Why Dye Your Dog's Fur?
83
Dog Hair Dye
People do it... They really dye their dog's hair. Crazy colors too- pink, blue, orange, purple, whatever... But, you have to remember that you can't use people hair dye on your dog. Dogs are not build the same way people are. I mean, they can't even use our shampoo, so there's no reason to you human hair dye on them.
But, anyway. I'll start off by saying, if youchoose to dye your dog's hair, use cool- aid, food coloring, or find a pet- safe hair dye. I haven't seen any in my local Wal- Mart, Target, Petsmart, or Petco, not any of my drug pharmacies, so I'm not quite sure where you'd find any.
Well, I have heard that Japan has a pet safe hair dye, but I don't know if it's FDA approved, or even sold in the U.S. They've actually, dyed a dog the color and markings of a panda, and well, they did a good job. Although, when at a distance the dog looks more like a panda cub, than in a close up view of him, but even still it's pretty nifty looking, if you ask me. (I have a picture of the dog below, if you were curious.)
Why Dye?
So, anyway, the question is "why would you dye your dog's hair?"
Ok, here we go: ;-)
- You're just plain bored and have nothing better to do besides harass your dog.
- You saw a dog with its hair dyed, and thought it looked "cool."
Honestly, I can't even begin to fathom why someone would dye their dog's hair. I knew a girl who dyed a heart into her APBT's hip. Small, little heart. It was barely noticeable. Cute, rather, but it's something I wouldn't do to my dog.
Dog's aren't people. Dying their hair can:
- Irritate their skin.
- Stress them out during the process.
- And, yes, believe it or not, cause them to be a little self- conscious, making them hide more.
Ok, it sounds stupid, but dogs really don't get self- conscious, but they know when something's different. When my dad and his brother's were kids, my grandmother would shave the dog every summer (it's the south, it gets hot), and after getting shaved he would hide under the porch for days, until he relaxed enough to come out.
Do you want your dog to hide from you? I don't.
There's no reason to dye your dog's hair.
Dogs Come in Other Colors Than Pink
Click thumbnail to view full-size
PrintShare it! — Rate it: up down flag this hub
Comments
Glad this was able to change your mind.
I don't know... I don't think it's cruelty.. I mean some people think putting clothes on dogs is cruelty or humiliating to them but my chihuahua named Teddy actually brings me his red sweater everytime he gets cold. He loves that thing so yeah... And besides the dye for the dogs are non toxic at all what so ever that it would get thier skin irritated or cause them any harm so yeah...
Some people I know dyed their dogs pink for Breast Cancer Awareness month. They are just spreading the awareness. I am thinking of dyeing my dog, but I can't find any at-home products that are made especially for dogs.
Ever since I saw the book "Why Paint Cats?", I've been interested in decorating my cat that way. They say vegetable-based dyes/paints won't hurt them. I don't know about irritating their skin, cause I always figured I'd paint right on the top coat, a little design or something. I would like to say that there's a BIG difference between shaving your animal and dying it. when you shave an animal, it can feel the loss of weight, warmth, and protection. It'll be feeling very exposed, and things that he/she used to not be able to feel through its coat now scratches the bare skin. Dyes simply do not have that affect. If the trouble isn't too big, I'm still going to do this. Maybe someday I'll have a white dog and paint it up as Amaterasu...
I really don't think dogs care. Vegetable dyes are safer than dog shampoo so there goes your "irritates the skin" theory. Flea shampoo irritates some dogs' skin, but no one objects to that being used.
Your grandmother's dog hid under the porch because he probably didn't like getting shaved and was afraid it would happen again. Dogs don't get embarrassed.
While I don't dye my dog, I don't care if others do it. At least they have fun with their pet. Lighten up.
Give me a break. Everything affects all dogs differently. I have heard of vegetable dyes irritating dog's skin. Also, dogs notice a change with their environment and their bodies; they do notice. Embarassed was not the word that I use, but dogs do notice changes, and being shaved is a pretty big change. As is dying your dog's fur. This was not written to be anything other than what it is. You should not dye your dog's fur, and that's that. No reputable groomer, vet, or behaviorist, will recommend it.
Should you be recommending that people use kool-aid or food coloring? How do you know that those products won't irritate the animal’s skin? If people are going to dye their pet’s fur, they should use products specifically intended for that purpose and proven to be safe.
Personally, I don't see anything intrinsically cruel about dying an animal’s fur, provided you do it safely. It's really no different than dressing them up in sweaters and other cloths. I suspect it just seems inappropriate because it's not something that we normally see.Never said that koolaid wouldn't irritate the skin, but it won't irritate it as bad as other dyes. In a few countries, I have heard it was actually illegal to dye your dog's fur.
my dog is a bichon x shih tsu and he needs to bee bathed and groomed and have his hair cut fairly regularly as he has hair rather than fur. i don't really think adding a little colour to the process will stress him out. besides, i want him purple. hahah, so i can find him in the snow.
Its cute expecally if done right Im a groomer and I have a client that has a jrt with a little mo hawk and I dyed it Blue for her ( her choice in color's I wanted Red) But now he struts around like hes a bad a$$ Its very cute
Good hub! Back in the 1950s my mother and her best friend had too many beers and dyed our long haired white dog green for St. Patrick's day. Then, they took the dog to the corner bar in hopes that the prank would get them some free beers. It worked, however, the dog had the last laugh when it started raining on the way home and he got wet. Mom woke up from her adventure to find green food coloring dye all over the couch and elsewhere. Use your creative cravings for something more intelligent than dying your pets, is my opinion.
I am a professional dog groomer and find nothing wrong with dyeing a dog's hair. (It is called hair and not fur btw) If you really think a true professional would not recommend dyeing hair perhaps you should check out one of our grooming forums and see for yourselves that there are many of us who not only color our own dogs but our clients as well. Obviously are number one priority is a dogs welfare so I don't see why any of us good groomers would stress a dog out over something superficial. My yorkie poo doesn't handle the process. I tried it once and won't try it again. But you'd be surprised at the number of neglectful owners who come in begging us to demat their poor dogs despite the fact we would literally being ripping out the coat. Such morons. Sorry I won't do that but would gladly dye a poodles ears pink. I stencil my hound dog all the time. She's my guinea pig and loves it. She knows when she is dolled up and can't get enough. BTW many pro groomers use manic panic for people on dog coats. They are deep conditioning and I have never heard of any major disaster from using this process. Just something to keep in mind before you go slamming us for wanting to be a bit creative in our work.
Dog's have fur not hair.
in many places such as were you get the dogshair cut (cant rember what it called) you can get youre dog's hair died and it is medical safe to dye there hair.
i dont really see any thing wrong with dying the top layer of an animals fur as long as its pet safe and u dont dye it in a stressful way, like grabing an animals neck when they try to escape(whitch i saw on a youtube video). i think that if the animal is obviously trying to run away then u should not try and dye their hair/fur.------all my opinion, i am just a girl that wanted to share my opinion-----
There are MANY grooming competitions in which a dog's hair gets colored. Yes, some dogs have hair, and some dogs have fur. Poodles, bichons, and other non shedding dogs have HAIR, not fur. Kool aid does not irritate the skin, but for those of you who are thinking of using it, you have to use the small packets that don't have sugar in them or else it wont work. also, coloring your dog's hair is NOT a traumatic experience unless you make it that. you just spray the color on that is mixed with water and make it the desired intensity that you are aiming for. dogs LOVE the kool aid because it makes them smell good. i've done it many times with my friend's westie. This is a personal choice, and you should not be telling people it is wrong.
some dogs have fur and some have hair. my fiance's shitzu has actual hair and we've colored it with kool aid several times. there are times where she gets really flustered and cranky about it, but usually 8 times out of 10 we can make it without her trying to take our hands off.
my pitbull on the other hand, I take my trimmer to him and shave part of his head and give him a mohawk. then I color his mohawk red. he loves it, every morning I go into the bathroom to shave, and he follows me and always nudges at the trimmer. he also loves the attention he gets. people find it hilarious when they see him with a spiked mohawk colored red and a giant studded collar. they almost die laughing when I tell them his name is cuddles and my fiance's shitzu is lucifer.
if you approach a dog that has had its hair cut and talk excitidly about how much you like it and how neat it is the dog will act as if it is proud of its fur color, if you approach it as if you dislike it it will react as if it is doing something wrong.... any dog would react this way, its simple dog behavior they react to human emotions, not out of self conciousness. A dog that is traumatized by a home grooming will hide until it feels confident enough to approach the area or people that traumatized it, Not saying your Grandma is cruel, the same thing can be said of people who cut their dogs nails at home etc. The dog just disliked the situation. Hair dying is no different than hair styling, or nail painting, or genetically breeding a dog to have short stubby legs, or long ears that drag, or hair that will form dreads, all things that some may find embarressing or unneccasary.
They key is properly socializing and confidence building in your dog, just like Caesar and everyother dog trainer teaches, a dog that is confident and properly socialized to a groomer will not be fearful or "stressed" regardless of hair style, fur color or whatever else. As far as the safety factor of salon used hair dye, it is safe on pet skin and will not wash off onto furniture once dried, it fades in about 8 weeks, just in time for the dogs next grooming, Reputable pet supply companies would not carry a product that is considered dangerous to pets, their company name is on the line, and all groomers purchase products from these companies. just my 2 cents from a certified groomer and trainer :)
I don't care for the dopes that dye their dogs hair for pure conversational pieces either. However, I am looking for a way to help my dog. She is an apricot poodle and we love her very much. Because of the way the color has placed itself, she looks dirty or people think she has fleas and other than her family who knows the situation, people don't really care for her being around. Is there a better way to resolve this issue? Please email me at faithhopeandlove1992@yahoo.com with any suggestions.
Fur and hair are the same thing.
http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?id=what-is-the-di
Check facts before making nonsense statements.
I'm liking the dispute ! Dyeing or not dyeing, i think that panda-colored dog looks verrrry cute and I've been linking it to friends all morning.
I think the only way I'd be wanting to dye my yorkie's hair is to impersonate another animal (like the panda dog) hahaIn my owwwwn opinion I think that fluorescent colors on a dog look really dirty especially in the spring as your dog is trutting through mucky puddles and what not.
Anyway I'm just going to give my Yorkie dreadlocks (on his head hair) because, well, because I'd get a kick out of how excentric and laid back he'll look.
cheers!
Anyone who has a poodle or yorkie can tell you the difference between pet fur and pet hair. It may technically all be the same substance, but unless you refer to the stuff that grows out of your own head as "fur", saying it's the same is silly.
I would way rather see a dog that's had its fur dyed than one with a docked tail or clipped ears. And I think most dogs would choose to be dyed rather than get their nails clipped if given the option. Yes, it's silly, but it's also harmless, so why get your panties in a knot?
Hmmm, I've been thinking of adding a little flair to my dobbie, but his hair is obviously much to short for most things. This might be something to investigate. And yes, I do think fur and hair is different. My dobbie has fur (which sheds all over the place beleive it or not) and the family shi-tzu has hair (which requires daily grooming). Well any idea on dobbie furdos.
Why not? It's fun to some people. You know what? If YOU don't like it, then don't. And don't judge someone else if they do it. They are just having fun with their pets. It's like giving a kid a temporary tattoo. Personally i think this is a very stupid argument. Nobody is dieing. Or getting hurt. Just having a good time. So what if it is pointless?
Dogs are colorblind, they could care less what color their fur is...come on, don't be stupid.
Dogs are colorblind, they could care less what color their fur is...come on, don't be stupid.
---
I don't think that's the point. I didn't feel that this guy was slamming anybody, just expressing his opinion and trying to get others to agree. Would you get all worked up at a person who likes one restaurant that you don't like who recommends it to you?
I don't dye my dog's fur. I don't really do much with his fur, just brush it ocassionally (sorry 'bout spelling); that's all it needs! He looks so beautiful in his lovely brown-gold coat anyway!
I have two shih tzus, and like "matt" they LOVE having their hair done. They hate being brushed so I've always kept them short. About three years ago I started leaving them mowkawks. Six months after that I decided to color their mowkawks just for fun (yeah, I'm the "bored harasser;" but my guys loved the attention during the process and after.
It's non-toxic and washes out in two or three baths. They're not always colored, but they're always punk. Ben & Pickles love having their pictures taken and getting cuddles from kids. I won't say it's for every dog, but don't lump all people who color their dog's hair into a group of bored sadists or blind trend followers.
If you want to try it, put on a glove the same way you would if you were coloring your own hair and apply a few drops of food coloring. Rub it in until it is distributed and send them outside in the sun or use a blowdryer to dry it completely. Don't use too much color; less is more.
Also, we so started the trend in the Conejo Valley, CA
I wouldn't put that stuff on my animal for the main reason that they groom themselves. I don't want it getting into their digestive systems and making them ill. Who knows whats in that dye.
Animal safe dye is fine. Its not cruel if thats what you want to do then do it. (BTW im a professional groomer)
to the author- your grandma's dog was probally staying under the porch because he had nothing to protect him from the sun or bugs- not because he was embarassed.
I dyed my dog blue, and I used food coloring. I think its ridiculous to use hair dye, but if you are using something like vegetable based food coloring of kool-aid, I don't see a problem with it. It involves nothing more then squirting a few drops of food coloring in her fur while I brush it out. I think the "oh thats cruel because what if they don't like the way they look?" approach is just stupid- and I'm a vegetarian, and strong believer in animal rights. Instead of spending time writing articles about dyeing dogs, why not write articles about chopping half their tails off as newborns? Now THERE's a harmful and pointless thing done to dogs for vanity's sake. I have and breed poodles, and I have never and will never dock a puppy's tail.
I want to give my maltese a few colors....I mean I don't wanna paint my whole dogs fur blue or pink. Anyway I just wanna know where to find light blue dog fur dye and I have 1 question....is spray dying/painting on your dog illegal? By the way those dog pictures are hilarious especially the panda dog!
Better people enjoy their dogs, as they do their children rather trhan neglect them. If that means costumes eg people put on human babies/dogs for halloween or 24/7/365-fine, if child or dog fusses forget it but if they dont no harm. The most unfortunate is balack cat and labs who are euthanised becuase they represent evil to superstitious people when a dye job would save their lives. Dyeing opponents are anthropomorphizing with evidence. What is bad is when people show no interest in dog and then drop neglected dog off at shelter for euthansia when it would have been better to train dogs to garner affection through stupid tricks and pinks mohawks and live happily with owner
Maybe you would understand why people would want to dye their dogs hair if you were actually a dog groomer, especially if you are into creative grooming. There are many pet safe dyes out there. They have them on petedge.com, or you can buy manic panic from sallys or hot topic. It doesnt stress your dog out anymore then giving them a bath!
Me and my roommates cut my dogs hair ourselves, she has a big puffy ball on her tail and a mowhawk, she has her name and a start on her right size in a black patch, and a heart in her left side.
She loved being shaved and loved having her shapes done.
We thought she would hate it but she kept coming over and sitting down waiting for us to do more but we decided that was enough for now.
The tail ball is pink, the heart is pink, the star is blue and her name is rainbow.
Everyone thinks she looks absolutely awesome and she hasn't had any skin irritations or anything and she loves them.
Dogs arnt people, but my other dog who my mum keeps (because she cant bare to leave him :P) is the closest thing i have to a brother and I've lived with him every day for 17 years, you know your dog better than anyone, if you want to dye their hair, do it. use the right stuff and test a patch of skin in between their shoulder blades so they don't eat it!
I'm thinking of dying my dog but i don't want to buy some expensive dog safe dye. would it be fine if i just used kool-aid? if so witch one shoul i use
haha i just wanted to say that i used to give my shihtzu mohwks and die them crazy color but i used sharpies and it lasted weeks 1. u cant use kool aid and food coloring on dogs 1. because it attracts ants, 2. it causes other bugs to eat them alive like no joke this lady here died her dog with kool aid came back and red ants literally ate her dog. 3. its not safe it will cause then to chew at their skin if you want to die you're dogs hair use dyes from japan thwey are safe and dogs will not be self- conscious the reason your dog hid is because he felt naked, most all dogs/cats hide when shaved j.s hair dye is diffrent it dosent show there genitals like shaving them j.s
I recently adopted a dog, that I thought was all white from pictures. But the back of ears are really brown. Can I bleach or dye this part white?
When you saw the dog you shouldn't have adopted it, if it wasn't what you were looking for.
NO you cannot bleach the ears.
why do people want to color a dog's hair, i meant it's crazy come on now it's a dog it's all for the owner's benefit and not for the dog. The owner doesn't even care that the dog doesn't want to be dyed!
Jessica Dorey says:
18 months ago
Hello,my name is Jessica Dorey.I would like to dye my poodle's hair.After reading this,I have decided not to.He is already scared and he is my baby,so i do not want to upset him even more. Thankyou so much,
Jessica Dorey,12