Is Coloring Cruel?

As a formally trained groomer and a fledgling Creative Stylist, I rely on my own instinct… but only after researching the heck out of the safety of any new product I intend to use. By product I mean COLOR.

Safety is my number one priority–years of Corporate-bred paranoia and endless Policies and Procedures have made me cautious. Professional responsibility is key to a Pet Stylist’s reputation, so before I begin using an unfamiliar product I Google “dog grooming with __blank__” or some such query.

When combining sharp points and metal blades to create art on a “moving canvas”, the potential for minor injuries is high. a twitch, a tug, a fight, or even a sudden turn of the head can have mild to severe repurcussions. I am proud of my near 5 year track record that only has one minor incident, regarding a tiny, fractious toy poodle who jerked her head backwards during the shaping of her top knot, resulting in a tiny nick on her ear, a superficial injury.

In my research I have read many arguments both for and against grooming as an art form. With this article I hope to shed some light on MY personal creative grooming beliefs and practices.

I can’t speak for anyone else, these are my opinions alone.

Is Coloring Your Pet Cruel?

Of course not. Here’s why:

• For those pets with laid-back personalities and good “table manners” due to being  groomed often, the Coloring process is indistinguishable from the usual grooming experience. If a Pet Parent is interested in exploring color, I carefully assess their pet’s behavior, health, skin and coat condition, and personality at Check-In, before agreeing to attempt color

What if my pet hates being groomed?

• If a pet can barely tolerate grooming, I refuse to prolong the experience by applying color. if a pet is used to being groomed, has a calm temperament, and doesn’t object unreasonably, they are more likely to have an enjoyable and beautiful Color Experience, which is what it’s all about.

Will my pet feel embarrassed or self-conscious? Will other dogs “laugh” at him? Will s/he notice the difference?

This is a common argument I saw online. The practical truth is:

• Dogs are colorblind.

• A dog’s visual perception of him/herself is limited to their front feet and occasionally, their tail.

• Most dogs recognize their surroundings and others by scent or sound FIRST and by sight LAST. Your average human passerby might not be able to tell if you’re walking a Panda bear cub or a cleverly-colored pup at first glance, but the dog they are walking will recognize the scent of a familiar species and won’t give the hair style or markings a moment’s consideration. in other words…
• Dogs don’t discriminate based on looks! Think about it, have you ever seen a dog ostracized at the dog park because he is overweight, badly bred, dirty, the “wrong” color, or just plain funny looking? Of course not!

The only behavior modifications that I’ve noticed are based on people’s reactions to seeing a colored dog. One veterinarian has been quoted for warning that the attention directed toward a newly-colored pet can be a bit overwhelming for a few personality types. For this reason, I refuse to color fearful, timid, under-socialized or aggressive pets.

Children are especially likely to forget how to respectfully approach a dog they don’t know. I’ve taken Beau to the park in Exotic pet styles and had children grab him up during the split second my back was turned to catch my son on the slide. If a pet is likely to snarl and snap at interested bystanders then applying eye-catching color is probably not a good idea.