I dont think its cruel, but its not my cup of tea. And i reckon some of it is imposed on (such as the collies)
At least these dogs get plenty of attention...unlike some!

My only issue is how much they are allowed to behave like a dog after having all this work done the people who did it wouldnt want them messing up their coats!

I think you may be surprised, I know a lot of people are under the impression that show dogs do not have a normal life. With the exception of say and OES, they run and get muddy with the rest of them IME.

I love the one with the fishes on-amazing!

Not my cup of tea but I do think the artists are very talented if misguided. After all, presumably the dog would be trimmed and washed to return to a more "normal" appearance shortly after the competition so a lot of effort for something that would not last very long.

I have a confession to make....I am so fed-up with people asking me about my "Poodle" (Parker) that I entertain thoughts of having him trimmed in a "lion" trim complete with pom-poms and shaved snout! Is that cruel? Good job we go to a training college where they would never entertain the idea of doing this!

Look at the dog done up as a bison and you will see horns added on and feathers stuck in. Also the scorpion on the collie's back does not look like it is part of its natural coat - the collie looks quite smooth-coated to me unless it has been selectively shaved. Sorry if folks think I am overacting, but it makes me angry.

Yeah, we can tell............

There are more important things to get angry about in my opinion like:

neglect
starvation
dog fighting
puppy farms

to name just a few in the canine sphere, but instead of just getting angry I try to do things about these.

I think they are amazing. It is not something I would ever do with my dogs, but you have got to admire the skill involved.

Presumably the dogs are not kept as buffalos, etc., all of the time and they are made up only for the shows. Imagine the upkeep.

As others have said, I don't see how this is much different to primping a dog for the show ring. I also don't see how it can be considered cruel if the dog enjoys it...I know mine LOVE the attention of being groomed.

Of course - goes without saying - and good on you if thats what you want me to say; same can be said about children and their welfare - that can really break your heart and believe me I know. I think that using dogs and other creatures as ornaments and objects of entertainment like this is just a circus and shows a lack of insight and sensitivity. I believe it is a form of abuse. Admitted this is relatively harmless and far worse things are done, but that does not make it acceptable - and that's my opinion.

But our pets ARE objects of entertainment, just look at how we like to share our funny pictures, weird poses, amusing anecdotes.

My dogs provide me with HOURS of entertainment and sometimes others (often at my expense).

I totally agree. I wouldn't consider this abuse at all and also think think there is far worse things done to dogs!!

But I guess I can see why people would see this as abuse though, as I think sometimes it can go a bit to far, after all a poodle is a hunting dog, not an artists canvas.

But as they say different strokes for different folks.

However I also agree with your Opinions to a degree, as I said above some people can take it a bit to far and I don’t agree with some of the things they do as illustrated in this video.

My dogs are not OBJECTS of my entertainment and the word "object" sums it up for me. These people appear to regard and use the subjects for their "art" as inanimate objects - which, of course, they are not. Funny picures, poses, amusing anecdotes are diifferent, I think; they are generally the result of what a dog does or looks like naturally of its own accord. They are not the result of hours of standing still, being pulled, shaved, plucked, dyed and sprayed. Sorry, this is being done for the prestige of the grooming houses, advertising and money and I think the whole thing is grotesque.
I'll modify abusive, to mildly abusive, (there are far worse things done to animals) but I will add in that it is moronic, grotesque and cretinous, the driver here, I think, is prestige and money (powerful motivators) - welfare comes a lot further down the line.