Funny pet portraits: why a dog on a throne makes us smile, and 10 ideas to try

Funny pet portraits make people laugh for one simple reason: a dog or a cat sits in a serious human role and has no idea it is funny. Painters and photographers have used this joke since at least 1839. This guide looks at how they did it, what the American Kennel Club (AKC) says about dogs and humour, and 10 ideas for a funny royal portrait of your own pet, matched to the way it behaves at home.

Why an animal in a serious role makes people laugh

In 1839 Edwin Landseer painted Dignity and Impudence, which Tate in London now holds. It shows two dogs: a bloodhound called Grafton and a West Highland terrier called Scratch. Both belonged to Jacob Bell, who paid for the painting. Tate says the picture makes fun of a Dutch portrait habit, in which the sitter is framed by a window with an arm or hand over the edge. Here it is the bloodhound's paw that hangs over the edge of the kennel.

The joke is in the faces. Tate describes the soulful look and gentle dignity of the bloodhound next to the mischievous expression of the small terrier. It calls the picture a new kind of subject for Landseer, because it treats the two dogs' relationship as comedy.

Cats have been given human roles too. Bethlem Museum of the Mind says Louis Wain's cats played cricket, rode bicycles and made pompous after-dinner speeches, and were popular from the 1880s until the First World War. The guide to famous paintings of cats covers his work.

The American artist William Wegman, born in Massachusetts in 1943, used the idea in photography. The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York says his Weimaraners have played an important part in his photographs since 1973. In 1993 MoMA showed 17 photographs from his Cinderella, in which every character is played by one of his dogs, in costumes and sets he designed. MoMA quoted praise for his "deadpan wit", which means humour told with a serious face.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art says his Weimaraner Man Ray, named after the Surrealist artist, often worked with him, and that Wegman gave the museum 174 of his videos. Doug Eklund, the Met curator behind a 2018 show of that early work, said the humour centres on "the dog's total cluelessness regarding what's going on." A royal pet portrait uses the same idea. Your dog has no idea it is a Maharaja, and that is why it is funny.

Do dogs have a sense of humour?

An AKC article says dogs make a sound during play that can be understood as laughter: a breathy breath out through the mouth. In a study led by the researcher Patricia Simonet, a recording of this sound was played to dogs at a shelter in Spokane. The researchers concluded it could reduce signs of stress. The same article quotes Charles Darwin, who wrote in The Descent of Man (1871) that dogs show "a sense of humor, as distinct from mere play."

The AKC also says dogs learn fast that making us laugh keeps us playing with them, so they repeat whatever got a laugh. That habit is a good place to start a funny portrait.

10 funny royal portrait ideas for your dog or cat

Purrealism has 15 royal portrait styles. The ideas below use the seven styles that have finished portraits in the gallery, so you can see each one before you choose. The joke works best when the role fits your pet's habit, or when it is the exact opposite.

1. The sofa guard as a Rajput Warrior. If your dog barks at every delivery from its place on the sofa, give it a real post to guard. The Rajput Warrior portrait shows a dog in armour with a fort at sunset behind it.
2. The cat who ignores everyone as a Mughal Emperor. Some cats walk past guests without a look. The Mughal Emperor portrait shows a grey cat in a jewelled crown and pearls, and an emperor does not have to greet anyone.
3. The dog who takes the best chair as the Maharaja. The Maharaja portrait seats a golden retriever in a red jewelled turban on a gold throne. For a dog that takes your chair the moment you stand up, a throne is only a larger chair.
4. The small dog with a loud bark as Patiala Royalty. The gallery shows a Pomeranian in a blue coat and a jewelled turban on a red throne. A tiny dog on a large throne gives the same contrast of size that Landseer used for Scratch and Grafton. The real Maharajas of Patiala have their own guide.
5. The cat who gives the orders as the Maharani. If your cat decides when breakfast starts and where everyone sits, the Maharani style fits. The gallery shows a white and ginger cat in a green and gold gown.
6. The sock thief as the Mysore Royal. The Mysore Royal portrait gives a black labrador a saffron turban and a gold sceptre to hold. A dog that carries off socks and shoes looks funny holding something of real value for once.
7. The all-day sleeper as Indian Royalty. The Regal Feline in the gallery is a ginger cat in a red and gold royal robe. A robe suits a cat that sleeps all day in the warmest spot in the house.
8. The happy, clumsy dog in a crown. The Noble Hound, also in the Indian Royalty style, shows a golden retriever in a royal crown and red robe. A crown on a dog that trips over its own feet is a gentle joke the whole family will understand.
9. Two pets, two portraits, one wall. If you have a big dog and a small one, or a calm cat and a wild one, make one portrait of each and hang them side by side, the way Landseer set a bloodhound beside a terrier. Pick two styles that differ, such as the Maharaja next to Patiala Royalty.
10. The brave warrior who hides from the vacuum. The joke can also come from the opposite role. A Rajput Warrior portrait of a dog that hides under the bed when the vacuum cleaner starts is a joke every visitor who knows your dog will laugh at.

Eight more styles, from the Chola Warrior to the Regency Era, are in the portrait studio.

How to get a funny expression in your pet's photo

A royal portrait starts from one photo of your pet. These tips come from the AKC and from Cats Protection, a UK cat charity.

• Use what your pet loves. The AKC suggests showing a dog's quirky personality with familiar games or favourite tricks, and watching for happy expressions. It also says not to push a dog to perform. Stop if you see pinned back ears, a droopy tail, lip licking or shaking.
• Ask a question your dog knows. An AKC article says a dog with its head tilted to one side makes us smile. Animal behaviourist Jill Goldman told the AKC she believes the tilt is often followed by something good, such as "Do you want a cookie?", and she thinks that reward is why the tilt repeats. Have the camera ready before you ask. The same article says that if a head tilt lasts and seems unrelated to anything, you should take your dog to a veterinarian.
• Take photos when your dog is not looking at you. Beci Markijohn Beasley, a breeder and photographer quoted by the AKC, suggests shots of your dog looking past you or at something that has its attention, and says these unplanned shots can be some of the best. She also suggests asking a friend or two to pick their favourite before you say which one you like.
• Get a helper for a cat. Cats Protection suggests asking someone to dangle a toy out of view of the camera.

However funny the pose, keep the face clear, with both eyes sharp. The studio takes one image file of up to 5 MB. The guide on how to photograph your pet for a portrait has 10 tips on light, angle and background.

Where a funny portrait works best

Hang a funny portrait where people see it every day. Art prints come in 8 × 10, 12 × 16, 18 × 24 and 24 × 36 inches, on matte or glossy paper. An 8 × 10 print fits a desk or a shelf, and a 24 × 36 inch print lets visitors see the joke from across the room. The digital pack, a high-resolution file with no watermark, works as a phone wallpaper or a picture to send to family.

As a gift, pick the idea above that matches the story the owner tells most often about their pet.