California Groomer Transforms Dog into Spooky Skeleton for Halloween
A California dog groomer has taken Halloween to the next level by giving his standard poodle a stunning skeleton makeover. Known for his extraordinary dog grooming designs, Gabriel Feitosa has previously turned dogs into various creatures, including foxes, cheetahs, and giraffes.
A Spooktacular Transformation
This year, Gabriel went all out, spending hours meticulously carving and dyeing the coat of his 3-year-old poodle, Edea. “I loved how she turned out—she looked so cool for Halloween,” said the 32-year-old San Diego resident. “It came out better than I expected. When I was carving the bones, I thought, ‘This is going to look cool,’ but after I applied the dye, I was like, ‘Whoa!’”
The Creative Process
The intricate skeleton design took six hours to complete, spread over three sessions. Gabriel carefully carved the shape of bones into Edea’s coat before dyeing it to achieve the final look. “The carving of her coat took about two hours, and the dyeing process took two and a half hours. I did some additional trimming later to highlight the bones,” he explained.
Safety First: Non-Toxic Dyes
Gabriel emphasizes that the dyes he uses are non-toxic and specifically formulated for pets. “The dyes are completely safe. I’ve painted hundreds of dogs and have never had a case of an allergic reaction,” he stated. While dogs may not recognize their colorful coats, Gabriel noted that Edea enjoys the attention she gets from passersby. “When she walks down the street, everybody’s looking at her; everyone wants to pet her, and she loves the attention.”
A Passion for Grooming
Originally from São Paulo, Brazil, Gabriel began his dog grooming career at just 12 years old, washing and trimming dogs in his neighborhood. He moved to the United States in 2017 to pursue his dream and opened his own business, Gabriel Feitosa Grooming Salon. His creative grooming designs have garnered international fame, especially after his appearance on ABC’s Pooch Perfect in 2021.