The Horsham canine creator uses her paws to create abstract art on canvas.

Her owner Nichola Clarke, also an artist, said the 13-year-old golden retriever started painting last year.

Ruby accompanies Mrs Clarke at her studio in Horsham's Centre for Participation, where she teaches art to people with disabilities.

"She hangs out with the guys here. Sometimes they take her for a walk around the block and mainly they love to pat her," she said. "A lot of people with disabilities don't have pets at home and they get to spend time with Ruby.

"Ruby has always been a really placid dog. She has never been trained. She just seems to know what to do and is extremely good with people."

Mrs Clarke said Ruby's interaction with people with disabilities had great benefits.

She said one of her students, Andrew Kent, loved spending time with Ruby.

"Andrew doesn't remember many people's names. When he was asked one day who his friends were, he said, 'Ruby'," she said.

"That was a pretty special moment."

It was during one of Mrs Clarke's art classes last year that Ruby started a creative venture of her own.

"I had a client who was a bit nervous about painting and she felt uneasy. Ruby started to interact with her, got her to relax and we got her to start painting," she said.

"That inspired the lady to paint and the two of them just sat next to each other the whole time. Ruby gave her comfort and made her relax. She was able to paint the most beautiful picture of the Grampians.

"Ruby started painting with her paws - and that's how she started."

Mrs Clarke said she displayed Ruby's "paw painting" at her home.

"We did a couple of greeting cards, too, and it was great fun," she said.

Mrs Clarke said Ruby was also a wonder dog, having saved the family from fires on two separate occasions.

"We left our barbecue on one night and it was really hot. She came running to my bed and she woke me up, and she was whimpering. We followed her out, she started scratching the door and when I opened the door, I could see the fire," she said.

"The other time, my daughter Makeali, left a box of matches near a fire and she was in the other room doing her homework. Ruby started squealing and ran out outside. The box of matches had exploded."

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