Four&Sons

CULINARY CANINES

It’s that time of year both you and your dog look forward to. It’s calendar time, and from none other than the delectable folks at foodie magazine, The Gourmand. Their Dog Eat Dog calendar features dogs with food namesakes. Start the year off with a cute Pomeranian called Ham, glide blithely into February with Seabass the Bedlington Whippet and finish off in style with a pug called Stilton. With beautiful sets by George Lewin Studio and photographed by Jess Bonham, it’s always a sell-out. All proceeds go to animal welfare charity Mayhew. Each month is a treat for the eyes, whilst your belly is sure to rumble. We especially look forward to September, greeted by an Affenpinscher called Beans.

Recommended by Four&Sons
For more information click here

TRUE DOG

BMX is definitely in Klaus Dyba’s blood. From taking part in freestyle competitions to helping start one of the biggest BMX brands out there, Wethepeople Bike Company, Dyba doesn’t do things by halves. And that’s the same for his new venture, True Dogs Photo. After he saw his creativity evaporating, he decided to hang up his wheels and fine tune his passion for photography. The sidekick to this saviour? A Chihuahua called Rocco. Led by Rocco’s powerful personality, Dyba strayed from the often-kitsch pet portrait in pursuit of something a little different. Dynamic and lolloping, his dogs are wild and primal. With lolling tongues and bared teeth, bowed heads and wide eyes, each is unexpectedly beautiful. Pets, but not as you know them.

Recommended by Four&Sons
For more information click here

MINIMAL IN MIND

Growlmama was created for Frida, a frantic half-Griffon, half-French bulldog who stood out from the pack. Founder Caroline Denyer, from collar charmers Growlees, understands that, in a perfect world, we want to go everywhere with our dogs, so she built a label to make it happen. The London Carry has space for all of Frida’s things and her owner’s too, and, with a collar and leash to match, your pooch will strut with sophistication. Inspired by brands such as Celine, Margiela, and Acne Studio, Denyer kept the colour scheme to either camel or nero to help create multiple looks with minimal effort. Using soft Spanish leather, these items will stand the test of time—and a hyperactive dog, too. It’s a capsule collection even non-dog owners are sure to covet.
Photography by Rachel Oates

Recommended by Four&Sons
For more information click here

COMFY COLLARS? WHY KNOT?

Just like their humans, all canines know comfort is key, which is where Knotty comes in. Previously a part-time project, now a full-time business, Knotty makes comfy and durable knotted collars and leashes for outgoing hounds. Made in Montreal, each item is crafted from hand-threaded paracord with waxed linen thread and high-quality leather. No more tangled leads or gnarly collars, these will endure every leap, bound and sprint from your four-legged friend.

Recommended by Four&Sons
For more information click here

DOG OF DERELICTION

Dust tumbles from the caved ceilings. Ivy crawls under the shattered window, and perched on a bedraggled sofa sits a captivating bull terrier by the name of Claire. Her owner, Alice van Kempen, is a Dutch photographer with an enthusiasm for urban exploration, also known as Urbex. With Claire in tow, van Kempen discovers abandoned, eerie spaces, reclaimed by nature, from all over the world from Germany to Portugal to France. The photographer likes to maintain some light amidst the shadows, and it’s compiled with humour and heart into this awe-worthy book.

Recommended by Four&Sons
For more information click here

TIMELESS COMFORT

Style or function? With Labbvenn, you can have both. Based in the foothills of the Sudete Mountains in Poland, Labbvenn combine minimal designs with easy care and cleanliness at the forefront. The cooling colour palate and eye for detail makes each accessory a thing to treasure. From durable concrete bowls with oak bases to fluffy throws, your dog will be attended to from snout to tail-tip. One of our favourites is a handy, pressure-resistant roll-up travel mat with leather fixtures, perfect for doggy days out.

Recommended by Four&Sons
For more information click here

HEAD OF THE DOG

‘Kufa’ is a Polish kennel term for a dog’s mouth and face, but instead of slobbery kisses out from this Kufa’s jaws come beautifully hand-carved dog faces. The artworks are first moulded with clay, before being covered in plaster and filled with concrete. Once set, the outer layer is carefully chipped off to reveal the finished piece beneath. The outcome? Solid, mushy faces you’ll want to put on your mantle. Why else do we love Kufa? Five percent of profits from sales go to animal shelters. Their current range is limited to French bulldogs in black, white, pink, and grey, but upcoming breeds include the bull terrier and Chihuahua. Watch this face, ahem space.

Recommended by Four&Sons
For more information click here

HOLD UP YOUR BADGE

The debate about who the ‘good dog’ is can finally be settled: those who earn the title shall wear the badge(s). Based in Melbourne, PetHaus founders Matt and Mel Westwood craft denim jackets, hoodies, and t-shirts for bad-to-the-bone dogs—and modelled by their infinitely stylish English toy terrier, Willie. Their badges and patches are addictively collectable thanks to a backlog of doggy-directed metal bands (Muttalica, Judas Pooch, Bark Sabbath). Their latest additions are Scout’s Honour Badges, specifically designed to showcase your dog’s best talents. Are they a ‘Serial Sock Thief’, a ‘Nature Enthusiast’, or an ‘Over-Sized Lap Dog’? Whatever the accolade, you can stitch it onto your friend’s denim jacket or bandana with pride.

Recommended by Four&Sons

THE PAWFECT SHOT

Sometimes it seems that Instagram was created solely for dogs. Floofers and woofers, pedigrees and mutts, puppies and veterans, they’re all there and they’re out in force. It certainly can be overwhelming. Which is why graphic designer Irene Schampaert’s Insta Grammar Dogs picks the crème of the crop in her highly aesthetic little book. From indignant Salukis to pleasant pugs, this collection provides inspiration for creatives or simply acts a beautiful thing. Just make sure your own dog doesn’t get jealous.

Published by Lannoo.

Recommended by Four&Sons
For more information click here

PIT BULL FLOWER POWER

Earlier this year, French photographer Sophie Gamand asked dog lovers to help showcase the softer side of the pit bull via a funding campaign on Kickstarter. She already had one book, Wet Dog, under her belt, but the new tome would compile four years of work visiting shelter pits around the U.S. and snapping them with flower crowns. The project tripled its original goal, which proved what we’ve always thought: there is much love for the often demonised pit. Strewn with flowers and hazy backgrounds, the dogs in her images become closer to their true personalities: doe-eyed cutie pies. Gamand will now release 250 pages of flora-adorned pooches and mark the milestone with an exhibition at Brooklyn’s Invisible Dog Art Center from October 18 till 21. A book signing event is also scheduled for October 20. Pits most welcome.

Recommended by Four&Sons
For more information click here