Meet the Tiger Dog!

[AndThePickles]

This is awesome.

The dog that's just dyeing to be a tiger: How Chinese owners turn their pets into exotic wildlife in new craze



By Mail Foreign Service
Last updated at 1:29 PM on 8th June 2010


If this strange creature growled at you, you wouldn't know whether to run from his sharp claws or pat him on the head and give him a biscuit.
From a distance, its striped orange and black coat makes it look like a particularly odd tiger.
But it's actually a retriever, the victim of the latest craze among some dog owners in China to dye their pets to look like other animals.
The Chinese are always quick to embrace bizarre trends, and it is not unusual for owners to take their dogs to grooming parlours where they are not only given a shampoo and trim, but a multi-coloured dye job as well.

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 at 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


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.
Quite what the animals might think about it is another matter.

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

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...-owners-dye-pets-look-like-wild-animals.html#

 

[Sentinel X]

The panda dogs are actually pretty cute. I wonder how much that would cost.

Not that I want one... ...okay, maybe I do.

 

[Morg]

Please host the pics yourself, thanks

 

[Green Lantern]

The panda dogs are made from my favorite breed of dog. I love Chows. I had mine for 15 years before he passed on

 

[SuperFerret]

As long as the dyes aren't harmful, I see no issue with it, aside from the fact that it's unnecessary and kinda pointless.

 

[Kelly]

As long as the dyes aren't harmful, I see no issue with it, aside from the fact that it's unnecessary and kinda pointless.

Agreed...

 

[Morg]

As long as the dyes aren't harmful, I see no issue with it, aside from the fact that it's unnecessary and kinda pointless.

It's in China dude, they already famous in putting deadly toxins in other stuff

 

[SuperFerret]

I know it's in China, hence the "as long as the dyes aren't harmful" part.

 

[Lunar_Wolf]

........Ughhhh....hmmm.....

 

[Wolfwood]

I'd love a panda dog just to **** with people's minds, cause you'd know there be a few people who would look at one and think "Holy ****, that's a baby panda!"

 

[TNC9852002]

Oh lawd, why?!

 

[Spidey-Bat]

I wonder what would happen if the dog looked itself in the mirror.

I just realized, they mentioned this on Arrested Development. There was a flashback to when Lindsay started a business that dyed dogs.

 

[SuperFerret]

It would try to get to the other dog.

 

[Spidey-Bat]

Mine has developed self-awareness. He used to bark when he looked in a mirror but now he seems to know it's him. But paint him like a tiger and he'd probably freak out.

 

[SuperFerret]

All dogs are self-aware (as are most animals), but knowing what a mirror is is a different story.

 

[The Battousai]

True, but few animals are capable of self-recognition (like apes or elephants)

 

[Logan's Lady]

I have a bad feeling these dyes are harmful. Which is just sad.

 

[AndThePickles]

The responses in this thread are disappointing. Why so serious people?! These dogs look like PANDAS and TIGERS!!! I think it looks so cool, and it's very well done. At least these animals aren't living on the street or being killed in a dog pound. Yeesh!

 

[Bad Superman]

The look beautiful but if the dye harms them, Im against this.

 

[Erzengel]

I want a Tiger Dog. Now since they can make ones that look like pandas. Look one look like Pooh Bear. And then do a small one to look like piglet and I'd be set.

 

[AndThePickles]

Holy moly guys. Ok, for those who are concerned, I did some research, and here is how the trend appears to have started...with DOG SAFE DYE.

The Mysterious Panda Dog - What IS it (and how can I get one!??)


Obscenely cute and somewhat controversial - the Panda Dog has taken Japan by storm!
Is it a new hybrid species born of an innocent but forbidden love affair between a panda and a dog? (That's a mental picture that's difficult to erase from my mind.....)
Or maybe it's a photoshopped image some cruel and bored person created to pull our legs (and if so, will it one day be categorized with the Loch Ness and Bigfoot under 'mythical creatures'?)
Oddly enough - it's not so much a mystery as it is a tale of love, passion, rescue, and a big bottle of black (doggie-safe) hair dye....

Named after the quirky detective in the hit TV series 'Columbo', this Maltese-Poodle mix is the talk of the town in Tokoyo. His owner, Kensuke Hirakawa, adopted him after Columbo's previous owner abandoned him (reportedly due to his ugly looks...) and had sent him off to die.
Although Columbo was a bit aggressive and barked non-stop at first, Kensuke saw potential in this little droopy-eyed fur ball and took him in and he soon became tame. Poor Columbo had been through a lot and had the marks to prove it - a stiff back leg, tear-stained eyes and all his canine teeth had been removed (to prevent biting). But being a former beautician and pet shop owner, it didn't take long for Kensuke to hatch a crazy little plan for an Extreme Doggie Makeover!
Using completely safe (non-toxic) black hair color for dogs, Kensuke dyed parts of Columbo's dingy white fur in the striking pattern of the panda that most of Asia is so well known for.
And boy did he stand out! Once a mixed breed mongrel tossed aside because of his looks, Columbo is not only the most talked about and adored dog in the neighborhood (and probably all of Asia as well), he's also now the poster dog and mascot in a campaign to save the abandoned and abused dogs of Tokoyo. Kensuke only hopes that this will help teach others how to be responsible and love their pets. (I know there's a moral in there somewhere....)

Kensuke said that dying Columbo's hair just made sense - he'd always had stains around his eyes. And the good news is that the dye isn't permanent. Since it only lasts about a month, Kensuke can change Columbo on a whim! Who knows....maybe he'll show up as a tiger or leopard next month!
To see a short video clip of Columbo and Kensuke in action, keep reading!


But Wait! There's More.......!

Seems Columbo started a hip new trend - now Panda Dogs are popping up everywhere!

http://hubpages.com/hub/panda-dog

 

[SuperFerret]

True, but few animals are capable of self-recognition (like apes or elephants)

That's the term I was looking for. Also, that "few" is just based off of an observation of animals that display behaviour that suggests self-recognition. There's no real way, short of telepathy or being able to talk to the animals, to know for sure what (and in some cases, if*) they're thinking.


*I adhere to the idea that nearly all animals (with the exception of some really primitive invertebrates) have some sort of cognitive and emotional ability. It's really just a matter of how much and how different from our perception of thought and emotion they are.

 

[Bad Superman]

If it's dog safe, I WANT ONE!!

 

[Erzengel]

Holy moly guys. Ok, for those who are concerned, I did some research, and here is how the trend appears to have started...with DOG SAFE DYE.

http://hubpages.com/hub/panda-dog

Some posters need a shot of sense of humor. It should be administered rectally so they also remove the stick.

 

[Firm18]

As long as the dyes don't hurt the animal I guess it's fine.
I must say it looks hillarious.