Would you do this?
Dear all, I would never do this to my dog…I think how they are naturally is beautiful to me….but I thought you should read about this and see how you feel? And would you do this?
Tsem Rinpoche
__________________________________________________________________________
You have heard the cliché a million times over: dogs are man’s best friend. How did the humble dog win such an honored position in man’s heart?
“Traditionally”, dogs helped man in the following:
- Hunt for food
- Guard property from robbers
- Protect the family from dangerous animals/ people/ situations
- Provide comfort and loyal companionship
Over the years, the dog’s role evolved from being a guardian/protector to an entertainer /jester. Obediently, “man’s best friend’s” list of duties expanded to include performing tricks and most recently… being a fashion accessory.
Yes, a growing number of dog owners are dyeing their dogs’ fur to match their outfits. The Daily Mail reports that spending in the U.K. on pets has increased by 500% from 1999 to 2008… but has it been for the benefit of the dog or at the expense of the animals’ dignity?
The “dye-your-dog” fad seems to have been around for some time, but more so since 2010.
From poodles dyed green in celebration of St Patrick’s Day, now Chow Chow’s in China are being bleached and dyed to become pandas for parades. The most obvious question one would ask when meeting man’s best friend with such interesting/bizarre hairdos would be – what do dogs dye their fur with??
A Google search for “dog dye” returns 2.7 million hits. There are hundreds of websites that instruct pet owners how to dye their dogs’ fur. Below is a list of some of the things used to dye dog fur:
1. Non-toxic Pet Dye products – Supposedly safer than other types of pet dyes, non-toxic pet dye coats the animal’s hair and does not penetrate their skin. Nevertheless, pet owners are cautioned to read and closely follow the directions on the bottle and to always protect the pet’s ear and eyes first before using any of these suggestions.
2. Food Coloring – Food coloring is another alternative for dyeing your pets’ fur, but there are a lot of problems involved when doing so. First, to dye the pet properly, a large amount of food coloring is required. Secondly, it does not wash off easily.
3. Chalk – Another alternative used to dye pets is chalk. The method for using chalk to dye pets is to grind up the chalk with a rolling pin, and then rub the crushed chalk into the animal’s coat. Or add water to the crushed chalk, thereby making a paste, and then use a brush to apply to the animal’s fur. The risk with this method is the use of chalk which is not non-toxic.
4. Green Jell-O – Jell-O is also used to dye pets. The dissolved solution of one package of Jell-O in some warm water is applied to the pet’s fur with a brush. The advantage of using Jell-O is that it is also easy to wash off.
5. Professional Pet Grooming – Last but not least, the professional pet groomer is one (of the most costly) ways to dye a dog.
(Source: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/159577/dying_to_dye_your_pet_green_for_st.html?cat=74)
The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) “Animal Poison Control Center” view on dyeing pets is clear. Don’t do it. Dr. Hansen (a veterinary toxicologist and senior Vice-President of ASPC’s Midwest Office in Illinois which houses the “Animal Poison Control Center”) says, “When dyeing animal fur, there is always a chance that animals may not tolerate odors or residues left by these products. Further, they may not react favorably to the change in response that humans will exhibit when they encounter strangely colored pets, or they could have allergic reactions or eye irritation depending on the product formulation.“
The wider community’s response to such treatment of dogs is mixed: some think pink poodles are cute and desirable, some think that dyeing dogs is senseless and cruel… some even think that it’s an expression of “artistic creativity”.
Despite the warning labels on dye products and common knowledge that dyes contain chemicals that are potentially harmful to pets (no matter how “non-toxic” it could be), it is baffling that dog owners would still be willing and delight in subjecting their beloved pets to such risk, that could damage their sensitive skin, eyes and delicate ears, for the sake of the owner’s personal sense of fun and fashion.
In the name of your best friend… before doing anything to your dog, ask yourself:
“What is my dear beloved pet dog to me: a companion, a protector, a toy, a canvas?”
Tsem Rinpoche
Dogs to Dye For: Extreme Canine Fashions
Fashion is now changing dogs’ colors for special occasions.
Published on June 8, 2010 by Stanley Coren, Ph.D., F.R.S.C. in Canine Corner
An interesting aspect of the human-canine bond is that dogs are often used as fashion accessories. I was once waiting in the guest lounge of a television studio for an interview and struck up a conversation with a beautiful high fashion model from Montreal. She owned Afghan hounds and explained the reason to me this way.
“They are very beautiful and walk most elegantly. I think that they show off a woman with my build very nicely. I have four Afghans. One of them is black, one is that kind of honey brown and two are white (except for their faces that are a little gray). I picked those colors because they match most of my wardrobe. I always wear some white, even if it is in my accessories, and like to dress mostly in blacks and browns. That means that if I have one of the colored dogs and one white one with me I am perfectly coordinated with my dogs. The reason that I have two white dogs is for when I have to wear colors. Two white Afghan Hounds will highlight any outfit.”
However this issue of the color of a dog is something that some people consider to be under their control, and they are willing to change it for the purpose of fashion or fun. In the same way that beer is dyed green for Saint Patrick’s Day, someone decided to dye their dog green for the holiday.
Poodles appear to be common targets for fashion manipulation such as these two poodles that were dyed pink and blue for the occasion of their owners’ wedding.
However in some cases there is no occasion or holiday involved, but the dog is simply dyed as a kind of artistic statement, as in this case.
In recent times, the Chinese, who are a fashion conscious nation (at least in the large urban centers), have taken to manipulating the color and look of their dogs. However they seem to have done so in an extreme way. Here are some recent examples of dogs made to look like other animals by both clipping and dying them.
A cute example of this is this pair of dogs made to look like Pandas.
A more extreme example is this dog which was dyed to look like a Tiger.
If, for some unfathomable reason you are motivated to dye your own dog, please remember that many dyes are quite toxic. Dogs do lick their hair, and thus may get quite sick from such dyes. However, food coloring work, and is more safe, and some people dye their dogs using Kool Aide, like the green Saint Patrick’s Day dog whose fur tasted like lime for a few weeks after he had been immersed in a bath of this popular children’s drink.
(Extracted from: http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/canine-corner/201006/dogs-dye-extreme-canine-fashions)
Additional Photos From A Forwarded E-mail
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I love your blog.. very nice colors & theme.
Did you create this website yourself or did
you hire someone to do it for you? Plz reply as I’m looking to design my
own blog and would like to find out where u got this
from. thanks a lot
This is so cruel! Although some do not see the bad side of it, but these colouring substances will damage the animals, just in the matter of time. If you have to turn your pets into some monsters so you can love them, that’s not love, that’s you being selfish. Just because you want them to be something else, doesn’t mean you can do anything to turn them, it’s not fair to your pets.
可怜的小动物，因为主人的心血来潮把它们搞得四不像。我们平时染头发都会有灼伤的可能，更何况是动物呢，他们的皮肤很脆弱，常常会有皮肤病。人类啊！请停止这些无谓的动作。
Dear Rinpohce, Although dyeing the doggies fur into weird colors might harmless to them because they are colorblind, but some people would go to far meaning they will cut off the doggies tails and ears. Poor mumus, they must have been through a lots of pain.
This is a type of treatment that dogs do not deserve. Owners think that they are showing their love and dedication to their dogs by doing this but in actuality, they are just flaunting their own ego through the dog. What sentient being would want to be covered in dyes when it does not benefit them? Humans do that but that is just to look pretty. These animals do not have that need. They are supposed to be our companions, not our toys.
狗狗的心声
我很爱我的主人，我忠心耿耿，虽然我主人对我做我不喜欢的事。但我也不会反抗，
他很喜欢炫耀，但只要他快乐,我也甘愿受罪。但跟其它的流浪狗比较，我算是很幸福了。
我没什么要求，只要有大自然的环境生活，我就满足了。只是人类也来也恐怖，
把我门的地球环境污染了。可见我们的同胞很多到处流浪，病的病，死的死，有的还被
人类人道毁灭。 哎！天理何在！！可是我的主人听不到我的心声，我的不快乐。
算了，我是畜牲，死不出息， 希望来世投胎为人。
as a hairstylist and a dog owner. all ihave to offer on the topic is bleaching an animal is a horrific idea! i myself currently have lavender colored hair and had to bleach it in order to achieve it . and i can be quite uncomfortable some times even painful! but the beauty industry is becoming aware of dog lover brands like paul mitchel and toni and guy are making products specifically for dog use. manic panic is a European company that makes bright colors that are vegan and edible they are a temporary color and do not require chemicals. more like a stain. i loved the article!
I just read that a “zoo” in China has been caught trying to pass-off a dog for a tiger. It was discovered by a boy who asked his mom why the tiger was barking! This reminded me of this article posted by dearest Rinpoche soliciting opinions. Most responses were in the negative, that is that it was wrong to dress up, die fur, etc.
However, do you know that some of the dogs we have today including Rinpoche’s mumus are the result of human beings’ centuries-old attempt at breeding dogs whose looks or behavior they favor? They are not the result of natural selection. This is no different from the above attempts at dressing up. The same goes for a lot of pet fish and cats.
As a result of this breeding, we get animals that are mentally challenged, some that cannot eat or breath properly (brachycephalic breeds like the Shih Tzu, Pug, Boxer), those that suffer from chronic diseases all their life, those which have short lives, those which are prone to certain deadly diseases such as cancer. All these bring about much suffering.
So the next time you think of buying a pet dog, fish or cat. Think again about what you may be perpetuating. Instead, go to Kechara Animal Shelter and adopt. _/\_
it’s a terrible thing to do to your pets! HORRIBLE they don’t look anything like their normal selves anymore. I don’t even think that the dog even recognises themselves. The owners should think about their pets feelings.
I cannot believe what I see…
I mean, the butterfly dog, the snail dog, the horse dog, the camel dog, the panda dog, and that one green dog with yellow fluffy face and black eye liner…
At first i thought that the dog does not really care about his colour, he cares more about the relationship he has with his master, how much love does he get, i thought would be the number 1 thing, right?
But, if someone loves his dog really, then why expose him to the multitude of awkward reactions that people will have when seeing him, when the dog would just not be able to understand at all what is going on…
Why expose him to potential poisoning when the die gets into his system?
Silly I say…
Why would anyone do this to their doggies? It damages the hair if we, humans dye our hair, then what about the dogs? A dog is dog, you can’t ‘force’ the dog to become some other kind of animal you want it to be. I feel really horrible seeing the dogs that are covered with all types of colours on their bodies. It doesn’t only damages their fur but it might also affect their health. I definitely would not do this to my dog! It’s cruel!
Thank You for sharing Rinpoche.
This is such a waste of time, effort, and money! The dogs are already beautiful the way they look!
What for buy a dog and change their looks if you did not like their looks in the first place?
It is bad for the dogs as the dye may cause some effects to the dogs in the long run that we (humans) may not know now. But what if there are really some side effects after that? By then it would be too late to safe that poor little doggy.
Poor little souls, not only have to be our companion, but also our little jester to humor us.
do you think that this makes your dog look more beautiful? no it doesn’t make them more cool, they are already beautiful and totally amazing. who would not like to have a companion that is loyal and loving. i love my dogs and trust me, just be happy with them and your life will be pretty good.
if i had a dog i would never do this.a dog is cute in its normal way,a special haircut is okay but we should not make them look like camels,panda’s or tigers etc…..by the way we should let a dog keep its normal coat whether we like the dogs fur dyed or not, and it is not needed at all.
This is definitely not a necessity for animals. Animals have been beautiful for many years and all this makes them look worse. Also, the chemicals used in the dying most probably have bad side effects. it is really a shame that the dog, an animal that is supposed to be man’s best friend has turned into man’s personal jester instead. So evil..
I would never dye my dogs, better put money to good use like donations to those shelters who need food, medicine for strays! This is such a waste of money down the drain without any useful purpose!
This is totally not acceptable. A lot of time when people getting a pet is for their personal pleasure, which means maybe people are looking for a companion to kill some free time, or simply just because the pet look cute when they are young.
Most of the time things change when there’s something happened to the owner such as: getting into a new relationship and neglected the pet, when the pet grow bigger and doesn’t look as cute as before. Most of the time the owner will abandon their pet when their pet doesn’t look as cute as before.
Due to people get bored easily, and someone really “smart” think of an idea to “dress up” dog into some new image, which lead to transform them into a panda, tiger or even a snail, “faint” !! If you really like Panda or Tiger why should you keep a dog and make them up look like one ? Is like I have a son but I would like to have a daughter very much so I dress him up as a girl, is this for the benefit of the children or our own pleasure ??
I have a friend who used to dyed her dog hair in pink and trim the dog fur look like a mohawk, the reason why she did that is because she’s looking for attention for herself, how selfish and pathetic she is? She need to use a pet to make herself look good (she think). The dog is always hiding in a corner after he got his “new & trendy” hair style, I think he must have feel so shame when he look at himself in mirror.
My point is as a human, we should never sacrificed others to make ourselves look good, it’s just plain stupid.
Dear Rinpoche,
OH MY BUDDHA!!!
Below Are My Thoughts On This Article
1. Can’t believe that there are such people would do this to their dogs just to make them look colorful, look like an animal such as a panda, Camel, Horse tiger and etc.
2. If i had a dog i would NEVER IN MY WHOLE LIFE do this to my dog.
3. Just makes me so sad to know people would go to the extent to dye their dogs and make then look so stupid
4. I also think that animals are nice just the way they are. There is no need to dye or make the dog look like an animal, it just make them look so stupid.
5.To me, this is abusing animals in an indirect way, this is because most dogs would probably dislike having their fur being dyed.
Love
Jutika
I can’t believe why they are having pets or dogs in the first place! My thought is the dog became a property to the dog owner. Instead of being a friend the dog is owned by the owner in the sense the owner thinking he can do whatever he likes to his dog. It is not about love anymore, it is twisted love. Human can use whatever reasons to justify his actions. This is such an example.
I love dogs. I definitely won’t do this to my dog. Animals look beautiful already by it nature look. They are not a doll, they have feeling too. They don’t look happy at all, they have to suffer and being uncomfortable.
I will not do this to any animal, because it shows how much disrespect we have by doing so. Dyeing animals are solely for the owners’ own entertainment. It is a direct way of saying that the animals should pretend to be something that they are not and should cover their true self. This reflects directly on the owners’ mind. If anyone of you are thinking about this, please ask yourself how would you feel if someone did this to you?
transforming an already cute dog into something else and dyeing them in colours is so so wrong. I definitely do not agree with such act. Hideous!!
I do not approve of this,but I rather see this activity and see the interest of people with their pets (as long as they don’t get hurt)than seeing the Chinese and Koreans slaughtering and torturing dogs and cats for the meat and fur trade.
I will not do this to animals, but I won’t say I am against it also. It is on the basis that I won’t stop others from dying their hair. There are some people who dye their hair for certain valid reasons, while some do it just for the beauty reasons. The same should be applied to animals too.
However, it is very important that the animals are not hurt along the way.
Color ( Chemical ) can spoiled Animals skin, disagree to do that on Animals. Thank You Rinpoche for sharing this to us. 🙂
Best Regards : Erickksiow
Seriously?!?! How bored can someone be to do something like this to their pet? Can I dye ur body with any color I like and expect you to be ok with it coz you cant react? Why torture the dog like that? Even humans can have skin allergy when we dye our hair. Dogs are meant to be companions. Not a toy! I would rather dress them up in cute little outfits.
I feel this is a very sick way to treat dogs. Dogs should remain as how they should look and not as an object for pet owners to do as they like. Pet owners should respect them and not treat them as an accessory.
How would we feel if someone bleached us, paint or tattoo our body without our consent? I hope the pet owners will treat their pets with love and respect and not subject them to this abuse.
These pictures really make me feel uncomfortable. Why should human beings treat their pets like that?thank you rinpoche for sharing .
If it doesn’t hurt the dog, I don’t see anything wrong with it. Dogs don’t realize how funny-looking they are, and wouldn’t find the process of styling much more traumatic than ordinary bathing, grooming, and nail-clipping (which my dog dislikes very much).
As for the *human* psychology behind this, I have to admit wondering how anyone has this much time. When you think about it, though, it’s not any weirder than say, practicing Tibetan Buddhism. Actually it reminds me of those children’s beauty pageants (think Jon-Benet Ramsey or Little Miss Sunshine).
This is really bad, how can we do this to the animals, even though they can’t speak, but animals has feeling too, they will get hurt too, but because they loves their master so much, they suffers in silence.
Let’s change the scenario, if we were to be forced to dyed our body to another colour, how do we feel? if we been forced to tatoo all over our body with some very ugly image, how will we feel?
We don’t like something, then we shouldn’t do it to others, being it a different species. We must stop animal abuse.
哇。。把可爱狗狗的毛发染上五颜六色，那副可怜的模样，可怜狗狗有内心苦说不出如果真的爱护动物，为何如此残忍。把快乐建狗狗身上，我们人的心是怎么了。。。 这样的做法真的太过份了，实在是令人反感！大自然的环境是狗狗的快乐天堂。
I think it’s a sheer waste of money to dye one’s dog(s). The owners are just displaying their need for attention using their dogs as an accessory. The poor dogs. On the one hand, they may live in luxury since their owners are definitely rich. On the other hand, they have to suffer the discomfort of having something chemical and foreign on their bodies which may be harmful to their health in the long run. Can this be considered abuse of animals?
I am lost for words…totally ridiculous. How about dyeing the owner’s hair and skin to look like a clown permanently! I don’t think this is love for their pets at all but rather using animals for their selfish amusements…. which to me is animal cruelty!
哇。。看看那些可爱的狗狗那副可怜的模样！它们只是开不了口说出内心的话，并不代表它们同意允许我们在它们的毛发身上染上五颜六色的染色，这样的做法实在是令人反感！
如果是真正的爱护和喜欢动物的话，绝对不会对喜欢的狗狗做出这样的行为，这些染色会对狗狗的肤质或体质造成副作用或是致命。
不要把自己的快乐建筑在动物身上，不要认为它们乐在其中，其实它们一点也不快乐，要让它们快乐的话请给予它们爱心，让它们快乐的成长，让它们活在大自然的环境中。
Human are so possessive till they reach the point that they want full control or 101% control of their pets! How their pets should look like, how their pets should behave…everything has to be what they want. They treat their pets as their goods.
Here’s something to share too: “RSPCA says people who dress up their dogs could be prosecuted”
Experts believe there are occasions where dog clothing is acceptable, such as with small dogs and short-haired varieties, and during cold weather.
Jess Bland, a professional dog walker and pet sitter, says: “Dog clothing certainly serves its purpose when it’s cold and wet, but it has to fit properly.
Jo Barr, RSPCA spokeswoman, said: “We’re concerned that any pet should be viewed as a fashion accessory. Taking on an animal is a long-term commitment. It’s quite humiliating and sends out the wrong message about pet care.“
Read more at: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/4227567/RSPCA-says-people-who-dress-up-their-dogs-could-be-prosecuted.html
Love all the people for who they are, love your pets for who they are. Wish them for a better change in mind and health, not the outer look…if you truly love them and care for them.
Visually these pictures may look interesting to some, but I really felt heart wrenching when i saw this. This is totally inhuman. Yes i agree to the fact that some coloring products are proven safe to the skin or whatsoever and go ahead to use this excuse to support your action. However, standing at the humanity point of view, I don’t agree to color our pets for selfish reasons. This kind of self-entertained, vain and abusive actions really shouldn’t be encouraged.
Imagine your daughter’s boyfriend get her to tattoo tiger stripes all over the body and make her go plastic surgery to do Megan Fox’s face. Reason being he loves her and he has a fetish of tiger stripes, he would love her gf looks like one. How would you feel? Disgusting and gross eh? A dog and your daughter is the same, they are all living beings.
They are great,doggies also have fashion show now . Just for their fun only,but didn’t think about their own pet whether is happy or not?
I’m quite horrified to see these images of dyed dogs… No, I wouldn’t do it to my own pets… for the same reasons I don’t support going to circuses with animals or animal shows. I believe that every animal must be respected for its own grandeur and uniqueness. Imposing our ideas of what is beautiful and entertaining destroys an animal’s dignity and turns them into just a plaything for us, instead of as another equal sentient being.
I understand things like clothing for our pets as a way of keeping them warm, for example, but things like dyes are unnecessary and humiliating for the animals. No matter how “safe” one might claim the dyes to be, the plain fact is that we would still be adding unnecessary chemicals to the animal’s fur and skin and exposing him/her to risk. There’s absolutely no benefit that could be derived for the animal – it’s really only for our own entertaining… and is it really worth the potential health risks and loss of dignity that we put our pet through? I don’t think so.
怎么把这些可爱的小动物搞得四不像呢？
这些主人，把自己的快乐建筑在小动物的身上！
I like animals in their natural and original looks. For some people they think this can be a good business to cater for the needs of the pet owners, some might think its creative and fun and it looks like it has become a trend to dye or colour your pets.I feel sorry for the animals which have gone through this type of “Transformation”.
It’s quite creative on the artist to trim the dog into tiger like, horse or panda. But i it’s not right to treat our pet as an accessory to please ourselves.
I think it is inevitable that pet owners will do this to their pets. I think the coloring of our pets is not bad per se especially when we use non-toxic dyes, However it becomes bad when the culture of treating our mets as mere ornaments promotes greater abuse of pets. This is especially apparent when they grow older, when their fur falls off due to excessive dying or when the colors no longer amuse the owners.
Hence, you will find a lot of older pets are abandoned on the streets and some with signs of abuse. It would be good to care for pets as this teaches to care and be sensitive towards the needs of another being but we must always do it sensibly and know our boundaries especially when we are overly objectify our pets as mere cute walking ornaments.
this is light form of animal abuse
I would not do it for a the simple reason that I love and respect my dogs. Lucas nailed it on the head when he said, dogs are beautiful already as they are. When you do something like this to your dog, they become accessories and freak shows. Thats not the right way to treat a being that is well known for its unconditional love and loyalty to its owners.
Human beings are very bored with their lives and they go to more and more extremes to amuse themselves. This fad just says to me that we are a long way from understanding and appreciating the value of every life. Is is that difficult to accept that we should treat every life the way we would lile to be treated?
this is another round to show selfish human being..poor dog they cannot speak up and voice out their mind, human just torture the dogs with they way they want..if human being dying for color, will they able to smile again ??
Dyeing your dog, changing them to look like what you want them to be shows a big ego trip on the owners What happens to the poor dog when they get tired of it? If they want a camel or tiger, go to the zoo or animal sanctuary. And after changing them to look like the animals they want, i suppose the owners would also want them to behave the same. Its ridiculous and trying to change the force of nature.
Oh no! I will not do this to my pet. Just like humans, I must love and accept them for what they are. This make-believe look is not for my pets…anyway thank you for posting Rinpoche. At least we now know to what extent some people will do this to their pets.
Em…the owner is spending so much that they think it makes the doggie looks outstanding and glamour is the best gift for the pets or feeling proud to own the ‘cute’ pets ever! Worst scenario is human is going to transplant the pet’s ear or tail into their body and ‘being one’/union with their pet in the future… and human think, “isn’t that cool?”. We got to do something about it, right now!
Oh my lord… this is awful!!! Those dogs faces says it all… they are NOT HAPPY! Human can really be so selfish and cruel. Their dog is merely a toy to them to do as they please just cause they are the owner[sigh].
It is so sad that so many dogs and animals are just another object to ‘human’ to do as they like… I don’t think any dog will appreciate what is being done to them, but they cannot speak….just look in to their eyes it says it all. I definitely vote for loving your dog naturally and in it’s own beautiful fur!
It may seems trivial way and an amusement to the dog owners but I really think this is a sick way to treat dogs. They have a right to look the way they are. And it is horrifying to see the dogs look like camels and horses! Would you ridicule your child like that if you love your dog as your child?
There’s always a chance of poisoning no matter how safe the manufacturer claims the colouring to be. Would you risk that on yourself?
It is not kind at all for any one to color their pet’s fur, using mainly dyes meant for coloring human hair. Animals have skin and animal parts that are sensitive and delicate and can be hurt easily.Animals will scratch and touch their eyes afterwards transferring the dye to them.
The reason for dyeing the pet’s fur is so ridiculous. All in the name of fashion. Pet owners would court harm for their pets just so that they can complement the color of their clothes and be a fashion accessory. Some would even dye black rings around the eyes to make their pet look like a panda! How insanely selfish!
At a glance the dogs really look cute ,but were the dogs given a chance weather they would like to be treated so.The poor dog really have no choice but to act out the owner fantasy or ego.The only benefit the pets receive is momentary admiration and attention by the on lookers.If the owner really love their pets,they could send them for grooming, but leave their basic natural looks.Give the poor pet their own dignity that all sentient beings deserve.To love them is to respect them first.
OH MY GOODNESS! This is seriously uncalled for. Why one would want to make one’s poor pooch look like something other than a dog or some perverse multi-coloured play thing!
The effects of dying one’s own hair has been said to not be a good thing in the long run, as it could cause hair degeneration, hair loss and or Alopecia. Imagine our the poor dog!
I say, if one would like to succumb one’s dog to such treatment, ask yourself if you can do it to yourself first then if your answer is yes, then go ahead and have matching hair-dos with colours!!!
What will people think of next? Sigh!
Actually, if the products that the groomers or owners used are proven and tested to be not harmful, I don’t see anything very wrong about coloring our dog’s hair (except for the fact that you’re just satisfying your wants rather than the dog’s…) after all, we do it for ourselves as well hehe…
However, it becomes very bad and harmful when owners do not research and just use whatever products that is able to change the color of their dogs hair.
For example – chalk. I would definitely NOT use chalk on my dog to color his hair. Why? Obviously it is harmful when the dog licks the chalk that is used on the fur/hair.
This is not the dye itself that cause the harm, but it is the owner’s irresponsible behavior. There are many things that a dog can be harmed besides coloring his hair if the owner is irresponsible and not careful to what they give and use on their pets… for example certain flowers/plants/food are poisonous to dogs and we all know some people still give it to their dogs or have it very easily accessible to their dogs.
So, when we allow ourselves to behave in such irresponsible manner for our dogs, it is like being a very irresponsible parent to our children. Leaving the medicine cabinet open, allowing children to play with dangerous electronic devices.
The bottom line is? Be a responsible owner. If you really want to show you love your dog, he can really use some outdoor walking and fun, not coloring his hair.
I would never never dream of doing anything like this to any animal least of all to my babies !
The people who does this are vain, ignorant and do not have their pet’s welfare in mind. Not only will these dye cause allergic reactions,it can also be poisonous !I feel it is also degrading and humiliating to the doggies ! Why can’t these people love their pets as who they truly are and how Nature had made them ?
I feel sad for the dogs. It reflects the state of the owners’ mentality. How can altering the physical look of an animal bring any thrill and joy. The dyes will harm the dogs fur and skin. These poor animals cant do anything to stop it. I think the dogs feel sad but can speak out. At one time, my dog had to have his fur cut very very short due to some skin problem. I remembered he felt “naked” and shy and he hid in the room refusing to come out. And he curled himself into a ball to hide his nakedness. Dogs have feelings too.
I will never do this to my dogs, how can people make them like a clown infront of everyone as they have feelings too. it will hurt and damage their skin as well 🙁
It is ridiculous to groom them like a Panda, hourse!! Silly act of human.
Oh my god, this is terrible Rinpoche, i cant believe that people would ever do this to an animal. I would never ever do this to any animal. If this is what dogs get for loving you, then its plain wrong. Thank you for sharing this with us Rinpoche. I will share this on facebook for my next ABC post.
These pictures really make me feel uncomfortable. Why should human beings treat their pets like that? Can we imagine our hair or whole body being dyed without our permission?
I just read an article on the risk of dyeing dogs’ hair. http://www.cesarsway.com/dog-care/dog-grooming/Dyeing-Your-Dogs-Hair-Is-a-Bad-Idea
Here are some key points:
1. Hair dyes are designed for people
No hair dyes specifically made for dogs, no studies can show if there are long term side effect. And dogs’ skin may be more sensitive to harsh chemical.
2.Health Risks
Unlike people, who only dye the hair on one portion of their bodies, a dog must have its entire body covered in hair dye which may cause skin irritation. Dogs may lick the dye during and after the process. These may cause a number of health risks.
3. Psychological ramifications
Dog may not understand why they are being dyed.
If we really love our dog, we should show them more empathy. Yes we are not dogs, we may not totally understand how they feel, but at least what we can do is not to give them whatever we ourselves don’t like.
This fad is really appalling but there are more fashion statements for pets which are even more detrimental than clipping and dyeing, such as clipping the ears, docking tails and in-breeding of pedigree dogs which result in magnification of weaknesses of the breeds. German Shepherds have weak hind legs because of in-breeding and the shape of their hind legs are supposed to be attractive but results in weak hips when the dogs get older. Pedigree dogs suffer the most. Ironic really, since they are supposed to be the most treasured.
I would not support this kind of activity. I know that a lot of people think that after the dogs are being dyed they will look better and prettier but for me i still prefer not to dye my dog (if i have a dog) because i prefer their natural colour because they were supposed to be in that colour. So please don’t dye your dog. Thank you
Oh my god! This is so so bad! Why ‘duplicate’ the dogs into different types of animals when they originally are dogs? Every one of them has it’s own unique look. As what the people always say, ‘to be yourself’. So why are the people doing that to the poor doggies? They have feelings too..I feel so bad for the dogs..
Thank You for sharing Rinpoche.
Love, beatrix.
Maybe I am still not that receptive of this new idea, but looking at these pictures of in my eyes overly-done coloured dogs make me feel sad.
With these colouring, dogs seem to have become toys, or things that their owners use to show off themselves.
I think I wont mind to have my dog to be dyed for special occasion, but this will not be frequent and she will not become a clown. I wont want to get her sick or to have allergy problems as well.
The saddest scenario will be that after sometimes of toying, these dogs are chucked aside when their owners have run out of ideas to amuse themselves with these dog colouring. This will be the saddest day for these dogs, because at-home dogs most likely cannot survive outdoor lives. I would hate to see dogs with fading colours being thrown outside just because their owners have got sick of seeing them.
I definitely not do something like that to my poodles. Coloring them with any type of ingredients definitely BIG NO NO ! I love dogs with natural beauty not the fake artificial beauty…
I guess the dogs are living substitute for dolls. Dress them up, play wt them, show them off and if bored, give away (hope not). Sad how the dogs are not appreciated for their natural state and how fickle humans can be in wanting to impose their ideals on others. I love my dogs in their natural beautiful state.
This is definitely not something that I will do to my baby boy, Gizmo.
Why make a dog look like a panda or a tiger if they’re… a dog? Dogs are endearing as they are, and the potential discomfort inflicted on a dog should not be worth attempting to make them look like something that they’re not.
If I wouldn’t dye leopard patches onto my child, I wouldn’t dye patches onto my dog. If I wouldn’t hit my child, I wouldn’t hit my dog. Both the child and the dog is a living being.
Would you dye black patches around your child to make him look like a panda? I’d just go to the Panda zoo in Chengdu and get my annual fix of “OMG THEY’RE SO CUTE!!!”.
I wouldn’t do this as well. The first sight of these cute doggies transformed into other animals is really shocking. These are living beings which we shouldn’t make them our dolls!
Oh my, this is so not needed. Animals look beautiful on the outside already, people don’t need to make them look different. I would never do this to my dog, and it might be causing discomfort to the dog, did these people think of the dogs comfort ? treat a dog with care and love, and you will be happy.
Yes Lucas, I agree with you. We take a dog home to take care of it and become friends. They are not to be taken for entertainment and sued as accessories as and when we want. We have to think deeper before transforming a dog into something else.