Jan 13, 2012: Japanese worship with their pets
 

http://cellar.org/2012/newyearpets.jpg

These Japanese women and dogs are at Ichigaya Kamegaoka Hachimangu in Tokyo, Japan. It's a shrine, and they are offering prayers for the New Year.

The shrine specially arranges the dates for pet-owners and their pets to offer the prayers together.

I wonder why they all look so similar.

Raw, thinly sliced, with a teriyaki/wasabi dipping sauce.

When I was a kid, we went every year to the Portuguese blessing of the cows. They would wash the cows and decorate them with flowers. The congregation would gather around the cows in the plaza while the priest said a blessing and sprinkled the cows with Holy Water.

They had the same thing when i was in college but back then it was called Sorority hazing.

They certainly do look alike.
I Googled images of Japanese dog breeds and, after the first 200 or so results, have not come across this one.
Kind of cute little guys.
Anyone know the breed?

The Spotted Yappyrat.

Long-haired Chihuahua

My dog is a heathen.
She will 'stay' and 'stop' but she won't 'pray'.

The Japanese do love their Chihuahuas!

I love mine. Pico is such a quircky little guy.

They look very healthy and groomed but the costuming is just wrong.

Maybe that's why they look so angry.

They just look like ordinary (if expensive and styled) dogcoats. Looking at the parka style coats the owners are wearing it may just be very cold. Chihuahas aren't exactly built for freezing.

Oh no kidding....Pico shivers for a good five minutes after coming in nowadays.