How to Choose the Best Dog Food for Alaskan Klee Kais
The distinctive and beautiful Alaskan Klee Kai traces its roots to Wasilla, Alaska. A relatively new breed, the Alaska Klee Kai was developed by the Spurlin family whose sole intent was to breed a dog that would be a smaller version of the beloved Siberian Husky. The Spurlins’ plans included the development of a temperament that would make this dog type an excellent family companion that retained most of the same characteristics as the Husky.
Today, the Alaskan Klee Kai is a rare breed; however, they are still being bred selectively in countries around the world. In direct opposition to the Husky, the primary role of the Alaskan Klee Kai was to function as a beloved family member whose sole job was companionship. The Alaskan Klee Kai is a devoted family friend but is naturally aloof and suspicious of strangers.
The Alaskan Klee Kai makes an excellent guard dog, eagerly protecting those it loves most and the place where they reside. The breed thrives under the attention of its owner and is highly motivated to please, making this dog breed a joy to train. The breed is well renowned for its high level of intelligence and excels at many different activities including agility, obedience, rally, and more.
A dog breed with high activity requirements, the Alaskan Klee Kai must be exercised daily at a vigorous pace to remain physically and mentally satisfied. If properly exercised and not overfed, this dog type is unlikely to become overweight. The Alaskan Klee Kai has an exceptionally high prey drive, and like the Husky, is prone to escapism. A securely fenced yard is a must for this breed.
The Alaskan Klee Kai is typically a very healthy breed. However, as with all dog types, this breed can be predisposed to a number of different health problems. These include patellar luxation, thyroid disease, heart problems, liver shunts, and cataracts. To help promote optimal wellness in the breed, the best dog foods for Alaskan Klee Kais should include supplements to support eye, joint, liver, and immune system health.
The ideal diet for the Alaskan Klee Kai contains approximately 18 percent protein and 5 percent fat.
Choosing the Correct Calorie Count for Alaskan Klee Kais
A highly active dog, the Alaskan Klee Kai requires a diet that is well-balanced and based on a lean meat protein to attain optimal health and wellness. Determining how much of a diet to feed a dog is a challenging task. Thankfully, the best dog foods for Alaskan Klee Kais offer suggested serving sizes on the side of their packaging. These guidelines are based on age and weight and can be adjusted until the correct portion for the dog is found.
The Alaskan Klee Kai is unlikely to become overweight. However, since the breed is prone to patellar luxation, it is important that this dog be kept at a healthy weight. To this end, free feeding is discouraged, and all intake should be measured and carefully monitored to ensure the dog maintains an ideal body condition.
Dietary Requirements for Alaskan Klee Kai Dog Foods
The Alaskan Klee Kai, like all dogs, is a true carnivore, requiring a diet based on a lean meat to enjoy optimal health and wellness. The best dog foods for Alaskan Klee Kais base their formulation on a whole meat or meat meal. By-products are a cheap animal-based protein source often utilized by dog food companies as a foundational ingredient. This protein type is insufficient to meet the nutritional needs of the athletic Alaskan Klee Kai.
Plant proteins such as soy, corn, and wheat are common allergens for many dogs, and thus, are best avoided. Likewise, diets containing chemicals, additives, fillers, artificial flavors, colors, and preservatives lack the nutritional quality this hardy breed needs to fuel its daily lifestyle.
From carbohydrates, the Alaskan Klee Kai gains the nutrients it needs for good digestion and a healthy immune system. Antioxidant and dietary fiber-dense fruits, vegetables, and whole grains make an excellent base for this breed’s carbohydrate profile. Dogs with sensitivities to grains may do best on a grain-free diet.
Healthy fats provide the Alaskan Klee Kai with the essential fatty acids needed for coat and skin health and strong energy reserves. The ideal sources for these fats are found in animal-based foods such as chicken fat and oily fish.
Supplements added to a diet complement the nutrition contained in the food, providing additional health benefits for the Alaskan Klee Kai. The ideal supplements to look for in a food for this breed include glucosamine, chondroitin, prebiotics, and probiotics.
Things to Look for in the Best Dog Food for Alaskan Klee Kais
Here is a basic list of the most important things to look for in the best dog food for an Alaskan Klee Kai:
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Lean, meat-based proteins heading up the ingredients list
The Alaskan Klee Kai is an active breed, requiring a high performance diet based on a lean meat-based protein to thrive. The ideal foundation for a diet for this breed is a whole meat or meat meal.
By-products and plant proteins lack the nutritional quality to support the needs of this busy, high energy breed, and thus, are best avoided.
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Prepared without the addition of chemicals, flavorings, fillers, or mystery ingredients
Chemicals, fillers, artificial flavorings and colorings, and mystery ingredients provide no nutritional benefit to the Alaskan Klee Kai. Many of these items can cause an allergic reaction in this breed. Foods containing one or more of these ingredients should be avoided.
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Enriched with probiotics and helpful supplements
No diet is complete on its own, and thus, can benefit from the addition of helpful supplements. The most valuable ingredients to look for in a food for the Alaskan Klee Kai include prebiotics, probiotics, glucosamine, and chondroitin.
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Meets AAFCO nutritional requirements for a complete and balanced food
All foods appropriate for the Alaskan Klee Kai should bear the AAFCO seal of approval, indicating it meets the standards for a complete and balanced food.