I have to say that one of the best things about being a gallery owner is that I get to bring my best friend with me everyday to the gallery. If you have not had a chance to meet our little Maltese dog, SAMi, then let me introduce you to her! She is the smartest dog I have ever known and she is a very good judge of character. People often ask me why SAMi’s name is spelled part upper and lower case, that’s because her name is an acronym for Sonya and Mark… (I tossed in the “i” for emphasis that she is a female dog and a little baby!)

SAMi - Gallery Dog Extraordinaire

She is very content to be with me at the gallery and loves to greet people that come to visit, including her several dog friends that live and visit our downtown area (Marcus, Churro, Tippy, Polo, Misty just to name a few) .  She has her play area with her bed and toys in the back studio where she spends a lot of tine sleeping and hanging out.  But aside from just being my pal at the gallery, I refer to as my mini muse – she continues to inspire me and give me ideas on new art and keeping me in check to get me out of the gallery with necessary afternoon walks!

Miss SAMi Pup

SAMi is definitely one of the most photographed dogs I know, she has so many visitors at the gallery I can honestly say more people come in to see than they come to the artwork!   It’s all good though, she adds a sense of delight at the gallery that everyone loves.

Maltese are best known for being the gentlest mannered of all Toy dogs: they are trusting, gentle, and devoted to their master. Teacup Maltese puppies are cheerful, lively and energetic pets, they thrive on love and attention, they do not like to be left alone so not recommended to be crated all day while you are at work and good with kids. Also, since they have hair, not fur, they do not shed. Maltese are especially known for their intelligence, they are smart and easy to train

There are dozens of Maltese websites and blogs out there – some of my favorites are the ones with lots of photos, much like the Maltese  Dogs and  Puppies website. Websites like this will give you all of the ins and outs on what to expect if you are considering a Maltese dog.

We looked for almost two years for SAMi, we knew she was the one when we got her, I also believe she found us.

If you are in the area and wish to visit the gallery, stop by to meet us, view some artwork and SAMi will be happy to greet you!