Peggy the Dachshund – A Custom Dog Portrait Commission Filled with Love
There is something incredibly powerful about capturing the soul of a beloved pet in a hand-painted dog portrait. Recently, I had the pleasure of creating a custom dog portrait of a charming Dachshund named Peggy – a commission that was given as a birthday gift from a loving mother, Julie, to her daughter. The result was not only a beautiful dog portrait painting, but also a keepsake filled with sentiment, character and everlasting love.
✨ About Peggy – A Little Dachshund with a Big Personality
Peggy is a gorgeous, bright ginger (or red) Dachshund with expressive eyes that seem to look straight into your soul. Dachshunds, often affectionately known as “sausages” or “sausage dogs”, are well-loved for their bold, playful and affectionate nature. Despite their small size, they are confident, lively and full of character – and Peggy is no exception.
Julie described her as a joyful little girl who brings endless happiness into their home. Peggy loves dressing up in cute outfits, and one of her charming quirks is the way she often holds one ear slightly sticking out – a little habit her family absolutely adores.
🎨 Choosing the Right Photos – Combining Two Images into One Perfect Composition
Like many dog owners seeking a dog portrait commission, Julie had several lovely photos of Peggy but not one single perfect reference image. She particularly loved one photo for Peggy’s facial expression and another for the pose and how her coat colour was beautifully visible.
To ensure the final pastel dog portrait reflected both Peggy’s personality and her striking colouring, I carefully combined the two photographs. First, I worked digitally in Photoshop to create a mock-up composition. This step is essential in my process, especially when combining poses from multiple photos, as it allows my clients to clearly visualise the layout before I begin painting. We discussed her ear placement – especially that slightly sticking-out right ear which was so typical of Peggy – and agreed it must be included to reflect her true character.
✅ Why Pastel Was the Perfect Choice
This hand-painted dog portrait was created using professional soft pastels on Pastelmat, which is one of my most popular and highly recommended options for pet portraits. Pastels are ideal for capturing the softness of dog fur, the velvety shine of the coat and the gentle transitions of colour. Peggy’s beautiful ginger-red coat and soulful eyes came to life beautifully with this medium.
Using professional-grade pastels ensures that the colours stay vibrant and strong for many years, as long as the artwork is properly framed and cared for. Pastel portraits are a wonderful choice for clients who want a highly detailed, soft and expressive custom dog portrait. They are also a more affordable option compared to oil or acrylic dog portrait paintings, while still offering exceptional depth and realism.
🖌️ Bringing Peggy to Life – Creating Not Just a Portrait, But a Personality
For me, a custom dog portrait is never just a copy of a photograph – it is about capturing personality, emotion and unique quirks. I spend time communicating with each client to understand what makes their pet special. Whether it’s a slightly tilted head, a cheeky ear, a curious look or a particular pose, I aim to bring these traits into the final artwork.
Peggy’s portrait was created with the intention of expressing her warm, affectionate nature and the way she connects with the people she loves. Every stroke was placed with care to ensure her joyful essence was preserved.
🎁 A Meaningful Dog Portrait Gift
Once the custom dog portrait was completed and gifted, the response was incredibly touching. Julie kindly left a review on Google, sharing how delighted her daughter was and how beautifully the portrait captured Peggy. Knowing that my artwork brought happiness to a family is truly the most rewarding part of what I do.
“My experience with Irisha was an absolute pleasure from start to finish
Iif you are like I was and not knowing where to start go no further this is the place you need to be !
Irisha went through the Portrait of our beautiful Peggy my daughter’s miniature
Dachshund step by step with many updates
They say with a pet portrait you have to see and feel your pet and that’s exactly what happened
It took my breath away !!
The portrait was for my daughter’s 30th birthday and what a very special gift it turned out to be she was very moved by it
Irisha is extremely talented and will give advice and ideas and puts so much care and attention into her work if you put your
trust in Iriisha I assure you you will be blown away with the end result
Thank you Irisha we will. treasure the portrait
Julie Davies”
. 📬 Commissioning Your Own Custom Dog Portrait
Whether you are looking for a dog portrait gift, a tribute to a beloved companion or a way to celebrate the joy your pet brings, a custom dog portrait commission is a deeply meaningful choice. Even if you don’t have one perfect photo, I am happy to work with multiple references to create a beautifully composed and characterful hand-painted dog portrait.
📌 I frequently combine elements from different photos to create the perfect final image.
📌 I offer portraits in soft pastel, acrylic and oil – with pastel being an excellent choice for softness and affordability.
📌 I work closely with each client to ensure their pet’s true personality shines through.
🐾 Let’s Bring Your Pet to Life on Paper
If you would like to commission a custom dog portrait (or cat portrait, or any pet portrait), please don’t hesitate to get in touch. I am always happy to answer questions, offer suggestions and help you choose the best photo references for your artwork.
📸 Explore my gallery for more examples
📩 Contact me to discuss your commission
🎁 Gift vouchers for custom pet portraits are also available — a perfect present for any pet lover.
Peggy’s portrait is now cherished as a lifelong memory – and I would be honoured to create something equally special for you.
