Dog Dye Afternoon

The American media is desperate to report on "designer dogs." So desperate that they sought out a dog owner in Japan who dyed his poodle-Maltese hybrid (Maltepoo? Pooese) to look like a panda, coining the phrase, "panda dog." Now, Gothamist loves pandas and dogs and would love to own a panda dog. But dyeing your dog's hair every month, to maintain its perfectly panda fur? Yes, we have a dreamed of panda dogs before, and yes, it was special dog dye, but still - if dog dying is half as expensive has human hairdyeing, that's a lotta coin. Anyway, in the case of this dog, WNBC 10 in Philadelphia reports, "His owner said dying the dog to look like a panda made sense, because it always had stains around its eyes."

So you tell us: Is dyeing your dog's fur ethically wrong or obviously what you need to do to have a close panda simulation - or a dog with goopy eyes? And this slideshow of Columbo is awesome.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jen Chung in Arts & Entertainment on November 28, 2005 2:37 PM

Comments [rss]

Mark

'American media is desperate'

nice. so true. :D

Ashleigh

Where can i find hair dye thats safe for dogs?

Catherine

As an owner of a grooming salon, I must say hair dying for dogs isn't as scary as it seems. The dog doesn't notice much difference yet the owner is all fascinated by her/his fancy looking pet. And afterall, there are so many cruel things people do to their pets, why concentrate on people who are simply trying to make their pet look bette? Although everyone cusses down Paris Hilton and people like that, but I think the way her pets live is much better than the way some dogs in your neighbours back garden live.

Catherine

As an owner of a grooming salon, I must say hair dying for dogs isn't as scary as it seems. The dog doesn't notice much difference yet the owner is all fascinated by her/his fancy looking pet. And afterall, there are so many cruel things people do to their pets, why concentrate on people who are simply trying to make their pet look bette? Although everyone cusses down Paris Hilton and people like that, but I think the way her pets live is much better than the way some dogs in your neighbours back garden live.

Rbg

We're attempting to dye our dog today, he has the same icky brown stain around the eyes and a dull color to his coat. I used to think dyeing was weird and wrong for animals, especially the bright colors, but I think the trimming of dogs to resemble bushes, clipping their ears, and other cosmetics that dog owners do on a regular basis is way worse than this. Even dressing dogs in outfits is more uncomfortable and irritating to dogs then color on their fur...

The dogs get a trim or shave in the hot weather anyway, and I seriously doubt noticing they are a different color will cause psychological damage.

Nikki

Colouring your dog is perfectly harmless as long as it's a dye MADE for dogs. There are a few brands out there that are ph balanced and are no more harmful then doing your own hair. I love it!

Toby

The slideshow also seems to be on the WNBC website.

chzplz

Not a panda dog, but check out this one:

http://www.canoe.ca/LifewiseFamilyPets00/1114_celebrity_sun.html

Marlen Copeland, wife of Michael Copeland - founder of Corel, has a famously bright pink Maltese, supposedly dyed because it too closely matched the carpet.

So many jokes about the carpet matching the curtains, so little time.

Toby

It is wrong to do that sort of stuff to dogs.

Also, there is only one WNBC, its WCAU down in Philadelphia not WNBC, although from the newscasts of theirs I have seen they would be better off with WNBC.