Have you fallen head over heels in love with the idea of owning your own Alaskan Klee Kai? It’s not hard to see why! These pint-sized huskies are intelligent and energetic, and they’re brilliant companions for the right owner. But before you go all in, it’s really important you fully understand what owning an Alaskan Klee Kai will cost you. This isn’t just the initial purchase price either, but the ongoing expenses of keeping your pup healthy and happy.
To give you a clearer idea of how much owning this beautiful breed could set you back, we’ve broken down everything you need to know. From the price of a puppy from a registered breeder to their ongoing care needs, we’ve covered all bases so you can budget properly.
Let’s start by looking at how much you can expect to pay for an Alaskan Klee Kai in Australia. The price of bringing one of these gorgeous little dogs home will vary quite a bit, depending on where you buy them from. For example, if you buy from a registered breeder, you can expect to pay anywhere from $4,000 – $6,000, taking their lineage, coat colour, and more into account. On the other hand, going through an adoption shelter will usually cost a lot less, with the average adoption fee ranging from $800 – $1,500.
You might find Alaskan Klee Kai puppies for sale that are priced even lower than this, but you should be very wary of these listings. In most cases, these puppies will be from unregistered breeders who do not follow ethical breeding practices, meaning that money is prioritised over everything else, and you could end up with a puppy that suffers from serious health issues and genetic disorders. So, to be 100% safe, always use either a registered breeder or an adoption shelter.
Purchasing an Alaskan Klee Kai from a reputable, registered breeder will cost you between $4,000 and $6,000. Now, this might seem like quite a wide price range, but several factors come into play when determining the price. We’ll touch on these in more detail later, but, as an example, an Alaskan Klee Kai puppy with a champion lineage and a rarer coat colour will cost more than a pet-quality dog.
If you’re lucky enough to find an Alaskan Klee Kai available for adoption, the fee usually ranges from $800 – $1,500, and this will cover the cost of vaccinations, microchipping, and desexing. One important thing to keep in mind, however, is that since Alaskan Klee Kais aren’t a very commonly found breed in Australia, it’s pretty rare to find one that has been surrendered to an adoption shelter. This doesn’t mean it’s impossible, though, and if you register with breed-specific shelters that specialise in Northern breeds like Shamroq, you can increase your chances of finding one of these little pups looking for their forever home.
As we mentioned earlier, there are a few things that go into determining how much an Alaskan Klee Kai is priced. These include:
One of the biggest pricing factors for an Alaskan Klee Kai is its lineage. Puppies from champion bloodlines, where parents or grandparents have excelled in dog shows and meet strict breed standards, will be much more expensive than those bred solely as pets. Also, a well-bred Alaskan Klee Kai with a carefully selected genetic background is more likely to be free from hereditary health conditions, which will push the price even higher towards that $6,000 mark.
Another factor influencing the cost of an Alaskan Klee Kai is its coat colour and markings. The most common colours are black and white and grey and white, and puppies with these coats usually sit at the lower end of the price range. However, Alaskan Klee Kais with red and white or solid black coats are rarer, and if they also have symmetrical facial markings, the price will rise due to both rarity and demand.
It’s not just bloodline and colour that affect pricing, but the size of the dog, too. Alaskan Klee Kais come in three size categories (Toy, Miniature, and Standard), and because some are more sought after than others, the more in-demand sizes tend to cost more. Toy Alaskan Klee Kais, in particular, are both rare and in demand, so these are usually the most expensive, while Standard Alaskan Klee Kais tend to fall in the mid-price range.
Then there’s the breeder and their reputation, and those with a strong background in ethical breeding practices will charge more. This is because the breeder will have carried out extensive health screenings on the puppies, looking for issues or genetic disorders, and making sure the puppies are as healthy as possible before going to their new homes. These screenings obviously come with costs, and these are picked up in the price of the puppies, so the more tests that have been carried out, the more expensive the pups will be. Also, some breeders might need to import high-quality breeding dogs from overseas to diversify their bloodlines, which also adds to the costs.
That’s the ins and outs of the purchase price for an Alaskan Klee Kai covered. But, before you bring your new dog home, you’ll also have to pick up these essentials:
Dog crate: $100 – $200 for a sturdy, well-ventilated crate that can be used for house training and creating a safe retreat for your dog.
Dog bed: $80 – $150 for a chew-resistant, orthopaedic bed that can take the pressure off your Alaskan Klee Kai’s joints while they sleep.
Dog collar/lead: $30 – $80 for an adjustable collar and a strong lead with a good pull-force rating.
Feeding bowl: $10 – $40 for a stainless steel or ceramic slow-feeder bowl that will help prevent bloating and digestive issues.
Dog toothbrush: $10 – $30 for a toothbrush and toothpaste set designed to stop plaque buildup.
Dog car harness: $40 – $80 for a secure, crash-tested car harness to keep your pup in place while you’re driving.
Puppy treats: $10 – $40 per month for all-natural training treats and chews for mental stimulation.
Puppy training pads: $20 – $50 for disposable or washable training pads to help contain any accidents during early house training.
Dog shampoo & conditioner: $20 – $50 for a gentle, hypoallergenic shampoo that deep cleans a thick coat while protecting the skin.
Dog nail clippers, brushes, & combs: $15 – $60 for a set of grooming brushes that can handle a thick coat and nail clippers for good paw health.
Those are the basic items you’re Alaskan Klee Kai needs, but it’s not the end of the costs of owning one! You’ll also need to think about their ongoing maintenance costs, which include everything below.
A healthy adult Alaskan Klee Kai should weigh between 7kg and 10kg, depending on the sex. This means they’ll need between 150g – 300g of food per day, which across different diets, could mean you’ll spend around $45 – $300 on dog food each month.
These prices are just estimates, and the amount you’ll spend will depend on the brand you choose, the ingredients it contains, and the health of your dog. You should always consult your vet before deciding which diet is right for your Alaskan Klee Kai, and how much to feed them each day.
Then there are vet care costs to consider, which aren’t only needed for emergencies, but year-round to prevent certain pests and diseases from affecting your dog’s health. Here’s an average of what you can expect to pay for these:
Annual vet checkups: $80 – $150 for a full health examination, weight check, and general wellness advice.
Vaccinations: $100 – $250 per year for both core and optional vaccines to protect against distemper, parvovirus, kennel cough, and more.
Worming and parasite treatment: $10 – $30 per month to prevent fleas, ticks, and various worms.
Dental cleaning: $300 – $600 for professional teeth cleaning under anaesthetic.
Pet insurance: $40 – $100 per month, depending on the coverage you choose and if your Alaskan Klee Kai has any pre-existing conditions.
Even though they’re smaller than huskies, and Alaskan Klee Kai still has a similar coat, and this means regular grooming is needed to keep it healthy and looking great. Some of this can be done at home, but an occasional trip to the groomer is recommended, which will cost:
Just like any other highly intelligent breed, Alaskan Klee Kais need to be trained from an early to stop bad behaviours from forming. Classes are the best way of doing this, and these will cost you around:
There’s no denying that owning an Alaskan Klee Kai is a long-term financial commitment, and you’ll need to be 100% confident that you can afford to provide the care they need to live the best possible life. If you are ready for the challenge, you’ll have a loyal, loving, and intelligent dog companion by your side for many years to come!
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