Did you know that you can paint with your dog? It’s easier than it sounds with this lick painting tutorial! Follow my instructions in this post and you’ll have a beautiful original artwork to hang in your home.

A lick painting is a DIY dog art project where a canvas covered with drips of paint is placed into a peanut butter-covered Ziploc plastic bag. As your dog licks off the peanut butter, they “paint” the canvas!

This art project is good for all levels. You don’t need to be artistic to make something beautiful.

In this blog post, I’ll share all the steps to make a fun peanut butter painting with your dog:

1. Get your supplies
2. Prep the canvas in a plastic bag
3. Use peanut butter to encourage your dog to lick
4. Safely remove the canvas without damaging your artwork
5. Share your dog art with us!

I have a ton of dog art around my home, but this is the first artwork I have that the dogs actually painted themselves!

Are you ready to learn how to make your own DIY Lick Painting with your dog? Let me show you how!

Paint with Your Dog: Lick Painting

This peanut butter lick painting with dogs trend made the rounds on TikTok earlier this year. Dogs like @Tofu_Corgi with 1.3 million followers showed off their painting skills! So many dog owners jumped on the trend!

I’m happy I finally tried this DIY dog art with my pups because it turned out so great! Thanks to my recent podcast guest, Nicole McKay of AugiDog Art, for inspiring me to do this DIY project.

One of the reasons this trend took off online is because it’s so easy to do, it’s quick and you don’t need a lot of supplies. Plus, who doesn’t want to teach their dog how to paint on canvas?

Watch this quick video I made about how we did the peanut butter painting project, then scroll down for detailed instructions and a supplies list.

Doggy Peanut Butter Lick Painting Supplies

You don’t need for this beautiful dog painting activity! Here’s the supplies I used. I linked to everything to make it easy for you to order everything and do this craft with your dog soon!

Supplies:

• Small Canvas (get a 5 pack for under $6 at Michael’s)
• Acrylic paints in your favorite colors (I recommend 3 or 4 colors. Make sure it’s non toxic)
• Masking tape (optional)
• Gallon Ziploc Bags (or any storebrand sealed plastic baggy)
• All-Natural Peanut Butter (like Justin’s)

Doggy “Lick Painting” Instructions

Step 1: Prep the Canvas

I prepped the canvas for my dog art by taping around all the edges.

This is totally optional! But I learned in art school that this gives your paintings a nice finished gallery look when you remove the tape.

Step 2: Apply the Paint

Squeeze some non-toxic paint onto the canvas. Don’t do too much, it will go a long way.

You can apply the paint in lines, dots, swirls, or anything you like! I recommend doing 3 or 4 colors and having some black or white to create contrast.

Step 3: Apply Peanut Butter to Your Bag

Next, apply natural peanut butter to your gallon Ziploc plastic bag. Make sure to do this when the bag is empty otherwise, you’ll smear all the paint around yourself (we want the dogs to do that part!).

Step 4: Place Canvas in the Bag

Carefully place your canvas with the paint into the Ziploc bag and seal it. Although the paint is non-toxic, you don’t want your dog to accidentally lick it up.

Step 5: Let your dog lick!

Finally, the most important step in teaching your dog how to paint… Put the bag on the floor and let your dog lick all the peanut butter!

Supervise this to make sure they don’t bite the bag and lick up any paint by accident.

Step 6: Remove Canvas from the Bag + Let Dry

When all the peanut butter is licked up, take the bag away from your dog. Carefully open it up and remove the canvas (I cut the bag open so I didn’t mess up any “brush strokes”!)

Allow your painting to dry for a few hours or overnight. When it’s dry you can remove the tape (if you used it) and admire your new custom dog artwork!

Do you feel like you need help picking your colors? Check out our friend’s blog Peace, Love & Frenchie Farts for her lick painting post. Tiffany will teach you about color theory and you can see her dogs’ artwork!

Join our Virtual Dog Art Show

I’m teaming up with Nicole McKay of AugiDog Art to host a virtual dog art show. And you can be a part of it! Create your own lick painting with your dog and share it on Instagram, tagging both of us @augidogart and @tmistick.

>> Check out this artwork by Three Doods and a Yorkie. It turned out beautifully, all three dogs painting this together!

I love to do DIY activities with my dogs and for my dogs! There’s a ton of posts here on my blog to help you find the perfect project.

Doing dog-inspiring crafts is a great way to create memories together. It’s also fun to have items around my house that remind me of all the fun things I get to do with my dogs! That’s what this whole website is all about – making the most of life with dogs! I hope you’ll stick around.

FAQs about Doing a Dog Lick Painting

1. What kind of paint should I use for my dog’s lick painting?

When creating a lick painting with your dog, it’s very important to use non-toxic paints. These paints are safe for your dog in case they accidentally come into contact with them. Avoid any paints that contain harmful chemicals. You can find non-toxic acrylic paints at most craft stores or online. Look for paint that is labeled as safe for kids. 

2. How do I prevent my dog from eating the paint while they make the lick painting?

The best way to make sure your dog doesn’t accidentally ingest any paint is to prepare the canvas out of their reach. Place the paint-prepped canvas inside a sealed gallon Ziploc bag. Then spread a layer of natural peanut butter on the outside of the bag to encourage licking. If you’re worried your dog will pick up the bag and run away with it, you could tape it to the floor. Always supervise your dog for a lick painting.

3. Can I use other kinds of spreads besides peanut butter for dog lick painting?

Absolutely! If your dog has a peanut allergy or simply doesn’t like peanut butter, you can use other dog-safe spreads like pureed pumpkin, plain yogurt, or even a bit of mashed banana. For any kind of spread, make sure it doesn’t contain harmful ingredients like xylitol or sugar.

4. How long does it take for the dog lick painting to dry?

When you dog finishes their artistic masterpiece, carefully remove the canvas from the plastic bag. Allow the painting to dry for a few hours or overnight. The thicker the paint, the longer it will take to dry. If you did a tape border like I did, let the paint dry completely before removing the tape. When the painting is completely dry you can display it in your home or wrap it as a gift.

5. What are some tips for making my dog’s lick painting look great?

Here are a few extra tips to make your dog’s lick painting turn out beautifully:

• Use a combination of three or four colors to create visual interest. Too many colors and it will end up muddled.
• Apply the paint in different patterns like swirls, dots, or lines before placing the canvas in the bag.
• Apply the paint so it takes up the whole canvas, not just a blob in the center.
• Consider taping the edges of the canvas before starting to give it a nice, clean border when you remove the tape.
• Supervise your dog during the licking process to ensure they don’t tear the bag or ingest any paint.

Love this post? Check out more DIY Tutorials for dog moms:
DIY Flower Crown for Dogs
The Cutest DIY Reversible Bandana
Concrete Dog Bowl Holder Tutorial 
No-Sew Fleece Dog Blanket 

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