About Del Mar
THE HISTORY OF KLEE KAI OF DEL MAR
Welcome to our home by the sea!
We have been exhibitors of rare Alaskan Klee Kai miniature huskies for many years. “Del Mar” means “by the sea,” which is a fitting name as we live in San Diego, California. We hope you enjoy your visit to our site!
STRONG FOUNDATIONS
THE JOURNEY
Our journey in this breed began when Alaskan Klee Kai were exceptionally scarce. We patiently awaited eighteen months for the arrival of our very first Alaskan Klee Kai, CH’ PR’ Widdershins Sweet Sung Lyrics, affectionately known as ‘Akira.’
As time passed, we welcomed ‘Loki’ into our home, who would become the cornerstone of our breeding program. Loki achieved the prestigious title of Grand Champion in conformation and made history as the first Alaskan Klee Kai in the breed to attain a weight-pull championship. Over time, many of his progeny and grandbabies won Best in Show, as well as GRCH, CH, and performance titles.
Throughout the years, numerous competitors and breeders have approached us in search of healthy and well-rounded dogs capable of excelling in various aspects of dog sports and achieving recognition in the UKC National Top 10. We take pride in providing these enthusiasts with dogs embodying health and performance excellence.
EDUCATION
COMMUNICATION
We frequently receive inquiries from breeders seeking assistance interpreting their Wisdom and Embark genetic reports. The availability of these reports has made it easier than ever to make informed breeding decisions, allowing breeders to mitigate undesirable traits, such as disease alleles and undesired coat or color variations.
Our work extends to collaborating with exhibitors and performance homes to diversify genetics and promote the creation of healthier breeding lines. We were among the pioneers in promoting OFA (Orthopedic Foundation for Animals) standards within the breed. We actively supported CHIC (Canine Health Information Center) certifications by testing breeding dogs for FVII, cardiac health, thyroid function, patellas, and eye health.
Unlike many other breeders, we offer a guarantee for our show/breeding dogs—if they don’t meet your expectations, they can be exchanged. For pet homes we offer a 12-month guarantee against congenital or genetic defects that impact quality of life. We firmly stand behind the quality of the dogs we produce, maintaining one to two breeding seasons per year to ensure high-quality show potential Alaskan Klee Kai.
A Unique Lens
INNOVATIVE CONCEPTS
In the early days, as a scientist specializing in genetics, I found that breeders from across the United States began reaching out to me for guidance on breeding strategies and managing recessive inheritance, including health and phenotypes. In collaboration with Jim Butler (Helderberg), we had the opportunity to publish an article in Bloodlines Magazine addressing recessive inheritance.
With the invaluable DNA swab donation from Eileen Gregory (Alasco), I partnered with John Duffendack at Vetgen to develop a kit to identify the breed’s red coat allele. This was a milestone, considering that, at that time, there was only one known red Alaskan Klee Kai. Over the years, technology has advanced, enabling us to screen for a wider range of characteristics and disease alleles.
Successful Breeding Takes a Village
COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS
I want to take a moment to express our deepest gratitude to the incredible exhibitors and dedicated performance homes that have been an integral part of our Alaskan Klee Kai program throughout the years. Your unwavering commitment, passion, and love for these remarkable dogs have played a pivotal role in our journey and our successes.
Every ribbon, trophy, and title our dogs have earned is a testament to our partnership. Your support and teamwork have been the driving force behind our accomplishments, and we are immensely thankful for each of you.
As we continue this incredible journey, we look forward to many more shared successes and cherished moments with our extended Alaskan Klee Kai family. Your enthusiasm and dedication inspire us daily, and we are truly blessed to have such a wonderful community of exhibitors and performance enthusiasts by our side.
Thank you for your unwavering support, your tireless efforts, and the love you’ve poured into our dogs. Together, we have achieved greatness, and we can’t wait to see what the future holds as we continue to thrive and excel in the world of Alaskan Klee Kai.
