Allow me to introduce you to one of the internet's most popular dog grooming artists: 30-year-old Gabriel Feitosa.
Over the last few years, Gabriel has been raking in hundreds of thousands to millions of views on his transformation videos that bring a twist to the typical wash and style grooming routine. Instead of a simple cut, the San Diego–based professional uses OPAWZ — a non-toxic and vegan dye designed for dogs — to turn his clients' pets into zoo animals.
Like this darling pup...
...who was transformed into the most endearing tiger I've ever seen:
Look at the side-by-side!
This dog got a few highlights...
...and turned into a cow.
He even added horns!
And arguably one of the more impressive makeovers went to this dog...
...who is now a fox.
His human loved it!
For all the Disney fans out there, this Chihuahua's mom asked Gabriel to turn them into Bambi's mom...
...and the design is spot on!
Such a minimal but cool effect.
My personal favorite is this babe...
...who is somehow even sweeter as a tiger.
The photo pose 😭.
And the cleanest design goes to this little one...
...who got a cool leopard look.
Other designs by Gabriel include a panda...
...a red panda...
...a poodle turned leopard...
...a baby leopard...
...and a zebra.
Gabriel told BuzzFeed that he was originally drawn to the job after taking his sister's dog to the salon as a kid. "I was 12 years [old] when I took my sister's dog to the grooming shop in Ferraz de Vasconcelos, a city on the outskirts of São Paulo, Brazil," Gabriel said. "I remember thinking that it was fascinating, what the groomer did for a living, [and] that she got paid to spend the days around puppies."
"I eventually asked her to teach me to bathe and dry my sister’s dog," he continued. "It became an after-school job that I enjoyed and needed since I come from a very humble background and my family didn’t have much."
"I was drawn to spending a lot of time around puppies, of course, but also to the immense variety of looks and techniques out there to groom dogs. They look like living sculptures, and it's tough to learn how to groom every breed well. I guess the never-ending challenge of learning something new keeps me motivated."
And it was this motivation that helped drive Gabriel toward his popular designs. "I found a way to channel my personality into commercial designs that any person could have their dog wearing," he said. "The inspiration came from the times that I used to spend with my dad watching animal documentaries on TV. I also find a lot of inspiration from games, movies, and cartoons. ... I think they look fashionable, fun, and nostalgic. The dogs get so much attention and love prancing the streets."
For those interested in the process, Gabriel said that making sure pets are safe and comfortable is among his top priorities. The non-toxic dye safely stains the hair, and though creative sessions can take up to an hour longer than the average grooming, dogs are able to sit, lay, and drink water throughout. He also takes time to walk the dog and give them a potty break between their bath and haircut.
When it comes to how long each dye job will last, that depends on the breed and their coat. For dogs whose coats grow quickly, Gabriel said the design will usually be trimmed off in three months. However, short-coated breeds have been known to keep their new look around for up to eight months. Either way, the design will eventually be cut off during their regular grooming before it has a chance to fade.
Custom creative designs start at $500.