lol I guess I'll have to cancel Bailey's booty lift and botox too...lol :yelrotflm

The small dog craze has turned dogs into just another toy for people who have nothing else going for them. They always have to have something else that will help them call attention to themselves. They are not interested in having a pet to love. They want a fashion statement and inflict their interests and values upon the animal. Anyone who would buy a puppy at one of those boutiques has no interest in the welfare of their pet to begin with.

I wonder when the wonder of just having a dog stopped being enough and when it became necessary to start tricking them up like dolls or kids? And it seems to be all the rage. Not just one object for warmth or a minimal, comfortable dress or letter jacket for a fun outing but the whole 9 yards with all kinds of things all over them? Huge bows, etc., besides the intricate clothing and even bling. I wonder how good some of those big bows feel hanging from a little topknot a tiny head? Some put stretchy headbands with bows on them around their heads - have one for each day of the week to go with their dresses! On TV shows, some of those women dress their dogs every day of the week as if it were a kid requiring clothes!

My dog to me is so dang cute in just his fur, his face, grinch feet, his little not-so-perfect body that I wouldn't want to cover and adorn him except for a special occasion for fun and IF he liked it. But, Tibbe doesn't. He freezes and goes down! He'll bear with a sweater or little coat that is not too restricting but comes to get it off when he gets back in the house. Then he wallows & wallows to scratch the feeling of the clothes away. When I put his raincoat on him, he falls over stiff, legs stuck out stiff. It is hilareous. We've slowly worked up to him wearing it some when it is really pouring but he's not thrilled - he does it for me.

And an earring? I'll bet he would rub his head against the furniture until he ripped it out. He wants nothing near his ears! One day I put a piece of Scotch tape on an ear to try to train him to do a trick and he freaked out, ran along bumping along the furniture rubbing his ear against it and wouldn't let me catch him until the tape was off!

But that's okay. He's cute as a button to me just in his fur and that precious face - he needs nothing else to be perfect. He gets plenty of attention just as he is when we're out and about.

But we might have to check out the temp matching tats! We could get matching Megadeth skulls-in-shades tats on our abs to compliment our fanned mohawks for our next rock concert. :Skull-icon::rockhard:

I was one of those who thought I would never dress a dog but yorkies changed that for me and I as are many am guilty. I put cute dresses on Kyra and vests on Laddy with D rings when I walk them or take them places because they much prefer them to their regular harnesses. Personally to me dressing them is no different than cutting their hair a certain way to make them "cute". If they lived in the wild they definately would not look like we keep them. JMHO. :)

Guess what I don't agree :cool: Not seeking to be contentious here really:)
Different people do things for different reasons, that can make a difference to it being narcissistic or not. A lot of dogs wear top knots to keep the hair out of the dogs eyes, it's for the dogs benefit. It can be to be cute too. As long as the dog is ok with it, then it's not harmful or hurtful.

Clothing, to keep a dog warm, that's not wrong. If the dog likes it, then I can't see the problem, as long as the dog is enjoying it and it's safe and comfortable. And even some funny pics for special occasions, as long as the dogs not hating it and stressed, then well each to their own. As long as a dog is happy, safe and healthy, for me I don't see the issue. But it can be taken too far, I think most agree.

But earrings do nothing for the dog. Can even cause harm to the dog. Apart from the pain of doing it in the first place and having some weight hanging from their sensitive ears. It could get snagged or pulled. It for the owner only. ..and like the cat person, where does it stop. If a person doesn't think it's wrong to piece an ear, will they think it's wrong to pierce it's neck (like that cat lady did) or elsewhere.


Look at these pictures, is this ok? A dogs nose is pieced a lot, as well as loads of piercings in it's ear. Another has it's eyebrow done.

scroll down a little: Body Modifications in Pets | Fun Animals Wiki, Videos, Pictures, Stories






https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=pi...iw=745&bih=395

It's all very, very different in the UK - I can count on one hand the number of dogs - any dogs, that I've seen with clothes on of any description, including coats etc.....:eek:

I have never, ever seen a Yorkie in anything but a harness - and just a basic leather harness at that. I have never seen a Yorkie with a top-knot, bow or hairband.....I didn't even know this all existed until I got onto Yorkie Talk - and I've lived with dogs for 50+ years :eek: :D

I think I'm a real devil because I got Harry's harness shipped over from the US.....and that he's got a selection of tag collars that have bling on them....:D Sally + Harry x

Just like with everything, some people take everything over the top with dogs and want them dressed day and night with all the accessories - and now pierced!

I cut Tibbe's head hair to keep it from his eyes and use the little mustache groomer to clip it from between his eyes and keep them free of long hair near them. It is not capable of nicking(I've used mine for 4 years with not one nick) and has to be used regularly to keep a clean, smooth look there. Tibbe just wouldn't tolerate a topknot. He won't have his hair pulled up or anything clasped or holding it - he gets frantic or goes limp.

I tried it once with the tiniest little spurt of hair and a tiny rubber band but he rubbed his head so and ran around like a wild man and I laughed so much at him I couldn't catch him to get it out for a while. That was when I first joined YT and saw all the topknots - felt left out. But Tibbe didn't like it so I didn't either. Besides, it made me a little queasy to try it as his eyes went up on the edges while I tried putting the rubber band on and I fed him treats when was done out of guilt. He wouldn't eat them and just started pawing and rubbing his head wildly. He kills me with his strong opinions about things. He's only 5 1/2 lobs.!!!!

Is it just my dogs, or do other Yorkies act this way at first when topknotted? Do dogs that wear dresses, jewelry and shoes like them fine from the first? I do wish Tibbe would wear a little costume for a couple hours at times but fear he'll be miserable. With the bathing, grooming, doing toenails, brushing his teeth, stopping him from doing many things he thinks would be "fun", I don't want him to think I'm out to outright devil him completely by adding a costume and other things he just hates just for my enjoyment. I just think he might start to resent me anytime I reach for him if I try something he seems to find intolerable. Oh, I could work up to it and coax him into it, but if he's not loving it from the first, I just don't see the point in making him.

Sally, it doesn't surprise me your countrymen don't dress or do topknots. They are true let-dogs-alone dog advocates and I love what you all are doing about breeding less for current popular breed trends that hurt a dog's health or function such as the bulldog ultra short muzzle, huge head/shoulders, tiny pelvis, bowed forelegs. Is it catching on much?

So I take it you don't have the pet boutiques filled with net tutu's, zillions of bows, headbands, fancy bandanas, jewelry, shoes, houseshoes, clothing, pj's, collars with flowes glued on, etc., (and all so tiny in size you couldn't get most of them anything much larger than a small Minpin) as we have all over Dallas and Texas?:teethysmi Dogs here are getting smaller and smaller. Before long, we can just use Barbie clothes on them.

:) I think it is, yes. Our Kennel Club is becoming more and more strict and regulated. I used to go to Crufts every year when it was at Earls Court in London - it was very huge and basic and natural. Then it became more of a superstar kind of event - and it changed. Crufts used to be aired on the BBC - now it is on a much less aired channel and it's popularity has dropped. I think maybe with all the new legislations it will (hopefully!) regain it's rightful, more normal place in British hearts! :)

:D We CAN buy all of this, but mainly over the internet really. There are a few pet stores in London that really go all out, but it's not the norm. Our Pets At Home is like your Petsmart.....BUT - the clothes for doggies bit has maybe a dozen coats and a few jumpers for tinies (sort of chi sized) and that's it really.

We DO tend to go slightly over-board on collars etc (I say WE, I think really it's ME!!! :D) - there are some fabulous ones, even in the most basic shops. I wonder if things will change over here? Sally x

I didn't used to be much on collars but I saw one on Brit's Jackson that really looked smart. I'd kind of like to find one that for Tibbe to wear around the house. His harnesses can chafe if he is in them too long no matter what I do with them so I'm looking to find him one. Then yesterday, at that Pet Boutique place, they had this lovely wide ruby one(well, garnets or something) that was simply gorgeous. It just knocked your eyes out. Would Tibbe look like a girl in a red "ruby" collar?

Charlene, if your dogs aren't hating it like Tibbe and enjoying wearing clothes, bows, boots, dress them and enjoy it! It's all about the doggies and what brings them fun and fulfillment and makes them and their loving owners happy. Probably most dogs don't like all the clothes and things and I worry some of the public - not us here on YT because almost every one here is so in tune with our dogs - might force them to do things they hate and be mean to them if they are less than cooperative. I worry a lot about that. But for those doggies that do enjoy all the dressing and know they look cute or need warmth/protection in cold/bad weather, etc., and bask in the owner's enjoyment, have fun with it all, where's the harm? Keep those babies happy and fulfilled and big parts of our lives and all is well in the dog world!!!

I never put clothing on a dog or had any desire to put clothing on a dog until I got Gracie. When I saw how even cool temps bother her I got her a winter coat and a lighter weight coat along with some loose sweater dresses that are not tight on her fur. A friend in Canada mailed me some dresses she had used on her Yorkie. I rarely put them on her but they are cute and she has worn them on special occasions.

When my thick coated Shih Tzu died I wanted another small dog although I also love larger dogs. My back prohibits me from all that goes into properly caring for a larger dog. I thought a dog 8 to 10 lobs would be suitable. I had no idea Gracie would turn out so small. (Just made it 5lbs) While I have a couple of doggie purses I don't use them often. Usually only use them when we go sight seeing. She gets tired after a while and wants a ride. I feel no need to take her shopping. She is more comfortable at home safe and sound.

She has a topknot but I am trying to find a cut that would look cute on her without one. She doesn't mind it or it would have been gone long ago.

I don't have a problem with dressing a dog if it doesn't mind it. Subjecting a dog to hair dyes and piercings is just abuse. People are trying to inflict their tendencies on the dog and that is just too complicated to go into here. People who should never own a dog are getting them to use as a poster board to others about who they are. It's sad. When the person gets tired of their little project it ends up in a shelter or passed from home to home.

I finally got the courage to click on that link with all the strangely groomed dogs and painted or dyes ones - some really are works of art - don't agree myself with doing it to dogs or cats but it's fascinating - and then I saw that pug with the nose ring in! Couldn't look anymore. Now, unless that is light plastic and just barely hanging in there for a photo op, you KNOW that hurt that poor dog really bad to pierce it and put that thing in there the first and many subsequent times, if it's real. When I had my ears pierced, dang things were sore forever, festered up, wept and oozed and putting the studs, etc., in were like pulling teeth!!!! Poor puggy baby.

I hope if that ring is real they stop there and don't poke him anywhere else for their enjoyment and attention-craving need. And I pray he never comes across another dog or anything that tugs on it! That would hurt and bleed like anything. If these piercings are real, and I'm too squeamish to look further, who does them?????? Would a licensed vet do this to a dog for money? If not, wouldn't it be practicing veterinary medicine without a license to do this for the public and charge? How would you get a dog to lie still through it without anesthesia? You can't even clean their teeth without anesthesia, let alone stick something through it's skin and out another side!

It's hard in a way to think anyone would try to pierce a dog's body - that would take a lot of antisocial, psychotic skills in my mind - but then I remember the thread on here about the starving dogs and things I've seen about animal cruelty and thought, yes, a few people would pierce a dog. :mad::(:mad::(

I know that for humans some use a kind of punch device to poke holes. Not sure about dogs. If they are fake I would also be concerned about the dog pulling it off and swallowing the jewelry. I know that dogs learn to submit to grooming but making them sit through a total body dye is just pushing it. This may sound weird but I have always taught my kids and my grand kids never to laugh at or make fun of an animal. Pet's know when they are being disrespected. I don't mean you can't laugh when you are playing with them but to make them an object of a sick sense of humor is wrong. It is for the owners enjoyment not the dog's and that is what bothers me. Owners are already making irresponsible decisions about their pets. This is just one more step.

Well, everything you say is absolutely true. With people's parts, they use ice and cutting off the blood to help pain when puncturing skin, but what do they do with poor doggies? Stick ice on its little nose for 15 minutes or a clothes pin?

Got to be grueling for the animal to go through those grooming/painting/dying sessions and I do agree they know when being objectified and laughed at or look really silly - they pick that right up from us. And many people are too human not to scold and ""bark at their animals when they act up after lying or standing for hours being groomed like that.

Wish people would spend the time training them or working or playing with them, teaching them agility, taking a nice long walk instead. Even if you talked nonstop to the dog during those sessions, kissed it every 5 minutes, it's just got to get boring. He'd probably rather be chasing his ball. It's all about the people I imagine with that kind of grooming. And with that piercing, that's just cruel.

Hmm, flames on his butt? somehow that doesn't seem too macho to me. maybe too many friljoles?

Once I went to Mexico on a family vacation as a child. There was a man there with a squirrel and an iguana. Yup, they had earrings. Pierced ears, necklaces, gold all over the place. No clothes though, it was kind of hot. he was there to take pics with tourists and get tips. I was just a child but i was pretty horrified. I don't understand why anyone would pierce an animals ears. It really is for the person and not the animal. You think after they animal gets pierced they admired their reflection all day? Of course not. It's completely different that having a coat or shirt on for warmth. i agree if the dog doesn't like clothes, then fine no clothes. Uni gets cold and won't walk if she doesn't have a shirt on, so I know she likes wearing them. But putting a hold in her body just bc I want attention or to make her look more "cute"? I think it's sickening for anyone who actually thinks it is.

I remember there was a member here, or was reference here that her yorkie had gold rings in her ears. I don't remember if she was for sale or trying to get her pregnant or what, but that lady was something else. She claims her vet pierced the dog.

BTW for human piercing, they use a hollow needle in the gauge that the jewelry will be. There cannot be a needle small enough for a yorkies thin ears. They must be using that old ear piercing gun they have teenage girls use who work at those cheap accessory shops in the mall. I think that's how i got mine done. i was about 10 or so. My mom and older sister were with me. i don't know how in the world my mom thought it was a good idea to let a teenager put a hole in her 10 year old daughter, two in fact, but oh well she did. I'd like to think that I told her i wanted my ears pierced but come on, I WAS 10! i didn't know any better!

Gold rings in a dog's ears! Yikes but yikes! Could tear right through if hangs on something!

:sidesplt::sidesplt::sidesplt::sidesplt:

It's funny you say that. He does well with frijolitos. Kaji really likes them. It's watermelon that gives him the toots.

:yelrotflm That would be Teddy!! I had Mexican food last night and told him I was getting him back.

Is Kaji afraid of his own toots? Teddy is, lol!

:thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:

The voice of reason... in an unreasonable trend.

Razzle has booties and a winter coat well actually three coats. BUT he is never dressed up for the sake of dressing up again and again.

He got his winter garments when the first winter here when he was a pup, we went out on day 2 of receiving him for a great walk. HE FROZE. He was game and wanted to walk with all of us, but his little body was just shivering so, and we were walking at a fast pace. I picked him up and put him in my jacket. Of course he was adamant to get out and freeze some more cause his pack was out and about. That is when I realized he needed some protection from the elements. So I went and got them!

I don't put Tshirts or anything on him in our Centrally heated home. He has a nice warm bed in his crate to sleep on, and he is comfy even though overnight we put the temp down to 63 degrees.

I am not sorry to say, NO DOG needs a pierced ear. Good grief, dogs are NOT DRESS UP DOLLS. They are dogs, please let them be the wonderful terriers they were bred to be.

Not really. When he does toot, he gives me the stink eye like it was me and walks away. :rolleyes:

Regardless of what you THINK, it's been proven to be cruel by the LAW here in PA. And I am sure that other humane societies in other states will follow suit in prosecuting owners for piercing their dogs ears. Especially if they can get a huge media case from it. Huge media cases always brings in a lot of donations and people wanting to adopt.
If you read the links and do some google fu, you will see that the woman arrested tried to use the same argument you used, and it didn't fly with the judge either.
But hey, you want to risk having your dog confiscated, and rehomed and you jailed for piercing your dogs' ears because you think it's cute, by all means, go for it.

Ok well I have to tell you they do not use punches to pierce. They might use that at Claire's for ears but a tattoo and piercing shops they use a needle especiailly on other body parts. They just put antiseptic on the spot and pierce. Even with nose piercings. Thought I would share

Without any anesthetic or numbing? Do they at least shave the part first and clean it well, wash their hands, put on fresh, sterile gloves, use a sterilized needle, do the procedure in a reasonably clean area? How would one know if it had been sterilized unless it comes from a sealed package?

When I had my tongue, belly, nose and ears pierced they did not put a numbing medicine on it-However they did follow the protocol of having everything clean- and yes the needles come in pouches. With my tattoos, he washed his hands, then put gloves on, everything was sterile, and yes he did shave and clean the area he was going to tattoo.. If they do not follow that protocol I would not stay to get tattooed.

Well, that was the question to begin with. How would you get a dog to sit still while sticking a needle through the nose? I hate to think of the pictures that come to mind. I have kids who in recent years went through some of the piercing craze. I have witnessed some of the painful swelling and infections that can take place in a human with tongue, nose and other piercings. A dog licking it's nose after a piercing just creates pictures of gruesome horror stories in my mind.

I'm glad to say my kids are past that stage and all the holes have healed up. It was bad enough to see my kids go through this I hate to think of a poor dog having to endure this because it is owned by someone so self centered.

I would never pierce anything on a dog.... I think it is just sad, and unnecessary :thumbdown

Oh, sorry, I misunderstood. I thought you were speaking from experience or knowledge of how the dog piercing was done with a needle at a pet spa named Claire's. Sorry. A needle was used for my ear piercing, too, after a clothes pin and ice numbing, cleaning, etc.