Chesslike Shelties
English │ Norsk
Welcome to Chesslike, a Shetland Sheepdog breeder located in Ålesund, Norway. Through the years we have bred Shetland Sheepdogs under three different prefixes: Smashing, Playtime and Chesslike. The kennel Chesslike was created by mother and daughter in 2005, basing itself in large part on the offspring of our late Playtime’s Made in Paris (Chess). We mainly breed sable shelties, and they are all based on pure British lines.
Show dogs
Our dogs are attempted bred in adherence to the FCI standard with the hopes of being of high enough quality to have success in the ring.
We consider showing our dogs as a social and fun hobby - travelling to dog shows around the country every now and then. We are thrilled if buyers are interested in showing their own dog - where we occasionally host ring training events with the local sheltie community.
Puppies and breeding
We breed on a limited scale (only a couple litters a year), aiming for quality above quantity. We strive for shelties of true British type with sweet expressions, solid construction, good health and family friendly dispositions. We consider type to be alpha and omega when it comes to breeding.
We rely on statistics, experience and weekly photography from birth to determine the potential of a puppy. The most promising puppies are generally sold on breeding terms. For more information in Norwegian, see our contact page.
Stud Dogs
We currently have three available stud dogs, as well as a couple of male puppies that we hope grow to be of decent quality.
We try to use our stud dogs on mates that seem compatible, as not all dogs are a great match. Selecting the correct mate can often be challenging, as you should always be attempting to balance core features between the male and the female, all while considering coat color and genetics, health, height, physical construction, facial expression and historical lineage. If interested in a second opinion (even unrelated to our own stud dogs), feel free to ask.
Photography
We are very much into photography, where it plays a core role in logging the development of our dogs. We often take photos of other shetland sheepdogs from various shows, community meetups and local litters - as well as an abundance of horse riding and nature. On occasion, we also host local photo shoots for those that want photos taken of their dogs. All our photos are posted on Facebook.
Sheltie History
The history behind the breed and its development since its inception from the early 1900s is one we value greatly. Having collected old books, magazines, photos and pedigrees for years, we own a large amount of sheltie history that we wish to both preserve, build upon and share with others.
Reidun is currently the historical archivist for NSSK (Norwegian Shetland Sheepdog Club), having always had a fascination with the breed’s historical content. If you have a personal interest in this topic or are looking for certain collectors books etc, feel free to contact her.
Articles and guides
In an attempt to make some contribution to the history of the sheltie, we have written a large range of articles and guides throughout the years - based on historical texts, own experiences and the expertise shared by fellow breeders.
We hope to soon upgrade our literature section with a considerable selection of these articles, in order to provide those interested with added information about the breed. Norwegian versions of some of these articles are currently available in past editions of NSSK magazines.