Things that just shouldn’t happen to any dog
By Gina Spadafori
October 28, 2008
Poodle groomed in a “vineyard” theme for a competion. He looks so good-natured about this nutty stuff, but honestly, who would blame him for biting the hand that dyed him? What jury could convict?
I don’t get it.
How is that relatively moderate haircut worse than, say, this?
http://www.bowecho.com/ann%27s%20mini.jpg
Dogs don’t care about hair dye.
Comment by H. Houlahan — October 28, 2008 @ 12:03 pm
Not any worse at all. The show thing looks just as ridiculous — more so, really, since hair extensions are involved!
Why can’t they just leave poodles to be, uh, normal?
Comment by Gina Spadafori — October 28, 2008 @ 1:03 pm
Eeewwwww. I would rather have a poodle that runs and get dirty than a dyed dog to look like a garden. But then again, I want a Newfie, big, black, hairy and drooling.
Puts a new meaning to “Garden Variety”
Some people have too much time and money.
Comment by Kate M — October 28, 2008 @ 2:23 pm
Technically, it’s illegal for a show poodle to have extensions or wigs in the ring. However, judges rarely check for them, so it gets by far more than it should.
Comment by Pai — October 28, 2008 @ 5:12 pm
I will never think poorly of the owner of a dog with painted nails again.
Comment by Susan Fox — October 28, 2008 @ 5:16 pm
Hair extensions?!! Seriously, I’m standing here with my mouth open.
Comment by Dutch — October 28, 2008 @ 6:40 pm
Creative grooming is fantastic! What better way to showcase how much of an art form good grooming really is?
Besides, H. Houlahan is right, the dog doesn’t care what colour it is.
Comment by Carol — October 28, 2008 @ 9:57 pm
I don’t doubt for one minute that good grooming is an art form and that most groomers should be granted sainthood.
But that dog looks ridiculous. The point of the show coat was (well, originally) supposed to be functional. Covering the joints to keep them warm since the poodle was supposed to be a water dog right? Something like that anyway. My definition of grooming would be to enhance the dog’s form or to make it easier for them to do what they were bred to do.
That purple dog just looks ridiculous.
Comment by Lori — October 29, 2008 @ 7:47 am
Sad. Sad. Sad. Sure, the poodle doesn’t care what color it is but does he (she?) mind the dye job? I, for one, can’t stand still for them—why would a dog want to?
Comment by Dr Patty Khuly — October 29, 2008 @ 8:28 am
The best I ever saw was on a website where the poodle owner and groomer styled 2 of her dogs with a mane and tail. The spoof was poking fun at designer breeds, and so she had created a poodle/pony designer hybrid. It was very clever and funny.
If you look at old artwork and photographs from the latter part of the 19th and early 20th centuries, you will see poodles with the coat clipped to have a mane around the neck and chest, fuzz on the joints and hip bones, and with or without clipped muzzles and mustaches. The depictions show a much more practical clip than today’s extreme show one.
I fail to see the relevance of such extremism. Either the coat is correct for the standard or it isn’t and no amount of extensions, teasing, spray, colorant and conditioner will make it so. All it does IMHO is detract from the dog.
Comment by Anne T — October 29, 2008 @ 11:35 am
Aww, I think creative grooming is fun! I’m not in love with the one you posted, but still, I think it’s cool.
And I never once dyed my poodle when I had her. Just sayin’. Mostly I kept her clipped short with just a top knot, tail pom, and ankle bracelets. She was old as dirt (15 when I got her) and not real thrilled by brushing, so keeping her short (ears and all) was much easier for both of us.
Comment by katie — October 29, 2008 @ 5:42 pm
Listen, in the great list of awful things that truly do happen to pets, there are like 10 million things worse than being dyed purple.
But … I just think it makes poodle look silly, when they’re really such smart, capable dogs.
Comment by Gina Spadafori — October 29, 2008 @ 8:12 pm
Dr. Khuly, the dyes they use on dogs are vegetable-based and short-lived. They don’t reek like human hair dyes. I hate sitting still even for a haircut, but most well cared-for poodles and other poof dogs learn to either like it or just zen out at an early age.
I think poodles pick up on the reactions of the people around them. If the people around the dog think it looks cool and swell, the poodle — as long as he’s physically comfortable — figures he’s cool and swell.
There was a very dignified standard poodle in an obedience class I took way back in the pre-dirt days. Dog was lovely, good-natured, and self-possessed.
One day her owner decided to clip her herself. I can tell you from my own life, a truly awful haircut will screw up your mojo. Dog came into class head hanging, tail down — looked like she wanted to crawl into herself until she disappeared.
The next week she was back with a short, professional puppy clip — and back to her old self.
She knew she looked good again from the reactions of the humans.
I can’t believe I’m defending dying a poodle purple. But in the great scheme of ridiculous things people do to dogs — dye washes out pretty fast.
And I’m certainly more tolerant of someone skillfully indulging a bit of whimsy and making no further claims about it than I am of someone with a topiaried ten-pound dog bloviating about Ye Standarde Moste Anciente & Pondorouse and “keeping their joints warm in the icy water.”
Comment by H. Houlahan — October 30, 2008 @ 7:14 am
More “creative” grooming.
Comment by Lori — December 8, 2008 @ 7:32 am
oh, and…don’t read the comments.
Comment by Lori — December 8, 2008 @ 7:33 am
Yes, well … I wouldn’t do that to a dog, BUT … isn’t it amazing how any criticism of what women do is so often expressed as “she’s fat” or “she’s ugly”?
Really, the creativity involve in the grooming is stunning, but … couldn’t they take up topiary instead? I mean, it doesn’t harm the dog, but it sure as hell must bored them to tears to sit there through all that work.
Poodles are such bright and active dogs, and to put up with this silliness is a testimony to the temperament of the dogs involved. But it can’t be much fun for the dogs.
For a better day for a poodle, how about this?
Comment by Gina Spadafori — December 8, 2008 @ 7:55 am
Someone who has noticed that poodles are water retrievers! I love it! Thank you!
Comment by Lis — December 8, 2008 @ 8:31 am
You went ahead and read the comments, didn’t you? We’ve made great strides, but sometimes I wonder.
Cool! That silver poodle is really pretty, I’ve never seen one that color. I’ve heard that poodles are among the smartest breds.
Comment by Lori — December 8, 2008 @ 8:42 am
I have done field training with a woman who has a poodle. He’s not that into it, really, but he’s more than willing and no priss.
On the other hand, when I was visiting in Texas, I met a woman with some GREAT working poodles. Were they up to the class of the top field Labs? No, but they more than held their own, and clearly loved the work.
Comment by Gina Spadafori — December 8, 2008 @ 8:57 am