Why do people buy white dogs?

Supposed to be a white dog... - Instead, it looks like a dog from the pound
@Octav1 (1419)
Romania
May 25, 2011 3:36am CST
Hello everybody, I have a question that has been bothering me for years. It may sound mean but it isn't: Why do people buy white dogs if they can't keep them white and clean? I keep seeing people walking small, 'almost' white dogs that are supposed to be clean and fluffy. Instead, they are almost grey with matted fur. They put fancy clothes and harnesses on their dogs but they don't spend ten minutes a day to take care of their dogs' coat. Haven't those people heard about dog shampoo? Is the comb and the brush a 'taboo' subject for them? What are your opinions on this subject?
2 people like this
8 responses
• Canada
25 May 11
i have a white dog, a white dog with black. we didnt buy them.we took them in because there owners couldnt keep them. white one stays clean other one not so much
1 person likes this
@Octav1 (1419)
• Romania
26 May 11
If you have a clean, white dog, I respect you. Because you respect yourself by taking proper care of your doggie. Thank you for your response, I appreciate your contribution.
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@Octav1 (1419)
• Romania
30 May 11
I am sure it is not an easy task to keep a white little dog clean, but if you took this responsibility, you should keep it. I'm glad to hear that there are people who care so much about their dogs. What breed is your dog?
1 person likes this
• Canada
26 May 11
Thank you. It's not always easy to keep them clean but it is possible :)
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@inu1711 (5285)
• Romania
25 May 11
Hello Octav, I asked myself the same question but not only for white dogs. All dogs get dirty and have their coat matted if they are not properly groomed. A better question would be: "why people buy/adopt long haired dogs if they can't groom them properly?" I think people should gather more information about the breed they are going to buy/adopt. Maybe if they had known what is required to keep a long haired dog neat and good looking, they would have changed their mind and consider a short haired dog. But, unfortunately, they see a dog in a TV commercial and say to themselves: 'I must have a dog like this!'. Like a dog was an object. I think a dog is a lifetime commitment and everybody should consider all aspects regarding the proper feeding, grooming and training before bringing the dog home.
@Octav1 (1419)
• Romania
26 May 11
You are right inu1711, people should know everything about a breed when they decide to get a dog from that breed. How can they imagine a white fluffy dog stay like this without being groomed? At least, if they are not able to groom them themselves, why don't they take the dog to the groomer? Beauty needs money, isn't it?
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@inu1711 (5285)
• Romania
29 May 11
After the last grooming session - she looks tidy now, but after two weeks she will look dirty and ugly again...
Hmm, maybe those who buy white dogs as accessories take them to a groomer. Because they need their accessory to look tidy. But those who buy white dogs only as pets, forget about tidiness more often. I have a friend from the latter category. When it comes to groom her white little dog, she ask me to help her. It is quite difficult to make the poor dog look good, because her fur is full of tangles and the hair on her ears is matted like a rug. It's useless to tell her that she MUST brush her dog's coat every day in order to keep her clean and tangles free. She's too lazy to do that. But she wouldn't pay for the dog's grooming either. I thought I might ask her to pay me for the grooming, maybe if she thinks about money she will take more care of her dog's coat. Here's the dog 'after' the last grooming session, two weeks ago. Don't ask me how does she look now. After two weeks when it hasn't been brushed, her coat must look so dirty!
1 person likes this
@Octav1 (1419)
• Romania
30 May 11
This friend of yours sounds like the people that I hate to see walking their dogs. For them I asked the question in this topic. Why do they buy white dogs in the first place if they are not able to take care of them. If I were you, I ask her to pay for each grooming session.
@TheCatLady (4691)
• Israel
26 May 11
This is for all the people here. You should never buy a dog. Please adopt a dog from a rescue organization. There is no need to breed animals until every animal born has a home. We are many millions from that point. I don't know the statistics in Europe, but in the States there are 5-10 million pets killed every year because no one will adopt them. Anyone why breeds or buys from a breeder is responsible for those deaths.
1 person likes this
• Israel
30 May 11
I see now that you are from Romania. The animal welfare laws there are lacking. There are a few people who do rescue, but nowhere near enough. Those idiots who have dirty dogs need to be told to take better care of them. It isn't all that hard to do.
@Octav1 (1419)
• Romania
30 May 11
It is unlikely that many people read this last post of yours. Maybe you should start a discussion on this topic, so that more people to read your view. In my country, there are no shelters. Dogs roam free on streets and sometimes the authorities just capture them and kill them. I have never seen a white, long haired dog roaming free, so I suppose those who walk dirty white little dogs have bought them.
@cupkitties (7421)
• United States
25 May 11
I've seen that a lot too but I think those dogs may not be purely white. If you ever saw my parents chihuahua you'd probably think he was dirty but its only his natural coloring. You can scrub him all day and that "I just rolled in a nice pile of dirt" look is not going away.
1 person likes this
• Israel
26 May 11
Purple shampoo will make him whiter. But then again, a cream colored dog is so beautiful.
@Octav1 (1419)
• Romania
26 May 11
I wouldn't judge a solid color like the one you said your parents' chihuahua has. But if the dog is solid white but you can see the dirt on his paws, on his belly or beyond the eyes, you know it is not its natural color! And if a dog is not pure white but he is well groomed, nobody will judge his owner. It is clear that it is the dog's natural color.
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@kukueye (1759)
• Malaysia
26 May 11
White dog and black dog.both are dogs. - Dogs men best friends.
i guess being a white dog it is easily to match and mix clothes for them and such.They got extra money to buy dress or clothes for their animals.Some make themselves and become fashion designer for pets and such.In my local belief, it is not white dog, but the black dog that are prefered to chase away evil spirits while other vermins any dogs color is ok.
1 person likes this
@Octav1 (1419)
• Romania
26 May 11
Oh! This people who buy white dogs only to be able to mix clothes for them must be crazy! How to buy a dog only for that reason? What is a dog, is it a model? No, it is a living being and he deserves to be respected and well taken care of. I don't appreciate the other colors of dogs if the dog is dirty and he has the hair tangled. If the dog is dirty and not properly groomed, this can say a lot about his owner. Do you have a black dog?
1 person likes this
• Philippines
25 May 11
Some owners like to have there dog on fashion and if you are a dog or animal lover you would feel the same way we dog lovers do..there are some dogs that dont need brushing. And some owners dont have enough time to groomed them well also some dogs dont like being groomed and they get upset. even if they are groomed well they will be dirty as we know dogs love to play and get messy.
@Octav1 (1419)
• Romania
26 May 11
I can excuse a dog that got messy after playing in the dirt. But you can see their hair is tangled and there are mats all over their coat. This isn't done in half an hour of playing in the dirt, but it takes weeks! People wear white clothes, too, but you will never see a white shirt being wore dirty. But for dogs it is possible, why? If they respect themselves and wear white, perfect shirts, why don't they walk white, perfectly groomed dogs?
1 person likes this
@TheCatLady (4691)
• Israel
26 May 11
That picture looks familiar. Isn't it a rescue dog? I forget which site I saw her on. I have 2 white dogs and they don't need baths. They stay clean on their own. I gave the Dal a bath when I took her from her owner, but I doubt she will need another one for many many months unless she gets into something. Now my old black dog needed bathes every month or so. She loved to get dirty.
@Octav1 (1419)
• Romania
30 May 11
What you say is completely new to me. How come a white dog stays clean on her own? Oh, if your dog is a Dalmatian (is it where 'Dal' came from?), it is not difficult to maintain her white coat. But imagine she had long, curly hair. Do you think she would still keep her coat clean by herself? What breed is your other white dog?
@paopaolar (226)
• Philippines
25 May 11
Hello! I think the reason why they buy white dogs is that its the trend and the popular choice. Unfortunately they cannot see the consequences of having a hard time and a big responsibility to the dog since they need to maintain its white color.
@Octav1 (1419)
• Romania
26 May 11
Yes, I agree with you but, if they buy a white shirt, do they wear it dirty? I'm afraid no. But a dog can be dirty, can't it? I think they are only too lazy to take good care of the dog's coat.
1 person likes this