This just makes my stomach hurt in a variety of ways.  

http://uk.screen.yahoo.com/extreme-dog-makeover-show-172000908.html

So THAT'S what poodles are for!

Omg I just burst out laughing at my desk.
I dont know if this is funny or cruel.
Let give it up for some creativity though!

Those colors clearly make them better hunting dogs, right?

Wow. Every time I see dogs with their fur dyed, it upsets me a little. Is it even ok to do that to their fur? I know that dogs don't know how ridiculous they look, but it's a shame when people get them for "fashion" reasons instead of what they were bred for.

It said somewhere they use vegetable dye for the colorings, so ostensibly it's safe. ??

I love the quote from the photographer: "These dog shows are just the bomb."

I have to be honest though, this makes me feel better about how obsessed with Dizzy I am. It just raised the bar of crazy.

We can't all be the bomb Jen, it's ok.

I'm just going to have to accept the fact that I'm only the second best creative dog show photographer in the industry.

You're like the firecracker.

I'm the match.   

Wow, what did I just watch. Now my coworkers think I am even more of the crazy dog person.

At least you haven't shaven Arya to look like a green and blue #12 Zach. You could be crazier.

She rocked a seahawks bandana during our Superbowl Run. But nothing to crazy haha. She would hate me, if I shaved her.

I just wonder...if PETA protests Westminster on certain grounds, how would that compare to this type of show?

I mean at least normal dog shows have a reasonable, tangible purpose behind them that this type of show does not.

What do yall think about this, more seriously? Can we distinguish Westminster type shows from this? Does this cross the line? Where is the line drawn?

Honestly, PETA and HSUS think that we shouldn't even be allowed to keep pets. To them, westminster is abusive. I'm sure this would be considered horrifically abusive.

The major difference to me is essentially the end result. At regular dog shows, you get dogs groomed up, but generally they look like dogs, not like froot loops. There is a ton of product used on dogs at shows, chalk to make the feet whiter, mousse, spray, nail polish, spot remover, sharpie to cover up snow noses (never met someone that does this, but have heard rumors) every beauty product you can think of for humans exists for dogs. So I don't necessarily think this is inhumane or a whole lot different from normal shows, but it's just really freakin weird.

Whoa Sharpie snow-nose cover up?? Yikes.

Yes, PETA would say that the continual existence of pure bred dogs is wrong THEREFORE dog shows are wrong.

I see it as: I agree with the existence of pure bred dogs and I can justify their continuation THEREFORE we need standards and we need breeders and we need conformation based shows.

That's kinda what I was onto though, a very small degree difference on the slippery slope.

The intent behind each show is quite different even if the mechanics involved with the actual dogs may in fact not be, as in how we get them all prettied up.

Arguing why a poodle needs to be white or black as opposed to green and painted like Kermit the Frog may be more difficult than arguing why Westminster is more humane than the Extreme show.

I feel compelled to draw up an argument as to why a show like the Extreme one is wrong compared to a conformation show which I think is necessary and right, but I am not sure I have the energy now.

That was disturbing. I think there is a definite difference between this and a show like Westminster. The extreme use of dye and various hair products to get the animals fur to do some of those crazy things cannot be healthy for them to breath in nor healthy for their fur no matter how natural the product might be. Salt is natural but when I go to the beach and swim in the ocean my hair is a wreck afterwards. It's nearly impossible to tell if some of those even are dogs much less what breed at times. How many of those dogs get completely shaved after a show like that so that their fur can grow back evenly after the tons of sculpting? I look at a show like Westminster and yes there's a lot of preening that goes on that poor dogs have to sit through, but that show celebrates and educates about what all of these breeds are supposed to be, what they are used for and what a quality specimen looks like. Good dog shows leave people wanting a quality show worthy dog. A show like this just leaves most people scratching their heads. On another note: Dogs weren't bred to show, they were bred to work, and we just repurposed some to show. So, IMO, if we truly wanted to stick with the purpose of our dogs, shows of any kind wouldn't exist.

I agree with you about the necessity of one vs. the other, but just because it's not necessary doesn't make it wrong. To me the major thing wrong with this type of thing is just the grooming process itself. Standing on a grooming table for two hours plus cannot be pleasant, but again in certain breeds that much prep time or more is spent.

This is similar to our discussion last week, only this time our positions are reversed. You're looking at the result, I'm looking at the process.

And yes sharpie snow-nose cover up. Some people will do anything to win.

Good point Jenn, there is a definite attempt to educate and inform with a show like Westminster.

Ok, I will flat out say that Sharpie snow-nose cover up is wrong. Ethical conversations can get ugly and result in line drawing that puts some folks on the wrong side of the tracks, but so be it. IF your dog is faulted for having snow-nose then you have a faulty dog with this judge, and IF you cover it and win then your are a manipulative liar. I can't see any reasonable middle ground.

I guess my argument against this show would be very similar if not identical to my argument about why dogs shouldn't be carried around in purses.

I'll just leave it at that.

The European equivalent of Westminster, Crufts, does not allow product to be used on the dogs, and also focuses more on working ability. There was quite an uproar over the Siberian that won BOB because according to many here 'he looks like a racing dog.' Don't even get me started on racing vs. working. YES there is a difference.

Also, snow nose is not a fault, some just don't like loss of pigment.

Right Jenn.

Poodle grooming, in the basic sense, is part of breed purpose and practical functioning.

Poodle grooming, in the artistic EXTREME sense, is part of frivolous human entertainment.