Which style should you choose for your dog's portrait?

You have a photo of your dog and you'd love to see it on the wall. One question remains: which style should you choose? At ThinkArt, there are five styles, from the most classic to the most quirky. Each one highlights a different side of your companion. This guide helps you choose based on their coat, their personality, your decor and how the portrait will be used. And if you're still unsure at the end, don't worry: the preview is free, and you can try several styles with the same photo.

The 5 styles at a glance

Realistic: the true-to-life portrait

The realistic dog portrait faithfully reproduces their features, their gaze and the shades of their coat, with the look of a classic painting on a dark background. It's the style closest to the photo. It suits a classic or warm interior, and lends itself well to a tribute.

Watercolor: gentleness

The watercolor dog portrait plays on soft tones and a light background. The result is light, luminous and a little dreamy. It goes well with a bedroom, a living room with light walls, or Scandinavian or boho decor. It works just as well as a gift as it does as a peaceful keepsake.

Charcoal: charcoal-style black and white

The Charcoal style gives a black and white, charcoal-style dog portrait on a cream background. Understated and graphic, it focuses on expression and contrast rather than color. It stays discreet in a room that is already very colorful.

Cartoon: good humor, with their name

The cartoon dog portrait turns your companion into a big-eyed character, along with their name. Cheerful and expressive, it's right at home in a child's bedroom, a kitchen or a hallway. It's the style for cheeky dogs and families who love to laugh.

Royal Pet: the majestic wink

With the Royal Pet style, your dog poses in royal costume: embroidered jacket and ermine cape. This royal dog portrait works both ways. It highlights the presence of a dog with a noble bearing, or raises a smile with a dog who is anything but an aristocrat. It makes an impression in a living room, a study or a hallway.

Choosing by coat

The background of the portrait matters as much as the style: a coat stands out better when it contrasts with its surroundings.

• Light coat (white, cream, sandy): the dark background of the Realistic style makes it stand out clearly. On the light backgrounds of Watercolor and Charcoal, the result will be softer, more blended.
• Black or very dark coat: the light backgrounds of Watercolor and Charcoal define their silhouette well. In Realistic, check on the preview that the outline remains clear against the dark background.
• Red, fawn or golden coat: warm colors come into their own in Realistic or Watercolor.
• Spotted or two-tone coat (Dalmatian, Border Collie, Beagle): the black and white of Charcoal shows off the markings.
• Long or curly hair: Realistic captures the texture, Watercolor softens it.

Choosing by personality

• The wise one with soulful eyes: Realistic or Charcoal, to capture their expression.
• The gentle cuddler: Watercolor, for their tenderness.
• The clown, the young dog full of energy: Cartoon, with their name as a bonus.
• The head of the household, or the one who thinks they are: Royal Pet, without hesitation.

Choosing by decor

• Classic interior, wood, warm tones: Realistic, whose dark background is reminiscent of old paintings.
• Light walls, Scandinavian or boho style: Watercolor.
• Minimalist, industrial or black and white decor: a black and white dog portrait, so Charcoal.
• Colorful room, child's bedroom: Cartoon.
• Living room or study with character: Royal Pet.

Think about the size too. The 30×40 cm fits on a shelf or a small section of wall. The 50×75 cm dresses the space above a dresser or a headboard. The 60×90 cm fills a large wall, above a sofa. All canvases are made from 285 gsm canvas, with a matte finish, on a 2 cm wooden frame.

Choosing by purpose

As a gift

It all depends on the person. For parents or grandparents who are very attached to their dog, Realistic or Watercolor are safe choices. For a friend with a sense of humor, a royal dog portrait creates a surprise. Cartoon is well suited to families with children. If you don't know their decor well, the understated Charcoal blends in easily.

As a tribute

When your dog is no longer here, you may want an understated style: a realistic dog portrait to see them just as they were, Watercolor for a peaceful image, Charcoal for a timeless black and white. But a Cartoon or Royal Pet portrait can also capture a joyful character. There are no rules.

For a child's bedroom

The cartoon dog portrait, with its big eyes and the dog's name, is a natural fit. A watercolor dog portrait, soft and light, also suits a nursery. The name is free on all styles: the child sees their companion's name above their bed.

Summary: which style for which dog?

• Realistic: true-to-life portrait, dark background. For a light or warm-colored coat, classic decor, a tribute, a gift for parents.
• Watercolor: soft tones, light background. For a dark or golden coat, light decor, a gift, a peaceful keepsake, a bedroom.
• Charcoal: charcoal-style black and white, cream background. For a spotted or contrasting coat, a photo with dull colors, minimalist decor, a tribute.
• Cartoon: big eyes, with their name. For a playful dog, a child's bedroom, a gift full of humor.
• Royal Pet: embroidered jacket, ermine cape. For a dog with a big personality, a gift that makes people laugh, a living room or a study.

These pointers also apply to cats: the five styles work in the same way.

Still unsure? Compare the styles

The easiest thing is to try. Upload your dog's photo on a style's product page: the preview appears in a few seconds, free of charge, without creating an account. Then try the same photo in another style, or another photo. You'll quickly see which one speaks to you.

The canvas arrives ready to hang, with a free hanging kit: no tools needed, it's on the wall in 2 minutes. The colors are guaranteed for life. And if it's for Christmas, order by Friday, December 4, 2026 at the latest.