Putting on Appearances: China's Painted Dogs
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45 commentsFrom The Daily Mail
From a distance it could be mistaken for a reclining tiger, with its big paws and striped orange and black coat.
But then it stands up, wags its tail and barks – giving the game away.
This unsuspecting canine is the victim of what appears to be the latest craze in China – painting pet dogs to look like other animals.
Bizarre: A pet retriever in China has been dyed by its owner to resemble a tiger
Today the retriever was joined by three furry friends whose dye jobs were much more convincing.
The tiny, fluffy dogs were the spitting image of baby giant pandas thanks to their makeovers.
The animals were pictured after being transferred to Zhenghou from Southwest China’s Sichuan province over the weekend.
Doggy dye job: These small furry dogs look the spitting image of baby panda cubs
Transformation: The dog appears unfazed by its new coat
It is not known how the owners managed to get their animals to stay still in order for them to carry out the extremely convincing dye jobs.
Recent figures show money spent on pets across the nation has seen nearly a 500 per cent increase between 1999 and 2008 – but, arguably, at the cost of their pets’ dignity.
On parade: The dogs were put on show after being transferred to Zhenghou from Southwest China’s Sichuan province
Confused: While some of the dogs didn’t appear to be enjoying themselves, they were a hit with locals
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Just plain stupid and just plain wrong in my opinion.
Yes, like you, I don’t get the painting thing. But what I think is even worse is docking – to meet some sort of arbitrary breed standard. To me, it makes no sense (because dogs are beautiful animals to begin with) especially if you have no intention of showing your dog.
Wow. That’s about all I can say to that one. I cannot imagine painting my dog to look like anything else. She is beautiful in her natural doggie coat.
Oh woo hoo and yippee skippee
My chance to be a khytty khat
I am so very thankful that I live in the USA! What a disgrace!!!
They do the same thing, and worse for that extreme poodle grooming contest. I just hope the Chinese are more careful about what they put on their dogs than they are with their exports. lead based paint, anyone? not to mention the dogfood debacle.
Do you think they could paint me to look like a greyhound?! ;P
Love the story in the previous post, btw.
Yes this is wrong. If they are bleaching the hair even worse!
Please don’t give the Chinese any more attention!! This may be the cute side of what they do with dogs (and cats), but what about the dark side – - the ones who get skinned alive for fur or food????!!
I’m not a fan, and prefer well groomed but natural looking dogs. To Budrow Wilson: No offence, but try to google creative dog grooming – here’s one result, from the USA… http://www.lifeinthefastlane.ca/when-pet-owners-go-too-far-part-2/offbeat-news
i think also like PNunn…i don´t understand this chinese-people: they have two side…and i don´t like one of them!!!!!
Actually this happens right here in the US as well…alot. As a matter of fact I had some pics on my blog about 2 weeks ago.
Although it is illegal in the state we live in. You can not bleach or dye your dogs coat. Why? I have no idea.
Alliso…Puddles mum
Nope, come to think of it, I’ve never smelled a cat’s butt
What? A dog isn’t terrific enough without the paint job????
For those that do not understand the reasoning behind this art,Yes I said art.I do not know the products used in China for this dying ,However many groomers right here in the good ‘ol USA that practice this unusual form of artistic creativity use non toxic ,organic, temp dyes or food coloring to achieve the bold appearances of what you see happening world wide in the pet industry .Most pet owners that may cringe over the sight of a colored dog use product regularly on their pets with no question what so ever on safety or over all quality of the products . Products such as dog shampoo’s, conditioners,colognes ,foods even dog treats which they feed daily .the list goes on..I personally see nothing wrong with this art as long as the artist is conscientious about the contents and safety of the products used to do so.. This is hair we are talking about we are not altering the dogs physical attributes cutting off limbs splicing DNA to make a new species.. its hair .. nothing more
NOBODY should get any ideas at all of making us into kitties of any sort.
No thank you.
Woos – Phantom, Thunder, and Ciara
It’s madness. I agree. But it’s well executed madness. And I see lots of dogs with dresses, hats, coats and to me that is madness too. Unless you have a dog with a very thin coat and you live in a cold climate. But putting a dress on your dog just because it looks so cute…?
this is rediculess i mean we dont paint our kids to look like somthing they are not poor dogs i think there should be a law against something like this
Yet another example of the exploitation of man/ womankind’s best friend for the pleasure and enjoyment of the almighty human. Shameful!
Well that’s just crazy, but it’s better than cooking or killing us. Being a breed that almost became extinct in China during the cultural revolution, I’m just kinda glad they can have dogs again. I think. And I kind of wonder what I’d look like as a zebra, but the Mom’s say forget it. They’re not getting me a paint job.
wags, Lola
I’m sorry but I think this is just sick. A dog is not a purse or a hat or any other accessory. If they want to play dress up, there is an invention already for that – dolls.
that is totally weirdo. why would anybuddy want to make their doggie look like another animal?!
For a sec I thought they were breeding a new creature. That’s sure different and cool. Drop by and link up.
I saw these A LOT when I lived in China, especially with puppies. If they were a runt, or a mutt, they would “spice” them up like this to try to get them to sell. Often the puppies eyes were crusted over from infection from the paint. So sad!!
Well, it would be an interesting gag for Halloween or April Fool’s, but it seems like a lot of work to go to in my opinion. My dogs have nice collars and coats, and the occasional hat that they wear to amuse the nursing home residents on a few occasions, but I wouldn’t do anything like that to them. To me, they’re absolutely stunningly beautiful without any enhancement, but perhaps I’m biased!
cute animals…
lovely and fun post!
Okay, cute, but what’s the owner’s purpose — publicity? We bet the poor dog is even cuter without being dyed.
Poor dogs. It’s sad to see these creative humans putting their talents to use in the wrong places.
that is soooooo wrong and a total NOT. :/
can i borrow some of these pictures for my friday post??
XO,
luna
I love my dog exactly the way he is. I would never paint him to look like anything else! I can’t imagine the paint is good for them.
We’d like to see anyone try to paint us, he he he!
I’m okay with this trend if they would just stop with the finning sharks and grinding up rhino horns and eating dried seahorses and all that stuff.
Wow a display of dog-gone-art! Seriously, odd man out here; I think it looks neat!! As long as the dye is animal friendly, no harm done!
I don’t know what people are whinging bout, i prefer the chinese to be dying their dogs than eating them, USA people need to get the hell over it, i love the job they’ve done with their dogs, it’s fantastic. I’m pleased to see some chinese people actually love their dogs rather than eating them.
This has been done to cats too. The whole thing is ridiculous.
We’re not actually putting this down as a “cultural” thing are we? I mean to say “the Chinese are dying their dogs…” and then for comments to judge an entire country of people on it is a huge misnomer.
The comments above slapping the hands of the ignorant commenters should be commended for pointing out that this is very much NOT a Chinese thing, and very much just a pet-owner fetish thing. Assuming the dye is non-toxic (which I’m betting it is, as the people who pay for this wouldn’t want anything dangerous on their prized possession) it’s really no different (and perhaps just as stupid) as buying a doggie jacket or having extensive grooming done — and certainly much much better than docking.
@Allison (Dog Mom): I’ve lived in China for more than half a decade and have never seen a painted dog, never mind A LOT of painted dogs. Painted chicks, but no puppies. Its not outside the realm of possibility though that the cheap and horrible pet markets would do something like that to try and sell their wares — but these are high-priced dogs with well-off owners, and so were very likely bought from a breeder via a pet shop neither of which would sell sick puppies. It’s how I got both of my goldens.
That is the oddest thing I have ever seen.
Chinese are not happy when they do not torture animals !
What a bloody shame !
Dyeing pets has been done before by some fashionista Americans to try and make themselves look “cool”. The Chinese unfortunately will cut corners and use anything other than correct dyes for animals as they won’t follow Health & Safety regulations. For some reason the Chinese cannot recognise cruelty and barbarism with animals and seem to think that all animals are put on this earth for them to do whatever they want to regardless of pain and suffering. I hope one day that a whole new generation will be educated into respecting animals and not abusing them.
Why they dont paint on their bodies…?because human can said NO and DONT WANT,but dogs cannot voice out ,if dogs can voice out i think is useless because those people like to abuse animals they not even think it will hurts the dogs.
thats brilliant i want a painted dog
they are only dogs the human race should be able to do what it wants its ok to eat cows and sheep but not dogs. what gives someone the right to tell you what you can and cant eat all they are is wasted food
I do bite.. haven’t yet, but I can definitely see a bite in the future of a groomer who does this to me. Actually, I think my mom might bite first. She seems to be growling right now.
Opie
what is wrong with these people, now they are stripping away the animal’s dignity…I give up!
You Chinese people make me sick!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
You not only eat cats and dogs and torture animals in your fur farms, now you are demented trying a fashion that is pure stupidity from you as usual. Get civilized the world knows how cruel you are to animals, what the hell are you pretending with this painting animals? Are you going to torture and kill them after? CRIMINALS!!!