Have you seen the Tik Tok #artisticdogchallenge?
I haven't. Because as a middle aged lame-o I do not understand the ticker tocks.
But I have seen it on Instagram because our dog has an instagram account. What? Does your dog NOT have one? Weird. Anyway, so a few of Frank's fellow pups on the 'gram have taken part in this challenge and it seemed right up his alley. Why did I think he would like this? Short answer: peanut butter. Longer answer: he really loves peanut butter.
Yesterday I was in the craft aisle at Target and spotted a variety of small stretched canvases and acrylic paints. Knowing Frank and I would be home today and there's not a lot to do, I threw them into my cart.
A brief side note, as always, when I say "not a lot to do" there is actually totally a bunch of stuff I could do. But none of that is fun and I don't want to do it. Just living up to the name of the blog.
Ok, so after a pretty quick walk this morning, we were hanging out on the screen porch watching the world go by. It's sunny and warm but not too warm. It was perfect weather for some canine arts and crafts.
I gathered my supplies, if you're looking to do this, here's what you and your pooch need:
One pre-stretched canvas.
Acrylic paints in colors you like.
A plastic zip top bag large enough to fit the canvas and close.
Dog-safe peanut butter
(What is "dog-safe peanut butter?" It is peanut butter that does not contain any artificial sweeteners, xylitol in particular is quite toxic to dogs. Try to find a peanut butter with as few ingredients as possible, ideally just peanuts.)
I also pulled out some painter's tape so I could tape down the bag once I put in place for Frank to express himself. He has a tendency to want to pick up fun treats and carry them into, say, our bedroom. I wanted to make sure we kept this on the screen porch or I was going to have to do emergency housework — gross.
Take your canvas and dot it all over with paint. You could write your dog's name or your name or a secret message, make squiggles or shapes. This is a collaborative project because your dog (probably) does not have opposable thumbs.
Set this canvas aside. I don't know about your dog, but Frank is VERY curious. If this was in his reach and I wasn't able to grab it, there would be paint all over the house and him before I could say, "FRANK!!" And then, once again, I would face potential emergency housework — ugh.
Take some peanut butter, honestly, you don't need that much. Spread it all over one side of the zip top bag. Make sure it is the outside. You may laugh, but I actually had a dream in which Frank and I did this very project and I somehow put the peanut butter into the bag instead of onto the bag and it didn't even work in my dram logic. I also made sure to put the peanut butter on the side without anything printed on it so I could see the painting in progress.
Carefully open the bag and slide the canvas in. Again, make sure the paint side of the canvas is on the peanut butter side.
This is a great time to practice your doggos wait or stay command. Frank is impatient, but we are working hard on wait and he is getting better by the day. While Frank did his sit and wait, I taped down the baggie to the screen porch floor. Then I released Frank with his command "ok!" and the arting began. He wasn't totally sure what was up at first, but the peanut butter got him over any hesitancy very quickly,
I think one of the things that makes this fun is that the outcome is unpredictable. Frank has a big old tongue and so his "brush strokes" are different than they would be if he was a much smaller or a more delicate dog. He also put his big feet on the bag at least twice. For Frank, art is a very immersive experience.
Once your dog has the chance to get that art all out of his or her system it's time to unveil the masterpiece!
Before I even took the canvas out of the bag, I made sure to give Frank some fresh water. Just like with you or me, peanut butter makes him thirsty!!
Carefully remove the art from the bag and marvel at what talent your fuzzball has. Look at this! Frank is truly gifted! Once it dries, we will find a place in the house to put this. Maybe we'll even start taking commissions.
Is this productive? No. Is it fun? Absolutely. Do I recommend? Without a doubt.
I craft a lot, and some projects take longer than others. Frankly, it can be a slog to get the thing you want done. This is one of those things that gives you a payoff pretty quickly. Not only that, it provides an opportunity for some good bonding and training with your dog (or a dog you hang out with).
Is there a challenge or project or craft out there you think I should try? Or that Frank and I should try? Let me know and maybe I'll do it. In the meantime, I have more paint and another canvas. One day soon, we may have a companion piece to show off. Also, Frank would like you to follow him on Instagram.
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