Pet’s Place: Where Can You Find Chess the Dog? On Chairs
A photographer documents her dog’s growth by taking pictures of her on fun and unique chairs
Chess on Chairs: Ashton, a photographer, wanted to document Chess as she grew, so she started a photo series called Chess on Chairs. It’s exactly as the name implies: Ashton takes photos of Chess on lots of different chairs, such as this chair in a greenhouse or a lawn chair, as seen at the beginning.
Ashton chose chairs because she loves a good alliteration. She also enjoys finding fun and unique chairs for Chess to perch on.
Ashton chose chairs because she loves a good alliteration. She also enjoys finding fun and unique chairs for Chess to perch on.
On the job: Ashton works from home as a photographer and graphic designer. This means she spends all day with her dogs, including Chess. From a young age, as shown here, Chess has curled up near Ashton’s desk while she works. “She isn’t really the snuggling type, but she doesn’t like to be too far away from me either,” she says. “If I move to a different room, she moves with me. She’s my little shadow.”
When Chess was little, she could frequently be found sleeping right under Ashton’s desk chair. “She outgrew that pretty quickly,” she says.
Pet-friendly touches: When Ashton and Kyle renovated their Nashville home, they decided to install laminate flooring. It’s been durable, standing up against the dogs’ nails as they run and play. “It’s been several months, and our floors still look new,” Ashton says.
They also installed a baby gate in the doorway between the kitchen and the rest of the home. This kept Chess safe when she was first in the home.
Pet-friendly touches: When Ashton and Kyle renovated their Nashville home, they decided to install laminate flooring. It’s been durable, standing up against the dogs’ nails as they run and play. “It’s been several months, and our floors still look new,” Ashton says.
They also installed a baby gate in the doorway between the kitchen and the rest of the home. This kept Chess safe when she was first in the home.
Break time: Ashton and the dogs head outside, away from the computer. Out here, Ashton tosses the Frisbee for Chess and gives her training lessons. “The fact that Chess is a puppy has made my breaks even more frequent, but I’m not complaining,” she says.
Payment method: Chess loves to obey and perform for food and toys. “She’s pretty easy to please,” Ashton says. “She even accepts her everyday food as a treat.”
Favorite part of the workday: The combo of treats and play makes break time a tail-wagging time for Chess.
Payment method: Chess loves to obey and perform for food and toys. “She’s pretty easy to please,” Ashton says. “She even accepts her everyday food as a treat.”
Favorite part of the workday: The combo of treats and play makes break time a tail-wagging time for Chess.
Breathing new life into the home: “Our home just wasn’t the same after our oldest, a border collie mix named Hershey, passed away a couple years ago,” Ashton says. “Chess has brought new life and energy to our house. Our house simply wouldn’t feel like home without our furkids.”
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Pet at a Glance
Pet: Chess, a border collie
Age: 5 months
Location: Nashville, Tennessee
Owner: Ashton and Kyle Bemis
Meet Chess: She’s a young border collie who moved in with Ashton and Kyle when she was 9 weeks old. She’s the youngest of the couple’s four dogs. She spends most of her days pestering her older siblings, pouncing on a ball or chasing a Frisbee.