Dog Art: Painting With Mishka, the Siberian Husky Therapy Dog!
Woo! It's summertime! And for kids, it means days filled with swimming in the pool or favorite swimming spot, playing with friends, going to camp, going on vacation with family, and long days filled with play and romping with the family dog! But, some days you may hear the "B" word (bored), so what is a fun project to keep them occupied and have fun?
Painting with their dog! Okay, you may be saying, "Excuse me? Dogs can't paint." But I'm here to say, "Yes, they can!" You and/or your kids can have fun painting (most children love to paint!) and also have fun watching the dog paint! Now, of course we always recommend having a parent supervise for safety, but I bet they will want to join in the fun, too. I sure would!
To help me with this article, I'd like to introduce you to a very special "pawtist"—a canine friend of us here at FiveSibes, the beautiful "Mishka," a Siberian Husky Therapy Dog who—yes, loves to paint! Her hu-mom and handler, Mickey, is a dear friend and graciously shared Mishka's art with us, and also lent her wonderful voice-over on our video!
This is a fun project that can be done indoors or out. If it's a nice day and not too hot for the kids and the dog, outside is great! If it's a hot day, it's a project that can be done indoors in the coolness of the a/c. Either way, simply prepare your work area by covering it with vinyl or plastic tablecloth (or if you have those heavy duty lawn & leaf trash bags or large trash bags, simply cut them on the sides so it opens up and tape it down on a table. Then when done, simply roll it up and toss it away!)
A few caution reminders/recommendations for this project:
⚠️ Kids and dogs should always have adult supervision. Even though we all know our own children and dogs, kids may put their hands too close to the dog's mouth, or dogs could become overly excited or territorial when food is involved, and need to also be supervised to avoid any possibility of accidental biting. Also, scissors are involved.
⚠️ Use only dog-safe or organic peanut butter with NO xylitol, birch sugar, birch bark extract, wood sugar, or sugar alcohols as it is toxic to dogs.
⚠️ Use only non-toxic, kid/pet safe paints.
⚠️ Use the freezer style bags as they are more sturdy. Dogs can be very eager licking the peanut butter and possibly bite through a less strong bag.
⚠️ Never leave your dog unattended while doing this (Why? possible choking hazard if dog tries to eat the bag).
❇️ Small canvas- the ones stretched on a wood frame are easiest
❇️ Dog-safe, nontoxic paint in assorted colors
❇️ Dog-friendly peanut butter (please NO Xylitol, which can also be listed as Birch Sugar, Birch Bark Extract, Wood Sugar, and Sugar Alcohol as it is TOXIC to dogs). Best option is to only use organic or dog-specific peanut butters, or better yet, homemade!
❇️ Gallon-size freezer Ziploc bags not the ones with the slide, but the press close. (Freezer ones are stronger/heavier and best for this project).
❇️ Scissors
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Mishka's hu-mom uses Buddy Budder that has no high fructose corn syrup, stabilizers, xylitol, artificial sugar, or salts. If you choose another peanut butter, go for organic and always read the ingredient labels and make sure it's just peanuts! Or, buy peanuts and make your own!
You will need a food processor or blender and unsalted and dry-roasted peanuts. That's all!
(Note: dry roasted has been noted as making a more creamier peanut butter. If you choose raw, you will need to roast them first). You can do an online search for "homemade dog peanut butter" for roasting times of raw peanuts and more specific directions for making peanut butter using either type of peanut.
Directions: Simply blend the peanuts until smooth. This may take several times, plus in between pulses, scrape down the sides of the food processor/blender. Optional: adding in about one teaspoon (1 tsp.) of either honey or coconut oil. Store in an airtight container and I suggest putting it in the fridge as it is all natural so it doesn't go rancid or spoil.
Okay...back to our Painting With Mishka project! Below are a few supply recommendations (you can click on image(s) to read more about them, purchase them from. your local retail store, and/or order them from our links)...
A variety of Buddy Budder flavors:
Did you know Amazon Basics had storage bags? And they are BPA-free, too. Or, you can pick up your favorite brand at your local retail store. Just be sure they are BPA-free, seal top (and not the slider-style closure), and freezer-style for strength.
Mishka's hu-mom says...
❇️ Spread peanut butter on one side of gallon freezer bag.
❇️ Put canvas WITHOUT paint on in the freezer bag to be sure area with peanut butter will cover canvas, then remove.
❇️ Put paints on canvas. I found less colors turn out better. Can do drops, lines, however you want!
❇️ Hold open the freezer bag as best can, carefully slide in the canvas with paint on being careful not to smear. Press storage bag closed.
❇️ Set on floor, holding on two (2) sides so doesn't slide around.
❇️ Let your Pawtist (K9 artist) do their magic! You can turn the bagged canvas part way around so that your dog can lick in another direction.
❇️ Even though you are using non-toxic paints and the heavier freezer bag, still be careful that they don't bite through the plastic.
❇️ When the peanut butter is gone, carefully open the freezer bag's end, then take a scissor and carefully cut top layer along side seam to bottom, then cut across the bottom. Gently lift open end and carefully pull it back to expose the painted canvas.
❇️ Carefully remove the canvas from the bottom of the bag.
❇️ Let it lay flat until dry, which takes several hours.
❇️ When dry, take photos of your pawtist with their beautiful work of art!
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WOW, that is some talented pup artist!
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