When I decided to transform my art into a deck of playing cards, a couple of questions were immediately apparent:
1. How do I categorize the breeds into suits?
2. Do I even have enough breeds to fill all the suits?
Every breed in these decks has earned its place through peer-reviewed science.
Sure, there are more long-haired and mustachioed breeds out there than I could fit in these decks, but the ones that made the cut share one important trait: their mutations are officially documented. Even if it’s buried in a single research paper, these genetic quirks are backed by science.
Through this process, I realized there were enough breeds to create suits for seven specific mutations or conditions:
This is the reason for two decks instead of just one.
Then came the dilemma of the 8th suit. Some breeds are completely and utterly overrepresented in the literature — from short-muzzled, long-haired dwarfs (e.g. Pekingese), to breeds that have every single coat mutation known to man (e.g. Poodle).
You get the picture.
Finding enough unique breeds to fill every slot was a challenge, especially when I wanted to include some popular favorites.
Enter the spades in the Coat Check deck, featuring breeds with short coats and no known coat mutations. These dogs might not have the drama of curls or the flair of furnishings, but they’ve earned their place as the genetic control group in some studies. Plus, including them lets me keep the decks grounded in science while expanding the lineup to 85 breeds across both decks.
That brings us to the Jokers—four wildcards across both decks, open for debate.
At the moment, the Jokers are occupied by hairless breeds, a small number of souls afflicted with doggy alopecia.
But, I'm open to suggestions!
Should there be a breed vote for these coveted spots? Or maybe an expansion pack with several extras, letting you choose your favorite Jokers for poker night?
I'll be reaching out soon to get your thoughts via polls, emails, and more. If you want to help decide which lucky breeds make the cut, make sure you’re signed up to our deck list and following meat.on.bones on Instagram. Spots are limited, but your input is essential—because I want you to enjoy these decks as much as I’m enjoying bringing them to life.
Want a general overview of the project? This is a good place to start.
