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IF YOU SHARED YOUR HOME WITH SIX ROTTWEILERS THEN YOU COULD BE FORGIVEN FOR WISHING TO ESCAPE TO A CANINE-FREE WORK ENVIRONMENT BUT THAT IS DEFINITELY NOT THE CASE FOR BORN AND BRED SALCOMBE GIRL VICTORIA STRAWBRIDGE-CLAPP, OWNER OF ONE OF KINGSBRIDGE’S NEWEST RETAIL ADDITIONS – THE DOGGY DELI!
“M
y husband, Alistair and I share a passion for animals – wen
have rescued rabbits and guinea pigs; our two pet sheep; the chickens, ducks and geese on our smallholding just over the Tamar Bridge; tortoises and the elderly boxers who came to spend their final days with us feeling loved, cared for and comfortable. However, once we brought our first Rottweiler puppy into our lives, we fell in love with the breed and currently have six who live in the house and sleep on the sofa, so we often have to battle for somewhere to sit!”
But the dogs don’t spend all
their lives snoozing as Victoria and Alistair were encouraged by local breeders Jan and Andrew Moran- Potter of ‘Sundrifters Rottweilers’ at Stokenham to try their hand at showing. They did – were instantly hooked – and now the pair travel around the country showing their dogs, to huge success! “We bred Austin ourselves,” explains Victoria proudly “and not only has he been placed every year at Crufts but in 2019 he won his Class so we have our very own Champion – Champion RockStaRotts Mini Clubman ShCM!” It is hardly surprising, with
‘pedigree’ like that ,Victoria is herself a Rottweiler Judge and Chairman of the South Western Rottweiler Association. Quite how she and Alistair find
“I want people to bring their dogs in and talk to me about them so I really get to know them, what needs they may
have, how we can help and, of course, learn which are their
favourite treats from the doggy cake cabinet!”
time for their new venture is a wonder, especially as The Doggy Deli is so much more than just a place where people come to buy their dog food and go. “I want people to bring their dogs in and talk to me about them so I really get to know them, what needs they may have, how we can help and, of course, learn which are their favourite treats from the doggy cake cabinet!” And you did read that correctly!
Full of freshly baked doggy cakes and cookies, it is fun and quirky and a wonderful talking point – but The Doggy Deli is no gimmick ... Back in 2011, one of their bitches
was unwell and not eating. Whilst at a show, Victoria and Alistair were given samples to try from CSJ Dog Food, a small, family run business who sell through distributors rather than directly from shops. Their products are all natural, free from colours or anything artificial – and having seen how their poorly girl responded, they started feeding all their dogs with CSJ Dog Food alongside their raw diet. Victoria became the CSJ
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