Doug: Alison's handsome Bull Terrier

From the moment I opened Alison’s photos of Doug, I knew he was going to stay with me.

An English Bull Terrier, full of character, with that unmistakable face people either instantly love… or don’t quite understand.

Alison told me that too. That not everyone warms to the breed. But when I looked at Doug, I didn’t see anything unusual.

I saw a gentle, intelligent boy, full of personality. The kind of dog who becomes someone’s whole world.

He had been Alison’s “number one boy” for ten years.

And now, he wasn’t there anymore.

That is always where these pieces begin.

Doug had a very distinctive way of sitting, slightly off to one side, almost relaxed into himself. I knew straight away that if I didn’t capture that, it wouldn’t feel like him.

A few days after he arrived, Alison emailed me.

And this is why I do what I do:

“THANK YOU, THANK YOU AND THANK YOU AGAIN!!

Words cannot express how utterly delighted I am to receive my beautiful boy Doug’s necklace! You have surpassed my expectations in terms of getting his likeness… this is just brilliant.

Thank you so very much for your amazing work and time spent in producing such a special piece of jewellery. I could not stop looking at it when I first received it, and everyone I have shown it to cannot believe how much you have captured my special boy.

It means the world to me that I have this to wear and remember Doug in such a beautiful representation.

You are a star… I adore it!”

That line always stays with me:

“I have this to wear and remember Doug…”

Because that is the real purpose of what I make.

Not just jewellery. Not just a likeness.

But something you can reach for… on the days you miss them the most.

Something that still feels like them.

If you’ve ever thought about having a custom piece made, I’d love to hear your ideas. You can read more about my process here: Custom Pet Jewellery.

Who knows? Your precious friend might just be the next one I’m smiling about at my workbench.