What does everyone think of "decorating" dogs? People who dye them silly colours, paint nails...or my pet hate..give them really ridiculous trims.
I just dont get it. At the wag and bone show there was a standard poodle and the poor thing had been dyed BLUE!!!!! with purple feet.

Why oh why do people feel the need to make their dogs look really stupid...they are dogs...not plastic dolls!

What is everyone elses view on it?

I dislike that, dressing them in clothes, and think if people want to play Makeovers they should buy a Barbie. But then I hate going to the zoo and cant sit through dolphin/sealion shows either. I like animals to keep their dignity and really loathe that advert for the famous car accessory chain that uses chimps dressed up.

oooh yes...Id forgotten about clothes. Thats another one. Those silly outfits, fairies, jogging suits etc...why?
I know what you mean, I feel that they have the right to preserve their dignity and by making them wear/do silly things, it totally takes that away.

Theres a big word for this disorder anthropopomorphism - Morse what have I told you about wearing my suede trousers? OFF, OFF and put that Burberry bag DOWN!:D

Hey I just painted Tiva and T-Bone's nails yesterday....Is this what brought this question up? I did it because I was bored and they don't mind the fuss. Mind you it is much rubbed off and probably won't do it again and a very faint color not something that is really visible, its nailpolish for children. I think its one to their own....as for dying your dog a different color that I much don't care for. nothing different then cutting their fur a certain way for a show ring (like the poodle, never mind the stuff that has to be put in the fur to keep it that way) I can see if they are still used for the sport, Or being all fluffed up blow dryed to prance around a show ring. Dogs are not meant to be our little fashion toys it can go both ways there. One children if the dog or cat are tollerable love to dress up their animals its just something kids do. I have a little leather jacket and cap for Junior to wear when it is cold, I also have a winter type jackets for them if we go out for a walk, boston's have very thin fur. I find they don't mind at all, they come to put their clothes on when it is cold out.

Just my own opinion

ttfn :)

How did you get them to stand still long enough to paint their nails? I just read your post :D:D Dog jackets are a different thing for thin coat breeds, but as you say whatever floats your boat. I just asked the tribe if they want to dress Morse andthey went " But hes got a nice fur coat already....":)

I didnt aim it at you dollface :) its been bugging me for a while, and I read your post which made me think about posting it.

I think that some short haired breeds could benefit from some sort of coat in the depths of winter..I mean, if the dont have hair...they need to be kept warm, we wouldnt go out naked...but its the outfits, hair dye, nail polish etc etc which drives me up the wall...but as was said...whatever floats your boat. Mine sinks in this subject though :)

My daughter has and sometimes still does dress up our staffy girls in anything from a feather boa and tiara to sunglasses and a tee shirt. My girls really don't mind and are quiet happy to parade around and show us their new outfits, tails wagging. I am sure if they did not like it they would not be so enthusiastic. I am not saying all dogs would approve but on a personal not mine don't mind at all :D
Then and again a staffy will let you do anything that involves fuss, fuss and more fuss :-)

Have to say I don't personally like this sort of thing. Isn't it a form of abuse ? If not it should be! Where's the 'dog protection police' when you need them. Surely Mother Nature did a good enough job - she gave dogs all the character, personality and style they needed in their own little individual ways - even made different colours, shapes and sizes. I think dogs should be enjoyed for what they are, but I guess in a world where we are all obsessed by image it is bound to happen..

My Boston's will jump up on a stool and give you their foot the minute they see the nail clippers out. This time I told them up and they sat on my lap and I just painted their nails (only the 2 females), they didn't mind at all. Mine love to be fussed over and dogs love to please their owners, and as long as they are not being harmed their more then happy to have all the fuss. It does depend on the dog, if they don't like it then no I would never do anything like that. I was thinking about showing Junior but he never liked that kinda fussing then tried agility and well he loves that. My children are all ways fussing over the dogs, actually one day my daughter was putting a barbie bonnet on her hamster who just sat there. This hamster loves to be held and fussed, she puts her hand in the cage and the little guy climbs right up. My son has one who is friendly but nothing like my daughters, probably because she always fusses over hers and if she could she would take him every where. When he passes on I may let her get a guinea pig.

ttfn :)

I hate dogs that are all puffed up!! That's why I've got Spanish Water Dogs. They should never ever be brushed or combed and when they are clipped it's all off, the same length all over.

It's like when you go to a dog show and people have put the raincoats and boots on the gundogs, they're gundogs for heavens sake!! Though I have been known to carry my dogs around when it's raining at shows so they don't get their legs wet:d

We actually got told off by my kennels owner for not putting a coat on MB (Lab) when she was out on walks in the rain as she was too young and her coat wouldn't be water proof. She was 5 months old ! :eek I was gob smacked and didn't reply with 'what a load of balderdash' as was so taken a back !! They breed working spaniels so was quite amazed ! We were laughing on the way home as MB the week before had been taken to a very muddy field and had come back caked in mud and cow poo and was hosed down to clean her up !! :D

We do every time expect a telling off for something or other when we go as she seems to be that sort of person, a bit like a matron at a boarding school ! We were told to tighten the girls collars up the last time. :( They are a good kennels though so we will put up with being ritually humilated when we go ! ;)

Lucy

crikey.....if i had a spare 5 minutes i think i would lavish them painting my OWN nails! b****r the dogs nails!!!!

:D :D :D lol!

Does a poodle know it's pink when it's been dyed? Wouldn't personally do it as I don't think it's necessary but if the dogs happy.....

Helen

possibly not..but im sure it can tell that people are pointing and laughing :) Also...it can tell that its owner is a nutter ;)

I really don't think dogs mind...they sniff their butt when they fart and wonder where the smell is coming from, actually if you fart there noses are not that far from finding where it came from :D...Dignity thats not a dogs language, thats ours...lol....They greet each other by smelling eachothers butts, hey we would look pretty funny doing that :p. I don't think a dog cares if they are pink, purble or florescent green for that fact, they don't know. All they know is that their 2 legged from loves them and they are willing to please. I have seen the lady with the pink poodle on T.V which is suppose to be all safe dye and her lil one doesn't mind she seems very happy. Can't say I would want that color but it sure gets attention for them :D

ttfn :D

Oh, Im not saying it hurts, or is bad for the dog in any way....I just think they look bl**dy stupid and cant understand why people cant let dogs be dogs. Even if they dont know that they have pink/purple/green hair...they are clearly not meant to look like that and I think that people take advantage of their dogs good nature sometimes by degrading their dog.

To be honest I feel that it looks crap and the owners really need to grow up and get a barbie doll or something.
I dont mind fancy collars (on occasion) and similar mild things...but I reaaallllyy draw the line at dying them. Imagine you are blind and therefore cant see yourself, your mum decides one day that she is going to dye your beautiful hair Green! Now..you mighjt not be able to see it...but it is the principal. I just feel...leave the poor dogs alone. They do enough for us as it is, I dont think that hair dying is in their contract too.

Ok....rant over :)

lol :D

MINE WORE TINSEL AND A PAPER HAT AT XMAS LAST YEAR FOR HALF AN HOUR,WAS I A BAD MUMMY!!!??

One of mine went to a Christmas party at the vet's wearing (false) antlers!

Lascaux was Best Dog at a wedding - he wore a black bow tie, but otherwise his breed description "bold and workmanlike" still applies.

Hmmm fancy collars now theres an idea.... or I could use an overcoat as advertising space for select products if only Morse learns to walk slowly enough for people to read it:D:D

Very soon dogs will be used to advertise umbrella, rain coats etc, I'm sure.
Why not let them live as they are? I love my dog, but that does not mean I have the right to dye their natural coat colour and tie a bow around his neck. Would anyone like to have a different body/hair colour upon somebody else's wish???

Dogs do do what we wish, because I highly doubt a dog would want to sit, lay down, stay when being told so or walk at heel (think they would much rather run off sniffing things and be a dog) ect ect. Dogs love to please their owners and make them happy so they will do and put up with the stuff we ask them to do. We make dogs what they are, we pretty much (we do)dictate their lives for them to be able to live with us humans we sure wouldn't like or want to be on the other end of the leash. I think if your dog is happy and doesn't mind all the fuss you do to them then thats great, if they do then you obviously wouldn't do it to them. A dog can not do what a dogs want they always have to listen to their human owners thats the responsiblity of being an animal owner.

All for you I think if you want to dress ur dog up, run them through the show (ur lil fashion models), agility, flyball what have you. If your dog is having fun and keeping them busy and your happy doing it then I say go for it. Nothing wrong with that, life is to short to worry what other people think :o

We were think about dressing Taz up as Santa one year because of his size and big belly :D, Junior will now have to be a pirate for halloween since he only has one eye :(. I bought a little bonnet for Tiva when she was a pup to keep the sun out of her big eye's and people thought she was sooooo adorable, sadly it doesn't fit her any more :(.
ttfn :)

Well,
I have to say im guilty as charged, yr'honour. I dressed Dilly up, in cloak and hat as Harry Potter for a charity dog show, and he came 2nd! (yay).....the dog that won was dressed as Bob the Builder, trousers, jumper, hat, tool belt, the lot. I have to say though, none of the dogs wore their outfits for more than 5 minutes and non of them minded, well, one did, he took his outfit off and ate it, so no more dressing up for him i reckon!

How about this? My friend had a grey pony, and took to dying words across his not inconsiderable backside, (with safe vegetable dyes i must add), one year she entered him in fancy dress as a my little pony, with a picture of some apples (Applejack? if anyone remembers My Little Pony toys) painted on his bottom......he bucked her off and did a runner from the ring though, so she didnt win! She stopped doing it after that!

Em

Sorry all but i did find ems rendition hilarious. Especially bob the builder and the dog that ate is costume
emma

p.s still smerking behind my desk

It is a question of degree - :)
Dogs [such as ALL of those mentioned on this thread] who are loved, exercised, fed and part of the family are not going to be traumatised by a one-off ribbon or seasonal bit of tinsel on a collar which is already around the neck. This is no way the same unhinged behaviour as an adult ritually dressing up a dog in a Harrod's wedding gown, to be taken night clubbing in a Versace bag.

Quite right, Cissy.

There is little difference, unless of course you take it to extremes, of teaching a dog to accept a collar and lead, or headcollar, or harness, and the occasional fancy dress. It's positively encouraged at Crufts, for example - have you seen the Carting Bernese?
:)

My girls wore lovely collars with silk roses on when they were bridesmaids at my wedding ! :D

Lucy

And I bet they looked gorgeous, Lucy! What a lovely idea!
:)

That is a nice idea. I dont think there is anything wrong with that. I bet they looked gorgeous. :)
Do you have any photos of them?

hmm Lucy - extrapolating this line of anthropomorphism a bit further - if Lascaux with his bow tie had been Best Dog at your wedding, all dogs would have been suspiciously courteous and dutiful during the ceremony only to become a total embarassment once the drinking and speeches had started ;)

Perish the thought that anybody/thing should ever become a total embarrassment once the drinking and speeches have begun! ;)

Yes I have got some photos !

The girls were wondeful ! It was in a very posh country hotel and I had arranged with the Managers that they were part of the wedding party and so were allowed free run of the hotel ! :D Needless to say they were better behaved than many of the guests ! :D Including their mum and dad who didn't get to bed until 4.00am ! :D !!

I did have a complaint from a silly american woman who was getting married the next day. She and all her cronies were in the bar and the girls had gone to get themselves another drink and were being fussed by one and all apart from her. She went to the maanger and asked that they were locked away.:(

I told the manager to send a message to her that it was my wedding day the girls were family and they had every right to be there and if she didn't like she knew what she could do ! :D

The manager laughed and said she was a right royal pain in the rear and had complaint about everything and he would relay the message back !! Not word for word !! I did have the last laugh as well as it was in the middle of October and our day was glorious sunshine all day and when we got up in the morning it was peeing it down with rain. I met her at the bottom of the stairs in the reception and said with a big grin on my face ' Lovely day isn't it !! ' :) :)

Lucy

What a nasty cow!
Heh heh! I love the bitabout the weather, I would have done exactly the same as you did "lovely weather isnt it" :)

She is obviously a bitter old dried up busy body, bet she was jealous cos she hadnt thought of doing what you did ;)

Hope you had a fab wedding!
you will have to put the pics onto a home page for people to see. Would love to see them.
steph
x

We have a problem with our scanner at the moment so can't get them loaded up :( We have lost the software to load it all on as have had to disconnect our PC. I could take a picture of the pictures with our Digi camera I suppose ? :)

She was a siilly old Moo !

Lucy

:D :D :D @ Cissy!

its a joke that they do this

What's a joke, pynadeth?

eh?

There is actually some question about how safe these dyes are that people colour their pets with. Even with vegetable dye - anything that goes into their system via the skin has to be filtered out through their kidneys. I personally think it's pretty sad that some owners dont find their pets beautiful enough in their natural state. Says a lot about the designer pooches and dogs for fashion accessories mentality.

I can't stand all that type of thing to be honest.

Which is the reason I have GSD's and BC's....could you imagine them being all dressed up or having their nails painted?!!!
Flipping heck..I wish I had time to paint my own nails........not that they're long enough....they're bitten down to my knuckles worrying about the damn dogs!!!!

Seriously though, I don't like to see things like that, at the end of the day, a dog is a dog.....most of them have thick fur coats, and if they don't, you can buy little coats for them that are not too ridiculous!!
I did this with one of mine, he had a little sweater and a little coat, but they were purely to keep him warm and not for fashion purposes!!

Take care

Lisa

I painted my toe nails the same day I did theirs...lol :D I was spending quality time with my daughter and she wanted to do the nail painting bit, she did her nails and I did my toe nails :D don't care much for my finger nails being done though, and for the dogs I thought ya why not what could it hurt. She thought it was great as it was just us girls, with my son laughing at us and hubby soon to follow :D ROTFLMAO

It was one night of fun a girl thing :D

A couple of weekends ago my daughter and I both streaked our hair...first time ever and it turned out great, yupeeeeee!!!! No we never did the dogs :D incase any one is wondering...My hubby streaked our hair and I have to say he did a wonderful job :) Has any one else let their hubby do their hair?

ttfn :)