Would you do this to your dogs???

[Tonya]

BTW, there is dye for dogs at the groomers. The owner of a grooming shop here ocasionally dyes her poodle pink.

And also, not to start a fight, but if a dog isn't meant to be a fashion statement, why do we groom them? And why do we put cute hankerchiefs on them?

[stacwase]

Right Tonya - those bandanas and cute cuts don't make the dogs feel any differently! Good point. I do put bandanas and cute clothes on mine, too.

I can imagine trying to wash all that dye out though - ugh!

Where I used to live, there were a lot of sheep. Somebody dyed one of them pink. A pink sheep mixed in with all the white ones. It was hilarious. I'm sure the sheep didn't care.

[KYS]

LOL! I guess it would depend on what kind of mood I am in.

I would probably never do it, but ............
Why not, as long as it does not harm the dog.

[binka_nugget]

My current dogs, no. I can't imagine how aweful it would look on them. But if I had a white dog, I wouldn't mind doing that for special occasions (pride parades and such).

[Amber]

Originally posted by Tonya
And also, not to start a fight, but if a dog isn't meant to be a fashion statement, why do we groom them? And why do we put cute hankerchiefs on them?

Why? Because we groom our dogs so they don't get hot it the summer. So there not carrying all that hair with them. Also to make them look cleaner.

And hankerchiefs? Because they look cute on them. It makes them look nice if they go somewhere. Not for fashion statements

[dappledoxie]

I'm not sure if I would or wouldn't.

[ParNone]

I wouldn't. Except for a bandana on rare occasions, I'm not much into dressing up my dogs and they're not much into either. I tried to put a hat on Oz for a pic once and he hated it. Guess that just isn't done, being a dignified Collie and all. 'Sides it looks like way too much work. There is a reason I got the short version of Lassie. But if somebody else enjoys doing that and their dog doesn't mind. More power to ya. We all bond to our dogs in different ways.

Par...

[cali]

lol I colour my dogs for fun, not like that though, I mean I gice happy french manacures with kiddie nail polish, and I will draw on the white fur with marker but that washed off with a damp cloth, and its not for the public its just for fun Misty gets emmbaresed easily, she used to be made fun of all the time because of the size of her ears, she now walks with her ears slightly folded in public so they dont look to big.

[Uabassoon]

I don't think I would ever do that to a dog, mainly just because I think it looks kind of dumb. But if the dye is made so that it doesn't harm the dog in any way then I don't see a problem with it at all. In fact I wouldn't be surprised if some dogs enjoy the extra attention they are getting while they are putting the dye on them. So while I would never do it, I don't think that it's cruel.

[wolfie]

If I had a white dog I would - I think it's cute! It doesn't hurt the dog - so why not.


The way you people were talking you'd think it's a picture of a beaten dog or something...

[Amber]

Originally posted by wolfie
The way you people were talking you'd think it's a picture of a beaten dog or something...

Not me..I was just saying that I think it makes the dog look stupid with rainbow colors or something.

[K9soul]

Originally posted by wolfie
The way you people were talking you'd think it's a picture of a beaten dog or something...

I think stating "you people" is a bit overreacting. A couple people mentioned they felt it was cruel. Perhaps they feel that it is cruel in an undignified way or that it would be cruel for their dogs because I know for mine, they would be horrified to have to go through the process itself. Their baths are as mercifully short as can be and they would be downright miserable at a groomer's shop. But I don't think anyone here was stating it is abusive in the same way beating or neglect is.

That said I know some dogs actually enjoy going to the groomer's and getting brushed and pampered. For them it'd probably be just grand, though personally I do not like the looks of it, and even if I had a dog that enjoyed being bathed, blow-dried, trimmed, and groomed, I personally would not have it done.

In this particular photo, I don't think it is a photo touch up job. You can see they were in a groomer's shop and the colors are more faded in some areas. Like I said, I don't really care for how it looks personally, but the pups don't look to be miserable themselves really.

[LorraineO]

NOT in this lifetime I wouldnt!!!

[Pam]

Originally posted by ParNone
I wouldn't. Except for a bandana on rare occasions, I'm not much into dressing up my dogs and they're not much into either. But if somebody else enjoys doing that and their dog doesn't mind. More power to ya. We all bond to our dogs in different ways.

Par...

Par I couldn't agree more. As a poodle mom I thought it was actually sort of cute, although I could never see myself doing it to Bella, even though her white fur would probably take dye pretty good. I find it no different than putting a Halloween costume on a dog or a bandanna or whatever. It is not hurting the dog and they don't care. I am a person who enjoys low maintenance with my dogs. I keep them in the puppy clip and they never wear a bandanna unless fresh from the groomer. I know for sure the dogs in that photo were loved and cared for more than my poor Ripley when I found him. He was full of matts and burrs under his tummy - - probably hadn't been groomed in a year. At least those dogs were clean and cared for. I see no harm in it whatsoever.

As you said Par, we all bond to our dogs in different ways.

(Oh and by the way I color my hair and it's permanent! )

[Twisterdog]

I probably would never do this to my dogs, but only because I'm lazy.

There is absolutely NOTHING cruel or mean about dying a dog's hair. The dyes are completely harmless. The dog has no idea its hair is being colored, it's not like dogs can comprehend something like that. To the dog, it's nothing more than the usual bath. Dogs are basically colorblind as well.

If a rainbow colored dog is not to your personal taste, fine. However, there is absolutely nothing wrong with doing it. I personally think that dogs wearing clothes and hats are simply ridiculous looking ... but that's my personal opinion. If others like it, fine. There is NO difference is having a pink poodle or having a lab with a bandana or a shih tzu wearing a black leather jacket. It's all fun, it's all harmless. And as long as it doesn't hurt the dogs, it's really none of anyone's business what someone else happens to think is cute on their own dog.

Plus ... and I've seen this a hundred times ... the dog that has a mohawk or is dyed blue is getting attention where ever it goes. That dog gets petted and fussed over by everyone that sees it ... and the dogs LOVES all that attention.

I personally am happy to see people who love and care about their dogs enough to spend the time and money it takes to buy a sweater or dye their hair. People only do this because they love their dog, and are willing to lavish time, money and attention on it. How can that possibly be wrong? Better we should concentrate on the people who are abusing, neglecting, fighting, starving and torturing animals. Let's save our criticism for those monsters, and not worry about someone who loves their dog enough to make it look cute ... even if it's only in their eyes.