Posted by: CyLegend June 7, 2010

Meet the Tiger Dog: Chinese pet owners dye pets to

look like wild animals in new craze

By Mail Foreign Service
Last updated at 4:02 PM on 7th June 2010

From a distance it could be mistaken for a reclining tiger, with its big

paws and striped orange and black coat.

But then it stands up, wags its tail and barks - giving the

game away.

This unsuspecting canine is the victim of what appears to be

the latest craze in China - painting pet dogs to look like other animals.

Bizarre: A pet retriever in China has been dyed by its owner to resemble a

tiger

Today the retriever was joined by three furry friends whose

dye jobs were much more convincing.

The tiny, fluffy dogs were the spitting image of baby giant

pandas thanks to their makeovers.

The animals were pictured after being transferred to Zhenghou

from Southwest China's Sichuan province at the weekend.

Doggy dye job: These small furry dogs look the spitting image of baby panda

cubs

Transformation: The dog appears unfazed by its new coat

It is not known how the owners managed to get their animals

to stay still in order for them to carry out the extremely

convincing dye jobs.

The Chinese are always quick to embrace bizarre trends, and

it is not unusual for pet owners to take their dogs to

grooming parlours where they are not only given a shampoo

and trim, but a multi-coloured dye job as well.

Recent figures show money spent on pets across the nation

has seen nearly a 500 per cent increase between 1999 and 2008

- but, arguably, at the cost of their pets' dignity.

On parade: The dogs were put on show after being transferred to Zhenghou

from Southwest China's Sichuan province

Confused: While some of the dogs didn't appear to be enjoying themselves,

they were a hit with locals