Human Flower Project


Orrington, MAINE USA

flag flower bed
Murrieta, CALIFORNIA USA

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Princeton, MAINE USA

Tuesday, January 30, 2007

Chrysanthemum Dog—Rough, Rough


A florist designs silent terriers, but which breed are they?


image

Barkless terrier with chrysanthemum coat

Photo: Courtesy of Tom Bishop

Will the real chrysanthemum dog please lie down and roll over?

Thanks to our dear father-in-law, Tom Bishop of Hilton Head, SC, we came upon these pictures of a florist’s canines: several chrysanthemum arrangements suitable for chasing small children and alarming the UPS deliveryperson.

imageTibetan terrier: sans flowers and sans home

Photo: Got Pets Rescue

Now we discover that “Chrysanthemum Dog” is actually the nickname for the Shih Tzu AND the Tibetan terrier. Both breeds come from flower loving parts of the world (Japan and Tibet), and both have eyes and noses buried in curls that really do resemble the chrysanthemums’ hundreds of curved petals.

The Tibetan terrier was new to us. “Well known throughout India, the breed is regularly exhibited in this country and so too in America where it was first recognised in 1935 by the American Kennel Club. Adult Tibetan Terriers stand around 14 to 15 inches tall,” slightly larger than these floral arrangements, “and weigh between 14 and 30 lbs. Their coat is long and fine, without being silky or curly. Colours can vary from white to cream, grey, golden, parti-colour and black.”

imageA white mum pup

Photo: Courtesy of Tom Bishop

Couldn’t Bichon Frise and toy poodles qualify as Chrysanthemum dogs? Their curly-faces are just as floral, but since the French associate mums with funerals, they wouldn’t be too likely to portray their beloved pets (welcome in most restaurants) with such a solemn blossom.

Meantime, we’ve been trying to track down the talented maker of these floral pups, thus far to no avail. Will the real chrysanthemum dog designer please yank our chain?


Posted by Julie on 01/30 at 01:12 PM
Culture & SocietyFloristsPermalink