Owners Teach Their Shiba Inu to Paint to Communicate With Him

Christian l
June 02, 2021

Hunter, a 7-year-old Shiba Inu, loves to spend his free time painting and even runs his own Etsy shop. Its owner, Denise, says she seems to enjoy it very much and feels like she communicates with them through her art.

“He likes the challenge, he likes to do different things with us and interact with us. He is very vocal about what he likes and what he doesn’t like, so we communicate in that sense, ”he said.

Denise says he’s a pretty laid-back dog now that he’s older, but as a puppy he had a lot of energy. He wanted learn new tricks all the time, and Denise taught him the usual commands, like sit, stay, and kick. “Then finally we ran out of tricks to teach him, so we ended up teaching him to paint!”

Hunter the Shiba Inu sells his artwork on Etsy

She says that seeing her paintings hung in offices and homes around the world gives her work special meaning. It’s gratifying for Denise to see others enjoying her art, and Hunter seems to have fun with it, too.

“They are a very special breed. They are not like a typical dog, they are very stubborn, ”says Denise. “You have to give them a lot of exercise and a lot of attention, so they don’t become disruptive or cause problems for you and your family when you take them out.”

Well, even though Hunter may have a stubborn streak, his creative side comes through too! Perhaps this headstrong mindset gives him the discipline and drive to continue his paintings. He seems to enjoy learning new things, and painting stuck with him from an early age. Hunter seems to go for the abstract style of painting and uses all the different shades of color for his work.

So far, it has made nearly 300 sales in your Etsy shop, which customers have rated with 5 stars. Denise classifies them into three categories: Classics, Night Sky 2017, and Season. However, you can also request a custom order and Hunter, the Shiba Inu painter, will do his best to fulfill it.

Denise also has a YouTube account for Hunter, where she occasionally posts videos of him painting. His most recent video shows him painting on a Korean game show, so it seems like he’s getting quite popular! He has also appeared on another show called HARU TV.

It is amazing what dogs can learn and how quickly they acquire certain skills. Like humans, dogs learn through repetition and practice, whether you teach them commands or paint. Of course, reinforcement with treats always helps dogs to better remember things or perform a desirable action. However, with Hunter the Shiba Inu, it seems like he doesn’t need any additional encouragement or bribery.

He really enjoys painting, and his owners love to connect and communicate with him through this medium. It is fascinating to see how intelligent and adaptable dogs are, and how they all have different likes and dislikes. When Hunter isn’t painting, he seems to enjoy taking walks and trying new dog treats. He also hangs out and celebrates birthdays with other dog friends, including his companion Shiba Inus.

How to teach your dog to paint

If you want to try painting with your dog, follow these tips from Little Dog Tips:

Tools and supplies you will need to get started:

• Modified brush
• Washable, Non-Toxic Paint – Children’s tempera paints are cheap, washable, and fun to use. Acrylic paint is brighter and more opaque, but your hair should be removed before it dries.
• Protected surface: an old sheet on the floor, for example
• Great value treats, bite size
• Blank canvas, or maybe paper taped to the wall
• A creative dog, ideally an adult dog that has passed the chewing phase.

Step 1: teach “touch” or “paint”

Bring a canvas into the room; your dog you may go up and investigate it, or seem confused at first. If your dog comes around, be sure to reward him with a treat. After your dog gets on the canvas several times, you can add the “paint!”

You want your dog to approach the canvas with his nose first. At first your dog may scratch you, but you should only give him treats to touch his nose. Tell your dog to sit down if he keeps pawing at the canvas to “reset” it.

Step 2: Teach “Hold”

The hardest part of teaching your dog to paint will be getting him to hold the brush. Make sure to work on this step for a few weeks before moving on to the next phase.

Step 3: Teach “Giving”

To keep clutter under control, you’ll want your dog to give you the brush after every pet. If you taught your dog the “retrieve by hand” trick while playing fetch, he or she should know how to return items to your hand.

Step 4: Hold, Paint, Give

So after each step is comfortable, follow the sequence with your dog. Give your dog a clean brush and ask him to “paint.” Make sure you stay close to the canvas so your dog doesn’t have to hold the brush for too long after each pass. Once you’ve followed the steps several times, your dog should feel comfortable painting with you!

Also, make sure you have some dog wipes on hand as this can get a bit messy!

It does your dog Can you paint or do other interesting tricks? Share with us in the comments!