If you already haven't already seen these adorable four-legged furballs surface on the web, panda dogs are basically dogs made to look like pandas, and they're making some Chinese pet owners very happy.
Not to be confused with puppies that look like pandas (that's a whole different breed), these "panda dogs" are dogs (generally Chow Chows) that are dyed and groomed for more than two hours to look more like pandas, according to Metro U.K.
In the city of Chengdu, located in the southwest region of China’s Sichuan province, one pet shop owner says panda dogs have become somewhat of an obsession, and China's middle class are purchasing these rare dogs across the country, according to news.com.au.
Similarly, some dogs were also painted in 2010 at the launch of a new pet park in China:
A dog is painted as a baby giant panda during the launch of a new pet park at Dahe Mincui Park on June 5, 2010
A dog is painted as a baby giant panda during the launch of a new pet park at Dahe Mincui Park on June 5, 2010
“We are like Westerners and want one as a companion. The cute breeds like French bulldogs and Labradors were the favourites, but now it is the panda dog," said pet shop owner Hsin Ch’en told Metro U.K..
But if you think you're leaving with the perfect panda, don't be fooled. Pet shop owners say panda dogs start looking like real dogs after six weeks, and owners bring back their pets for "touch-ups."
What do you think about the panda dog? Cute or cruel? Let us know in the comments below:
Also on HuffPost