What?? Are they chopping off their natural hair for a stage show?? Some of them looks they have unnatural hair, I hope all have fake furs

To say they are colourful characters would be an understatement. From Winnie the Pooh-dle to a pink My Little Pony with false eyelashes, these painted pooches highlight the art of the dog groomer.

All were entrants in the British Dog Creative Stylist Of The Year competition held at Swanley in Kent and organised by dog salon owner Louisa Tandy, 38, from Gravesend.

Poodles or poodle crosses are the breed most commonly used because of their good nature and easily sculptured coats.

Phoney pony: A poodle creatively groomed as a My Little Pony at the competition in Swanley

Winnie the Pooh-dle: A doggy Pooh in make-up before the event

Flying start: A groomer puts the finishing touches to the winner, a Welsh red dragon poodle

The colours come from washable vegetable dyes sprayed onto the coat, using stencils to achieve the patterns. The competition has been inspired by a creative dog-grooming craze that’s sweeping America and which has now hit our shores.

Louisa insists that it’s strictly regulated to ensure no animal is harmed as it undergoes a transformation into a barking Bertie Bassett or even a dogosaurus dinosaur.

‘The dogs are thrilled with the attention they get,’ says Louisa, ‘and they love strutting their stuff.’

After the show, they take a bow-wow  before the dyes are washed out and they are given a smart haircut so they look normal once more.

And the winner of the show? That  hound-some Welsh dragon spreading its wings on the battlements.

Louisa said: ''We have to use dogs that have the right personality to pull it off. Like human models they need to be cool and collected and happy to stand still and enjoy the process.'

'My personal favourite was Liquorice Allsorts mascot, Bertie Bassett,' said Louisa. 'Children love Bertie and the idea was so original and British.

It takes Allsorts: A dog groomed as Bassett's Liquorice Allsorts character Bertie Bassett

Not born this way: A doggy Lady Gaga dolled up and ready to go

Off the scales: The winning red dragon poses on the top of his castle

'The groomer even sprinkled Allsorts at the feet of the poodle - it was a great touch. The idea of the competition is to unleash this kind of creativity for UK stylists.

'At the end of the day they are given a normal cut and returned to their doggie origins.'

Heart of the matter: A doggy make-up artist works on the My Little Pony poodle

The creative grooming craze is popular in the U.S. - where many people tend to think of their dogs as a fashion accessory.

'In the UK we think of our dogs mainly as companions,' said Louisa. 'And we in our nature are more reserved and less flamboyant than Americans.

'But in my own business I've now had customers come in to request their dog be given a blue or red brightly coloured coat for special occasions. So the idea has filtered through over here.'