Thursday 28 November 2013

Lola the Bulldog: tu-tu much


Now I'm all for a good party. And I don't have any inherent objections to dogs being dressed up.

But let's not pretend that this is for the dogs, eh? Especially when the party girl has to be taken out every 10 minutes and be blasted with air-conditioning to stop her collapsing (see from 10.31).

See how Lola tries to take the matter into her own hands at 11.15 minutes in with a blatant attempt at suicide.

Suspect this video will be taken down pretty quickly... enjoy, or otherwise, while you can.


44 comments:

  1. Dressing dogs up is plain wrong. Buy a Barbie instead!

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  2. So, when brushing their teeth, didn't she notice all her dogs have appalling dentition? If she did, did she not think why this might be the case?

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  3. Sorry but I loathe seeing dogs "humanised" in such a degrading and unkind way. Especially an elderly dog, of a breed that has lots of health issues. It underlines the mindset and the real problems involved with dog keeping if a person has issues that they trial to heal through dogs. Dogs undoubtedly benefit us in so many ways and we love having them in our lives, but as dogs, not as substitute babies, personal tools for gratification from either showing or breeding their own "type". Oh dear oh dear oh dear, something needs to be done to help these people because there is something seriously wrong. All of the dogs shown in the video are not dogs for dogs, it is sick, plain sick.

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    1. I agree completely that it is silly, odd, and that the dogs are not the right breed to romp and enjoy the party, but is it any worse than torture-breeding bulldogs, pugs, and pekes?

      The video sort of rolls my guts, but it doesn't really seem mean, just a little odd. I read up on this. It has a name "pet parents" and "fur children". It is said to be normal.

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  4. Oh my. Pink poodles and purple Pomeranians...ugh. What people do for their own amusements. "This party is so important for Lola." (11:46)...Yeah, she really cares. I'm sure she's written it up in her journal. Unfortunate that the money couldn't have been put to better use. Making a donation to an English bulldog rescue for example.

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  5. Lola is 10 year and the owner is so proud and blessed... Freaks.
    "She is a 100 years old..." then what is the "human" age of 16 years dogs, 160?

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    1. Yeah, geez, a ten year old dog is no feat. Like a sixty-something human. But for an english bulldog, with an average lifespan of six, I guess it is...

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  6. The woman loves her dogs and she is free to spend her money how she wishes. If that entails throwing a massive party for her dog, so be it. I buy my dogs birthday gifts, and throw mini parties for them too inviting their "cousin" Teddy. Doesn't mean I'm humanizing them at all. They are dogs at the end of the day.

    Ok, we know Bulldogs aren't the healthiest of breeds, but I was impressed to hear Lola was 10 years old, which seems to be an extremely good age for a Bulldog. I also thought some of the other Bulldog's muzzles looked better then other Bulldogs I've seen before. Their dentition was awful. But all in all I didn't think that was particularly highlighting the worst of the breed.

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    1. yeah, breeding bulldogs seems worse than giving the bulldogs a party, but I bet the show bulldog breeders don't all see it that way.

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  7. I agree with yipsandhowls about the huge waste of money. I've lived in developing countries, and the money spent at this party would have funded a whole village of families to start small businesses and put their children through school.

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  8. Ugh, nauseating. But what can we expect? Most people don't understand that dogs are domestic wolves, that house cats are domestic wildcats, that horses are domestic tarpans, and so on. Do you think they will ever realize that?

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  9. If, after I die, I find out that my beliefs have been all wrong, and that I am being reincarnated as a dog, I am going to ask St. Peter (or whoever gets my case) to please make me a medium sized mutt - a mutt so not-precious that nobody feels that I am worth locking up or locking in.

    And I will ask that my owner not be rich or middle class, just some plain working class family off in some rural area.

    I think my chances for freedom and happiness would be better that way.

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  10. Its easy to watch this and ridicule this lady's behaviour towards her dog but if a dog owner wishes to do this and then she lets the dog go for a run and chase a squirrel up a tree, fair payment. Its not my cup of tea but she ain't hurting the dog. The dogs breeding defects are what is hurting it.
    The only issue here for me is the defects her dog has been bred with and the fact that she may not be aware that her dog suffers for this.
    I would not wish to stop humans celebrating their dogs birthdays in a human expression form but I would like it that they can see the problems their dogs have and understand that the dog suffers for the look and stop creating the demand for dogs bred to suffer..

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    1. If she was having a pointer party or a dyed poodle party, IMO, it wouldn't look so bad. It is that she loves the dogs very much, but can't see them for what they are which makes the video so hard to watch.

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  11. The video has gone! Somebody please share the hideousness.....

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  12. I don't care so much that it's a waste of money- at least it's keeping the money in circulation and the economy going, to badly paraphrase Pratchett.

    It would be better going to charity, but no worse than getting a designer handbag or a nice meal. I'd imagine most of our western purchases would look ridiculous and frivolous to most of the world's population. Heck, people make the same argument against keeping dogs.

    The reiki is more objectionable. The dog's certainly not enjoying that, it's just paying someone to pester your animal, with no benefit to anyone. Agree that this entire thing would be better if the humans admitted it was for the craic and not for the dogs.

    I kind of love the dyed dogs, that seems potentially kinder than dressing them up. Why did they leave the dress on her when she overheated?

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    1. Some one offered to do Reiki on me but I declined thought she wanted to touch me up This reminds me of the one about why God permits Line Dancing its so Morris dancers have got someone to take the pxxs out of.

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  13. The National Dog Show was on TV today (you can watch it online somewhere at NBC sports /dogshow). Does everyone understand that this sort of regular dog show looks as weird to people in the love-my-pet culture as pet parties might seem to show people? It depends on culture.

    What did a non show person say today when the dog show was on the TV? "Why are they holding the dog's tail?"

    That comment was followed by one about the handlers holding the dog's head. I looked to see a dog on the table. The handler was holding her dog's head by the jaw hairs. When the judge moved behind the dog, the handler shook the dog's head by the hairs - I guess to keep her dog from turning around.

    Is that more cruel than putting a tutu on a dog?

    And which is crazier, giving your dog a party, or shipping your dog around the country, primping him up for a long series of dog shows, them parading the dog around a ring to be judged by a stranger who has no idea of how good of a pet your dog is (or isn't), if your dog hunts, or what health problems the dog has which can't be seen?

    Which is the craziest? Whichever YOU are less familiar with?

    Are pink poodles any odder than poodles in a show clip with shaved hind ends with little tuffs of pom-poms on their hips and ankles?

    Is it crueler to give your dog a party or breed it to not have a nose? Okay, this video looks like both.

    Aren't dog shows parties for dogs and their people? Don't loads of people comment that they show their dog just to get with their friends for a day out?

    Please don't try to insult me by saying that dog shows aren't really parties, that they are useful get togethers because they help dog breeders select healthy stock with useful skills.

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    1. I liked the commercials about the dog's dreaming.

      What do dogs dream about? Not winning a dog show!

      The dreaming corgi wants to swim faster than the other dog, he wants to play fetch. So does the Lab puppy.

      The Belgian Tervuern also wants to fetch bigger and better, and to run and jump in the woods.

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    2. The sideshow angle might be found in one of the announcer's comment that the Puli is one of the reasons that you bring your kids to see a dog show.

      Maybe it is one of the reasons NOT to bring your kids?

      Puliok can be shown clipped and combed, can't they?

      May I constructively suggest that all long haired dog breeds have the option of being shown in an over-all short clip with hair shorter on the face and toes?

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    3. One of the dog show comments was something about dog shows celebrating the history of the breeds. I like that honesty better than pretending that these dogs still are bred to hunt, herd, mush, or fight.

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    4. Someone please explain to me why the tail is so important for show dogs. Why does a Lab retriever need to have an otter tail? Why is the Rat Terrier's tail cut off, or is it bred that way?

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    5. I like the face of the boxer dog in the take your dog to work ad.

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    6. I like Chloe the guide dog for the jogger girl.

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    7. Anon 28 November 21:05

      A labrador's otter tail is to act as a strong rudder when it's swimming. The breed was originally designed to help fishermen by swimming with boat's ropes; now they swim to retrieve shot game from water. So a good strong, thickly coated tail is of benefit to the dog.

      No idea what a Rat Terrier is (not a breed known in the UK) but I assume it's been docked, as so many terriers are.

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    8. Docking tails in pet dogs is stupid, cruel and ridiculous. Studies prove that dogs use their tails to communicate with both dogs and humans.

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  14. Kent is clearly another country, and they do things differently there.

    I live in Essex (and proud), and I have NEVER seen a pink or a blue or dog, or a dog in a frock. Essex dogs are usually accessorised with mud and pond water.

    That video was VERY weird. Dog are, uh, dogs. Not dolls. Or babies. And they should be able to breathe, even on a hot day.
    Bex

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  15. There was a program "Best in Show" about people who show their dogs. It was somewhat like this video. Painful to watch in a Woody Allen sort of way (wasn't one of his movies though). It's some sort of uncomfortable truth which takes humour or a strong stomach to watch.

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  16. I hate seeing stressed dogs. What a bunch of pathetic, selfish and extremely narcissistic individuals. Poor dogs.....they are child substitutes.

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  17. Maybe The Queen or Prince Charles can help? Tell the English Bulldog breeders that they have failed so badly that the English Bulldog will no longer be the country's symbol.

    Change it to Welsh Corgies, or Border Collies, or almost ANYTHING ELSE would be an inprovement.

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  18. Killing puppies because they DON'T have a reversed ridge on their backs sounds odd too, except to other people in that same cult.

    Breeding pugs, show pekes, and English bulldogs can be viewed as a form of weirdness too. Breeding Texas Twisty Squittens is about the same, isn't it?

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  19. I once used blue kool-aid so that my poodle could be a smurf for halloween, cute little white t-shirt, white booties, little hat & all. It was great fun, everyone loved it, especially when I went out with the kids trick or treating.
    It was pretty mortifying around christmas when people were still coming up to me and asking me why my dog was blue! What had been a fun little whim turned into some kind of animal activist/fashion statement nightmare, with people getting increasingly opinionated and rude as time passed. Finally, I got pretty snappy and annoyed about the whole thing. Who did me and my blue powder puff have to murder to get left in peace anyway?

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  20. In answer to the points raised above, in essence it is about extremes. Extremes in owning, grooming, showing all creatures.. Any extreme/exaggeration is to be avoided for the welfare of the creatures. Other than the people involved in the video, people involved in breeding for exaggerations etc no one who loves their animals would treat their pets in such a way. It's becoming obvious that the whole thing is complex from a human viewpoint but sadly the dogs, cats, horses etc etc are living miserable lives. I noticed that Lola's tongue was very blue when she was in the car so she was suffering and the last thing she should have been subjected to was the "party". I also take on board that the money spent was bringing it back into circulation and the groomers, cake makers, pub, etc etc had benefited financially, but really Lola's friends in rescue would have been helped to a better and more appropriate "spend".

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  21. Seabrook, sorry to read about your bad experience.

    I like watching creative dog grooming. There are fantastically creative grooming fotos on the web. If you won thousands at creative dog grooming contests, these people might feel differently. Regular dog shows have lots of dog grooming too, it is just more traditional.

    Regular dog shows tend to be behind the times. For example: the women handlers often wear dresses or skirts, and new shoes of old styles. The poodle clips are not what people want in their pet poodles anymore, and the show styles for poodles have become a joke, which damages the breed's reputaion. IMO, they'd be better off showing them all in a puppy clip or a simplified lion clip.

    You can tell how much dog shows are still in the past by how they talk about their breed as if the dogs still do tasks which nobody uses dogs for anymore, and none of the show dogs entered that day have been used for in their whole life.

    When was the last time you saw a poodle fetching a duck from water wearing the clip said to be made for duck retrieving? Any poodle fetching birds is unusual anymore.

    And show terriers who work holes in the ground? Next to none.

    More power to your blue poodle.

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  22. The usual calculation for converting a dogs age it x7 from dog to human age, so it was not 100 yr party. Any excess in any activity with animals is wrong. In my opinion the effect of the babying and pandering on the dogs mental patterns is of more concern, the dressing up denies the dogs dignity.
    In answer to the previous comment, several Gundog breeds are now required to be active in their respective working duties.
    I have worked with 'Show Dogs' for many years and the vast majority are in regular pet homes, getting plenty of exercise, with good characters and temperaments. Across many of the breeds there are regular Health checks to try and eliminate many of the issues that face some breeds, sadly the average pet owner does not bother to check if there are any health problems that need screening for and then not using affected dogs. The money is all they are interested in, hence these so called designer MONGRELS, mixing the breeds does NOT solve problems and can in fact create more.

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    1. Nonsense! Come back when you have read around some basic biology.

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    2. Anonymous 23:07 would you like a lesson in the mix of breeds that make your beloved designer pure breeds. I only have time though to do a couple.
      Most of the curly coated water retrieving dogs originate from poodle crosses. In fact the Cavalier if you know its working side history may also have poodle in it, go back to the English Water Spaniel that was originated from Poodle cross and the English Water Spaniel is believed to be in the Cavaliers ancestory and explains Cavaliers that have very curly coats.
      Genetically shutting of small gene pools in a species like the KC registration do is sucide for any breed you create, remember these breeds have been created, designed by humans not natural evolution. DNA screening is just reducing the gene pools even more and if the KC don't get to understand this soon , you will start seeing other conditions becoming prevalent in more breeds as the gene pool condences even further. So your health testing can help in dog breeding as a whole but for shut off gene pools of dogs it may well bring their demise even quicker.
      Mixing a breed does not create a mongrel but just shows your lack of understanding of breeding animals and that you are a bit of a snob in using such termology, as I believe you are using this to imply some sort of class hierachy in dogs.

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    3. I agree that mixing breeds doesn't always solve the problems, and the lines you have to choose from are increasingly closed even more.

      Mixing can be done with more forethought than you give credit for. In my case, it did solve the problems.

      Don't give pet owners responsibility for bad breeding practices.

      If the K.Cs won't join in discussion of how to meet pet owners needs, they will try to meet them alone. They will make more mistakes than they would if they had co-operation.

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  23. Not impressed with some people's intolerance to others' lifestyles here. If someone wants to treat a dog as a 'child substitute' that's their business, so long as the dog's welfare needs are being met. Better that than someone use a child as a pet substitute. How someone spends their own money is not anyone else's concern. Same as it's someone's own business if they want to go to a show and run around a ring with their dog; in and of itself, that's just a day out of silliness and fun together when it's taken at face value. I prefer either to a dog stuck out in a concrete run or caged in the house and ignored all day. If the bulldog is suffering because of exaggerated anatomy, that's a different matter.

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    1. It's not 'their business' if there are welfare concerns for the dogs involved. The dogs were distressed in that video due to the warped anthropomorphic infliction of entertainment forced upon them. Just because they are or being beaten or starved doesn't mean that the dogs may not be stressed or even distressed!

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  24. I'm a bit concerned about the "dog dancer." Some strange man in an unusual outfit jumps around and excites the dogs to the point where they are barking and lunging at him. I wonder how often he gets bitten?

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    1. Agreed. Some dogs were clearly uncomfortable with who was going on there.....owners oblivious to the behaviour....

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  25. Well that was surreal! These people (women usually) who feel the need to turn their dogs into surrogate babies are not intentionally harming them of course but it would be nice if they could somehow be introduced into looking at their animals conformation and how it effects their health and well-being rather than just accepting "shit happens" with certain breeds.
    Shade.

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