How to Paint a Doggie Diner

Elevated doggie diners offer several benefits for dogs, including reduced stress on the dog's spine, easier digestion and less mess. If your doggie diner does not match the decor in your room, you can fix it up by painting it. Check the labels on the paint cans to ensure the paint is nontoxic to pets. If you are using old paint, saved from past projects, check for lead in the contents list, in case your dog drops food on the surface and licks it up.

Things You'll Need

  • Medium grit sandpaper
  • Stir stick
  • 1/2 pint water-soluble primer
  • 1- to 2-inch wide paintbrush
  • 1/2 pint water-soluble paint (base color)
  • 1/4 pint water-soluble paint (contrasting color)
  • Paw print or bone stencil
  • Paper towels
  • 1/4 pint spar varnish
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Instructions

    • 1

      Remove the feeding bowls from the elevated doggie diner by lifting them out. Set the bowls aside.

    • 2

      Wrap a sheet of sandpaper around your fingertips and sand the entire surface of the doggie diner. Sand the underside as well as the outer surface.

    • 3

      Pick up the stir stick and thoroughly mix the primer, making sure there is no sign of the can's contents separating.

    • 4

      Dip the paintbrush into the primer and then brush primer over the entire surface, both outer and underside, of the doggie diner, using smooth, even brush strokes. Clean the brush when you are done and wait for the primer to dry completely.

    • 5

      Stir the paint you are using as a base color, using the stir stick. Paint the entire surface of the doggie diner, using the paintbrush to make long, smooth brush strokes. Clean the brush and let the base color dry completely.

    • 6

      Mix up the second color paint, for the designs, using the stir stick. Position the stencil on the doggie diner surface as desired and dab the paint onto the diner's surface, inside of the stencil. Lift the stencil straight up and wipe the excess paint off, using a paper towel. Move the stencil and add as many designs as desired. Let the stenciled shapes dry completely.

    • 7

      Shake the spar varnish can and apply a generous coat to only the top surface of the doggie diner, using the paint brush. Let the varnish dry completely before putting the feeding bowls back in the doggie diner or allowing your dog to get too close to it.