How do I order a custom watercolor dog portrait from a photo?
Choose your size and frame color, add it to cart, and upload a photo of your dog on this page. That photo is turned into watercolor artwork and you get a digital preview by email within 1–2 business days. Nothing goes on the panel until you have seen it and said yes.
Can you do a full-body dog portrait, or just the head?
Both — it depends on the photo. Most custom pet portraits stop at the shoulders; if you send a photo with your whole dog in frame, standing, sitting or sprawled out, the portrait keeps all of it, tail and paws included. Send a head-and-chest photo and you will get a head-and-chest portrait. Tell us in the order note which you are after and we will match it in the preview.
What photo of my dog works best for a watercolor portrait?
Daylight, taken at their level rather than from above, with nothing cropping off an ear or a paw. Phone photos are completely fine — lighting and angle decide the result far more than resolution. Watch for two things: a face lost in shadow, and a dog photographed against a very busy background. If your photo will not hold up, we will email you before anything is printed.
Is this a hand-painted dog portrait or a print?
Printed. Your photo is turned into watercolor artwork, then UV-printed straight onto the poplar wood panel — the matte wood surface is what makes it read as paint on paper rather than a photo. If you would rather have a portrait an artist genuinely paints by hand, we do those too: see our hand-painted pet portraits, from $69.
Natural wood frame or black frame — which suits a dog portrait better?
Natural light wood is the warmer match for golden, cream and red coats, and it disappears politely into a neutral or wood-heavy room. Black is the one to pick for black, gray, brindle and merle dogs, or for a dark or busy wall where a pale frame would vanish. Both are solid wood, both ship with hanging hardware fitted, and both cost the same.
What size dog portrait should I choose?
7" × 7" is for a desk, a shelf or a cluster of small frames. 8" × 12" is the reliable gift size and fits a hallway wall. 12" × 12" earns a spot above a console or a bed. 16" × 20" is the one people notice from the doorway — and it is the size to pick if you are going full body, because a whole dog needs the room.
Does the dog portrait arrive framed and ready to hang?
Yes. Every size ships already set in its solid wood frame — natural or black — with the hanging hardware fitted on the back. Unbox it, hang it, done.
Will watercolor work for my dog's breed and coat?
Yes, and coat type is the interesting part. Long-coated dogs like golden retrievers, collies and setters do especially well, because loose washes read as feathering. Doodles and other curly coats work. Black and very dark dogs work too, but they need light on the face in the photo — otherwise the eyes and muzzle sink into the coat. Brindle and merle markings come through as long as the photo shows them clearly.
Can you make a watercolor portrait of a dog who has passed away?
Yes — we are asked for this often. An older, softer or slightly grainy photo is usually fine; watercolor is more forgiving of imperfect source photos than a sharp realistic style would be, which is part of why people choose it for a dog they have lost. Send your favorite and we will tell you honestly whether it will hold up at the size you want, before anything is printed.
Can I get two dogs in one portrait?
Message us before ordering with the photos you have. Two dogs in one piece depends entirely on whether the photos can sit together convincingly, and we will confirm what is possible and what it costs first.
How long does a custom dog portrait take to arrive?
Around 1–3 weeks door to door: 1–2 business days for your preview, 3–5 business days to print and frame once you approve it, then 5–15 business days in transit. Message us before ordering if you need it for a specific date.
How is the watercolor style different from your oil-style dog portrait?
Watercolor is the lighter of the two — lots of white space, soft edges, and it is the one that handles a full-body pose well. The oil-style dog portrait is richer and darker, with visible brushwork and a fuller background. Same poplar panel underneath. We also do vintage tweed, royal robes, gentleman and funny bathrobe versions on the same wood panel. For cats, start with the watercolor cat portrait on wood.
What if it arrives damaged?
Because each portrait is made to order, we don't accept returns for change of mind, but we'll gladly replace your order if it arrives damaged or has a quality issue.
