A Dog Day Afternoon
Actress Sigourney Weaver held a wedding for the neighbor’s Greyhound and her Italian Greyhound, Petals. Paris Hilton’s Chihuahua, Tinkerbell, has become a fashion icon with her clothing line for pets.
Singer Shania Twain’s German Shepherd, Tim, has his own doggy door on the tour bus. Mimi LaRue, actress Tori Spelling’s recently deceased pug, was often seen wearing designer doggy clothes and riding in a stroller. And Elton John loves his Cocker Spaniel, Arthur, so much, he made him the best man at his civil ceremony.
Add your faithful canine’s name to this list of pampered pets—you may not be a celebrity, but don’t let that stop you! We didn’t when we spent an afternoon with Crystal, our managing editor’s six-year-old American pit bull terrier.
Make your puppy into a piece of art
When Genevieve Schlueter was a young girl, she loved dogs so much she wanted to be one when she grew up. This deep love for dogs—and her love of art—eventually led her to a logical conclusion: becoming a pet portraitist, her primary focus on cats and dogs.
With no formal training, Schlueter calls her talent a “God-given gift.” Her detailed, one-of-a-kind portraits are done by hand with a graphite pencil, which allows her to keep her prices affordable. Just send her a photo of your precious pooch, and come away with a detailed depiction that will leave you breathless.
While she has loved dogs all her life, Schlueter only recently started making portraits. While working at the Clubs at River City, she began showing people her work, and before she knew it, she was getting commissions. That was when she thought she might actually be able to do this for a living.
“From the moment everybody took an interest at River City, I thought, ‘Okay, this is what I need to be doing,’” Schlueter explained. “Within a year, I was gone from there and home.” By Christmas, she was booked solid.
A pet portrait can be the perfect gift for any special occasion, and may be just the answer for those hard-to-buy-for people. As a pet owner herself, Schlueter understands just how much people love their faithful companions. “[A portrait] really shows just how much you, the pet owner, love the pet,” Schlueter said, “especially for those that have a dog that’s ailing or is passed. It’s a great way to memorialize or remember them in their bright youth.”
Schlueter’s grandfather was also an artist, and she’s very thankful he passed his skill on to her. “I just feel like I’ve died and gone to heaven,” she said. “I get to stay home and sketch full time…be home with my puppies and set my own schedule.” Schlueter has found her calling.
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