The Lavika Kennel
I had loved animals for as long as I can remember and together with my twin sister Natalia, as children, we had guinea pigs, hamsters, fish, cats and helped our grandmothers to look after farm animals, but always dreamed about having our own dog. I was born in Ukraine. At the age of 11, we both seriously considered getting a pet dog and carefully studied all the breeds by reading lots of literature and exploring. We were interested in any dog we met on the street, often following confused owners to admire their dogs! The walls in our bedroom were covered in dog pictures, our minds were occupied by dreaming about a dog only. We settled on the Rough Collie breed and I remember I had a vision of a nice long-coated Collie lying on a rug by my bed. A year later, in 1990, we bought our first Rough Collie, a tricolour female who we called Bagira. One day during one of our walks, we met a young lady called Galina Vasiljeva with a lovely tricolour Rough Collie dog. We started chatting and found out that she was a very active collie-lover, she introduced us to the pedigree dog show world! From that moment we devoured everything we could about the Collies – pictures, show results, history and pedigrees worldwide. After a year we knew everything about past and present dogs, pedigrees, lines, attending shows and taking photos, learning famous kennels histories and top winners. We had over 100 pen - friends from all over the world sharing pictures, news and facts on Collies. We were completely hooked and decided it was time for our own show dog, a sable and white puppy female from one of the top representatives of the breed in Ukraine at the time joined our family, we called her Elles and she did very well at shows winning top awards. At that time we came up with a name for our kennel, Lovely Funny, which we thought were the best two words to describe our dogs. Looking through copies of magazines, which were sent to us from abroad, we discovered SHETLAND SHEEPDOGS. An unknown breed to us at the time, we fell in love at the first sight. From that moment we wanted to know everything about it and decision of getting a Sheltie was very strong. There were only a few examples of them in our country at the time, so the search began among lines and breeders abroad. We had in mind our dream sheltie, a tricolour dog and we were extremely lucky to find one in the German Kennel Vom Ohmtalteufel of Beate and Udo Alexander. The dam was Black Hair Lady of Golden and she had been mated in Sweden to a well-known Ch Shelgate Lucky Devil, who was eleven at the time of mating, bred and owned by Anna Uthorn, of the Shelgate kennel. In June 1995 we met our German friends in Ukraine and welcomed into our home and lives our first Sheltie – the lovely Tino. We became good friends with Beate and Erika, later visiting them several times in Germany and meeting in UK at Crufts.​
Lana & Nataliya in
Ukraine, with Tino
Tino winning Best In Show in Germany 1997
Tino CH VALENTINO VOM OHMTALTEUFEL was a very special puppy. We fell in love with him immediately and 30 years later, he still lives in our hearts. Tino’s looks, type and even temperament were similar to his outstanding granddad Ch Deloraine Dog Star, they were born exactly 20 years apart! In her article at Swedish Handbook Anna Uthorn writing about it and highlighting the resemblance of both. Tino exceeded all our expectations and is still currently the most titled sheltie in Ukraine, he was the first Sheltie to gain the Ukrainian FCI Champion title, getting top awards under such famous UK judges like Stella Clark, Terry McGowan, Duna Jones, Pauline Skyrme, Jack Wigglesworth, Alan Clark and many more. His biggest victory was BEST IN SHOW at the Sheltie Show in Germany 1997, the largest and most popular breed show in Continent at the time, he won Open dog class with entry of 52 males and the BIS out of 136 Shelties from 10 different countries, the judges were by Mr Guy Jeavons (Grandgables kennel) and Miss Sandra Taylor (Pepperhill kennel).
To start our own breeding, we imported two bitches from Germany. Tricolour Black Bumblebee From Goat Valley and blue merle Blue Lovely Lady Vom Stormarner Land. Our biggest achievement was the blue merle daughter of Bumblebee – Ch Lovely Funny Glencharm Sofie. She was one of three in the litter born by Int Ch Kamajakin Asparagus, son of Int Ch Candlebark Blue Move and grandson of Forestland Nutcracker. All three siblings became Champions in their countries Ukraine, Belarus and Czech Republic. Sofie stayed with us and her greatest win was WORLD WINNER 2003 at the World Dog Show in Dortmund judged by Jack Bispham (UK) and Sergio Lopez di Caspro (Brazil), it was amazing achievement not just for Sofie who was only 26 months old, but for us as the breeders in our early 20th. We bred limited number of litters but received many winners and champions in five colours including bimerle and bicolour.
MultiCh Lovely Funny Glencharm Sofie WW03
Our experience with the UK Shelties started with importing two lovely males from the legendary Landover kennel. Thanks to our dear friend Mike Saint, a blue merle Ch Landover Blue Frost and sable and white Ch Landover Big Brother arrived to Ukraine. They both became Champions and both proved excellent stud dogs.
Ch Landover Blue Frost
In Ukraine we published four Handbooks on Shelties and Collies in Ukraine which contained various articles on breeds, show results and winners, yearly show leaders and top charts. On top of that, we maintained the Top of the Year Collie and Sheltie competition system which listed top dog, kennels, stud dogs and brood bitches according to the show results, we voluntarily presented cups, rosettes, diplomas and prizes to all winners annually for many years.
The Lovely Funny Dog Show
At the end of 2004 I moved to the UK and 2005 was the year I settled in Cornwall. Natalia, back in Ukraine continued our winning ways as one of the top kennels in Europe up until she followed me in moving to the UK where she registered her own kennel with different breed (Pomeranians) and today doing extremely well in the ring. She is still counts as one of the team Lavika and can be often seen accompanying, supporting, grooming and showing in the Sheltie ring.
Nataliya,Lana,Katya & the Lavika Shelties at Crufts 2019
The affix ‘Lavika’ was registered with the Kennel Club in 2006 and comes from the first two letters of the names of our family at that time (LAna, VInnie and KAtya) . Vinnie was my husband and played a big role in the beginning of my dog showing career. Katya is my first child and was involved with Shelties ever since she was born. Today the sable & white line is owned by me and all Blues and tricolors are owned by Katya, she is taking complete responsibility of her dogs loving, training, grooming, showing and deciding on breeding plans. I look after mine and love them all of course. We live in a 5 bedroom bungalow and all the dogs live with us, we have no kennels and no dog rooms. We test our boys genetically and my goal is to breed healthy dogs of correct type, size, construction, movement and temperament according to the breed standard. We walk 5 miles daily to keep fit and having fun on a field at least once a week, our dogs living happy lives.
Lana & the Lavika's at the local feilds
My first Sheltie in UK was my homebred female I imported from Ukraine tricolour Angie, at the time I couldn’t keep any puppies so when she had a litter by Ch Milesend Nighforce one was sold to Shellamoyed kennel where Lavika Late Night Lover produced the most beautiful bluemerle Champion Shellamoyed Heavenly Blue.
Ch Shellamoyed Heavenly Blue
In 2008 I purchased two females from Milesend kennel and they became my foundation. Timey, Sable & white Ch Milesend Goodtimes at Lavika (Ch Milesend Stormwarden x Milesend Calendar Girl) came to me at the age of six months old after her first show (Eastern Counties Shetland Sheepdog Club Champ Show) where she was qualified for Crufts 2009 by getting 2nd place in MPB under Ann Stafford. My first show with Timey was Crufts 2009 and we did amazingly winning Best Puppy In Breed and RCC under breed specialist Diane Moore. Since then Crufts became my special show where we had some lovely wins in the ring through the years. Timey won another RCC at Crufts 2011 and a year later CC at Crufts 2012, her daughter Ch Lavika Summer Time JW repeated her Mother’s success and won CC at Crufts 2016, and a few years later Summer’s son Ch Lavika Luminary JW also won CC at Crufts 2022 which is quite a record being it three generations and is a very treasured memory for me as all three are no longer with us.
Above: Ch L. Luminary JW
Left: Ch L. Summer Time JW
Right: Ch. M Goodtimes at L.
Timey winning the
RCC & BPIB at Crufts 2009
Timey won her first CC in Puppy Class under late Derek Rigby, Lythwood. I was honoured to meet him that day and have a huge respect for him, he made me feel welcome, shared his experience and giving honest opinions and advice, I’ve learned a lot from this great man.
All sable & white Shelties we have today are Timey’s progeny, we have six generations of lovely type which was passed by this outstanding female, she moved like a dream and had the most beautiful shape with correct construction, adding to that the most pleasant eyes and expression and the most wonderful temperament. At her last show which was Devon County Show 2015 she won BEST VETERAN IN SHOW all breed and received the greatest write up from the judge Chris Burscough. I miss Timey so much, she was so so special.
A young Katya and a young Ch.L Black Beauty JW VW
L. Spring Queen JW as a puppy
TOP BROOD BITCH 2023
Currently produced 3 Champions
Ch M. Goodtimes at L. at her last show, winning BVIS
Ivy, Tricolour Milesend Festive Queen at Lavika (Ch Milesend Nightforce x Ch Eljetia Queen Bee) never made it to a show Champion or even passed puppy class, but produced a few lovely litters for us by our boys. The most successful combination was Ivy x Jack – Natalia’s bluemerle Ukr Ch Briggsview Jack Frost at Milesend where we had tri boy and two blurmerle girls. The tri boy Lavika Lunar Eclipse went to Art Felicity Kennel (Poland) and turned out an excellent producer, his name is now in pedigrees of many european champions. Bluemerle girl Lavika Lucent Frost Queen went to Ireland and live with Susan King, and another Bluemerle girl Lavika Lydian Ice Queen stayed with my friend on coownership and produced for us a litter by Dima where we kept bluemerle Tia – Lavika Princess Celestia. Tia in turn produced two litters by Ch Mistmere Blackthorn at Shelridge JW and we kept tricolour girls from each. Lexi, the older sister won JW and 2's CC in junior age, she also had a great career in agility ring being super fast and super smart. Like many dogs, she lost opportunity to show during lockdown when she was looking in her prime but managed to charm the judges in her older age and gained her title a few days before her seventh birthday, she is now showing in veteran class and has respectful title to her name Veteran Warrant. Lexi is Katya’s girl from birth, they’ve never been apart and continuing to bring pride and joy to each other today. Kim – the younger sister of Lexi, Lavika Spring Queen JW was quite successful in the ring in her young age but was retired after lockdown concentrating on agility competitions and maternity duties. Kim’s children however are show stars and crowned their mother as TOP BROOD BITCH in breed 2023 (Our Dogs charts).
We’ve been fortunate to use at stud the most beautiful bluemerle from Sweden Ch Frostice Makeover - Denis, Katya spotted him since he was a youngster and to our delight due to Covid he stayed in UK a little longer than planned which allowed us to mate both Lexi and Kim. We received three amazing blues who became Champions: Ch Lavika Deep Blue Ocean - Kai, Ch Lavika Lucid Dreams – Koda and Ch Lavika Lagoona Blue at Macstanryn – Beatrice. Koda and Beatrice were only two puppies in the litter, the starry litter I should say, we couldn’t dream for more! Kai was only one bluemerle puppy in the litter along with his three tricolour siblings, and the second he was born we knew he is special, he fulfilled our hopes. Kai produced for us tricolour son Apollo - Lavika Moonlight Storm JW. and Apollo is a sire of our beautiful blumerle Artemis- Lavika Sunset Rose JW, who had a phenomenal puppy show career winning BP at Crufts 2024 and Top Dog of Cornwall overall in 2024.
Apollo is linebred on our tricolour boy – late Dima Ch Japaro Midnight Storm at Lavika. Lexi’s and Denis’s granddad. Dima joined our family in 2010 and was, no doubt, one in a million dog, charming and affectionate, with the most beautiful head and expression. The most beautiful tricolour with jet black body and glamorous full white collar. He produced many Champion progeny, today many of his offspring are winning in the ring.
Another dog from Sweden I was fortunate to have and use in my breeding program was handsome Pelle from Anne Reider. Ch Shellricks You May Me Luck gained his UK CH title in 2015 being a veteran, he stayed with me for a year and went back home, but left a few litters behind which appeared as a big success for me. His granddaughters Ch Lavika Good Luck JW - Jasmine and Lavika Lucky Star JW - Scarlet produced for us champion children, Jasmine’s Lavika Lateca – Lyssa (CC at Crufts 2024) and Scarlet’s son Ch Lavika Starlight Salute – Phillip doing extremely well in the ring.
I always admired Japaro type and ten years later I had a possibility to use another Japaro dog - sable & white Japaro Music Maestro, and delighted to have his children Ch Lavika Starlight Salute and his sister Lavika Peach Time who are keeping the line alive today.
We are very proud to have made up 13 Champions and won 75 CCs (including 5 at Crufts) since 2009 to date (2024). One of our major achievements has been to have the largest number of dogs winning CCs, bred by the same kennel in one year - SEVEN ! I believe no breeder had achieved this ever.
Lavika Shelties also set the record in the breed scoring the most number of CC winners in the past 14 years (since 2010 – to date 2024) – 19 dogs including 16 of our own breeding.
The year 2023 was an amazing highlight for us winning 19 CCs including THE DOUBLE (DCC & BCC) - not just once but four times with different dogs at Paignton Champ Show (DCC, BCC, BRCC), South Wales Kennel Association Champ Show (DCC, DRCC, BCC), Eastern Counties Shetland Sheepdog Club Champ Show (DCC, DRCC, BCC) and SKC (DCC, BCC). I would like to take this opportunity to thank the wonderful judges who thought so highly of our dogs, also to many friends who were there to support, educate and congratulate us on the way. Sincere thanks to the lovely people who allowed us to have their precious puppies and dogs, use their beautiful stud dogs, we are forever grateful.
L-R
Ch L. Lagoona Blue of M.
Ch L. Deep Blue Ocean
Ch L. Lucid Dreams
L. Sunset Rose JW
GB CH
NO CH
SE CH
FI CH
L. Moonlight Storm JW
GB CH
SE CH
J. Midnight Storm at L.
GB CH NO CH SE CH S. You May Me Luck
Ch L. Starlight Salute
CC Winners 2023
L-R
Ch L. Starlight Salute
Ch L. Goodluck JW
Ch L. Deep Blue Ocean
Ch L. Lucid Dreams
Multi Ch L. Moonlight Storm JW
Ch L. Black Beauty JW VW
Ch L. Lagoona Blue of M.
3 Colours of each sex!
Doubles 2023
L-R
ECSSC - Ch L. Lagoona Blue & Ch L. Deep Blue Ocean
SWCA - Multi Ch L. Moonlight Storm & Ch L. Lagoona Blue of M.
Paignton - Ch. L Starlight Salute & Ch L. Lagoona Blue of M
SKC - Ch L. Lucid Dreams & Ch L. Starlight Salute
I am blessed to have my daughter Katya who is now 18 years old and so talented and inspired by love for dogs, her bond is natural and her work is amazing. She never missed a show since she was born and was competing in line ups since she was five and won her first CC at the age of seven. She is training her dogs and mastering grooming, taking part in Agility, Young Kennel Club and Junior Handling competitions, enjoying her time at shows sharing experience and having fun with other talented children who are determine to make our dog world better, brighter and happier with the positive energy, excitement and enthusiasm. They are our future and here is to the future in the amazing dog world and our wonderful hobby!
