskan Klee Kai. Hopefully the
information you find here will help you make that decision.
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FAQ #5
Q. How was this breed developed?
A. We invite you to go to Linda Spurlin's web site. She and her
family developed the breed and she has her story posted for your
convenience. When Eileen Gregory became aware of this breed, Linda
had already dedicated about fifteen years of her life to it. We are
all very proud of what she accomplished. No one could never have
done what she did, but we are also proud of the fact that Eileen
Gregory helped by maintaining the Book of Records on the Breed and
that she has been very instrumental in getting the breed recognized
by the American Rare Breed Association, the Federation of
International Canines and the United Kennel Club. This work took up
most of Eileen Gregory's time since 1987. Linda's web address is as
follows ----
http://www.alaskankleekai.com/spurlin/index.html
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FAQ #6
Q. Will an Alaskan Klee Kai get along with another dog or a cat?
A. Usually when that question is asked it is because you already
have a dog or cat in residence. Generally speaking, with most
breeds, a puppy will not object to another occupant. Now if you were
considering getting an older AKK which is looking for a home, that
would be a different situation and would depend upon the individual
dog and how it had been trained with the previous owners.
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FAQ #7
Q. How will an Alaskan Klee Kai do with my children?
A. That depends a lot on the children. If your children are hyper
the AKK is apt to be hyper too. If your children are of a calm
nature, your AKK will probably be the same. If the children torment
and mistreat your AKK, it will learn to torment and mistreat the
children. Dogs are not born trained, and it is your responsibility
to be consistent in your instruction and make them into good
companions, as well as teaching your children and all the visiting
children the proper way to treat and respect an animal.
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FAQ #8
Q. What is the personality of the Alaskan Klee Kai?
A. We believe that every dog is an individual, just as every person
is an individual. The one thing that runs in the breed is a strong
tendency to be very cautious with strangers. It is critical that you
take your dog everywhere you are allowed to, and expose it to all
kinds of circumstances so that it will become a well rounded
personality. Obedience classes are also a wonderful idea. Your AKK
will benefit greatly if you take it to public Obedience Classes so
that it can see that other dogs are doing this , and it can meet
other owners. SOCIALIZE, SOCIALIZE, SOCIALIZE -- and then you will
be on the road to having a dog that is only careful about strangers
and not overly cautious or fearful.
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FAQ #9
Q. Do these dogs shed?
A. You bet !!! they are of the Nordic Breeds, and they do shed.
Well, so do you -- just check your hairbrush. If you have an AKK for
a house dog, you will be petting it, and you can be getting rid of
the shedded hair during this process of loving. These guys are
small, so you can sort of control where the hair goes. About twice a
year, and after weaning puppies, they are going to blow their coat
-- and during that time you want to comb and brush daily. During the
rest of the year once a week will probably be ample.
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FAQ #10
Q. How much do you charge for your pups?
A. In my opinion all dogs are individuals and deserve to be treated
as such. We do not enjoy talking prices until we know that you are
really serious about this being YOUR breed, and you have agreed to
abide by the Rules and Regulations of the AKKAOA (these are not yet
posted to my web site, so please request me to send them by e-mail.)
If we have a pup that we plan to save for our own, and you just have
to have that puppy, then you will pay more for it as then we will be
the one who has to start over again. On the other hand, if we
happen to have a puppy that has a medical problem, then you will pay
less for it out of respect for your loving care. But first things
first -- you first must decide if this is the BREED you really want,
and not that you are just falling in love with a pretty and unusual
animal. This is a long term commitment for you, so move slowly and
carefully and make an educated decision.
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FAQ #11
Q. How do I get on your Waiting
List and how much do you require for a deposit?
A. After you have completed a
Questionnaire and we have written back to you to notify you that
your home will be a good home for one of our babies, we send an
email to you with our mailing address and ask that you mail a $150
Application Fee in order for us to place you on our waiting list.
This $150 Application Fee is applied to the purchase of your puppy
when your name rises to the top of the Waiting List; however, it is not
a "deposit" and is not refundable should you decide to change your
mind and either not get a puppy from us or decide to go elsewhere.
Considerable time is spent on our part once you contact us and start
the process. Therefore, we do require $150 in the form of an
Application Fee.
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FAQ #12
Q. I do not live near you so must pay by mail, I would rather send a
money order since I won't send cash in the mail. Is that acceptable?
A.Your personal check is fine for the Application Fee to get on our waiting
list. The final payment must be a Bank Cashier's check or cash if it
is paid in person.
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FAQ #13
Q Are they a good watchdog?
A. Most of them are excellent watch dogs -- meaning that they will
alert you when someone comes on your property --- however they are
not normally good GUARD dogs where they would attack someone. They
should NOT be made into guard dogs -- these are designed to be good
companions -- lets leave the guarding to the large breeds.
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FAQ #14
Q. Do they have specific genetic disorders or diseases that I may
have to watch for or get them tested for?
A. This is a remarkable breed where health problems are concerned,
and we think this has been accomplished through the efforts of Linda
Spurlin and the loyal breeders who have followed her for their
careful dedication of breeding only the best and neutering the rest.
If you complete and return my questionnaire you will find that the
last questions is “Do you have any more questions that have not
already been answered” and this is where you can ask me about any
particular type of health issue that you are concerned with.
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FAQ #15
Q.Are the parents hips and eyes checked?
A. The AKKAOA has no requirements to have that done, so it is up to
the individual breeder. There have been no authenticated reports of
hip problems, and the eye problems (with the exception of one
detached retina) are all in the senior dogs that are no longer
breeding and are deemed to be caused by age.
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FAQ #16
Q. I would like to have a pet only. I have no interest in showing or
breeding, thus I want to spay/neuter the dog. Because I would like
to spay/neuter the dog, would you like me to still have the
Qualification Exam done?
A. When you sign the UKC transfer of ownership papers and sign our
contract, one of
the things you are agreeing to is to have the quality exam
completed. This exam is to tell us how the dog developed. We need to know as much as possible about the adult dog, as
this provides us better guidance for any future matings. Yes, you do
need to have the quality exam completed and the questions answered
by a Veterinarian, and this can be done at the time the dog is taken
to the Veterinarian to be spayed or
neutered.
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FAQ #17
Q. At what age are the puppies able to be shipped?
A. We do not know of any Airlines that will accept puppies for
shipment prior to the age of 8 weeks. We also will not ship a puppy
that we feel is not mature enough or stable enough to handle the
trauma of a shipment. We will either delay shipment or deny
placement of that pup with that person unless they come and pick it
up. Also, some puppies are just too small for to be shipped in the
cargo hold, and we will require the new owner to come and pick it
up. It may be suitable to be put under the seat in the cabin, but we
just won’t let those really tiny, or those that are more nervous, to
be shipped as Cargo. The majority of our pups do very well with
Cargo shipment with proper arrangements and care. In the Continental
United States, the cost is usually about $250.00 which includes Vet
Services, shipping kennel and Air Fare. Of course that is subject to
change. We only ship to major airports – no commuter planes for our
babies.
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FAQ #18
Q. How small (weight) are the puppies at eight weeks?
A. This varies with the pup and with what size it will be when full
grown. They are usually between 3 and 8 pounds, but this can vary.
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FAQ #19
Q. What airline(s) do you use to ship the puppies?
A. Within Continental United States we prefer using Delta Airlines
as they have a major hub at Salt Lake International Airport. For
shipment out of country, we try to find the most suitable airlines
with the best connections.
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FAQ #20
Q.If you send a dog overseas, and there is an additional expense to
the Buyer due to the exchange rate, how do you compensate
for that?
A. We don't compensate for that at all. The price we offer my dogs
at is in U.S. funds. If it costs the Buyer more (or less) because of
exchange rate, then they should consider this in making their
decision.
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FAQ #21
Q.I have written to different Breeders about their dogs and some
have not answered and some take a long time to answer. I will be
pleased if you answer right away as I am excited. It seems to me
that a Breeder would be eager to talk to someone who is interested
in their breed, why do people take so long to respond?
A. The Alaskan Klee Kai is a very rare breed, and to our knowledge
there has been no urgent need for any Breeder to try to find someone
to adopt their puppies. Our web site generates considerable traffic,
and yet it is here just for education -- not to make sales. If
someone contacts us through a web site and ends up being the person
we want to place one of our little ones with, that is great -- then
the Web site has done double duty with education and placement. It
takes time and effort to answer the hundreds of questions that
arrive each month, and all of the
AKK Breeders just don't have that kind of time, or choose not to spend
all their time answering questions from people who are just curious.
That is the reason Rocky Mountain Klee Kai and most Breeders have
resorted to publishing all this information. Our hope is that after
you read everything on the Web that you can find most of your questions will be answered. AFTER you have completed our personal
questionnaire and we have determined you could possibly be a good
owner for one of our babies, then you are welcome to send your
personal questions that have not already been answered. We do
request that you do not take up our limited time unless you feel you
are really serious about this breed. Obviously, we write in detail,
and it does take time to answer everyone's questions, but we
willingly do that if you are really interested and serious. If you send us an
e-mail and we do not answer within 5 days, please do send it again.
We talk to so very many people that sometimes an e-mail
unintentionally gets lost in the shuffle.
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FAQ #22
Q. Huskies are known for being diggers who are capable of digging up
gardens. Does the Alaskan Klee Kai maintain that tradition?
A. Every Alaskan Klee Kai is an individual. We have some that dig
and some that do not. There have had very few complaints from owners
who say the AKK destroyed their lawn, but other owners have written
in that their AKK loves to dig. We, personally, have never had any
of my AKK dig for the purpose of escaping.
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FAQ #23
Q. Is the AKK suitable for apartment living?
A. Yes, providing they have ample time out in the sunlight and
exercise. Sun is important to the dogs, but they also need to be
able to get into the shade when they need it. We have owners that
traveled year round in a Motor Home with their two AKK and the dogs
did quite well. They stopped and walked the dogs and allowed them to
exercise, and they had no problems.
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FAQ #24
Q. How trainable are they (relative to a other breeds)?
A. Any dog is trainable only if their master is smarter than they
are. Of course breeds do have different instincts -- example - the
retriever wanting to always bring something back to you. The AKK is
more apt to run out and pick up what you threw and then tempt you
with it while just staying out of your reach, so the retrieving
would have to be taught to them. One problem that has been observed
in training the AKK is the problem of keeping eye contact. They are
so curious about everything that is going on around them, that they
don't feel they need to watch you like is desirable in the show
ring. That takes training.
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FAQ #25
Q. What is the current waiting list?
A. Our waiting list grows every month. We can tell you that we will
not produce litters just to fill a waiting list, and there is
absolutely no way that we can tell you how long YOU will wait for
your dream puppy. (Please do not ask use, because we will not be
pinned down to even a vague statement in that department). We also suggest you interview
other breeders that are affiliated with the AKKAOA and get on
waiting lists for all those that you feel comfortable with. Our goal
is to get the right puppy in the right arms.
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FAQ #26
Q. How long will I have to wait to get my puppy?
A. There is no way that we can honestly answer that question. We are
dealing with Human Nature as well as Mother Nature. When we have
puppies, we begin contacting the people on the list. Many people are
waiting for a particular blood line to mate with one they already
have, and they might have to wait longer. People on our waiting list can
refuse any pup and not lose their place in line. If you must know
when you will be able to get your puppy, then you should talk to a
breeder who does not work with waiting lists as they may be able to
tell you closer. We personally feel it is only fair to contact the
people who have been waiting the longest, rather than to place with
the person who is standing at the door with dollars in their hand.
It takes a lot more effort on our part, and a lot of bookkeeping,
but it is an honest way to fill the needs of those on our waiting
list. This is just
the way we have chosen to handle our personal business.
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FAQ #27
Q. What is the life expectancy of an Alaskan Klee Kai?
A. That is a question that we cannot honestly answer because the
breed is so new. Eileen Gregory has an AKK names Nikishka, who was
born in 1987 and although she is in excellant health she has noticed
that she has begun to slow down a little and has an occasional limp
so she suspects she is getting some old age symptoms. She is still
as happy as ever to see her coming but she doesn't jump quite as
high as she used to. She is now slowly developing Cataracts. Eileen
thinks the oldest that she knew was about 14 years old, but did not
die a natural death. Veterinarians say that Dogs this size usually
live longer than very tiny dogs and longer than massive dogs.
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FAQ #28
Q. I have searched everywhere and I am not able to find much
information about these dogs. Why is that?
A. Until recently, most of the Breeders felt it was best not to put
out too much information for fear the dogs would get too popular
before they were really firmly established. This is still a very
young breed, and one or two unscrupulous Breeders could do a lot of
harm, so most owners/breeders are very particular to follow the
guidelines as established by Linda Spurlin and the Association.
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FAQ #29
Q. Why don't you put your Sale Contracts on your Web site so that
they can be printed off so people won't have to talk to you through
e-mails or on the phone. Other people do this.
A. It is not our desire to use our Web site as a place to market
puppies. Our Web site is designed to offer you information, and to
give you a place to find out more information. In fact, when you
first write to us, we do not send you a Sale Contract. The first
thing we do is send you more information about the Alaskan Klee Kai
Association of America, Inc. (AKKAOA) and the requirements of owning
an AKK. If you don't agree with those policies, then you don't have
a need for our contracts. If you do agree to those policies, then
you must complete and return our questionnaire so we will know if we
want to consider you as an owner of one of our babies or not. After
we considered you approvable, upon request we will send you a sample of one of
our
sales contracts so you can better determine if we are the kind of
people that you would want to work with.
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FAQ #30
Q. Where can I find the official Alaskan Klee Kai Association web
site?
A. AKKAOA does have an official site. It is located at:
www.akkaoa.org .
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FAQ #31
Q. Can you tell me if any of the AKK are going to be going to any
dog shows in my area?
A. We do not have this information. We suggest you check with United
Kennel Club at 616-343-9020, ask for Field Operations, and then ask
them how you can find out when shows are being held in your area. It
may be that there would be a schedule listed on their web site at
http://www.ukcdogs.com
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FAQ #32
Q. The breed standard doesn’t say much about temperament --- how
would you describe the temperament of the Alaskan Klee
Kai?
A. Breed Standards don’t usually adequately describe temperament on
breeds. We commend you for being concerned about temperament – too
many people are just concerned with appearance and prestige. The
Alaskan Klee Kai generally is rather cautious with strangers. It is
very important that they are socialized heavily as puppies and
through adulthood. If you keep the puppy at home, it will be fine
with your family, but when someone comes to visit it will be more
apt to turn shy.
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FAQ #33
Q. How does this breed do in cold weather and in hot weather?
A. The Alaskan Klee Kai can be an outside dog or an inside dog. We
have doggy doors so they can make their own choices, and mine
usually would rather be on my lap than anyplace else. They do well
in the cold or in the heat, but they must have shelter from the
weather. We prefer our dogs to be house dogs -- they make better
companions when they are part of the family than when they are left
outside and forgotten about for hours on end. The breed was
developed in Alaska, so you know they do well in cold weather.
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FAQ #34
Q. Do they bite – some small dogs have these traits.
Since we specialize on the Toy Size, we have occasionally witnessed
a few AKKs that tend to be heel nippers. It is rare but can occur.
The Miniatures and Standards sizes do not seem to have as much of
that tendency as the Toy size does. Usually the heel nipping is at
strangers who have come into your home, bent down over your dog, and
the dog had to stand there and be uneasy at having this big stranger
patting them on the top of the head (which probably makes them feel
smaller yet). Then when the stranger turns and starts to walk away,
the dog hits the heel with its nose or sometimes even with its
teeth. If your little one has that tendency, we recommend putting it
in his crate in a different room when the stranger first comes into
the home -- then they get used to the fact that it is okay for that
person to be there, and are better behaved when you let them join
the company.
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FAQ #35
Q. I would like to get an Alaskan Klee Kai, but I am worried about
how to introduce it to my present dogs.
We always recommend that your current dogs meet the new one on
neutral territory, like in a school play ground or a park.
Then when you take them home, they already know each other. It is
important that you don’t let your present dogs come into the house
to find the new one eating out of their dish or sleeping in their
bed.
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FAQ #36
Q. I think I would give a good home to one of these puppies, they
would be loved & taken care of. I buy the best food and treats
available and give my animals lots of attention. I don’t have kids,
so I have lots of time and love to give.
A. And the AKK have lots of love to give in return. These dogs do
not automatically demand a lot of attention, all they want is to be
made part of your family. They want rules to abide by, so they will
not be yelled at for doing what comes naturally. If they understand
what they are allowed to do, they are much more comfortable and at
ease, so it is important that they are taken to class to learn right
from wrong, and then you can freely shower them with your attention,
without spoiling them. In other words, they need the love and
attention, but also need to obey the rules of the household.
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