Popular Labrador Dog T Shrits for Summer

Here are 3 more of my popular and fun Labrador Retriever T shirts to get you ready for hot summer dog days. These Lab T shirt designs are Cave Dog, Black Labrador Chef and Dog Eyes. As is true of my other Labrador art paintings and pictures, these designs are available on many more products as well, such as sweatshirts, aprons, mugs, magnets, tile boxes and Lab greeting cards. The black Labrador cooking in the kitchen wears a bandana that says "Kiss the Chef" and is a digital manipulation of a photograph of my own black Labrador, Tallulah. The cave dog design is from an original Lab painting depicting ancient Lab drawings on cave walls. The original is available for sale. It is textured acrylic on panel mounted in a rough, natural wood slab frame - very unique! Dog Eyes is an abstract painting based on a photo of my yellow Lab, Buckaroo. The 3 shirts represent a tiny sample of the styles and colors of apparel available for men, woman and children. There are plus sizes and infant and toddler clothes too. Be ready for every summer event with a colorful Labrador Tee from the OtterTail Art for Dog Lovers Shop!

Black Labrador Tallulah Earns a Rally Title

I am pleased to announce that my "Bearcat Woman" has earned her second title and my first ever Rally title. She is now officially Whitsprgs OtterTail Tallulah, CD, RN. Tallulah earned her first AKC rally obedience leg back in March with a perfect 100 point score and first place in her class. She finished this week with two 99 point scores - one for first place and one for second place. All in all I was very proud of her. Since we have done almost all of our training at home by ourselves, I am proud of myself too. The rally signs do make me nervous! There is lots of information online about Rally (or Rally-O, as it is often called) to help you get started and a nice Rally Group on Yahoo if you would like to discuss questions. You can download the official AKC regulations too. There are other clubs that offer competitions for mixed breed dogs, so everyone can play. Mostly it is another fun thing to do with your dog and leads to nice days out together when you are ready to compete. The more you teach your dogs, the smarter they become! So, happy training everyone - keep it fun and your dogs will work hard for you.

Happy Birthday Yellow & Black Labs

Happy Birthday Marius and Eponine!! They are 12 yrs old today. Named for favorite singer/characters in the celebration concert of Les Miserables, my Marius and Eponine are the last babies from my last litter. They are beautiful with soft temperaments, bidable, smart, loving and the sweetest Labs you might ever hope to meet. It has been my joy to spend the past 12 years with them and I hope for many more. Big Marius was squishing sister Eponine in the womb and he still squishes her now -- but she seems to like it and be comfortable with his big yellow body draped over hers. They have always been good friends. For a time Marius became best buddies with Obi and Eponine was very close with their mom, Gwendolyn. But with Obi and Gwen both across Rainbow Bridge, Marius and Eponine still have each other and still enjoy each other's company. Marius is a mild mannered gentleman who follows my every move. His silliest trick is one he invented - a Stevie Wonder immitation (clicker trained with the cue "Stevie"). Eponine was my first to learn to shake her head "no" on the cue "You wouldn't do that, would you?". She announces every important turn of events with a "roo roo" and has long been the head of fashion police. Every morning she comes to inspect the clothes I am putting on to see it they are "play clothes" or meant for going out and she reports to the rest of the pack. There is no fooling her with my plans for the day! Both are excellent at keeping everything off the floor that does not belong there by retrieving it to me - no matter what the humans may have intended. They have accepted many foster dogs, a few long term adoptees, a stray cat, and a couple of new puppies. They welcome everyone with their gentle spirits and help me teach the new dogs the ways of the pack. I have been blessed to know and share my life with these 2 wonderful souls - descendants of the beauties that came before them.

Now it's time for the party. We had a good dog walk and play at the pond despite the rainy, cool day. A carrot treat and a nap -- now it's time for riping open new nylabones (unpackaging can be more fun than the bone itself!), rawhides, liver with dinner and whatever else makes them happy on their special day. Happy Birthday my dears - I love you!!! XOXOX

Marius and Eponine are my Lab puppies from Gwendolyn, daughter of Birdie, daughter of Tegan, daughter of Leela - who started the love with her perfect Lab soul. Thanks again for everything "Mud".

Fun Yellow and Black Lab T Shirt

Here is another fun Labrador Retriever T shirt to brighten your collection of summer clothes. This colorful dog tee shows my original black and yellow Labrador painting titled "Labs Like to Share" which was inspired by my own 2 Labs who were best buddies. They did everything together including sharing drinks from the hose. The design on t-shirts is from my first version which was one of my small, fun paintings on silk. Later I recreated my black and yellow Lab painting as an acrylic on canvas. Fine art prints of this painting are available in my Labrador Art Gallery. Many more styles of t-shirts, sweatshirts, kids shirts, home and gift products with this Lab design are available from my OtterTail Art for Dog Lovers Shop. Spread the spirit of harmony and happiness shared by Labradors when you wear this light hearted design - make people smile. Buy It Now!

Black Lab Painting to Support Lab Rescue

This is the first rescue dog painting in my new series of Labrador paintings of dogs that have gone through the rescue program of the non-profit organization I volunteer with (Rudy's Rescue) or that I have rescued myself. I titled this one "Passing Through" in tribute to all rescue dogs who pass through many different, sometimes difficult, situations, shelters and foster homes on their journey to finding one "forever" home. Original acrylic on panel is available for sale as well as fine art prints. 40% of profits from the sale of prints, posters and the original will be donated to Labrador Retriever rescue.

Check back for more rescued Labrador Retriever paintings and support Lab rescue with your purchase. Buy Labrador Retriever prints and have 2 good things at once!

Much Loved (or Dogs with favorite animal friends)

They are a bedraggled crew, but still much loved. They have been carried, slept on, left out in the rain and snow and mud, shaken and tugged, ripped and sewn. Pink bunny has only 1 badly torn ear left, 1 leg and no eyes. She was a post Easter sale bunny in 2008 - just in time for my Nissa puppy to join the pack and still one of Nissa's favorites. Froggy is missing an eye and poor Ducky has only 1 wing, no feet, 1 eye and a patch over her quacker. They taught our puppy mill foster puppy how to play and we all still love the ribit and quacking noises they make. Oldest of all is the mighty reindeer. He is at least 25 years old now! He was a fancy stuffed animal gift to my husband back when we were caribou biologists in Alaska. When Tallulah joined the pack as a pup in January 2006 she eyed the precious reindeer until Jim finally gave in. She was relentless in shaking him by his leg and he bears the wounds to prove it. He has no antlers left and only 1 ear, his eyes are scratched and his coat is worn, but after 3 years of "tough love" he continues to be amazingly strong. Hang in there animals - I can't bring myself to throw you away and will continue to stitch as long as you can bear it. Yes, new toys are always fun, but there are those special ones who deserve to stay around even if visitors wonder why I keep such a sorry lot. Thanks for the memories.

Black Lab Birthday - Happy Rescue Dog

Happy Birthday Butch! He is 7 yrs old today and looking better than ever. I adopted Butch last June (2008) on the spur of the moment. His life-long owner had been in a terrible accident and would never be coming home or be able to care for a dog again. None of the local rescue groups had room or were willing to take an older large black male Labrador with skin problems and hip dysplasia. Butch could not go on living alone in a house with only 2 visits each day, so I drove out and got him. Here he is almost a year later and we think he has done pretty well for himself! Before he was happy, but he rarely went for walks - or anywhere since his owner was a recluse - and he had no dog friends or spent much time with people either. Here he enjoys daily romps with 4 or more other Labs and gets to go to hunting camp with "Daddy Jim" where they have many adventures. His previous owner never gave him any discipline because he was afraid Butch would not love him -- but since living here he has learned a lot. He had been inadvertently trained to do the opposite of what anyone said because they would quickly reach for biscuits to bribe him. It has been a hard habit to break and we are not finished yet, but he has made great progress. Mostly he is very well behaved and a sweet guy to have around. For the first 2 months he chose to spend most of his time alone in the coat closet and did not know about making eye contact or really relating to people. Now he is part of the family and eye contact on cue has been one of his best lessons. He has very sweet, soft brown eyes. Along the way I discovered that he was a sucker for cuddling and kisses - I don't think he got much of that before. Now every morning he asks me for hugs, kisses, nunus and ear rubs. Butch was the name he came with, but it hardly fits such a mild-mannered boy. He still does have a naughty side and somewhere along the way earned the name "B Quad" (as in B to the 4th) which stands for Big, Black, Bad Butch. Happy Birthday B Quad -- you old sweetie pie.

Painted Chair Donated for Auction, Keuka Lake, NY

And now for something completely different! I painted this chair for the Yates County NY Chair-ish Keuka Lake auction to benefit Yates ARC (which helps people with disabilities). I call it "Sunset by the Lake". It is a very large adirondack rocking chair. As soon as I saw it I thought it would be a great place to sit with a glass of wine watching the sun set over the lake, so I painted a scene to fit the mood. All of the chairs painted by area artists will be on display at various locations and then auctioned off at a gala event at Keuka College on July 12th from 12-4:00 pm. This was a new challenge for me and nice to give my time in a new way.

Best Dog or Labrador T Shirt Designs Online (Original Dog Art)

It's time to enjoy the warm weather and what could be more fun than wearing a unique, original artist design on your T shirt? I have decided to spotlight some of my most popular dog and Labrador art clothing. Tee shirts are great and are available in many colors, but I also offer fun dog art on sweatshirts, zip front hoodies, organic shirts, caps, aprons and an assortment of gift products.

I will start this series with a favorite dog painting converted 3 ways. This is my original "Wine is Best Shared with Friends" Labrador painting modified to print on t-shirts and apparel. Inspired by my own Labrador Retrievers who are wine lovers, you can choose from my paintings of a chocolate Lab, a yellow Lab, and a black Lab drinking red wine. It is a great dog print for many dog lovers since only the nose shows, so almost any brown, golden or black dog is represented. Shirts are available in loose and fitted styles on white and a variety of colors for women, men and woman's plus sizes. This popular dog design is one of many original and unique Labrador prints from OtterTail Lab Art.

Old Black Lab Gets Adopted

It is with great pleasure that I am here to say my old foster dog, Shadow, has found himself one more wonderful home to live out his days happily ever after. Shadow is a sweet and wise old soul - the type who gives the impression this is not his first time around through life. He is now living in a loving family with another senior dog and 4 cats. It is great news, but a little bittersweet too because we have all come to love Shadow and miss him in our home. I am sure he will be happy and a good buddy to the other dog. Plus, there is already another senior black Lab waiting for a foster home, so we expect to welcome him in a few days. Live long and be happy Shadow! It was a pleasure getting to know you.

Support Lab rescue while finding fun gifts for dog lovers.