A Phoenixville Puppy Story: Beautying the Beasts' Dudley and His Dog Mom, Rachel

Once upon a time, now 1-year-old Dudley's mom, Rachel, stopped by BarkHop Studio with his then, 10-week-old self. Rachel, owner of Beautying the Beasts knew just how much she was enjoying his puppy days and how much she would miss him this little. We spent time together capturing photos that really showed his puppy personality and that she would enjoy looking back on as he grew. I asked her some questions about him, her business and how, as small business owners, we're supporting each other. Enjoy hearing all about Dudley, the salon supervisor, Rachel's soul dog, Ozzy, Rachel's love for the town she calls home and how BarkHop Studio and Beautying the Beasts has collaborated to bring some of the fuzzy faces of Phoenixville to her salon walls!

Q&A with Rachel, Dudley’s Dog Mom & Founder of Beautying the Beasts

1. How did Dudley come into your life? What’s it like having a new puppy at home?

Dudley is an English Springer Spaniel! I decided to get Dudley after my previous springer, Ozzy, passed away prematurely from cancer. I’ve owned many different breeds growing up but there was something about my springer that changed my life. Ozzy was the first dog I rescued when he was 10 months old and I’ve never owned a dog that loved me as much as him, so I decided to stick with the same breed! I got Dudley from Bird Dog Hill Kennel in Ohio, a breeder that was recommended to me through clients of mine. I groom two springers, Lennon and Winnie, that came from the same breeder and I absolutely loved them so I decided to get my own!

Having a new puppy is the best nightmare you could ever imagine! He’s filled a huge hole in my heart which makes the puppy antics all worth it. He tests my patience, but warms my heart. Springers are a tough breed, but extremely rewarding. Dudley is definitely proving that to be true!

2. What was the puppy photo shoot experience like with Dudley? Were there any memorable or funny moments during the session?

The photo shoot experience was ADORABLE! I’m not going to lie, I was a little nervous about getting Dudley to stay still. With being 10 weeks old, his attention span is very short and the teething is insane. I was worried about him chewing everything in sight and bouncing off the walls but he definitely surprised us all!

Since I have no “human” children, Dudley is like my child. Everyone always has newborn photos done of their babies, so I wanted them done of my puppy! Stacey had the best ideas to make that vision come to life. There was a point during the shoot where Dudley completely crashed and fell dead asleep. We tried to be as quiet as possible and quickly get as much done as we could with him passed out before he woke up! It was so fun and extremely adorable.

3. What inspired the Beautying the Beasts x BarkHop Studio gallery wall?

Stacey came into my salon one afternoon and told me she was a dog photographer and asked if I thought my clients would want professional photos taken of their dogs and I said absolutely!! The one thing I seriously regret not doing is getting professional photos taken of my previous dog, Oz. I always thought about it and wish I would’ve done it before it was too late. These photos are something I would’ve had forever and cherished now that he’s gone and I want my clients to have that opportunity for their own fur babies. Believe me, there is a huge difference between your iPhone photos and professional photography taken by someone who knows what they’re doing and is also just as passionate about the love of a dog! Unfortunately, our dogs won’t last a lifetime but photos do!

4. What’s the creative vision behind the gallery wall?

When I first wrote my business plan, I knew immediately I needed to find a location in Phoenixville for my salon. The town has a lot of character and more importantly, it’s extremely dog friendly! Just from hanging out downtown on the weekends, I couldn’t help but notice this town is full of people who love their dogs.

While staring at the giant empty wall in my lobby, Stacey and I thought- how cool would it be to capture the heart and soul of Phoenixville while featuring the pups that fill the streets? My groomers and I have canvas prints of all of our dogs on the other walls, so why not put our clients on the wall as well! We want to show appreciation for our clients as well as emphasize the passion that this town has for all faithful canine companions that live here.

5. What’s next for Dudley and Beautying the Beasts?

My initial focus for my salon was to provide a safe and easily accessible environment for local pups to get groomed and I plan to continue to do just that! I’m always looking for ways to be better and offer the best service I possibly can to my clients. Grooming can be stressful for dogs, so my groomers and I like to make sure we take the time to get to know the dogs we’re working with and make the experience as comfortable as possible. We have been getting very booked out, so my goal for this upcoming year is to hopefully hire another groomer so we can be open all seven days a week so we can be a little more flexible with our clients schedules when booking.

As far as plans involving Dudley, he’ll be at the salon every single day! We call him our supervisor. I’m excited for our customers to get to know him and watch him grow up. Since he’s going to be so involved with our salon, I wanted to give my clients the opportunity to help me name him. They all voted for the name Dudley, so his name is Dudley!

Why Professional Pet Photography Matters

Whether it’s your dog’s puppy stage, golden years, or just their every day adorable self—professional pet photography is one of the best ways to honor your bond. iPhone photos are fun, but working with someone who understands animal behavior (and lighting, timing, and patience!) makes all the difference.

If you’ve ever considered having portraits done of your dog, don’t wait.

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Capturing Puppy Love in Phoenixville: Dudley’s First Photoshoot at BarkHop Studio

A Phoenixville Puppy Story: Beautying the Beasts' Dudley and His Dog Mom, Rachel

Q&A with Rachel, Dudley’s Dog Mom & Founder of Beautying the Beasts

1. How did Dudley come into your life? What’s it like having a new puppy at home?

2. What was the puppy photo shoot experience like with Dudley? Were there any memorable or funny moments during the session?

3. What inspired the Beautying the Beasts x BarkHop Studio gallery wall?

4. What’s the creative vision behind the gallery wall?

5. What’s next for Dudley and Beautying the Beasts?

Why Professional Pet Photography Matters

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