Designer shades for dogs poised for UK market [*Pics]

Ananova ^ | 11:30 Wednesday 30th July 2003

[yonif]

A German firm having success with a range of designer sunglasses for dogs is now hoping to break into the British market.

The firm, Dog Goes, is struggling to keep up with demand since launching the sunglasses for dogs at the start of the year.

They were originally designed to protect mountain rescue dogs from damaging their eyes from the glare of the sun on snow fields.

Company manager Silvia Wilsch Herold said: "We hope to break into the British market soon, one vet there has taken some samples and I think the British will take to the idea."

Prices range between £40 and £60 pounds and the makers guarantee protection from sun, sand and snow.

They are kept in place with a series of adjustable elastic straps that mould perfectly to canine heads, and can survive the roughest playing with other hounds.

The shades come in different sizes, with smaller frames for beagles and spaniels, medium for bassets and large for labradors, golden retrievers, German shepherds and boxers.

Ms Herold added: "We found people were prepared to pay a bit more for fashion so we have mirror shades, and frames come in different colours, with more varieties for the smaller dogs as their owners are more demanding about a larger selection. We do a special gold frame for example just for Yorkshire Terriers.

"We came up with the idea as a way of helping mountain rescue dogs, that risk going blind from the glare of the sun on the snow when they are searching to rescue lost skiers or perhaps people caught in avalanches. They also protect from blizzards.

"But after a TV station did a report on the sunglasses that we were supplying for the rescue dogs in Gastein, we had more and more enquiries from the public who wanted some for their own dogs."

[4mycountry]

Just ____ ping.

[wimpycat]

Cool! So many people put sunglasses on their dogs anyway. These will actually stay on.

[LibKill]

Eh, the dog in the first pic likes his shades, he's smiling.

[Fintan]

 

Bow-wow-wo-yippee-yo-yippee-yay...

 

 

[dogbyte12]

Gotta admit, these are stylish pooch shades. Wonder if my dog will tolerate these.

[LaraCroft]

Way too cool!

I wonder if they would let my dog keep her head out the window while I do 70 on the Interstate?

[4mycountry]

Bow-wow-wo-yippee-yo-yippee-yay...

Who let the dogs out...(woofwoofwoofwoof)

Sorry, your set-up was too perfect. :)

[4mycountry]

Hmmm....now that I look at it...

[Maigrey]

Snoop Doggie Dog
Snoop Doggie Dog

[RedWhiteBlue]

That's one cool lookin' pooch.

[not_apathetic_anymore]

I do think that sometimes dogs like to "get dressed". At least mine comes running and sits in front of me wagging her tail when I get her bandanna out. (no - it isn't a clue that we're going or doing another fun activity. It's a random occurrence.)

I'm not sure if she'd really go for the sunglasses though, they may remind her too much of the Christmas antlers:)

[meowmeow]

Sun? In England? Since when? Any time I've been there it was pouring or that never ending crappy mist stuff. Pretty cool looking poochies though.

[LibKill]

Now that I think of it some more, just how well do dogs see in the first place?

Do they need corrective lenses?

[the gillman@blacklagoon.com]

When I was in college I taught my dog to wear sunglesses. He had a guide dog handle, too. I would take him everywhere and when bus drivers or security people would say "No dogs allowed!"

I'd say, it's ok, he's blind.

I always got away with it.

[Amelia]

I expect to see an updated - and more fashionable - picture of Bluebelle shortly.

You do need to protect her beautiful eyes. ;-)

[BunnySlippers]

Just check your pet store or eBay for Doggles. They've been around for years.

[Fintan]

Y'know, I came here looking for you with a wedge of Brie, a freshly-baked loaf of sourdough (okay, I made it in the bread machine), Nigella's cookbook and a case of Ripple.

What more can a man do???

[Scenic Sounds]

I expect to see an updated - and more fashionable - picture of Bluebelle shortly.

You do need to protect her beautiful eyes. ;-)

Bluebelle is a very dominant dog. She's only submissive to me. She has this special look that she gives to bigger dogs who seem menacing. It's all bluster, of course, but it's her schtick, and it works. She'd be lost if her eyes were covered. ;-)

[Amelia]

She's female. She'd LOVE fancy shades. ;-)

It's the £40 to £60, isn't it?