Pink
Dying a Poodle Pink
Overview
Many different dog breeds are dyed by their owners; however it is the Poodle which is dyed most often. Why there are no official stats on this trend, one would assume that the painted Poodle
is most popular due to the intricate clips and designs that can be done due to the Poodle’s coat.
In addition, the most popular color is a pink Poodle. Why? The Poodle breed has the reputation of being graceful, elegant and lively….A dog that is pampered like a prince or princess…
And whether male or female, it is the pink Poodle that gets the most attention.
Let’s take a look at:
- Is this Legal?
- Is This Safe for the Dog?
- Must a Poodle be white for this to work?
- The different ways in which this can be done
- Instructions on how to create a pink Poodle
Is This Legal ?
When done properly, dyeing the coat of a dog is very safe, non-toxic, does not dry out the coat and it is temporary. However, it is not legal to do so in some areas. There is not a countrywide law regarding this….In the United States, being able to create a pink Poodle (or any other color) is decided by city level.
For example, in Boulder Colorado, there is a city ordinance that prohibits the coloring or dyeing of any animal. Owners who live in that town and have done so, have been severely fined (and in at least 1 case, arrested) for doing so. The reason that this legislation was drawn up was to discourage people from coloring chickens and rabbits for the Easter holiday. Because it was not written to specify chickens and rabbits, it therefore includes all dogs, including the Poodle.
For this reason, if you are thinking about having a pink Poodle, do please first check with your local town or city hall to find out if there are any restrictions to this practice.
Is This Safe?
When done properly and with great care, this is safe. While there are no official studies done on the long term effects of creating a pink Poodle… proper dyeing includes using non-toxic substances that do NOT block any air flow and is universally considered to be safe.
There is, of course, always a chance of an allergic reaction, however this can be said for any food fed to a dog, any laundry detergent used to clean dog bedding, etc. Care must be taken when coloring around the Poodle's ears however, as allowing the dye or water to enter the ear canal can cause an ear infection.
Can You Only Color White Poodles?
A solid white Poodle will be much easier to color... it is easier to achieve an even color throughout the coat and to achieve the exact shade of pink that you wish for. However, with some experimentation, a light colored Poodle can also be made to be a pink Poodle. As you can imagine, a very dark dog, such as a black Poodle
cannot be dyed pink. The darker the dog, the less that the pink color will stand out.
The Different Ways in Which This Can be Done
There are basically 5 choices you can choose from if you wish for a pink Poodle:
1) You can have a professional dog groomer do this, preferably one who has experience in doing so. While you would assume that a non-toxic product would be used, be sure to still ask questions about the safety of the paint and any possible side effects.
2) You can use a pet paint product at home. Many will come with pre-cut designs which are essentially stencils that are held up to the coat. It's best to have a helper so that one person can hold the stencil and the other can do the painting.
Most paints will be in the form of sprays. Be careful when using this around your Poodle's face.
3) You can use vegetable dye food coloring. This is the method that was used long before commercial pet painting products were marketed.
4) Pet chalk. This type of product is also manufactured to temporarily add colored stripes to human hair.
5) Using sidewalk chalk mixed with water. This is another 'old school' method that was used to make a Poodle pink long before commercial pet paints came out on the market.
Note: You may hear of other methods; some may not be safe at all. It is important to use a dye method that is proven to not clog skin pores, interfere with a dog's breathing or his ability to move, etc. And in all cases, a dog may still have an unexpected reaction.
How to Make a Pink Poodle with the Chalking Method
Many people are aware of using food coloring to do this, however another increasingly popular method is to use colored chalk. The main reason that this is used is if the owner wishes for the color to be able to rinse out rather quickly. In most cases, when using this method, the color will steadily rinse out anywhere from 3 days to 2 months.
One downside to this, is that if you are going to use more than 1 color, such as making the ear fringes pink and the pompons blue, there is a good chance that the colors will transfer, run and blend when you are bathing your Poodle
or even if your dog is out in the rain for too long. For this reason, it is suggested to only use this method if you wish to create a solid pink Poodle.
What You Will Need
- Pink chalk
- Water
- Bowl
- Hair dryer
- Brush or comb
- Gloves – such as thin latex gloves that allow you to very freely move your fingers
- Q-tips or a small, soft toothbrush
- Canine finishing spray
The Steps
1. You may wish to have your Poodle clipped a day or so before you do this, so that the coat
is at the proper length and is neatly shaped.
2. Begin by having your Poodle completely dry. You will want to brush and then comb through the coat to remove any potential mats (tangles).
3. Soak pink colored sidewalk chalk sticks in a bowl with warm water for several minutes.
4. Apply the softened chalk to the coat. This is best done when wearing gloves, such as thin latex gloves that allow you to move your fingers very freely.
5. When doing the entire coat of your Poodle, you will want to begin at one end of your Poodle, slowly and carefully working up to the other end. Because your Poodle will need to remain very still when you are going around the eye area, you may wish to begin at your dog’s head. Talk to your Poodle in a calm and soothing voice, offering praise for sitting still. Since this is a long process, you may wish to take a break or two, to allow your Poodle a quick treat and to rest your arms.
6. As you apply the softened chalk, brush or comb through the area to make sure the color is evenly spread before you go on to the next area.
7. When you are going to do around the eye area, it is important to not allow ANY of this softened chalk into the eyes. This can be achieved by carefully using a Q-tip or a very small, soft toothbrush to carefully color this sensitive area. Be sure to hold your Poodle’s head still (it is best to have a helper, especially during this part) so that he or she cannot make a quick movement and end up with an eye injury.
8. Once the dog’s coat is completely saturated, blow dry the coat until it is 100% dry. Be sure to do this over laid out newspaper, as the wet chalk color may be dripping off of the coat as you are in the process of drying it.
9. You will not be able to see the extent of the pink until the coat is fully dry. If you feel that the pink should be a darker shade, you can repeat the process. You cannot, however, go from dark pink to light pink. Some people think that washing their Poodle with shampoo
over and over will lighten the color, however this will strip away the essential oils on the skin, will dry out the coat and cause split ends.
10. You can always do a “Test Patch” first by choosing one small area to color and then fully blow dry it to see what exact shade it will be.
11. You may wish to use a bit of canine finishing spray to help the color “set”. 12. As stated above, this method will allow the color to remain anywhere from a few days to 2 months or so. This will depend on how often you bathe your Poodle, brush and groom. Please never allow grooming to stop or be done less often just to keep your Poodle pink for a longer period of time - Your Poodle’s health and hygiene is the top priority, not having a pink Poodle!
How to Make a Pink Poodle with the Food Coloring Method
This method, in most cases, will allow for a Poodle to stay pink for a longer amount of time. When done properly, you will have a pink Poodle for anywhere from 2 to 6 months, the color slowing fading out as you stick with your normal bathing and grooming routine. It is very important to obtain vegetable food coloring – This is non toxic but an unexpected reaction can occur with any dog. If in doubt, check with your Poodle's veterinarian.
You may, alternatively, wish to obtain food coloring that comes in the form of a paste – this is generally found at stores which sell baking supplies, since professional cake bakers use this. It is also a good idea to obtain the paste, as you will be able to specifically buy pink. In food stores, many times, the liquid drops of coloring are only basic blue, red, yellow, etc. Obtaining pink will allow you to not have experiment with red in order to obtain the pink that you wish for.
What You Will Need
- Pink food coloring
- Water
- Bowl
- Vinegar
- Sponge (small and soft)
- Brush or comb
- Hair dryer
- Gloves – such as thin latex gloves that allow you to very freely move your fingers
- Q-tips or a small, soft toothbrush
The Steps
1. You may wish to have your Poodle clipped a day or so before you do this, so that the coat is at the proper length and is neatly shaped.
2. Fill a large bowl with 1 gallon of lukewarm water.
3. Drop 3 drops of the food coloring into the bowl of water.
4. Mix this with a spoon and see if it resembles the color that you wish for. Remember that you will not be able to see the actual, final color results until all is said and done. However, depending on the size of the bowl you use, you may notice that the colored water is only a very slight pink and you may wish to add another drop or do so if you are not looking for a pastel result. If the water looks to be a very heavy red color, do add more water. Remember - You can always do this process a 2nd time in order to obtain a darker pink, but you cannot lighten a dark pink without risking damage to your Poodle’s coat.
5. When adding drops begin with 3 and then when adjusting only add 1 drop at a time….1 drop can change the depth of the color quite a bit.
6. You can always choose to do a “Test Patch” by choosing one small area to color and then fully blow dry it to see what exact shade it will be.
7. Add 1/3 cup of vinegar to the water. The vinegar helps the color set.
8. When you are satisfied with the colored water, set the bowl aside to brush your Poodle’s coat. Be sure to carefully work out any mats (tangles).
9. Dab the sponge into the water and pat into on the coat where you wish to have your Poodle pink. If you wish to have a solid pink Poodle, begin at one end of your dog and work your way to the other end. Because your Poodle will need to remain very still when you are going around the eye area, you may wish to begin at your dog’s head.
10. Take care and have the patience to dab the colored water from the roots to the ends. When doing the entire coat, take care to double check your work so that there are zero areas that are missed. As you dab, brush or comb through the area to make sure the color is evenly spread before you go on to the next area.
11. When you are going to do around the eye area, it is important to not allow any of this colored water into the eyes. It will not cause permanent damage, but will most often cause discomfort and you will want to avoid this. This can be achieved by carefully using a Q-tip or a very small, soft toothbrush to carefully color this sensitive area. Be sure to hold your Poodle’s head still (it is best to have a helper, especially during this part) so that he or she cannot make a quick movement and end up with an eye injury.
12. Allow 30 to 45 minutes for the pink to set in. If you immediately rinse the color out, you will end up with a very light, pastel pink.
13. Once the color has saturated into the coat for 30 to 45 minutes, it is time to blow dry it. Be sure to blow dry
until your Poodle is 100% dry. Be sure to do this over laid out newspaper, as colored, dyed water will be dripping off of the coat as you are in the process of drying it.
14. You will not be able to see the extent of the pink until the coat is fully dry. If you feel that the pink should be a darker shade, you can repeat the process. You cannot, however, go from dark pink to light pink. Some people think that washing their Poodle with shampoo over and over will lighten the color, however this will strip away the essential oils on the skin, will dry out the coat and cause split ends.
15. While not mandatory, you may wish to use a bit of hairspray to help the color “set”.
16. As stated above, this method will allow the color to remain anywhere 2 to 6 months. This will depend on how often you bathe your Poodle, brush, groom and the rate at which your dog’s coat grows. Please never allow grooming to stop or be done less often just to keep your Poodle pink for a longer period of time - Your Poodle’s health and hygiene is the top priority, not having a pink Poodle!