Dog years to human years: the chart by size, and the DNA formula
A 1-year-old dog is closer to 15 or 30 in human years than to 7. The AKC chart by size, the 2020 DNA formula, and a dog's life stages, explained simply.
Read the guidePurrspectives: Royal pet portrait guides
How to choose a portrait style, which photo of your pet to use, and the royal courts behind each look.
Earlier guides
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02
Pug history: from Chinese emperors to the House of Orange
Pugs began as companions of Chinese emperors, reached Holland on Dutch trading ships and became the dog of the House of Orange. Their history, art and health.
- 03
03
What is Tanjore painting? Gold foil, gesso and the Thanjavur court
Tanjore painting is a South Indian style from Thanjavur, made on a wooden board with raised gesso, gold foil and glass stones. Where it came from and how it is made.
- 04
04
Persian cat history: where the breed came from, its first cat show, coat and care
Persian cat history from a cat brought to Italy in 1626 to the 1871 Crystal Palace show, plus face types, coat colours, grooming and how to photograph one.
- 05
05
Labrador Retriever portraits: the breed's Newfoundland history and a royal style that suits it
How the Labrador Retriever went from a Newfoundland fishing dog to America's most popular breed, its three coat colours, and which royal portrait style fits one.
- 06
06
What was the Victorian era? Dates, fashion and portraits of 1837 to 1901
The Victorian era is Queen Victoria's reign, 1837 to 1901. Her life, what Victorians wore, and how they had portraits painted and photographed.
- 07
07
Dog birthday ideas: how to celebrate your dog's birthday, plus gift ideas
Celebrate your dog's birthday with a favourite walk, a play date, a dog-safe treat and a yearly photo. Plus dog birthday gift ideas for the dog and the family.
- 08
08
Cat wall art ideas: choosing a cat portrait for every room
Cat wall art for each room: the print size for a hall, living room, bedroom or small flat, the cat portrait that suits its colours, and where to keep it safe.
- 09
09
German shepherd portraits: the breed's history and a royal portrait that suits it
A German shepherd portrait suits a warrior or guardian role. The breed's history since 1899, its kennel club colours, and how to photograph a dark coat.
- 10
10
Funny pet portraits: why a dog on a throne makes us smile, and 10 ideas to try
Funny pet portraits put a dog or cat in a serious human role. How Landseer and Wegman used the joke, and 10 royal portrait ideas matched to your pet's habits.
- 11
11
Military dog portraits: the real dogs who served, and your dog as a general
Real war dogs such as Stubby and Gander earned medals and a rank. Here is their story, and how to make a dog general portrait of your own dog.
- 12
12
Dog wall art ideas: how to choose and hang a portrait of your dog
Good dog wall art fits its wall: pick a print size for the furniture below, hang it with its centre at eye level, and keep it out of direct sun.
- 13
13
Golden retriever portraits: the breed's Scottish history and how to paint one as royalty
A golden retriever portrait shows the gold coat best against red, blue or green clothes. The breed's Scottish history, coat colours and photo tips.
- 14
14
Royal pet names: 80 names for dogs and cats from kings, queens and courts
Cute pet names with a royal story: royal dogs such as Dash and Susan, rulers such as Akbar and Victoria, titles such as Rani, and palaces such as Sanssouci.
- 15
15
Indian royal pet portraits: the nine Indian court styles explained
An Indian royal pet portrait dresses your dog or cat as a ruler or warrior from an Indian court. Here are the nine styles and the history behind them.
- 16
16
Do dogs know we love them? What the science says
How dogs know their owner's love: long eye contact raised a bonding hormone in dog and owner, and a reward area of the brain responded to scent and praise.
- 17
17
Dog mom gifts: 12 ideas for the woman who treats her dog like family
Dog mom gifts that include her dog: a portrait, a photo book, a day out together or a shelter donation in its name, plus how to get its photo in secret.
- 18
18
The smartest dog breeds, and how dog intelligence is measured
In Stanley Coren's ranking, the smartest canine breed is the Border Collie, then the Poodle and the German Shepherd Dog. How the list was made, and its limits.
- 19
19
Gifts for cat lovers: 15 personal ideas for cat owners
The best gifts for cat lovers are about their own cat: a portrait from its photo, a gift in its name, a cat-safe plant or toy. Here are 15 personal ideas.
- 20
20
Dogs in medieval paintings and manuscripts: hunting hounds, lapdogs and faithful friends
Medieval dog paintings show hunting hounds, lapdogs and loyal dogs in painted books, on church brasses and in the Bayeux Tapestry. Where to find each one.
- 21
21
How long do cats live? Average cat lifespan, indoors and out
The average cat lifespan in a 2024 UK study of 7,936 cats was 11.74 years. Females, neutered cats and mixed breeds lived longer. What the research shows.
- 22
22
Gifts for dog lovers that feel personal: 15 ideas
The best gifts for dog lovers are about their own dog: a portrait from a photo, a day out together, or a donation in the dog's name. Fifteen ideas.
- 23
23
Cats in Renaissance paintings: where they hide and what they mean
Renaissance cat paintings hide cats beside Judas, at a saint's feet and near the Virgin Mary. Six works, what each cat means, and where to see them.
- 24
24
The cutest dog breeds: 12 popular breeds and what makes them charming
Cuteness is personal, so this list of the cutest dog breeds uses the AKC's 2025 ranking: 12 popular breeds, their looks, and portrait colours to suit each coat.
- 25
25
Famous Renaissance paintings: 12 works to know and where to see them
Twelve famous Renaissance paintings, from the Mona Lisa to Bruegel's Hunters in the Snow, with the artist, the date and the museum where you can see each one.
- 26
26
Gifts for someone who lost a pet: thoughtful ideas for a friend
Pet loss gifts for a friend: a card that names the pet, a portrait from a favourite photo, a shelter donation, a pet-safe plant or a photo book.
- 27
27
How to choose a royal portrait style for your dog or cat
Fifteen royal portrait styles, one photo of your pet. How to pick by coat colour, by your pet's character, and by where the portrait will hang.
- 28
28
How to photograph your pet for a portrait: 10 tips for dogs and cats
Photograph your pet in daylight near a window, at its eye level, with the eyes sharp and a plain wall behind. Ten tips for dogs and cats, phone included.
- 29
29
How to memorialize a pet: ideas for remembering a dog or cat
Ways to remember a dog or cat: a portrait from a favourite photo, a memorial garden, a photo book, the collar, a gift in its name, and Pet Memorial Day.
- 30
30
How big is an 8 × 10 print? Pet portrait print sizes explained
An 8 × 10 print is 20.32 × 25.4 cm, with a 4:5 shape. See all four portrait print sizes in cm, plus the pixels, frames and mats each one needs.
- 31
31
What are pet portraits? A short history of animals in portrait painting
A pet portrait is a picture of one particular animal. How painters made them for a Mughal emperor, an English lord and Queen Victoria, and what works now.
- 32
32
What makes a Renaissance painting, and why some of them include dogs
Renaissance painting used linear perspective, oil paint in thin layers, strong light and shadow, and real-looking faces. Its dogs often meant faithfulness.
- 33
33
The Maharajas of Patiala: the history behind Patiala royalty
The Phulkian rulers of Patiala founded their capital in 1763. Who built Qila Mubarak, who Bhupinder Singh was, and how Patiala joined India.
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34
What does Maharaja mean? Maharaja, Maharani and other royal titles of India
Maharaja means 'great king', from the Sanskrit mahā (great) and rājan (king). A Maharani is a female Maharaja or a Maharaja's wife.
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35
What is Mysore painting? Gold, gesso and the Wodeyar court
Mysore painting is a South Indian court style from Karnataka, known for fine lines, gentle colours, raised gesso and gold. It grew under the Wodeyar kings.
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36
What is Rajput painting? A guide to the art of the Rajput courts
Rajput painting is the court art of Rajasthan and the Punjab hills, made from the 1500s to the 1800s. Ananda Coomaraswamy named it in his 1916 book.
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37
What is Mughal painting? The emperors, the artists and their animals
Mughal painting is the miniature painting of India's Mughal court, made from the 1500s to the mid-1800s in a mix of Persian, Indian and European styles.
- 38
38
Famous paintings of cats: 10 works to know and where to see them
Ten famous works of art with cats, from Leonardo da Vinci to Manet's Olympia and Louis Wain, with the date, the artist and the museum that holds each one.
- 39
39
Famous paintings of dogs: 10 works to know and where to see them
Ten famous paintings of dogs, from Titian's emperor in 1533 to Balla's dachshund in 1912, with the museum that holds each one and what the dog does.
- 40
40
Royal cats in history: from ancient Egypt to the palaces of Europe
Egyptians linked cats with kings and the goddess Bastet. Later, cats appear in Indian court paintings and in royal portraits, including Queen Victoria's kitten.
- 41
41
Royal dogs in history: the kings, queens and emperors who loved dogs
Mughal emperors, Charles II, Frederick the Great and Queen Elizabeth II all kept dogs. Meet the royal dogs of history and the portraits made of them.
- 42
42
What did a medieval knight wear? Armour, surcoats and coats of arms
A medieval knight wore padded cloth, then mail or plate armour, a helmet, and a cloth surcoat that showed his coat of arms so others could tell who he was.
- 43
43
Queen Victoria and her dogs: Dash, the Pomeranians and their portraits
Queen Victoria's first famous dog was Dash, a King Charles spaniel painted by Landseer. Later she kept collies, pugs and up to 35 Pomeranians.
- 44
44
What was the Regency era? Dates, fashion and portraits of 1811 to 1820
The Regency era ran from 1811 to 1820, when the future George IV ruled for his ill father, George III. Where the name comes from, and its clothes and portraits.
- 45
45
What is Baroque art? Drama, light and the portraits of the 1600s
Baroque art is the dramatic European art of the 1600s: strong light against deep shadow, movement and grand scale, from painters such as Caravaggio and Rubens.
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46
Shivaji and the Maratha kings: a short history of the Maratha Empire
Shivaji founded the Maratha kingdom and was crowned Chhatrapati at Raigad Fort on 6 June 1674. The Maratha Empire he began lasted until 1818.
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47
The Chola dynasty: the kings, the temples and the bronzes of South India
The Cholas were Tamil kings who ruled South India until 1279. They built the Brihadisvara temple at Thanjavur and paid for famous bronze statues.