Rescue dog Tui enjoys painting paw-traits

A STREET dog rescued from Thailand is starting a new life in South Wales – where she is now learning to PAINT.

Guide dog trainer Emily Harvey says she fell in love with puppy Tui when she and husband Tony volunteered at an animal sanctuary in south-east Asia last year.

After an exhausting 25-hour trip halfway across the world, the adorable pet was brought back to Emily’s home at Penmark, near Rhoose.

But, as she settled into life in the Vale of Glamorgan, Tui’s artistic talents quickly emerged – although she has yet to paint a self paw-trait!

Emily, a trainer for Guide Dogs Cymru in Cardiff, uses positive rewardbased “clicker” training to teach Tui tricks, including dancing and painting.

And she was so impressed with her brushwork that she filmed Tui in action, posting the results on YouTube.

It shows Tui, with brush in her mouth, painting green strokes on a piece of paper propped up on a makeshift easel.

And when Emily asks the dog what she thinks of the picture so far, Tui hides her face with her paw as if embarrassed.

Tui then completes the picture by adding some pink strokes – with the final flourish consisting of her taking a bow when the final work of art is revealed.

Emily has named the painting Memories of Thailand and plans to frame it.

And she says there’s even more reason to think of Tui as the perfect pet – as she’s been known to play barmaid at home.

“She’ll never be a guide dog, but she’s really clever,” she said. “I’ve taught her lots of tricks including fetching me a beer from the fridge!

“I’ve just started teaching her doggy dancing, something I’ve never done before, although I’ve always wanted to.”

Emily and Tony, who both work for Guide Dogs Cymru in Cardiff, use a handheld mechanical gadget which makes a clicking sound, which the dogs associate with food. They learn to repeat the behaviour they were doing when they heard the clicking sound.

“It’s like taking a picture of the behaviour you want to see again,” said Emily.

“It’s a very clear form of communication between you and the dog.”

Clicker training is one of Emily’s passions.

“I’ve used it to train sea lions, chickens, a goldfish and my pet parrot, Kea,” she said.

“In fact, I am going to use it to teach Kea to paint next.”