Clicker training has really become popular.  Some of us have been using it for  a while to teach such things as flyball, which is much easier to do with this shaping method than it is to try to "force" a dog to do.  Each year at camp, we have fun with some shaping.  We play "The Training Game" and we have a contest for who can shape the best new behavior in their dog over the 6 days of camp.

In 1996 we had a revelation.  DSA staff member and artist/photographer, Joanne Weber wanted to have dog painting at camp.  I was less than excited about the idea at first.  We were discussing if we could strap a paint brush to the dog's tail, or have him hold it in his mouth, or something.  We considered putting paper on the floor and having the dogs "finger-paint" by walking all over the "canvas."  I started thinking of things which could be used to apply the paint to the paper, like having the dog roll a paint-covered tennis ball all over the page.  Finally it struck me.  Why not give the dogs real paintbrushes and TEACH them to apply the paint with shaping?  We decided to call the merit badge, "The Art of Shaping."

Eureka! It was perfect.  Not only did this give the campers an outlet for using their new shaping techniques, it gave them a way of proving they had learned it well enough to earn their merit badges (the proof is in the painting!), and it gave them a nice piece of artwork to put up on the refrigerator when they got home!  Of course, we didn't stop there.  "Super Jo" decided that we should mat the artwork for framing.  And we decided to throw in a contest for best overall artwork, with numerous other categories for artistic achievement awards, too.
 
We have since moved away from a paint brush, which needed to be taped to the dog's foot (not so easy to take off!)  We now use the DSA Paintin' Paw!  It is a little boot that easily slips onto the dog's foot (to cover the claws) and it holds a piece of sponge with velcro.  The boot is fastened to the dog's foot by wrapping and attached piece of velcro around the narrow part of the dog's foot just above the pads.

Bear, the blue tick beagle, demonstrates how he "targets" the lid with paint on it to get paint on his Paintin' Paw.  Then he paws at the canvas multiple times to create a masterpiece!  In this painting, little did we know he was painting a perfect camp fire, and he painted it upside down!  Such talent :-)

I thought you might like to see some of the art which the very talented dogs from the 1997 Early Summer Dog Scout Camp turned out:

Art Gallery:
 
Art by Karli                                             Art by Shaman

  
Art by Tucker                                           Art by Max

 Art Gallery