Lindsey Pronk never imagined sheād be training her border collie to hold a paint brush ā but Ollie isnāt your average dog.
The can jump on Pronkās back and flush a toilet.
Pronk said she struggled through the seemingly ānever-endingā winter to find ways to tire out Ollie and his younger brother, Bo, around their home in Maple Ridge.
She got the idea to teach her four-legged friend how to paint after looking at the work of other dogs on YouTube, whose owners were selling their paintings online.
When she was told thereād be a two-month wait to get her hands on a piece: āI thought Iād pick up the supplies and teach him myself.ā
Pronk created a special handle for Ollie, so he can hold the paint brush in his mouth comfortably. Since March, heās painted about 30 pieces.
Each painting sells for $50 each, with $10 from each going to the local SPCA. Each one includes a few photos of Ollie actually painting the photo, perhaps similar to a certificate of authenticity.
Despite the new-found trick becoming more and more like a job for the pet, Pronk said itās up to him if he wants to pick up the brush.
āWeāre trying to keep it fun and not stressful for him,ā Pronk said. āAt the end of the day, heās a dog, so sometimes he wants to do it and other times he wants to be a dog and chew his bone.ā
ashley.wadhwani@bpdigital.ca
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