I want my dog to look just like......

We get this all the time.  Everyone has an idea of how they want their dog to look.  "I want my dog to look like a Schnauzer."  "Don't make him look like a Poodle."  "Can you make him look just like this picture??"  (yeah, right).  Sometimes we even get referrals that way.  "Can you make him look just like Fluffy Smith??" Sure, why not.  The funniest one was the lady who wanted her Soft-Coated Wheaton Terrier to look like a cheerleader.  Yep, you read that right, a cheerleader.  But, only when she was laying on her back. (the dog was laying on her back, not the cheerleader.  I need to be clear, this is getting confusing)  It had something to do with her ears, looking like pom poms... luckily I wasn't the chosen groomer that time.  Thank Goodness!

The other day J got one of these requests.  She was to make the dog look just like Buster Brown.  Huh?  She brought this request to me, and I (obviously not up on such things) said "Isn't Buster Brown a Basset Hound, who was in the ads for shoes or something??"  The dog in need of said makeover was a maltese.. I wasn't sure how that would work out.  J didn't know.  Then I got the brilliant idea to google it.   Thank you smart phone!  Turns out Buster Brown (I'm sure many of you smart people know this) is a KID!  Well, a cartoon kid anyway..  we spent a bit of time laughing over that.   Seriously, isn't it bad enough we need to make dogs look like different breeds than they are?? Now we have to make dogs look like cartoon kids??  J did her best.. 

Here is Buster Brown:

So it turns out he did do advertising for the Buster Brown Shoe Co.  However, it seems that in this photo he is offering cigars to his dog?? Interesting.  This sort of thing would not fly in 2011.  That poor dog!

That's just plain creepy.. I really wouldn't buy shoes after seeing this ad.  It should read "Buster is coming to kill you in your sleep."  Cartoons have much improved over the years, don't you agree??   However, not too many people say:  "I want my dog to look exactly like Sponge Bob Square Pants" do they?  I guess it's the haircut the client was after, not the buggy eyes.  Here is the finished product, in it's crappy phone photo glory.

A fairly good likeness I think! 

The client did seem happy.  We'll see if she comes back.

I think the dog looks a hell of alot cuter than Buster Brown!