Chiens topiaires

Topiary dog frames

Handmade wire frames of puppies and favourite breeds, so you can grow a living topiary dog of your own.

Every frame on this page is made at our workshop in the New Forest. We shape galvanised steel wire and coated mesh into the outline of the dog, so the frame keeps its shape outdoors for years. Each one is bent by hand, which means no two come out exactly alike.

Puppies and breeds

Our puppy dog frame comes in medium, large and extra large, from 34cm to 60cm tall. There's also a long list of breeds, including the Labrador, Golden Retriever, Cocker Spaniel, Jack Russell, Dachshund, Scottie, Westie, Schnauzer, Pug, Corgi, Beagle and German Shepherd. If your dog isn't here, get in touch and ask about having one made.

How to grow a topiary dog

Plant a young evergreen with small leaves, in a pot or in the ground, and set the frame over it. As it grows, tuck the new shoots inside the frame and trim off anything that grows outside the wire. It takes a few growing seasons, but the plant gradually fills the shape until you have a solid green dog. Box, Ilex crenata and euonymus all work well, and we can fit a plant to the frame for you when you order. If you'd rather not grow it at all, you can have the frame covered in mesh instead.

Gifts for dog lovers

A frame of someone's own breed makes a good present for a dog owner, and it gives them something to work on for years. Frames are made to order and usually dispatched within a week. If you'd prefer to give a dog that's already grown, take a look at our ready made topiary.