How long does it take to receive my Danger Dog order?
It depends on when you order. I travel to Nepal twice yearly – usually in spring/summer and then again in October/November for holiday orders. I will next be in Nepal in October, 2023, returning with your portraits in early December in time for holiday presents.
Write to me directly at ampage1@gmail.com for the most up to date information. I will sometimes be ‘off the grid’, but if you send me your photo, I will try my best to get you your 3 portraits.
Can I buy more than one portrait of my pet?
You can buy all three, if you’d like. They look great in sets of two or three.
What happens to the ones I don’t buy?
They go to the dog pound. Just kidding. They are sold at Museum shops, art galleries, boutiques, online or donated to silent auctions for good causes. Some I keep for myself because they are just too wonderful. Lots of people collect the Danger Dogs.
What if I don’t like any of the portraits of my pet?
Your satisfaction is guaranteed. If you don’t like any of them, you are under no obligation to buy them. The Nepali signboard artists are paid fair trade prices no matter if you buy them or not. I promise no hard feelings.
How have the artists held up during the pandemic?
I went back in spring, 2022, and they weathered it pretty well. I have hired 66 artists since first starting the project in 2007, and would re-hire 44 of them. But their circumstances have changed greatly during those 15 years. Many have ‘gone out’ or got work in a foreign country. 24% of Nepal’s GDP is from remittance income, including many of the artists that I have worked with.
Are the artists still painting after the earthquakes of 2015?
Yes! They need the work more than ever. I was there for the April 25, 2015 quake and was not sure if they would be able to paint. All of the artists were eager to paint – to return to normal and as therapy. Of course, they needed money more than ever. What meager sign painting work they had is sure to dry up. I gave them all raises, advances and support. Whatever they need. I returned in October, 2015, and I gave them lots of orders.
What is Fair Trade?
Fair Trade, to me, is paying the artists a living wage for their art. I pay them the first price that they ask, and often more. I give them raises each trip, don’t ask for a ‘discount’ when I order ten pieces, and never dicker. The artists set their prices and raise them regularly.
Can I personalize the sign?
Yes. You can have the sign say anything you’d like. Your pet can be enlightened, happy, zen or even brazen. It is up to you. Be Aware of Dog (or Cat) is popular.
Is it possible to order things other than animals?
Sure. The artists can paint anything. They are signboard artists. Your house, your garden, your car, your children, yourself… These are all possibilities. The only limit is your imagination. The artists are even available to design movie posters.
How do I hang them?
They can be hung indoors or out. They can be put in windows or on bookcases. They can be framed or put on an easel. You can put them on your fridge with magnets. Some sample displays from the Danger Dog Blog. The one exception is the artist Sanjib Rana. He hand paints his art using acrylic paint and these do not hold up well with sun and rain. Most artists use synthetic enamel, traditionally used for sign painting, and this holds up well.
How long will they last?
If you would like a patina, hang them outside in the sun. If you would like to protect them, take them to your auto body shop and ask for a ‘clear coat’. But be careful and do this on only a small portion. Most body shops add a clear coat to an auto daily and would not charge a lot to add the signs. Make sure to ask them to spray both sides. Indoor signs last well. I ordered my first signboard in 2004 and it is still clear and solidly painted. They last well indoors out of the sun with no other treatment.
I began to have them painted in 2004, and they have held up well inside, with no noticeable deterioration. If you put them out in the elements, they will get a patina of rust, but they look very nice that way.
Why Nepal?
Nepal has a long tradition of ‘Beware of Dog’ art and their signboard artists are hurting. Their work is truly disappearing at an alarming rate. The recent road expansion in Kathmandu and throughout Nepal has really taken its toll. Their studios are being demolished, never to return. Small businesses thrive on return customers and those customers have no place to return to. And that was BEFORE the tragic 7.8 earthquake of 2015 from which they will take years to recover.
What if you are out of town when I order a pre-made sign off the site?
Then you have to wait until I return. Sometimes they are at shops throughout the US, and they can ship them to you. When you click on the ‘Read more’ button on the one you like, it will tell you if it is at a Museum shop or retail outlet.
Do you ship to Europe or overseas?
Yes, but we have to figure out shipping and customs details for each country. I will get the best price possible. Danger Dogs are in France, Denmark, Switzerland, the UK, Brazil, Lebanon, India, Mexico, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and probably more!
I don’t see a pet that looks like mine. Do you have others?
Yes, some dogs are mixed breed and not easy to categorize. I have over 72 breeds on NepalDog at the moment, but if you send me a photo of your pet, I can look and see if there is a good match. I am the world’s largest collector of ‘Beware of Dog’ art, after all!
Not all signs are up on the site, I just might have one that looks like your pet. Send me a photo and ask.
The shopping cart is not working, can I still buy?
The shopping cart is a bit wonky at times, but you can contact me at my email address. The price will be the same and we can figure it out from there. I constantly work on fixing the problems on the website, please bear with me!
Where can I learn more?
You can see the native beware of dog signs that inspired my project on the YouTube NepalDog Channel.
Also there is the Danger Dog Blog! There you can see the latest artworks produced by the Nepali artists.
