Welcome to the jungle... dog cops a roar deal

Tureiti Carston, 3, wonders exactly what sort of creature he is patting outside a shop in Tauranga. Photo / Alan Gibson

A 3-year-old Australian labradoodle may have an identity crisis after being transformed into a "tiger".

The dog, Celebrity Woodhouse, was dyed orange with black stripes to bring laughter and amusement to the community, said Jody Woodhouse, owner of grooming business Kiwi Petz.

"We wanted to do something that would make people smile and this is something completely out of the hat," Mrs Woodhouse said. "This is such a nice way to make people smile and give them something to talk about."

Celebrity Woodhouse is Mrs Woodhouse's pet and travels to work each day with her. Monday was Celebrity Woodhouse's first appearance in store as a tiger after her makeover on Sunday.

"I'm absolutely astounded with the feedback, it's been mostly positive but a few people didn't understand why we did it, but once we explained it's a harmless procedure that's all in the name of fun, they seemed to enjoy it," Mrs Woodhouse said.

This is the first time Mrs Woodhouse has dyed her dog to this extent. However, she said dyeing pets' ears and tails was common practice at the grooming salon. Once Mrs Woodhouse dyed a dog blue for a competition.

The dye is expected to last a few months, until Celebrity Woodhouse is next clipped.

SPCA chief executive Bob Kerridge said he felt the move was silly.

"Well it's quirky all right ... I think it's somewhat stupid. Totally unnecessary - if she wants a tiger tell her to go out and get one, not paint her dog."

Asked whether the dog could become confused about itself, Mr Kerridge said: "I could imagine if I was a dog and I was painted to look like a tiger, I wouldn't know whether to bark or growl.

"It depends which way you look at it. I think it's just the principle of it. I think it's a little bit silly ... I think there are other ways of making people smile, like you can do nice things for them. And putting your dog and probably even ridiculing your dog to that extent ... putting your dog through that, as a laughing stock, is not up there in my favourite things."

- APN