About
Meet Pauli Zaykowski
Thirty years of dogs. One simple mission.
Salt Water Pawz was born from a lifetime spent alongside dogs — through every stage, every question, and every quiet moment on the porch. Pauli has spent more than three decades raising, training, and placing Portuguese Water Dogs, and along the way she's built something rare: a placement service that feels like family.
The mission is simple. Match the right dog with the right home, and support both of them for life. No shortcuts. No high volume. No transactional feel. Just careful, honest work done by someone who genuinely loves this breed and the people who welcome them home.
More than a match — a relationship.
When you work with Salt Water Pawz, you aren't picking a puppy out of a lineup. You're beginning a relationship. Pauli takes the time to understand your household, your routines, and your hopes for the years ahead — then she thoughtfully matches temperaments so that the fit is right for both puppy and family.
That care doesn't end at pickup. It's the foundation of everything that follows.
Support that doesn't end at pickup.
Every family who welcomes a puppy home gets a direct line to Pauli. From the first night to the first birthday and every milestone after, she's a phone call away.
- Choosing the right breed for your family and lifestyle
- Puppy development, socialization, and early training
- Crate training and housebreaking without stress
- Nutrition, grooming, and everyday health
- Behavior guidance through adolescence and beyond
- Ongoing check-ins for the life of your dog
A trusted partner for families of every kind.
Over the years, Pauli has guided first-time dog owners, seasoned breed enthusiasts, medical professionals, service organizations, and multigenerational households through the puppy journey. Every family is different — and that's exactly the point.