Greenland Dog vs Alaskan Klee Kai - Breed Comparison

The Greenland dog is an ancient breed of dog hailing from Greenland. The dog was brought to North American from Siberia hundreds of years ago. In fact the very first dogs arrived in the Americas some 12,000 years ago.

The Greenland Dog isn’t recognized by the AKC but it is recognized by a number of other groups. While the Greenland Dog is valued in Greenland, it isn't particularly well known in other parts of the world.

Alaskan Klee Kai breed is created in Alaska by Linda S Spurlin with help of her family. When she saw a smaller type of Siberian Husky, she immediately wanted to create a smaller type of Husky that will be a great companion dog. She did not create this breed with dogs that suffer from dwarfism as if it’s the case with most other breeders. She breeds Alaskan Husky with smaller dog breeds that looked a like a husky. Breeds like Alaskan Eskimo Dog or Schipperke. They are still not recognized by some Kennel clubs, but their popularity is constantly on the rise.

The Greenland Dog is a heavily built dog, and between the males and females, this medium to large sized dog can be 51 – 68cm in height and weigh 30 – 35kg.

He has the typical slanted eyes of the husky-type dogs with a keen, alert expression in them. He has small triangular erect ears. The long, bushy tail of the dog is curled over the back of the dog.

The coat is short to medium length and has 2 layers with the outer layer being fairly coarse. The double coat is thick and shortish but also stand-offish, meaning the hair doesn’t lie flat against the dog’s body. Color of the fur is a mix of cream, beige, white, tan, black, grey or silver.

Temperament:

As a working dog, the Greenland Dog is known for its strength, its boisterous nature and speed. Because its a dog that has worked as a pack, it wants a firm, patient, fair, confident owner to bring out the best in him. Being intelligent, independent and work-orientated, it is perhaps not a great choice for the first-time dog owner who may be out of their realm with the demands of these high-energy dogs.

The dog is independent, but he is quite capable of forming a strong, loving bond with his owner. This is certainly a dog that is never going to thrive if he has to lie around the house all day – he is an active dog who wants a task to do and he is going to need plenty of daily exercise.

They’ve always had active lives pulling sleds or hunting for seals and he craves this busy, active lifestyle. He is the kind of dog that shouldn’t live in the city with a tiny garden unless he has an owner who takes time to walk him and exercise him vigorously. He is a dog that will require training and socialization.

Weight of the Alaskan Klee Klei variates from dog to dog, but average male size is between 33-44cm. While females size is 28-40cm. The weight of the average male, an adult dog is 13 to 15kg. As you may see Klee Klei can be very small dogs, and that depends on every dog.

A lifespan of Klee Klei is 12-16 years.

Litter Size of the breed again depends on every dog but normal size for this breed is between 4-8 puppies.

Other Name for Alaskan Klee Klei is just a Klee Klei.

Bred as a working dog, the Greenland Dog, native to Greenland is a high energy dog who is boisterous, lively and social. With training and socialization, he becomes an obedient, loyal and devoted pet.

While he is quite capable of being an awesome domesticated pet, he is essentially a working dog, loving having to be part of a very active lifestyle. He may not be the best pet for a first time owner or a home with small children. This is because he isn't your cuddly, lying-around-the-house, playmate kind of pet. He wants a home and owner similar to himself – strong, active, energetic, bold, independent, strong-willed and firm, and when he gets this, he becomes the splendid pet he is so well known for.

Klee Klei is very intelligent breed with a lot of energy. They love spending time with the family, especially in the outdoor activities. Klee Klei is very friendly towards children and new people, but they will also be excellent watchdogs too. Due to their intelligence, they are very easy to train. You should practice a positive way of awarding for them. They love pleasing and they love food, so it is a match made in heaven for training the Klee Klei. They will enjoy playing with other animals because they love to run and spend time with them, but you must socialize them from the early age. It is very important to socialize them with other animals and you will not have anything to worry about. They have a high prey drive so you will have to keep them on the leash while walking because if they notice something they will run towards it immediately. So for your, and your pet's safety, it is the best to keep the leash on. They do not bark a lot, but they will express when they are not pleasured because they can be very sensitive

Eye Disease:

Your Greenland dog can battle with eye problems such as progressive retinal atrophy, hereditary or juvenile cataracts and corneal dystrophy. Eye diseases like this can cause a host of problems for your pet and should receive immediate veterinary attention.

Cataracts in dogs are a common problem affecting the eyes of dogs, with there being different forms and causes.The age at which your pet develops cataracts is important for identifying the type of cataract it is because it will give the vet an idea if the cataracts are an hereditary trait in certain dog breeds.

Hip Dysplasia:

Nearly every dog can battle with hip dysplasia and it can be a serious concern for active canines such as the Greenland dog.

This joint and bone ailment can start manifesting itself as early as 4 months of age with your pet. This dysplasia occurs when the head of the femur doesn't fit into the pelvic joint the way it should. It can lead to pain, arthritis and lameness with your dog.

As most of the small breed dogs that are mixed with various breeds, this is one of the healthiest breeds. They do not have a lot of health issues, and usually, they tend to live a lot. Of course, you must be careful where are you buying your dog, and it is very important to choose the right owners that are taking care of the dogs and puppies. Some of the issues that this breed might have are luxation patella, thyroid disease, heart conditions, liver shunts, factor VII deficiency, and cataracts.

Diet:

As a medium- to large-sized dog breed, the Greenland Dog will require a high-quality commercial dog food if that is what you will be feeding him. The top quality brands have the right mix of vitamins and minerals in them for health.

However, it is wise to ensure that such an active dog breed gets his quota of raw meat in too. He has been used to eating fish and seal meat and will require this raw diet too. Sometimes if you cook rice, chicken and vegetables, you can add this into his kibble too.

He must never be without a constant supply of fresh, cool water.

Grooming:

Greenland Dogs need to be groomed at least twice a week to keep the thick coat in tip top condition. He sheds throughout the year.

He will also require you brushing his teeth to get rid of plaque which can cause a host of health issues. You get special toothpaste and toothbrush for dogs. His teeth should be brushed 2 or 3 times a week.

Exercise:

Make sure you give your high-energy Greenland Dog the right dose of exercise. He is intelligent too so he needs walks, games and other activities that contribute towards his physical and mental wellbeing.

He will do well on large properties or farms but won't do well where the space is tiny and where the owners are inactive couch potatoes.

Be careful too that the Greenland Dog isn't exercised immediately after eating as this puts him in danger of developing bloat.

Feeding Klee Klei

Since they are highly energetic dogs they will need a lot of fuel for playing and spending time outside. Feeding of your dog depends on daily activity, but overall you should consult with dog nutritionist for a better understanding of your dog needs.

Feeding puppy

Puppies need more food divided into 3-5 meals per day. They would eat everything you have for them. 3-5 high-quality dry food would be enough with additional vitamins and minerals.

Grooming Alaskan Klee Klei

Normally, Klee Klei groom themselves, so you won’t have to do it too often. Again, you will have to take care of your dog with occasional baths and brushing. You will know when is the time to take care of your lovely Klee Klei, but they will do most of the work.