It may look absurd, but a bizarre new dog grooming trend is beginning to take shape in Taiwan.

The craze involves having your pet pooch shaped into a sphere or a square – with the desired effect being a more eye-grabbing and clean-cut look.

In a method reminiscent of Edward Scissorhands’s trimming of a hedge, canine hairdressers in the Taiwanese capital Taipei are giving particularly furry customers outlandish makeovers. 

What a square! A dog shows off Taiwan’s bizarre new pet-grooming trend after having his fur cut in a square

Hairdresser Tain Yeh, 42, who runs a parlour in Taipei said: ‘I am aware of the trend although we don’t have much request for it here because it’s very difficult to keep the shape. 

‘It came about because people were always looking for more impressive haircuts, and somebody came up with the idea of shaping the dog like a hedge.’

Pictures of doe-eyed dogs with their shapely new cuts have proved extremely popular online prompting more owners to seek out the custom salons.

Many are now opting for the cuts simply to get more likes and shares on social media sites.

Ms Yeh added: ‘The dogs don’t mind, and the owners keep coming back for more. This sort of haircut needs a lot more maintenance then the regular type.

‘It is also not suitable for all breeds. The dog needs to have plenty of hair to play around with so that you can shape it around the face and body.’

Willing customers? Two more recently-groomed pooches stare sad-eyed into the camera as they show off new hairstyles

Getting the chop: Two dogs grimace as their fur is trimmed into hedge-like circles in a dog-grooming parlour in Taipei

[via Daily Mail]