About us

Alba Racing Kennel is a family run Husky Safari Company and competitive Sleddog racing kennel situated 25kms from Ruka ski resort and 2kms from Kuusamo.

It is run by Alister Dunlop, a Scottish musher who initially came to Finland in 2001 with his 3 Siberian Huskies to work as a handler for another Scot- Philip Ross. It didn't take long for Ali to realise that Kuusamo was the ideal place for training sleddogs.

The next 3 years were to be a tough time for Ali and his girlfriend Kati. Little work, little money and all the time trying to improve the quality of the kennel. Ali says "we had very little money for ourselves, we were always thinking about the dogs, they were eating salmon while we ate pasta! But if I felt a bit low or wondered if it was all worth it, I would just hook up the team and hit the trail. As soon as you release that snub rope, you know life is good!"

By winter 2004 the kennel had changed from mainly Siberian Huskies to Alaskan Huskies and some Hound crosses. Ali completed two middle distance races finishing 4th in both and decided with Kati, who was 7 months pregnant with their baby boy Luka, that it was now or never to start the safari company.

With all the money they could beg, steal and borrow  Alba Racing Kennel was launched. "We didn't want to be just another tourist kennel" says Ali " I wanted to share with the clients all I have found here in Finland, explain about the dogs and racing, try and give them a feeling of what a mushers life is like. They all arrive with different attitudes on working dogs, but when they leave they all know the dogs are loved, well cared for, well trained and happy "

So what started out as a hobby in Scotland is now Ali's business, his sport, his life...........

2006- Gold Medal Finnish Championships Middle Distance 6 dog class

2007- Silver Medal Finnish Championships Middle Distance 6 dog class

2007- Gold Medal Finnish Championships Long Distance Open class

2008  Gold Medal Finnish Championships Middle Distance Open class

2010  Gold Medal Finnish Championships Middle Distance Open class

The dogs pedigrees can be found at

STAMTAVLA