Customized Dog Grooming - Bit Of Fun Or Abuse?

[Cuban]

Although the images below are from (I believe) an American web site, I have seen some minor custom dog grooming in Thailand.

There used to be a medium to large size dog in Pattaya that had been colored to look like a tiger - it was very well done as I recall. Otherwise they seem to be the recipent of spare hair coloring.

The S^t Patrick's Day dog is amusing - not sure how the dog feels about it?

As for the other one, I would expect the dog is used to the owner's behavior - I can imagine their household.

[bina]

the dog doesnt know he is green or looks like a camel; not any worse than show grooming, maybe even better. show grooming is awful. hair sprays, hair tints. dogs like mine have their hair wrapped so as not to break the ends until the show and cant play freely cause they can ruin their coats -mine are free to run and are clipped back for the heat- (mangotogo says his dog, a whippet, is the easiest, a quick shower, a wipe, and thats that.) , plucked hairs, whatever. i have to admit. i braid my two lhasas' head set (hair above the eyes on forehead), they couldnt care less. it doesnt bother them, they dont try to take them out, or rub their heads, it keeps the hair from their eyes better then if i clip them.

i would hazard a guess that if the dyes are not like the harsh human hair dyes but just like food colouring, probably nothing really wrong. nail polish isnt good as it is harsh and does something to the layers of the dog's nail (like on humans).

it may be a bit 'sick' as the humans in question are trying to make 'art' out of a living being, but frankly, if the dog is being fed, taken care of, loved, vetted and groomed, the dog probably couldnt care less. looking at the green dogs stance, he is not cowering, but 'showing'. some dogs actually really like the 'show ring' mentality and do 'show off'. dogs that dont liek being mucked around with, usually make their preferences known and the owner is less likely to actually 'muck around' with the dog.

body piercing, and cosmetic surgery for show/beauty only purposes, now that to me is abusive for dogs to do thru.

btw, the green poodle has a standard poodle clip except for the rosettes on his back which are clovers instead. the original poodle clip was meant to be like a sweater. the dogs were water retrievers so the clip was to give protection from the cold around the joints and chest but to not be too 'heavy' with fur as a working dog in the field.

amazing clipping work though. very skilled.