Custom Dog Portraits: Styles, Sizes & Breed Tips (2026)

What is a custom dog portrait?

A custom dog portrait is artwork made of one particular dog, from that dog's photo. Ours are created from your upload: you pick a style, and our image tools paint your dog's own face, markings and colors into it in seconds. You see the finished artwork free, try other styles if you like, and only pay when you love it.

Then it's delivered as a high-res digital file or printed in the USA as an art print or a canvas, framed or not. For the broader picture on how portraits are made and priced, see our guides to pet portraits and custom pet portraits. Here we stay on dogs.

Which dog portrait style suits your dog?

Start with personality, then check the coat. A dog's character is what people recognize first in a portrait, so the style should amplify it rather than fight it. A few quick decision rules:

• The dignified one (sits upright, judges your choices): The King, Renaissance Noble or The Admiral. The serious face against a pompous costume is the joke, and it lands every time.
• The loyal guardian or working dog: The General or Superhero, a fitting tribute for a dog that takes its job seriously.
• The gentle soul, the senior, the couch cuddler: Watercolor. Soft washes suit calm faces and look lovely in bedrooms.
• The goofball with the tongue out: Cartoon Face or Pop Art. Bold outlines and bright color match bold energy.
• The cool one: Vintage 90s, with smoke, lightning and a retro glow. It's a great fit for a dog with swagger and a big chest.
• The adventurer: Astronaut, for the dog who has never met a stranger or a puddle it didn't like.

Breed tips for custom dog portraits

Every breed has a feature that makes it instantly recognizable. A good dog portrait protects that feature, so here is what to watch for by body type and coat. You can also browse ideas on the dog portraits page.

Getting the photo right for a dog portrait

Every detail of the portrait comes from your photo, so this step matters more than the style. Our guide on how to take pet pictures goes further, but these dog-specific tips cover most cases:

• Tire them out first. A dog after a walk sits still; a dog before one doesn't.
• Get down to eye level and shoot by a bright window or outdoors in shade.
• Use a squeaky toy or a treat held just above the lens to get alert ears and a forward gaze.
• Keep the whole head and both ears in frame, with a little space around them.
• Skip the flash, filters and portrait-mode blur; they hide fur texture and change coat color.
• Mouth open or closed? Both work. An open-mouth smile reads as happy in cartoon and pop art; a closed mouth looks more regal in royal styles.

Can you put two or more dogs in one portrait?

Yes. Choose two, three or four pets on the first step and upload one photo of each. The dogs don't need to be photographed together, which is good news for anyone who has tried to get two dogs to look at the camera at the same time. Each extra dog is $15, so a two-dog 16×20 canvas is $164.99.

For the best result, use photos with similar lighting and angles. The art is built from each photo separately, so a puppy and a senior dog, or a big dog and a Dachshund, can share one portrait. Mixed households are welcome too: a dog and a cat side by side is a sweet choice.

Dog portrait sizes, formats and where to hang them

All portrait styles share the same sizes and prices. The digital download is $29.99. Art prints run from $39.99 (8×10) to $99.99 (24×36), and canvases from $89.99 (8×10) to $239.99 (24×36). A solid wood frame for prints, or a floating frame for canvas in black, walnut or white, arrives ready to hang.

Some rules of thumb for placing a dog portrait:

• 8×10: next to the dog bed, on a desk at work, or as part of a gallery wall.
• 12×16: a hallway, the entry where the leash hangs, or above a nightstand.
• 16×20: a home office or a dining room; a good size for a two-dog portrait.
• 18×24: fills the space above a standard sofa or headboard on its own.
• 24×36: a statement piece for an open-plan room. Royal and Vintage portraits look spectacular at this scale.
• Digital: a phone wallpaper, a social post, or printed small for grandparents. Add the high-res file to any print or canvas for $9.99.

A custom dog portrait as a gift

A portrait of their own dog is one of the few gifts a dog mom or dad can't buy themselves without feeling indulgent. Character styles are a fun birthday or Father's Day pick, and watercolor feels personal for an anniversary or a new puppy. For more ideas, see our dog mom gifts and dog dad gifts guides.

To keep it a surprise, choose Send photo later and we'll email an upload link, then send the preview for approval before anything is printed. Enter the recipient's address at checkout and it ships straight to them; packing slips never show prices. A matching greeting card with the same artwork can be added in the cart.

For a dog who has passed, a portrait can be a gentle way to keep them close. The Forever in My Heart style shows the dog on soft clouds with a halo, and a watercolor on the rainbow background is a quieter option, with the years on the second line. Our guide to dog memorial gifts has more thoughtful ideas.

How to order a custom dog portrait

Pick the portrait family that matches the style you chose: the Modern watercolor portrait, the Character portrait for royal, military, astronaut and memorial styles, or Pop Art, Cartoon and Vintage. Upload your dog's photo (crop it if your dog is small in the frame), choose the number of dogs and a size, then add the name and an optional second line.

Check the preview closely: eyes, ear shape, markings and the spelling of the name. Shipping is a flat $6.99 in the US and free over $75, and bundles save 15% on two items, 20% on three and 25% on five or more. Every order has a 30-day money-back guarantee, and 10% goes, in full, to animal rescue.

Frequently asked questions