BellaOnline Forums Home and Garden Dogs Woman dyes poodle pink, gets fined

I would also say that dogs in shows should be the natural dog without any glitz or other things, otherwise you're judging the dog's fashion designer

It's disturbing. Dog's aren't meant to be pink or any other color. I'm all for the pink sweater.

But they're not "natural" dogs by any means--they're clipped, primped, fluffed, spritzed, dyed, perfumed, etc. And that's considered acceptable. Go to a horse show and you'll see much the same, including dyed hooves. I've even seen powdered pigs at stock-shows. Is it abusive/cruel? I'm not sure I'd go that far (lord, look what we humans do to ouselves). It it in bad taste? Eh... Are these people displaying a modicum of common sense, doubtful. Do the animals care? We can't really ask them; and frankly, the ones at the dog shows appear to love the pampering.

There's no such thing as a natural dog, full stop.
Ever since we have decided to domesticate the wolf, (which is basically, what they all are...!) we have so messed about with its appearance, shape, height, colouring, and we have focussed on creating dogs that initially were used for three main things:
Hunting, fighting or companionship. period.
Now we are prissying them up, growing long fringes (that eliminate eye contact) croping their ears (which makes them stand up and that's a sign of aggression in a dog!) and docking their tails - one of the most important communication devices a dog has!!
we've created long coats that drag all over the place and require extensive grooming... have you ever seen a wolf need a brush and comb - ?!
Now, we don't even use the dogs for their original purpose... The dogs that are used for hunting are few and far between.. you use a hunting dog if you happen to be ahunter, but anyone buying an afghan hound, a deer hound, a wolf hound or a greyhound, or a lurcher, or a labrador, or a cockler spaniel or a setter or a bassett or a springer... is buying a hunting dog and never hunting!
So no wonder we have behavioural problems too!

A Show dog in the UK has to be a good, healthy example of that breed with no bits altered, docked, trimmed or removed. Spayed dogs are not accepted. A dog has to be 'whole'.

Nothing altered, docked, or trimmed? Wow. The spayed/neutered thing applies here, mostly. But not the rest.

Nope.
Clipping ears has always been illegal. Docking tails came in, in February 2007. If a showdog had it's tail docked before 2007, it may still be entered, but it now stands less of a chance....
Spayed dogs are not elligible, because it means that if the breed is in need of new blood, they can be used for mating. Therefore they're firing on all cylinders, as it were, and in perfect possession of all their faculties.

Poodles are groomed for show in Europe. Trimming is necessary, and no, wolves didn't have a 'brush', however, they rubbed against trees etc. to remove undercoat.
I recommend to my clients, making games and activities that stimulate the natural instincts of their breed.
My Standard Poodles, AKC has them classified as 'non sporting', at one time were hunting dogs. I try to get them to the river as much as possible, but when at home we hide toys on lower branches of trees, and other places to simulate "hunting"... it is exhausting for them and very satisfing. Also focus on physical and mental activities, agility jumps, basic obedience, they must be stimulated or behavior issues arise.

I am a canine behavioral consultant, and observe many obsessive behaviors that could be prevented before I am called in.
Unfortunatley, so many people think these behaviors are funny, chasing tails relentlessly, etc.....
Until the dog resorts to an aggressive form of acting out. And then it isn't so funny.
Joan