Website photography: Yeshen Venema, Stylist: Hilary Lowe, on location at The Forge, Hampshire

Shipping

I ship from London UK. If you are in a hurry for your parcel you can choose the Special Delivery option in the UK or the DPD courier option for international deliveries, which are both faster, insured and trackable.

Packaging - Artist Little Toy Dogs are wrapped in acid-free tissue paper and presented in hand stamped boxes with magnetic closures and a white grossgrain ribbon tab. They are posted in an outer cardboard postal box. If you would prefer an anonymous, unmarked parcel please add a comment at checkout, otherwise it may carry stickers or other identifying marks!

Customs - For non-UK orders you may have to pay VAT and/or a customs fee in your home country. Internationally I ship using customs forms and declare the full value of the contents for insurance purposes. The value for customs will be given on the form and it is up to you to ascertain what charges, if any, may apply when importing goods. I am not responsible for any customs charges you may incur.

Toy Safety

Artist made Little Toy Dogs are created with materials that are unsuitable for children’s toys. They contain wire loop backed glass eyes and cotter pin joints, which contain metal pins. Some also contain steel shot or other supporting wire armatures. These heritage toys are not suitable for children under 14yrs. They must never be given to a child under 3yrs.

Occasionally some toys are made specifically for children under 14yrs. These are created with safety joints, safety eyes and natural wool filling. All these components are UKCA/CE certified and these toys are safe for children age 3 and up. These will be clearly indicated in the shop, and labelled accordingly with legal markings.

Care

Heritage Little Toy Dogs - It is advisable to only spot clean dogs with a damp cloth. Cotter pin joints are made of compressed paper fibres or hardboard and will not survive immersion in water. Dogs may be vacuumed with an upholstery attachment to remove dust. Mohair is vulnerable to damage by clothes moths, so it is also advisable to inspect dogs regularly. They can be treated with a preventative moth repellent spray suitable for clothing or furniture fabrics. You can also use cedar and lavender essential oils on wooden blocks.

Toys made for children may be gently hand washed at 30 degrees with a specially formulated wool soap. Pat, but do not rub the fur as it may felt. Keep the washing and rinsing water the same temperature as changes in temperature can also cause felting. Rinse well, spin in a machine with a dry towel and then dry thoroughly in the sun, airing cupboard or other warm place for 24-48hrs. Make sure the wool filling is totally dry before giving it back to its owner.

Custom Orders

If you would like me to make a particular dog that is not available in the shop, you can request a custom order. This is not a pet portrait service as such because I will make a pattern that represents the breed in a truthful way, but it will be my creative interpretation that works technically in toy form. The crucial thing is finding a mohair fabric that is right for the subject. These are specialist fabrics and occasionally there can be a wait for a particular cloth to be woven. I can sometimes add personal colourings or markings. Some examples of things I can personalise are colours or placings of spots, white patches, tail or no tail on docked breeds, or even numbers of legs, ears and eyes! Contact me for a quote so I can confirm the final cost before you place your order.

There is a listing in the shop for a non-refundable down-payment of GBP£25 HERE, which covers my materials cost (mohair can cost up to £150 a metre!) and time spent discussing your order. Once I receive your deposit I'll put you in my calendar and let you know when I expect to finish your piece. Custom orders generally take 4-6 weeks. I'll send you photos before I list the finished piece as a reserved listing in the shop for you to buy when you're ready.

Returns

I want you to be delighted with your Little Toy Dog but if, for whatever reason, you are not happy with your purchase you have 14 days after receipt to request a refund. Please let me know using the contact page if you wish to cancel your purchase, or to report damaged packages. Toys must be returned in the original packaging in perfect condition. I recommend that you use a recorded delivery service or obtain a Certificate of Posting, as the parcel remains your responsibility until it reaches me. I regret I am unable to refund personalised or custom orders. Our returns policy does not affect your statutory rights.