Custom Trophies - Frequently Asked Questions

Turnaround time is based on your show date, not the date you place your order.

We prioritize production for events happening in the next 2–3 months. If you reach out 6–12 months in advance (which we genuinely appreciate), we’ll typically confirm your order and deposit, then circle back closer to your event unless you request to begin design discussions sooner.

Because our trophies are custom-made and we have limited storage space, we carefully time production so pieces aren’t rushed—or finished months too early. This approach allows us to give every order the attention it deserves and ensures your trophies arrive fully finished, polished, and on time for your event.

We also have limited storage space, so we try to time things just right — giving each order the attention it deserves without rushing or holding onto pieces too early. Our goal is to make sure everything arrives beautifully finished and right on time.

Nearly everything we make—aside from a few slate items—is created entirely from scratch. We don’t use pre-made blanks or mass-produced components.

We hand-select hardwoods from a locally owned mill, then cut, sand, carve, engrave, and finish each piece in our shop. A single item may go through CNC carving, laser engraving, multiple sanding stages, and several coats of oil-based polyurethane, each requiring proper curing time. Cooler temperatures can extend these curing times, and our limited finishing space means we work carefully in batches to maintain quality.

Our resin pieces are equally time-intensive. Many require multiple epoxy pours—often one color at a time—with long cure periods between layers. Resin work also has strict environmental requirements: dust, temperature, and humidity all have to be just right. For that reason, we can’t pour resin while CNC carving or sanding is happening in the shop.

We don’t rush steps, cut corners, or ship anything we wouldn’t be proud to present ourselves. That level of craftsmanship takes time—but it’s exactly what makes our trophies special.

Possibly—but it depends on the size, complexity, and current production schedule.

Some items have a shorter turnaround time than others, so if your show date is approaching quickly, the sooner you reach out, the better. Short-notice orders are evaluated case by case, and availability is not guaranteed.

The fastest way to move forward is to:

• Choose items with quicker production timelines

• Have your details ready upfront (wins, quantities, wording, fonts, and any acrylic selections)

• Be flexible on design and materials if needed

For orders with tight deadlines, a rush fee may apply. If so, we’ll always discuss this before finalizing your order—no surprises, no panic invoices.

We require a non-refundable deposit to officially reserve your place in our production schedule.

• Orders under $300: a $100 deposit is required

• Orders over $300: a 50% deposit is required

Your deposit covers the time and resources involved in preparing your order, including materials sourcing, design setup, and scheduling your production slot.

Once work has begun, design changes are not permitted. Approval of the final design also confirms acceptance of the final pricing.

The remaining balance is due before delivery, pickup, or shipping.

Shipping costs are the responsibility of the buyer and are calculated once your order is complete. All shipments include insurance, with additional coverage added to fully protect the value of your order.

In many cases, yes. We’re happy to review your club’s logo or National Specialty artwork to see whether it can be adapted for laser engraving or CNC carving.

For best results, artwork should be provided in a vector format (such as SVG). Raster images like JPGs or PNGs can be more challenging—especially if they include:

• Shading or gradients

• Overlapping or layered elements

• Very fine text or intricate details that don’t translate well when engraved

Laser engraving works best with clean, high-contrast black-and-white artwork. Logos that rely heavily on color, gradients, or photographic elements often require redesign or may not be suitable for engraving as-is.

If you’re unsure whether your artwork will work, you’re welcome to send it to us for review. If significant cleanup, conversion, or redesign is required, additional design fees may apply beyond the standard design fee. We’ll always let you know before moving forward.

We provide digital proofs after your deposit is received, typically time based on your event date and our current production schedule. If you'd like to see mockups before committing to an order, a $50 non-refundable design fee is required, which will be applied to your order balance if you move forward. We'll work with you on reasonable revisions during the design phase to make sure the details are right — things like adjusting a silhouette or tweaking text placement. Physical mock-ups are not provided, with the exception of 3D printed test prints.

Once a proof is approved, no further changes can be made, as approved designs go directly into production.

That’s completely normal—and not a problem at all.

If you know your show date and have a general budget, we can suggest trophy options that fit your timeline and price range. You don’t need every detail figured out before reaching out.

Once we understand your goals, we’ll offer guidance based on your breed, theme (if any), and show size, and may share example photos or options to help narrow things down. From there, we’ll work with you to refine the direction and move toward a final design.

Once you’ve received your formal estimate and are ready to move forward, simply email us to confirm.

We accept deposit payments via:

• Our website (we’ll create a custom listing for you)

• PayPal

• Venmo

At this time, we do not accept checks.

Estimates are valid for 14 days from the date they’re issued.

Because we’re a very small business, material and supply costs—especially for hardwoods and specialty acrylics—can change, and availability may vary throughout the year. For that reason, pricing cannot be guaranteed beyond the estimate’s validity period.

If it’s been more than 14 days, we’re happy to provide an updated estimate reflecting current costs and availability. To lock in pricing, we recommend finalizing your order details and deposit as soon as possible.

We’re always happy to discuss ideas and general pricing ranges early in the process. However, pricing is only guaranteed once a formal written estimate has been provided.

Because custom orders often involve delayed follow-ups—such as coordinating with a club board or finalizing event details—weeks or even months may pass between conversations. During that time, material costs, availability, and design offerings can change.

If you received general pricing information but did not move forward with a formal estimate, we may not be able to honor those earlier numbers—especially if significant time has passed. We’ll always provide an updated estimate based on current costs and the details of your request.

To secure pricing, we recommend finalizing your order details and estimate as soon as you’re ready to move forward. We’re happy to pick the conversation back up at any time—just keep in mind that pricing and availability may shift over time.

Yes. Orders that include detailed, multi-color hand-painted items are limited to three (3) total hand-painted pieces per trophy order, regardless of design variations. Single-color, non-detailed painted items are excluded from this limit.

Yes, we do ship internationally.

All international orders are shipped using a service that includes full tracking and insurance to cover the value of the order. Shipping costs are calculated once your order is complete, packed, and weighed, and we’ll provide available options based on carrier, delivery speed, and cost.

Please note that any import duties, taxes, or customs fees are the responsibility of the buyer. These fees are determined by your country and are not included in our pricing or shipping quotes.

If you’re considering an international order, just let us know—we’re happy to walk you through the process and help you understand what to expect.

We ship trophy orders using Pirate Ship, selecting USPS, UPS, or FedEx based on the best available rate or your stated preference.

Because every order is different in size, weight, and packaging requirements, shipping costs are calculated after all items are completed, securely packed, and weighed. At that point, we’ll provide the final shipping total along with tracking information.

All shipments include insurance covering the full value of your order, not just the default coverage provided by most carriers.

We take great care when packaging to protect your items during transit. However, once an order has shipped, we can’t guarantee that replacement pieces can be produced in time for your event—especially if your show is less than four weeks away.

Because all of our trophies are custom made—often starting from raw materials—we’re unable to accept cancellations once work has begun.

A non-refundable deposit is required to reserve your place in our production schedule and allows us to source materials and begin design work. If you need to request a change to your order, please contact us as soon as possible. We’ll do our best to accommodate small adjustments when feasible.

Once carving, cutting, engraving, or finishing has started, changes are generally not possible.

At this time, we don’t offer discounts or sales.

Many of the clubs we work with already have nonprofit status, and we work hard to keep our pricing fair and consistent for everyone. While we previously offered small discounts on select large orders, rising material and production costs have made that unsustainable.

Rather than inflating prices to offer occasional “deals,” we focus on transparent, honest pricing based on the true cost of materials and labor.

That said, we’re always happy to help you explore options that fit within your club’s budget. If cost is a concern, just let us know—we’ll do our best to suggest meaningful alternatives.

We price each item using a consistent formula that accounts for:

• Material costs

• Labor time

• Machine and finishing time

• Material waste (some designs generate significantly more scrap than others)

Even if two items appear similar in size or design, they can require very different amounts of time, materials, and production steps. For example, some lantern designs are especially labor-intensive and create nearly as much waste material as usable wood, which affects their overall cost.

Additionally, reducing the size of an item doesn’t always reduce the labor involved. In many cases, a smaller version requires nearly the same setup, machining, and finishing time as a larger one.

We prioritize sourcing our materials from local and small businesses whenever possible, rather than mass-market suppliers.

• Our hardwood lumber is hand-selected from a locally owned mill here in Colorado

• Our patterned, clear, and Eco acrylics are sourced from a small business in North Carolina

• Most of our slate is manufactured in Virginia

Supporting other small businesses is important to us, and it’s a key part of what sets our work apart—from the quality of the materials we use to the relationships behind them.

Yes—we love supporting junior handlers and youth events whenever possible.

While we’re not able to offer discounts, we’re happy to help you find options that work within your budget. From custom ornaments and smaller trays to magnets or other keepsake-style awards, there are many meaningful ways to recognize young exhibitors without compromising quality.

We’re always glad to explore creative ideas that make youth awards feel special and memorable.

In many cases, yes—we’re happy to adapt existing shop designs into trophy pieces.

Some items in our shop began as one-of-a-kind pieces, craft-fair exclusives, or creative side projects, so their listed pricing may not reflect current material costs or the additional work involved in customization. If an item isn’t listed under Custom Trophies, it may still be offered as one, but pricing, availability, and turnaround time may differ.

A small number of items—such as pine needle baskets, fiber art, or clay miniatures—are created by a family member and are only available when time and availability allow.

Even if an item wasn’t originally dog-themed, we can often adapt the design to be breed- or event-specific. If you have something in mind, just ask and we’ll let you know what’s possible.

In many cases, yes. We keep design files and layouts on hand for several years, especially for clubs we work with regularly.

That said, exact replicas aren’t always possible. Natural variation in wood grain, changes in available materials, or updates made to improve a design can all result in small differences from previous versions. Pricing may also change over time due to material availability and production costs.

If you’re interested in reordering, please send us a photo of the previous trophies or the name and year of the event, and we’ll review our records and let you know what’s possible.

We’re not able to accept custom orders for turned bowls. These pieces are only available as finished, one-of-a-kind items when we happen to have them in stock.

Each bowl represents a significant investment of time and craftsmanship. The process begins with raw wood blanks that must air-dry for at least a year before they’re stable enough to turn. Even then, the wood itself ultimately decides the outcome—cracking, warping, or failure during turning is always a possibility.

Because of this unpredictability, turned bowls aren’t something we can reproduce on demand or guarantee in specific sizes, shapes, or quantities. They’re created organically, when the material, time, and inspiration align.

When bowls are available, they make truly special keepsakes or trophy pieces—but availability is always limited.