We are of the opinion that an awareness, if not an interest, in animals, and specifically, in purebred dogs, is sparked at an early age. Installing ABC dog art in a child’s nursery and bedroom is a marvelous way to decorate a child’s room, and educate at the same time.

The Komondor image seen here, created by Debra Ziss of DandyHorsePress, teaches the alphabet in cursive (good for her!) while using less common breeds to illustrate. They range from the Affenpinscher to the Vizsla, and if the 8.5″ x 11″ is too large, the images come as greeting cards, too.

As seen below, we tip our hat to Spanish artist, Marta Munte, and her ABC Dog poster for including breeds like the Sloughi, Uutonagan dog, and Xolo. She lost us at “Zuchon,” but that, too, can be a teachable moment.

 

Below is a set of six hand-illustrated art poster prints created by Mode. This original print set includes the French Bulldog, Norfolk Terrier, Pomeranian, Pug, Staffordshire Bull Terrier and Jack Russell,  but Mode offers many more breeds:

 

You’ve seen Brian Rubenacker’s work on National Purebred Dog Day’s pages before. Always whimsical, his ABC Dog breeds offer a bit more realism, but sadly, only the letters a, b, and c have been created:

 

 

As for newborns –

Science tells us that in the first three months of eye development, newborns can only see only black, white and gray, and in our view, it’s important to stimulate that fresh mind with visual excitement. Enter Michelle O’Hollaren of sophisticatedpup. Her black and white dog silhouettes combined with contemporary alphabet art will be images that a newborn can see if placed near the crib, but honestly, it’s art that will work in an adult’s contemporary decor, as well. Sadly, O’Hollaren includes a “Zuchon” (a cross between Bichon Frisé and Shih Tzu) in her alphabet dogs, as well. Why “sadly?” Because each is a marvelous breed in, and of, themselves. “If it ain’t broke, why fix it?”

We see these occasions as teachable moments for children, and, if we choose to say anything, it’s a teachable moment to the people with whom we do business, as well.

 

 

Lest you, gentle reader, think that decorating a child’s room is only that – decoration, think again. Installing art (and family photos, keepsakes, etc) in a child’s bedroom helps them learn what’s important to the family into whose lives they came. It helps establish identity and connection, in addition to developing their minds. There will be plenty of time for a child to have a say in what they want to look at in their bedroom, but they will always remember what they looked at as they drifted off to sleep when they were wee.