Shiba Inu Klee Kai Puppies for Sale in Tampa Bay

The Shiba Inu Klee Kai is a designer breed mixed between Shiba Inus and Alaskan Klee Kais. Since this is a mixed breed, their appearance can vary from one dog to another. Alaksan Klee Kais come in three size varieties: Toy, Miniature, and Standard. Shiba Inus are more solid and can weigh slightly more than Alaskan Klee Kais. Shiba Inu Klee Kais generally range between 10 and 17 pounds. They tend to look like a smaller version of a purebred Shiba Inu. They should reach between 13 and 17 inches depending on their parents.

Alaskan Klee Kais can be gray and white, black and white, or red and white. Shiba Inus can have red, white, tan, cream, and black coloring. Shiba Inu Klee Kais may combine these patterns or just take after one parent.

Both of these breeds have a life expectancy of 13 to 16 years.

Shiba Inus and Alaskan Klee Kais have similar appearances but different origins. The two breeds are unique from one another. Shiba Inus are a Japanese breed while Alaskan Klee Kais trace their ancestry back to Alaska, United States.

Shiba Inus have a history that long predates modern breeds. Their original ancestors lie within dogs owned by the Jomon-jin people of 14,500 B.C. to 300 A.D. Japan. Around 7,000 B.C., a new group of immigrants came to the area and brought their domesticated dogs. In those days, these dogs were used for hunting and fishing. Crossbreeding the two groups of dogs led to the modern Shiba Inu that we know today. The first Shiba Inu came to the United States in 1954. It was officially recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC) in 1992 and added to the Non-Sporting Group in 1993.

Alaskan Klee Kais come from the Spitz group, and they resemble Huskies. This is a much younger breed than the Shiba Inu. Alaskan Klee Kais come from four other dog breeds: Alaskan Husky, Siberian Husky, American Eskimo, and Schipperke. It was developed in the 1970’s by breeder, Linda Spurlin. The AKC does not officially recognize the Alaskan Klee Kai. 

As one half of its history is very new, we can conclude that the mixed breed, Shiba Inu Klee Kai, is also quite new. Exact origins are unknown, but this mixed breed has likely been around for a couple decades.

Both Shiba Inus and Alaskan Klee Kais share several personality traits. Firstly, they are both highly intelligent breeds, as most working dog breeds are. With that intelligence comes an immense about of stubbornness. Shiba Inu Klee Kais tend to be quite headstrong. So, while they are capable of a good amount of training, you will need to stick with it for a while. 

Both of these breeds are incredibly loyal to their primary caregiver, and so is their mix. They are very affectionate with their family. Interestingly, the Shiba Inu Klee Kai is that, unlike many other loyal breeds, they do not tend to bond to the entire family. They will still recognize all members as family and be friendly, but they tend to attach to a singular person in the family. So, you can expect lots of cuddles and belly rubs if you are the one they are bonded to.

Shiba Inu Klee Kais are both playful and curious. They like to explore their environments and have plenty of stimulation. They are wary of strangers at first, though they can grow to be friendly if the time is spent to build trust.

One trait that does differ between the two breeds is their energy level. Shiba Inus have a rather relaxed temperament. On the other hand, Alaskan Klee Kais are described as high strung.

Shiba Inu Klee Kais are not very patient when it comes to children. They do not do well with children because they are too stimulating for the Shiba Inu Klee Kai. They can be questionable around other pets, depending on if they have more of a Shiba Inu (questionable with other dogs) or Alaskan Klee Kai (good with other dogs) personality.. In general, the ideal family environment for this breed is one to two adults in a calm setting.

That being said, Shiba Inus are prone to separation anxiety. You may see this in your Shiba Inu Klee Kai. It is good to crate dogs with separation anxiety when you are not home to prevent destruction. Also, consult a veterinarian to determine if there is any available treatment, which would keep your home safe and improve your dog’s quality of life.

The ideal physical environment varies slightly from one Shiba Inu Klee Kai to the next. This is because Shiba Inus and Alaskan Klee Kais vary in their preferences. Shiba Inus do well in indoor environments. On the other hand, Alaskan Klee Kais may not do so well in small environments or if they are kept indoors for too long.

So, your Shiba Inu Klee Kai may adapt well to a small apartment, or they may require a large home and yard for proper exercise and stimulation. To be safe, you should have a yard available to them.

It is important to remember that Shiba Inu Klee Kais have a very strong prey drive. This means that they are liable to chase after rabbits, squirrels, and other small animals that cross into your yard. This is another reason they are questionable with other dogs, since they may be too rough with smaller pets. 

Their curious nature and strong prey drive mean they could bolt any second, and there is no telling when or if they would return home. To resolve any danger, you should always have a fenced yard for this breed. If you do not have a fence, you should always keep them on a leash, even outside with them.

Shiba Inus has an innate desire to use the bathroom as far away from the area they sleep in as possible. Luckily, these dogs are very easy to potty train. These dogs could be potty trained within the first month or two of life.

Regarding temperature, this is not a good mixed breed for hot weather. The Shiba Inu and the Alaskan Klee Kai are designed for cold weather. You should not get a Shiba Inu Klee Kai if you live in an area with overly hot summers.

Both the Shiba Inu and the Alaskan Klee Kai have double coats, so their puppies will. Shiba Inu Klee Kais shed frequently like any double coated dog breed. This happens more often during the spring and fall.

Generally speaking, you will want to brush your Shiba Inu Klee Kai once a week. Their hair is not prone to matting, so not keeping up with this schedule is not necessarily dangerous to them. However, you will notice significantly less hair around the house if you brush them weekly. Many Shiba Inu Klee Kai owners switch their brushing schedule to several times per week during the spring and fall when their dogs shed more.

There are several tools needed to brush a double coated dog. The first step is using a pin brush to work through the outer coat. This removes loose hair and debris from the top layer. The second step is using an undercoat rake to brush through the undercoat. You will probably notice more hair coming out during this step.

On low heat, you can also use a blow dryer to blow out loose hair from your Shiba Inu Klee Kai’s coat. Shiba Inus and Alaskan Klee Kais can be wary of the dryer at first, but they can learn to tolerate it. Test this slowly with them, though.

Bathing is not as important as brushing for Shiba Inu Klee Kais. Although Alaskan Klee Kais like to spend a lot of time outdoors, do not develop the same odor as many other dog breeds do. If you plan to bathing them, use a specially formulated dog shampoo. It is also good to use a dog conditioner on double coated dogs. Brushing is done after bathing.

Nails and ears are another key part of grooming. Unfortunately, Shiba Inu Klee Kais can be a little difficult for nail trimming. Try it out at home but be careful and do not fight them on it. If they are especially difficult with you to the point that there is a potential for harm, call a professional groomer or veterinarian. Do not trim the nail too far, either, as this can cause pain and bleeding. Luckily, dogs that spend a lot of time outside tend to file their nails down naturally. So, you may not have to trim their nails that often anyway. Pay attention to them and trim them once they reach the ground. Get to them before they start to curl.

Take a cotton ball or soft cloth for the ears and moisten it. Use this to gently wipe the outer edges of the ear free from any wax or debris. Do not go into the ear canal as this can push wax and debris further into the ear, causing damage.

Energy level is hit or miss with this mixed breed as it depends on which breed the dog takes after more. Shiba Inus are calmer and have fewer exercise needs than Alaskan Klee Kais. They can go with or without daily exercise and still behave themselves. Alaskan Klee Kais can start to engage in destructive behavior if they do not get proper exercise.

Shiba Inu Klee Kais love spending time outdoors and engaging in activities with their owners. Ideal exercise include hikes, walks around the neighborhood, games of fetch, and various water activities. Trips to the dog park are not recommended. It would provide mental stimulation, but these dogs may be unpredictable around others.

It is essential to live an active lifestyle if you have one of these dogs. They are very bonded to their primary caregiver and, although they will exercise on their own, they very much prefer activities that they can do with you. If you cannot commit to playtime or exercise with this breed, then do not get a Shiba Inu Klee Kai.

Dry kibble is fine for this mixed breed as long as it is high quality. Ideally, you should feed your Shiba Inu Klee Kai a diet with high protein content and a low number of calories per cup (less than 350). Check the ingredients in their food to ensure that it comes from a pure-meat source rather than fish meal.

As this is a medium sized dog, adults should receive between 2 and 2 2/3 cups of food per day. You can use treats for training but do so sparingly to avoid obesity. In addition, you can also treat them to various meats but consult with a veterinarian first. A general rule is that you should feel your Shiba Inu Klee Kai’s ribs and backbone but not be able to see them. 

For adults, split their food into two meals per day. Puppies will need a smaller amount over the course of the day. They should have smaller meals at more frequent intervals. For example, some puppies eat small meals four or fives times per day. You can slowly decrease the frequency and increase it as they reach adulthood. 

Shiba Inu Klee Kais need a fresh supply of water at all times, especially if you live in a warmer environment. Provide them with new water at least once per day but more often if they get it dirty. Additionally, use metal bowls rather than plastic since plastic bowls can leak chemicals into food and water.