Origin Story

It was 2020: the UK’s first lockdown. Lu shared a picture of a DIY dog toy on Instagram to amuse their assistance dog Poly. Emma replied with a photo of her hound Woolf playing with an old sculpture of hers. Dog Ear was born, a place for contemporary art publishing & sculptural dog toys.

As two artists who write we have long appreciated the affordability of artists’ publishing. Anyone can buy an artwork as a book when reasonably priced, it is a medium people can immediately understand and a vehicle for sharing information.

As arts educators, we believe in life long learning, for pups and humans. Looking at and critiquing work is a helpful way of viewing and understanding the world we live, something we find useful in this era of fake news. We hope our texts and toys are brainfood for both you and your beloved hound.

More and more people are seeing the benefits of pet companionship and play, especially after 3 separate lockdowns. Fresh air, mental health and questioning, poking, prodding the status quo gives us perspective outside of our daily stresses. Through Dog Ear we want to tie slow, sustainable making, alongside mental health & wellbeing benefits of dogs. 

All sales go back into Dog Ear to develop new texts and toys and commission artists (and fund treats for Poly and Woolf—they told us to type this).

Emma Edmondson

Likes
– Cuddles with Woolf
– Bright colours and prints
– Dancing

Dislikes
– Authority and being told what to do
– Raisins
– Time hoovers


Obedience Rating
1/5

Playfulness Rating
5/5

Special Skill 
Stuffing Frankenballs and hawk eyes for editing texts

Worst Habit
Leaving things until the last minute

Woolf

Likes
– Shadows
– Shouting at Southend-on-Sea waves
– Losing balls

Dislikes
– The word ‘bath’
– Joggers
– Not being with Emma


Obedience Rating
4/5 (unless there’s a lawnmower involved)

Playfulness Rating
5/5 with Poly or other collies, just not with lawnmowers

Special Skill
Catching shadows

Worst Habit
Toxic silent farts that creep up on you when you least expect it

Lu Williams

Likes
– Fluffy clothes
– Forest walks
– Cuddles with Poly

Dislikes
– Paying rent
– Eating mushrooms (I like looking at them)
– Being underestimated


Obedience Rating
1/5

Playfulness Rating
5/5

Special Skill
Writing funding applications with ten minutes to the deadline

Worst Habit
Always late

Poly

Likes
– Cheese
– Jumping through long grass like a dolphin
– Attention

Dislikes
– Being woken up
– Getting wet and walking through puddles
– Being brushed for more than 10 minutes


Obedience Rating
5/5 when working
2/5 when playing

Playfulness Rating
5/5

Special Skill Sniffing out panic attacks and meltdowns

Worst Habit
Huffing and puffing when she doesn't get her way