The DogSpaw

12/24/2024

Merry Christmas everyone! We thank you for your patronage in 2024 and look forward to seeing you in 2025 🐾

11/05/2024

A rare opportunity! These two Standard Poodles are looking for their furever homes. Health tested parents, CKC registered, with lots of love to give. Please PM for contact details. They are not free, and are not for breeding. Thanks everyone!

11/01/2024

This beautiful little exotic shorthair kitten is still looking for a furever home! The sweetest breed, quiet, clean and extremely affectionate. If you are interested please reach out for details 🐾

10/27/2024

Thank you to all my clients for your patronage. I love my job!

10/16/2024

It’s always so nice to hear from a happy client. This is Penny and we thought she was darling!

10/14/2024

09/28/2024

Hello everyone! Good news for those that love our kitties when you come to pick up your dogs. These beautiful exotic shorthair kittens are looking for their forever home. If you are interested in adding one to your family please reach out and I will give you the breeders contact info.

09/25/2024

Today we welcomed this lovely senior to our salon. Sonar was an absolute delight to work with. She is a Cardigan Corgi

08/21/2024

Why Choosing a Breeder Who Shows Their Dogs Matters, Even for Pet Owners

When selecting a breeder, you might wonder why it’s recommended to choose one who shows their dogs, even if you have no intention of participating in dog shows yourself. Does this focus on show standards seem excessive or elitist? It’s not, and here’s why.

Dog shows are more than just competitions; they serve as a rigorous evaluation process where dogs are assessed against the breed standard. This standard includes several critical elements:

• Soundness: This refers to a dog’s overall physical and mental health, ensuring all organs and faculties are functioning harmoniously.
• Type: Breed type encompasses not just appearance but also character, bone structure, temperament, and movement, reflecting the essence of the breed.
• Gait: The quality of a dog’s movement is assessed to ensure ease and freedom from structural issues.
• Temperament: This measures a dog’s general attitude towards people and other animals, an essential trait for a well-rounded companion.

So why does this matter to you as a prospective pet owner? If you chose a Poodle, you likely did so because of their renowned qualities: their gentle nature, compatibility with children and other animals, and their ability to make exceptional therapy dogs. Good breeders strive to uphold these positive characteristics through their commitment to breed standards.

While not every puppy from a show-quality litter will be destined for the show ring, all will benefit from the breeder’s dedication to preserving the breed’s positive traits. Puppies that are not suited for the show ring but are well-bred still embody the breed’s essential qualities, making them excellent family pets.

Choosing a breeder who shows their dogs is not about snobbery or elitism; it’s about ensuring that you get a puppy who will grow into a well-rounded, healthy companion that exemplifies the breed you fell in love with. It’s about the breeder’s commitment to preserving the breed’s best traits and ensuring every puppy, regardless of its future in the show ring, starts life with the best possible foundation.

In essence, selecting a breeder who shows their dogs is a way to ensure that your future puppy will be a healthy, well-adjusted member of your family. It’s a reflection of love and respect for the breed, ensuring that all puppies have the opportunity to thrive and bring joy into their new homes.

06/29/2024

Remember dogs can be afraid of fireworks. Please keep them safe at home if you are going out to enjoy the fireworks 🐾

06/10/2024

So thankful for your support

01/21/2024

MW 💔

They saw you watching over them
As they finally closed their eyes
They smelt your scent as they breathed
In and out for the last time

They heard the way your voice broke
As you told them they were loved
They felt you as you held them
With your gentle, farewell touch
And now they watch each morning
As you pass their empty bed

They watch you lose composure
And they see the tears you shed
They hear you bear the silence
Of the footsteps that are gone
That walk across your heart each day
Like echoes of a song

They feel the pang of emptiness
You get when you’re alone
In moments when you realise
That they’re never coming home
But in their darkest moment
You were there to hold them tight
And they just want the same for you
So you can feel alright

So they’re sewing you a rainbow,
Weaving ribbons through the sky
So they can let you know
That life is good beyond goodbye
So next time it is raining
And the sun appears as well
Just feel and look and listen
To what they are trying to tell
They’re telling you it’s spring there
With its showers and its sun
Where there are endless fields for them
To play and stretch and run

They’re telling you they sleep upon
The biggest, softest beds
That they have stitched from all the clouds
That float above your head
They’re telling you they’re not alone
For there are many others
And they’ve been reunited
With their parents, sisters, brothers

They’re showing you their rainbow
So you know they won’t forget you
And to tell you they will always be
So happy that they met you
And they’re telling you they love you
And though they’ll be dearly missed,
Not to worry, ‘cause it’s beautiful
Beyond the rainbow bridge

Becky Hemsley 2022
Image credits goes to unknown artist