I thought I would chime in about now as I was the person who commissioned Mike to make this stunning piece of art. I had it made for my boss who loves Othello and Sammy more than words could describe. Othello past away after the work was commissioned and as you can guess made the project even more meaningful. Once Mike had completed the carving and emailed me the pictures I was more than ecstatic. We discussed leaving it the way it was or adding paint and as you saw in the video, went ahead and added the paint. Most of you are correct that once painted it was beautiful and looked EXACTLY like the dogs although my feeling was we ended up losing continuity from the stick to the wood grain as it transferred to the dogs heads. Mike's craftsmanship was also reduced and as painful as that phone call was to make, it had to be done. The other factor was knowing my boss and what he would want. The fact that the cane will live in his Jackson, Wyoming home made the natural wood finish a better choice. I'm writing this because I wanted you all to know that Mike was the most understanding, compassionate person through this process and never once made me feel bad or that I was wrong in my request. Seeing the finished product on this video does not do it justice as I have since given it to my boss who I consider my friend. He was very appreciative of both the thought and that of Mike's ability to bring his beloved dogs to life on this cane. Lastly I would like to say that I too had a sickening feeling while watching Mike start scraping off the white paint. So no hard feelings to the many that thought/think I'm nuts!

I want to wish all of you a very Merry Christmas!

Your customer is nuts,its a gorgeous piece painted.

Merry Christmas, looks like Pearl was thinking she'd like her self carving one day.

The only reason someone wouldn't like paited version is because it looks alive and probably gets that person emotional...

You my friend have a true gift from God. I would prefer the painted dogs like you originally did it. To each their own. I wish you and your family a Merry Christmas and an awesome New Year. Give Pearl an extra dog treat for me. Until the next one my friend.

That sucks about the paint. It is beautiful either way. Merry Christmas Mike

Riesci sempre a lasciarci con gli occhi spalancati alle tue opere e alle tue montagne . Radioso Natale dall'Italia.🌲🤗

And the ledgend dose it again 100% skill 100% talented people 1000% artist. 👏👏👏🐶

I'm french and i'm proud to see this dog. Amazing.

Merry Christmas. I have to agree the piece was just stunning painted

We got to see the cane beautiful two different ways! :D Mike, you and yours have a beautiful, blessed and Merry Christmas!!! May the next year be the best yet, and full of amazing blessings!!! Thank you for sharing so much with us in 2019!!!

What a shame you had to remove the paint. Customer was wrong but both are beautiful. I would have chose paint! Beautiful piece!

It's been a while since Iv'e watched your video's ,,,, The best part was seeing your little dog first thing ,,, what a buddy !

My daddy was a woodworker, I love wood. My first instinct was, natural. Then the paint was showing so many of the details, was beautiful, but alas the paint had to be removed. I suppose it’s beautiful either way to most of us. Like I said, love wood and your work is beautiful. Thanks for sharing.

Hello Mike from Arkansas ! Mike your a true master ! I hope your eye sight and hand never falters .the way my dad's have !! 😞 He was a car mechanic for over 50 year's ! And worked hard at it !!! But now he's in a nursing home and can't even lift his walker !!!!! 😞 god bless you !!!! Your friend from Arkansas !!!! Give pearl a hug !!!! 🐕

Certainly not sure if you will see this comment but I think you might consider a beautiful Pearl walking stick. I love your work. You are such a talented wood carver and artist. Thank you for sharing your talent.

You sir are the Bob Ross of wood carving.

Pyrenees is a handsome breed. I love watching your videos.

The only relief I got from seeing you have to strip away all that beautiful detailing, is the fact that you still got to showcase and immortalize that excellent handwork.. Goodness, that thing looks alive! Merry Christmas, Mr. Stinnett!

You, sir, have my utmost respect! Not everyone would have taken the time to remove the paint and done it with the patience you carry with you. Thank you for being the man you are!

A gorgeous and noble breed, your renditions are beautiful and a fitting tribute to such lovely dogs. Timeless/classic is in the eye of the beholder, anyway. All those austere marble statues we think of as “classic” used to be brightly painted.

Hello, I'm french, living in the pyrenees mountain ! It's so great to see that kind of work !

New video???? BEST XMAS GIFT EVER!!! ❤️❤️

A masterpiece. It looks wonderful either way. It's the meticulous work that makes it.

i got to say your walking sticks are brill they have inspired me.

Another beautiful masterpiece. Thank you and pearl for sharing.

I’m with the customer. I just love the wood natural. Don’t get me wrong because he can paint as well as he can carve. Your talent is remarkable

Merry Christmas 🎄 sir, looks like my lovely wife and I will be headed ur way come this spring. We r retiring and looking in Oregon, Washington and Colorado to build a cabin and I will write and paint and carve bowls on my lathe...I would enjoy taking u out to eat and maybe sitting with u and pearl and my honey over a cup of coffee and just swap stories of when we were young. I’m 65 now...getting old. But never to old to create. Now I will be quiet and watch a master at his craft..

👌 sir, animals are true friend when we have. We not filling alone. They are cute beautiful. Thank God and his nature 🙏🇮🇳

Can I say you are a wonderful artist and I am grateful you grace us with you spectacular art. Thank you so much.

I have a friend that has a pyrenees It sure keeps the wolfes away. You do know how to bring a cane to life .What a beautiful carving. Mike Merry Christmas to you and your awesome family. God Bless Sir.

My wife and I have two female great pyrenees. That painted version was absolutely stunning. What a way to remember true family members

Beautiful and captivating as usual, Let us appreciate the great loyalty of the man's best friend!

I love it! Man customer's can change the game for sure

I like both versions. Great work as always 👍. Pearl is definitely your best friend. Don't forget to give her a treat 😊.

Sure looked nice painted. You do excellent work. I appreciate watching you create.

Looked great both ways...👏👏👏

Долго ждал ваше новое видео. Работа потрясающая! Вы мастер высокого класса!

Your videos always bring a peaceful and calming feeling to my day.

It was beautiful painted, but... the customer was right - it's timeless and classic, this way. And, it lets that incredible Fiddleback grain express itself through you exquisite carving, making the dogs' fur look stunning! Thanks for sharing, and Merry Christmas to you & yours!

You are one of the artists that inspires me most to make crafts and make paintings.

Привет Майк. Мне всегда нравятся твои работы. Спасибо.

I bet Pearl is mighty jealous now! But of course her likeness it too adorable and would make an excellent carving

Aww! This is so wonderful! I have a Pyr myself, and she’s such a sweetheart. The loyalty part you mentioned is entirely correct. She is the ultimate guard dog, barking at people from inside the house. She knows she can’t protect us from inside the house. If she’s outside, she’s calm as can be. We rescued her, so we don’t know exactly how old she is, but she’s still pretty healthy. She has double douclaws, and adores the snow. She really is a mountain dog. This is wonderful work. Thank you for showcasing such a wonderful breed!

Wow taking of the paint must have been a painstaking process in order to keep the design.

That was absolutely stunning Mike you are a truly very talented person and the stick was beautiful

When I saw he was going to paint 🎨 the wood; I shuddered. It was perfection in natural form....but then I also enjoyed the painted version . Flip a coin..beautiful either way !

To you and your family be blessed and have a Joyous healthy Christmas as well. This cane of your Mans best friend , natural or painted is so Awesome ✨💖😍🤩🥰❣️💖✨❣️

This man is awesome I really enjoy his work he is very detailed in his carving I like his little dog pearl

😮You do dogs now?!!😃 Oh man, there's too many breeds for me to request having you do! I love 'em all! I have Jack Russells. If I wanted something carved, I would like them to look like our first boy. Oh my goodness! Once again you blew my mind with your incredible talent. Thank you for the video. You & Pearl have a wonderful Christmas!

Ahh les chiens des Pyrénées, j'habite à 3h de cette région. Merci pour cette belle sculpture.

You turely are gifted. Fantastic job. I just love your carvings.

My son has fallen in love with your dog.

The painted version looked really good

Merry Christmas to you too and I just got a 6 week old Great Pyrenees male!

Beautiful carving. I love watching Pearl too, great character.

MARRY CHRISTMAS,GREAT PIECE OF ART AS ALWAYS,THAN YOU.

Now that's a lot of work. Double. Great job as always

Your patience is quite amazing

Pearl is always so cute and special on your lap. Of course we think it's cute, to her it's just a warm watchtower for spotting critters! 😁 I'd love to see a Pearl piece someday. Whether it's a door stop or an end table a lamp base or just a fireside sitter. Curled up in your shirt or nose-to tail on her back she is a big part of your life and your channel. And for the latter I say thank you! -✌🏽

I've been a carpenter for 40 years and I can see what a very talented artist you are the painted version brought them to life all the best for the New Year 👍👍👍👍

Oh wow, this must have been a refreshing change and creative challenge! Beautiful tribute to a beloved pet. ❤️

Beautiful work once again. Both ways you did it. Wonderful job.

Fantastic carving, Mike. Absolutely unbelievable. I was elated to hear you say you were keeping every scrap of wood for future projects. I hate to see any wood go to waste if it can be saved.

boy brother i know it is always a tough call when to know when to paint or just leave it natural . how ever i think your costumer was a tough love of the natural look . it look awesome painted and it looked beautiful natural to . im not a firm believer in the customer is always right . when i do carvings for customers i ask them what they want i carve it then ask if i can have free reign over the piece. i dont like to paint wood but sometimes it just brings it to life and screams for it . now im no where near your level of artistry i wish i was . your work makes mine look like i carve with a dull rock . but to each there own i guess . merry christmas my friend and here is to another great year as friends in 2020 . god bless

Beautiful scenery

i have never seen such beautiful craftmanship....

That would have been an absolute perfect Christmas present for me today!! I have a 6 month old (85 lb so far) Anatolian Pyrenees.

TRULY STUNNING

Ho Ho Ho Merry Christmas Be well and be safe..........Bill

Ottimo lavoro Stinnett, grazie per la condivisione. Ciao

The best relaxing videos you can find

Absolutely amazing!!!👍

Dear sir, I've been without my "girl" for 9 years now she was an incredible dog, loyal, and patient! Miss her terribly! Would really love to honour her with something! I'm nobody but a great fan, Pearl is .... a reminder of my Dutchess, great dog loyal, obedient and a great friend! Your friend The lonely Canadian!

yet another brilliant cane

Another beautiful piece!

Wesołych Świąt pozdrawiam z POLSKI !!!!!! Merry Christmas

You've got the patience of Job! Beautiful work as always!

As many mentined the cane looks wonderfull in all three iterations :D pre paint, painted and post paint. It was super interesting to see the process of removing the paint and how much skill it involves. I think you are a very talented painer, no doubt it took a lot of hard work to get to that level, as each one of the animals you carved look lifelike both without and especially painted. That also goes for all the flora that you carve.

Hi, Mike, Merry Christmas, my friend. (^_^) I preferred the dogs when they were painted and it was painful for me to see you having to remove that gorgeous paint. But, I suppose it's the customer's choice and you seemed to be so caring of your having to remove the paint. I hope he enjoyed the stick. It certainly was a beautiful wood, even if it was hard to carve with. I had to laugh when you said it needed some aggressive tools. Well, once again, Merry Christmas to you and your family and may 2020 be a rich and blessed year for you all. May God's glory continue to shine through the work that you do. Kind regards. Liz.

Beautiful work.

Beautiful both ways but the painted version was more realistic. Your attention to detail is remarkable . Have yourself a Merry Christmas and a happy New Year

Mike... Just wanted to wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. You knocked a lot of memories loose with this video. My grandfather always had Pyrenees on the farm. Some of my earliest memories are of those dogs and that place. Thank you. That looked like some pretty hard wood. You didn't seem to be kicking up much dust when using your grinder. Personally I liked it painted. I thought it gave it a more realistic look. Again, Happy Holidays. Look forward to seeing you in the new year. Randy in Des Moines. 🎄☃️🎁✌

Another masterpiece mike,god bless you sir

I love it both painted and clearcoat. I can see how it would be such a hard decision between the two. Tell Pearl Merry Christmas for us.

Another priceless peice, keep up the amazing work

I have been waiting to see the finished product. As always so amazing and incredible detail

Another top video beautiful workmanship as always

what a true artist

Beautiful work, I also like the character of the wood.

I liked it painted but the final was gorgeous too. Merry Christmas !!

Merry Christmas Mike , Pearl and family and all you guy's . Beautiful scenary and workmanship Mike thank you .

Una talla preciosa,quedó divina de la muerte,un saludo y por supuesto un like desde Naron(Galicia).Posdata:Felices fiestas

Wow! Just wow!❤️

Fantastic. Absolutely gorgeous. Both painted and natural wood are phenomenal. I would be happy with either, each has it's own unique character. You are a genius. Merry Christmas and a happy new year.

You are truly a gifted wood carver. Back when I had more time I carved birds (to include life size song birds, owls, Canada Geese and loons) so I appreciate your work and love the channel. One criticism; with all the closeups (which are necessary and appreciated) I would like to see a good long 360 degree look at the entire cane, top to bottom. Thanks for sharing your talent!

Beautiful Work👍 Fantastic Video

I really like the painted version, you have an amazing way of making things life-like. But i am equally impressed by your paint removal skills!

You are such an unbelievable talented man! Amazing walking stick! Great work! 👍🙂