OLD LINE

The aim of Old Line breeders is to breed a siberian husky original, arctic, good characteristic and capable to work in artic conditions. Important is to preserve the correct structure. In breeding is combined two main goals: the old line and type structure and right working capability. Working qualities in hiking are more important than in speed racing. Siberian husky is the fastest of all artic breeds but he needs not to be such fast as the greyhounds.

In the beginning siberian husky was a working breed. Dogs in America, the home country of the breed, won sledge races and also won in shows. Many racing kennels had also good show dogs. Working capability and good structure were combined. When Siberian husky came very popular, many breeders begun to breed dogs only for shows or only for speed racing. Many racing kennels started breed also alaskan huskies and mongrel sledge dogs among siberian huskies to gain more speed for races which were getting more and more demanding. The structure of racing siberian huskies was changing to lighter and reminding more a greyhound. Dogs became uneven as type. Older type, original Siberian huskies who had more bones, were called "old line" siberian huskies. New style was called "the new racing line". To Finland racing siberian huskies came in the middle of 1970's, before that we had only old line siberian huskies.

Modern show line became known in the beginning of 1980's, it adapted a style where certain qualities were highlighted by mode. Some kennels remain to breed the old line dogs (such as Troika's, Siberkirk's, Talocon, Ginger Blu, Baltic, Fjiordlund's) trying to cherish the original old line (such as Monadnock, Frosty Aire, Marlytuk, Norstarr, Almaring, Savdajaures, Koryak) without mixing show line or racing line in their dogs. There are some kennels which later mixed old line and show lines.

Old line breeders want to preserve the siberian husky type as it has been in early days in Siberia and cherish those arctic qualities (such as thick coat) which has made possible the breed to exist until these days. Good-character is also important in breeding; bad characteristic dog is not a good working dog or a pet. Also changing of generations has been slow in old line Siberian huskies, there are dogs only 10-15 generations from the first registered siberian huskies.

There aren't many old line kennels in the world. There are some in USA and one in the Nordic countries. A couple of kennels in Europe have mixed old line and show line dogs. Old line siberian husky is very suitable to work in a team in hiking and also a wonderful family pet because of his lovely nature.