Wise Dog Tarot - Rider-Waite with dogs as protagonists
Dogs instead of humans. That is the core of this deck. MJ Cullinane took the classic Rider-Waite structure and replaced all human figures with dogs, each breed chosen based on the energy of the card.
The result is a tarot that feels familiar to anyone who has worked with RWS, yet has its own tone through the playfulness and directness that dogs bring. The imagery is built from digital collages: dog portraits, natural elements, and occasional details from the original Rider-Waite symbolism.
What you see on the cards
Each dog breed is matched to a specific card. A guard dog for The Emperor, a hunting dog for The Chariot, a loyal retriever for The Lovers. The backgrounds range from forest landscapes to open fields, sometimes with a nod to the classic RWS compositions.
The colors are warm and natural: lots of brown, green, soft blue tones. This is not a sharply digitized deck, but rather soft and accessible. The cards measure 76 x 130 mm, a standard format that shuffles well.
The 64-page guidebook gives a brief interpretation for each card and explains which dog breed was chosen and why. No in-depth essays, but enough to use the deck if you already have some experience with tarot.
Who this works for
This deck is aimed at people who know the Rider-Waite structure and want to work with a thematic variation. The symbolism is recognizable enough to read without constantly consulting the guidebook.
For dog lovers, the deck adds an extra layer: the way dogs behave, their loyalty, their direct emotions, all of this is reflected in the choices Cullinane made. This is not a deck that challenges you intellectually, but one that is emotionally direct.
Use this deck when you notice that classic RWS imagery has worn thin for you. The dogs bring the archetypes closer to everyday experience.
About MJ Cullinane
MJ Cullinane lives in Seattle and works as a digital artist. Her previous deck, the Crow Tarot, received international acclaim. Her style is characterized by combining photographic elements in layered compositions.
For Wise Dog Tarot she collected images of dozens of dog breeds and placed them in natural settings. It is handwork in digital form: each card is built up from separate layers.
Specifications
- Number of cards: 78
- Language: English
- Card size: 76 x 130 mm
- Guidebook: 64 pages
- Publisher: U.S. Games Systems, Inc.
- Design: digital collage on sturdy cardstock
- Creator: MJ Cullinane
Questions we often get
Does this deck follow the Rider-Waite structure completely?
Yes. All 78 cards correspond to the classic RWS layout, both in order and in basic symbolism. The dogs replace the human figures, but the composition of the scenes remains largely the same.
Is the guidebook sufficient if you have no experience with tarot yet?
The guidebook gives brief interpretations for each card, but assumes you already know the basic structure of tarot. For a complete introduction, a separate book on Rider-Waite tarot is recommended.
