Raising two toddlers under the age of two is hard work already but Sarah Hegarty makes it look easy – even with four enormous dogs in the family.
The 26-year-old dog groomer from Perth has expertly raised four Samoyed dogs – Arthur, Aurora, Shimmer and Sebastian – alongside her daughters Layla, one, and Ruby, 10 months.
And together they play and learn, with Layla even taking her first steps holding onto the fur of one fluffy canine.
The 26-year-old dog groomer from Perth has expertly raised four Samoyed dogs – Arthur, Aurora, Shimmer and Sebastian – alongside her daughters Layla, one, (pictured) and Ruby, 10 months
And together they play and learn, with Layla even taking her first steps holding onto the fur of one fluffy canine (Ruby pictured)
‘They’re honestly the best dogs and I couldn’t imagine my life without them,’ Sarah said
‘Ever since I was a little kid I’ve dreamt of owning a Samoyed…it was once I had my own home I was finally able to get one,’ Sarah told FEMAIL.
While the Hegarty family own four dogs themselves, Sarah’s day-to-day grooming job also means she’s treated to visits from a number of other pets.
‘I am a dog groomer who specialises in big double coated breeds so most of the Perth community bring their Samoyeds to me,’ she said.
‘Ever since I was a little kid I’ve dreamt of owning a Samoyed…it was once I had my own home I was finally able to get one,’ Sarah told FEMAIL
While the Hegarty family own four dogs themselves, Sarah’s day-to-day grooming job also means she’s treated to visits from a number of other pets
‘I am a dog groomer who specialises in big double coated breeds so most of the Perth community bring their Samoyeds to me,’ she said
‘I also help out in rehoming and rescuing neglected or unwanted Samoyeds in Perth. While they are looking for their new homes and are being rehabilitated they stay with our family.’
In her downtime she runs the very successful ‘Samoyeds of Perth’ club in Western Australia and offers to babysit whenever a member needs a helping hand or travels abroad – with the same favour extended to them if they’re away.
‘So between all those things we always have quite a few Samoyeds in the home,’ she joked.
In her downtime she runs the very successful ‘Samoyeds of Perth’ club in Western Australia and offers to babysit whenever a member needs a helping hand or travels abroad
Samoyed are nicknamed the ‘smiling dog’ for their ability to get on well with humans, particularly when it comes to comforting children
Samoyed are nicknamed the ‘smiling dog’ for their ability to get on well with humans, particularly when it comes to comforting children.
‘Layla was born in October 2016 and Sebastian and Shimmer, who are littermates, July 30th 2016 so they’ve literally grown up together and are exceptionally close,’ Sarah explained.
‘Layla learnt to walk by holding onto the pups fur gently and following them around the house. She sneaks them food, they fall asleep together, read together, do almost everything together.
‘Shimmer and Layla are always running through the house playing chasey with the toys.
‘I also help out in rehoming and rescuing neglected or unwanted Samoyeds in Perth. While they are looking for their new homes and are being rehabilitated they stay with our family,’ she said (a meet up of pups pictured)
‘Layla learnt to walk by holding onto the pups fur gently and following them around the house. She sneaks them food, they fall asleep together, read together, do almost everything together,’ she explained
‘Even as a baby the pups would bring her one of their toys if they heard her crying. This is now the same with Ruby.
‘All the dogs absolutely love the girls. I couldn’t imagine it any other way.’
But that cloud-like formation of fur does require a significant amount of time, money and upkeep.
‘Grooming would be the biggest upkeep. I brush them all at least twice a week for an hour or two, they are bathed every week (Shimmer and Sebastian) when they have shows. Arthur and Aurora are bathed every few months,’ she said.
‘Even as a baby the pups would bring her one of their toys if they heard her crying. This is now the same with Ruby,’ she said
But that cloud-like formation of fur does require a significant amount of time, money and upkeep
In terms of food that costs about $330 per month (pictured eating some meat)
‘Their coat self cleans so if they do get a little muddy once it dries dirt just falls off the coat. During the shedding season it’s brushing every day though.
‘In terms of food that costs about $330 per month, supplements (fish oils, bone broth etc) $50 per month and grooming $20 per month (as I already have the supplies and am a dog groomer).
‘But to wash them all in a day and give them a full groom it takes me about eight hours.’
In the future Sarah hopes to become a registered breeder and own a large property that works to rescue and re-home ‘as many Samoyeds as possible’
And despite the extra vacuuming she has to do around the house, there is no downside to owning the pups
‘They’re fed mostly inside their crates as they are crate trained,’ she said
In the future Sarah hopes to become a registered breeder and own a large property that works to rescue and re-home ‘as many Samoyeds as possible’.
And despite the extra vacuuming she has to do around the house, there is no downside to owning the pups.
‘As soon as we bought them home they were apart of the family. They learnt where they could and couldn’t go in the home (to be honest there really isn’t anywhere they can’t go) and at night they sleep wherever they like to.
‘They’re fed mostly inside their crates as they are crate trained. The crates are always open in the house and we always find the older two fast asleep in them. So they have their own personal space away from the kids and day to day life of they want.
‘They’re honestly the best dogs and I couldn’t imagine my life without them.’
You can follow the family and the furry pets at The Samoyed Siblings.