Collectors Shelling Out Hundreds For Dog's Artwork

MASSAPEQUA, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- One dog is channeling his inner Picasso and collectors are paying hundreds for his work.

CBS2's Carolyn Gusoff reported Monday Dagger, a 3-year-old lab-golden mix, is a Long Island service dog drop-out who has taken up painting.

"I said, 'Dagger, do you want to paint?' And he looked at me and his tail wagged ever more, so I put an easel on the floor," Yvonne Dagger, a professional artist and Dagger's owner, told CBS2.

The dog selects his colors from a palate of non-toxic paints, and with a paint brush attached to a paper towel, every stroke and dab is Dagger's, as Yvonne rotates the canvas.

CBS2 reports Dagger started life on the service dog track, but had to dropout.

"I substituted push for paint – they're both "p" words – so it was kind of easy for Dagger to get that," Yvonne told CBS2.

Dagger's masterpieces are fetching big bucks for canine causes.

"He is helping in his own little four-legged way his family," Yvonne said.

Early Dagger works sell for $50, and he's now commissioned pieces priced at $200.

All of the proceeds will go to Canine Companions for Independence, where Dagger came from.