Tuesday 30 August 2011

Designer Dogs


No doubt, dear readers, you’ve all seen pictures of pampered pooches being carried by public people who are famous for being famous – or even infamous. Those coddled canines 
are usually toy dogs – Chihuahuas, Yorkshire Terriers, Poodles, Pomeranians among others.

Frequently they are dressed in what appear to be doll’s clothes but are garments manufactured specifically for the besotted proud owner to attire the chosen victim pet. Yes, there is a whole industry devoted to creating Designer Outfits for Discerning Dogs. The animals are primped and trimmed, sometimes coloured to match their outfits, decorated with bows and ribbons.

Sometimes, these parodies apologies dear little dogs are transported in specially designed prams so that their sweet paws never come into contact with the filthy outside world. Let me be clear – an elderly dog that has been active all its life but then needs help to walk in its twilight years does not come into the same category as the travesties tiny organisms that have been successively misbred to produce something so far removed from the wolf, the common ancestor of all dogs, that they are frequently incapable of breeding and reproducing without considerable human – usually veterinary – assistance.

Many of today’s breeds are afflicted with breathing and mobility difficulties. Much of the blame may be laid at the feet of the show dog fraternity and the governing bodies thereof. ‘Beauty’ follows a standard to which show dogs must conform.

Notwithstanding, a new breed of Designer Dog has emerged. Please be upstanding and welcome the Fox Red Working Labrador Designer Dog, first seen yesterday in Berkshire, UK.
Here we see Buster, comfortably ensconced in his young mistress’ shoulder bag.
Oh dear, he appears to be bored with his celebrity status already.
Now, what’s this? His brother Bertie has joined him in the capacious carrier.
It’s a little crowded in there and Buster is quite relieved when he is the sole occupant once more.

So, what do you think? Will this trend catch on? There is a problem, of course, and those of you who have remained awake long enough to read this far will have recognised it.

At present, Buster and Bertie are puppies, easily carried. When full-grown they will weigh about 25 kilograms (55 pounds) and will each require a much larger container as well as a very strong person to transport them. 

Suggestions on a postcard, please J


12 comments:

  1. I much prefer to see dogs doing what they are meant to do and not being carried around like a baby. We have wonderful views from our windows of dogs and their walkers, elderly ones just plodding and the younger ones chasing a ball or toy and having a wonderful time. A x

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  2. I think you are going to need a bigger bag! And someone with the strength of an Amazon. Lovely post Janice, and I love those puppies you've shared with us. How's Frodo handling all this?

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  3. They are just so cute Janice. The two Chihuahua's and miniature Poodle we had were ALL dog, and I suspect we'd have felt their teeth if we'd tried to dress them up.
    Our Jack behaves like a perfect gentleman in the company of other dogs, but those Chihuahua's would tackle any dog of any size!They were just like a couple of Gremlins.
    Best wishes to you all, Sylvia.

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  4. Ha. I have two toy fox terriers. Actually when I had one, I had a purse to carry her in, which got me into restaurants (she was quiet) where I just kept her under the seat, and no one was the wiser. The second one, well...this would never work with her. I would be 'outed' in a moment by her BARK!!!

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  5. Too too much...too too cute! AS in double trouble!
    Love at first sight...sigh~

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  6. I think you will need a grocery cart!

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  7. My sister has a pampered "toy dog" that weighs 9 pounds. She's cute. But my cats are both double her size (and not because they're fat)

    Sometimes I wonder if I'd be better off with a purse dog. A dog that could sit in the front seat of my Mini Cooper. A dog that wouldn't be able to reach the countertops, or a dog that doesn't have paws as big as my hands.

    But then I take my 90 pound monster outside and we play frisbee, and chase balls, and run around, or we snuggle while I read a book or watch a movie, and I know the big goof is exactly what I need. Pfft. Toy dogs.

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  8. erk...it's already caught on in China, I recently saw the saddest sight - a little designer dog with booties and full outfit, trying to have a pee. Sad, sad, sad.

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  9. Thank you, everyone. Don't get me wrong - I like all dogs and don't object to them being carried sometimes. We had Jack Russells for many years and they were easy to carry when necessary. What I truly dislike is animals being treated like babies - I like dogs to be dogs, not child substitutes; that robs them of their innate dignity.
    @Denise: Frodo is supremely indifferent to Bertie at present and is interested only in his food. However, I know that when Bertie is fully integrated - that is, able to come walking with us and fully house-trained, Frodo will treat him as he does the others.

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  10. Well, I just mopped myself up from the floor from yesterday and now here you are again. What can I say? Their sweet little faces say it all. (And how can people present their dog in such an undignified way with their silly clothes.)
    You just have to look at the paws of these pups to know they are going to be a power to be reckoned with.
    Oh dear and hear comes Scruffy, my cat with a dog's name. I hope he can't read my mind.

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  11. Actually just watched a National Geographics program on dog breeding, how the vast majority of dogs today did not exist even 80 years ago. Astounding.

    Unfortunately, as with anything human beings believe they can "improve" upon, there are unforeseen complications...

    Pearl

    p.s. There's a family in the southern U.S. who have come upon a cat with a congenital defect making its legs noticeably shorter. They are now breeding these stubby-legged cats and trying to get them recognized as a new breed...

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  12. @Pearl - that doesn't surprise me at all. Manx cats are another example of congenitally deformed animals (spina bifida) being bred. I believe the mortality rate in Manx kittens is quite high.

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