Photo by Lucida Photography

When it comes to weddings the wonderful ladies from Love of Fair are a fountain of stylish tips! But not only do Kim Jones and Chanel Holt share a passion for beautiful dresses, contemporary engagement shoots, creative decor and imaginative proposals, but they also share a love of dogs. It is an honour (and great pleasure!) to have them here today on Pawsh, along with Kim’s Boston Terriers — Leonard Jaw Jones and Wilbur Gustoy Jones — to tell us all why they think the bond between person and dog is the greatest love affair of all!

1. If you and your pet were characters in a romantic comedy, what that movie be called and what would it be about?
   Oh golly. Leonard would like to take this one…
   Our romantic comedy would be called, ‘There’s Something About Wilby’.  
   Wilbur is my younger brother who can’t really breathe very well. My parents were told that little Wilbur wouldn’t survive due to numerous complications breathing and they were asked if they wanted to put him down. In an instant we decided that Will was a part of our family and we wouldn’t give up on him! Wilbur may not have had quite enough oxygen to his brain when he was little so he tends to miss a beat here and there but our family loves him lots! He has come so far since then, he likes to play games, even when nobody else will play! He even learned to bark eventually and now I kinda wish he hadn’t! He makes myself and my parents very, very happy every day.
   Our movie would document Wilbur’s path towards becoming the delightful little brother he is today! It would cover the ups and downs in his health, demonstrating how love can break barriers and how much joy animals bring to families.

   Who would be the leading man and why?

   Wilbur would take the lead here. It’s a role he doesn’t get to take too often in life but this story is all about his triumphs and the delight he brings to our family and friends.

   
   What is your idea of a happy ending?

   In this scenario it’s precisely where we are today. Wilbur is happy and healthy, surrounded by love (as is the rest of our family) and that’s all that one can ever ask for.

   Photo by Our Labor of Love

   What would be your top three pieces of advice for people who want to include their dog in a wedding?
   Think ahead! Wilbur and Leonard were ring bearers for my wedding and we had to think of many precautions but the top three…
   – bring a water bowl and water (and food/treats), of course.
2. – doggie bags in case somebody has to go potty!  
   – have a pet-sitter on hand who has taken the dog for a stroll before the wedding and is available to be the primary care-giver for the pup throughout the course of the evening as you will most definitely be busy having the night of your life!

   Photo by Our Labor of Love

3. How would you create a dog-friendly reception?
   This is definitely location-dependant. If having your pup at your reception is of primary importance then be sure to add this to your list of questions for possible venues before making a decision.  
   Friends of ours had her lab, Mo, in their wedding ceremony as well as reception. They were carefree and let him roam throughout the evening as he’s quite a good dog. When they received their wedding photos they discovered exactly how Mo’s night had gone. Firstly, he’s captured grabbing a bite or two from guests at dinner. Once he was satisfied he decided to take a swim in the pool near the wedding site. Mo was surprised to find there weren’t stairs he could climb and was stuck in a panic so a lifegaurd jumped in and managed to get big, wet, Mo out of the pool!  
   After hearing this story and seeing Mo’s night captured we would definitely enforce the dog-sitter scenario be given to a trusted friend/relative who would be in charge of supervision throughout the reception! Mo tends to disagree…

   Could you recommend some locations/ideas for a dog-friendly honeymoon (just in case a pet-sitter isn’t an option)?

   We sure could! There’s actually a wealth of hotels that welcome pets! A favorite of ours is the Ritz Beaver Creek where pups can walk about at their leisure! Also, there’s websites that offer support for flying with animals too, like Animal Airways!
   Around the world it is wonderful just how many hotels welcome pets, and you can search them all from this handy website, Official Pet Hotels. 

   What are some of your favourite pet products at the moment?

   We’re a big fan of dog-clothing. Boston Terriers are temperature sensitive so to take them out in the cold they need jackets which our little fellas love! They wear the RC version, but there’s oodles of companies that make wonderful clothing, including Burberry which our barking babies have been known to rock on special occasions.
   Being Canadian we also adore cowichan sweaters for pups as well as sport-themed ensembles, especially during playoff times!

   Love of Fair celebrates love. Why do you believe it is important to celebrate a pet’s love?

   Pets are the very best source of love. Animals practice unconditional love which should be celebrated daily. There’s a beautiful quote, “Be the person your dog thinks you are.” If we all were to embody this we think this world would be a better place.

   Photo by Lucida Photography

   Can you describe the exact moment you fell in love with your dogs?

   Yes! The moment we sat down to play with baby Leonard we were obsessed, he was this precious little bundle of jumps and kisses (and bites, he WAS a puppy, after all)! He was a little high-strung but within’ half an hour he was pooped and fell fast asleep, only his huge ears never went down. He was and still is too cute for words.

   Wibur we went to visit and choose from a litter at 6 weeks old. There was another little puppy in his litter that only had one dark eye (versus two, as is typical of a Boston Terrier) so we were drawn to that little fellow at first but then I noticed that my husband had become infatuated with this little roly-poly pup begging for constant tummy rubs. Well, the tummy rubs haven’t ceased, neither has our love for Wilbur!

   Winter is a tricky season. Do you have any tips for winter brides that you might be able to share?

   But of course! Our biggest piece of advice is to embrace whichever season you choose to get married in! So many brides try to ignore the weather/season on their big day and we think this is a ginormous mistake! Welcome every aspect of your day – if it rains or snows to there’s gail-force winds own it! The photos taken in these scenarios are always the most authentic and the most memorable!

   
   Is there anything else you would like to add?

   Sure! In the spirit of mixing animals with weddings and the like we suggest adding your pets to any photo shoots you may have booked. Something fun always tends to happen with pups in the mix and as a result your most genuine, beautiful expressions are captured! Thank you so much to Pawsh for being and ever-inspiring source for animals lovers!
   ***
   Huge thank-yous to Kim, Chanel, Wilby and Leonard for taking the time to share your story! If you haven’t already, be sure to follow their beautiful blog Love of Fair. And don’t forget to write to us if you have a job you’re crazy about and a pet who has stolen your heart!

There is something about the holiday season that has my heart all of a flutter for beautiful art, especially that of the canine variety. It was a thrill therefore to discover this animated preview over on Rob Bailey’s site. Apparently the Manchester, England artist is cooking up a new series of prints inspired by paws. I for one cannot wait to see more! Don’t you love how lively these prints are?

Photo by Bark Pet Photography

Do you remember this photograph from our fall issue? It was taken by the very talented ladies of Bark Pet Photography and now Kim Rodgers and Sarah Sypniewski have some very exciting news! They have published a book entitled “Dog Photography for Dummies,” containing all sorts of secrets and tips for any aspiring dog photographer!

From a basic portrait to more dynamic lifestyle shots, this book takes you through the various ins and outs of dog photography in a friendly, accessible tone that is both encouraging and insightful. Accompanied by full colour spreads, the narrative reminds you of spending time with a good friend who doubles as a mentor and the well-thought out sections make the entire process from camera to final print easy to follow.

There are so many factors to keep in mind when attempting to capture a pooch’s personality on camera. One must remember how to create a relaxing environment for the shoot, how to frame a shot, how to edit that shot, how to format a model release form and how to display that final polished photo once completed. Dog Photography for Dummies covers all of these topics (and more!), providing detailed examples and step-by-step instructions slathered with inspirational notes. 

With the holidays quickly approaching, this book will make the perfect gift for the dog-lover in your life to help make those festive photos beautiful.

A fun stocking stuffer for any pet lover is an item that showcases their favourite breed. For example, if you know somebody who is crazy for Airedales, the largest of the terrier breeds, you might consider something from this ‘pawsh’ list to bring a bit of extra cheer to their holidays. A simple charming pendant will add some glitter to the season or perhaps a funky piece of original graphic art would better suit the Airedale admirer in your life?

A snazzy signature leash is both practical and pretty, as is the festive gingham neck kerchief. If you’re looking from something that will be used over and over again, you really cannot go wrong with a modernly designed tee or a sleek contemporary iPhone case. Last but not least a trio of whimsical magnets are sure to delight — just like this majestic breed.

Do you have an Airedale in your life? I would love to see some photographs of them! They are a dog who will always be near and dear to my heart as I grew up with two! Feel free to share your mugshots over here!