Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No - it's "tiger dog"!!

Meet the Tiger Dog: Chinese pet owners dye pets to look like wild animals in new craze

By Mail Foreign Service

Last updated at 1:15 PM on 7th June 2010

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From a distance it could be mistaken for a reclining tiger, with its big paws and striped orange and black coat.

But then it stands up, wags its tail and barks - giving the game away.

This unsuspecting canine is the victim of what appears to be the latest craze in China - painting pet dogs to look like other animals.

Bizarre: A pet retriever in China has been dyed by its owner to resemble a tiger

Today the retriever was joined by three furry friends whose dye jobs were much more convincing.

The tiny, fluffy dogs were the spitting image of baby giant pandas thanks to their makeovers.

The animals were pictured after being transferred to Zhenghou from Southwest China's Sichuan province at the weekend.

Confused: Three small dogs were given makeovers to look like panda cubs

Transformation: The dog appears unfazed by its new coat

It is not known how the owners managed to get their animals to stay still in order for them to carry out the extremely convincing dye jobs.

The Chinese are always quick to embrace bizarre trends, and it is not unusual for pet owners to take their dogs to grooming parlours where they are not only given a shampoo and trim, but a multi-coloured dye job as well.

Recent figures show money spent on pets across the nation has seen nearly a 500 per cent increase between 1999 and 2008 - but, arguably, at the cost of their pets' dignity.