Woof! Crufts puts the kybosh on dog make-up
The organisers of Crufts dog show in Birmingham have warned owners not to break its rules amid concerns that some are resorting to make-up, hair dye and other beauty treatments for their animals.
The Kennel Club will introduce extra checks at this week’s event. It has also written to some breed clubs where there is concern about such products.
Competition rules do not specifically ban cosmetics and other treatments such as hair removing creams, but they do forbid anything that alters an animal’s appearance. Prizes are awarded to dogs that best match their breed’s ”ideal” characteristics.
A Kennel Club spokesman said it was aware some owners were exploiting this grey area and it would not hesitate to disqualify anyone caught cheating.
The warning comes days before Britain’s biggest dog show starts and follows controversies over the health dangers of pedigree breeding.
The use of cosmetics is becoming common among non-competition dogs. One company, H.U.B. International, offers nose paint, dyes for a dog’s coat, hairspray and make-up. It warns customers products should not be used in competitions.
Lipstick and eyeliner are also used on some dogs, and some owners employ female depilatory cream to neaten the appearance of hairless breeds.
Caroline Kisko, a spokeswoman for the Kennel Club, said: ”We do carry out spot checks, including hair samples … but while it is easy to find colour dye it can be very hard to prove that removal cream has been used on a hairless dog. However, we will be particularly vigilant this year.”
Telegraph, London
