The legend that is Sir Elton John marks a landmark birthday today as he turns 75. But the flamboyant performer probably wouldn't be expecting this sort of homage to his outlandish stage outfits.
Sir Elton superfan Tasha Quinn is toasting the Rocket Man with the help of her Pomeranian dog, who loves to razzle dazzle by strutting his stuff blinged-up to look like the superstar. The proud owner of two matching six-year-old pooches, shop assistant Tasha, 31, told how one of them, Dexter, recently stole the spotlight all togged up like Sir Elton in fancy sunglasses and a spangly cloak, at a Hollywood-themed dog show in Leeds, West Yorkshire.
Tasha, of Stevenage, Hertfordshire, spends thousands of pounds kitting out Dexter and his doggy pal Bailey with costumes so they can compete at pageants across the UK, from Kent to Newcastle – taking part in more than 100 so far. And while some people think she is barking mad, she has the full support of her IT consultant partner Robert Day, 32, who she has been with for 15 years, saying: “Rob is as potty about the Pomeranians as I am.
“I also love Elton John and Rob already thought Dexter looked like him so, as I had the glasses already from Halloween, I decided to decorate them for the show. Sometimes, it takes a while to get an idea of what to dress the dogs as, but as soon as I looked at Dexter this time, it all came together. The stars, the glasses, the suit. It just screams Elton.
“I’d like to hope Elton would be happy with Dexter’s tribute, too. I absolutely love his hits Rocket Man and Daniel, and we were listening to Elton all the way to Leeds to get into the mood.”
When Tasha was younger, she used to watch The Osbournes – the reality TV show following the life of heavy metal singer Ozzy Osbourne and his family. But it was not their outrageous lifestyle that caught her eye, but their seven Pomeranians – Bella, Mr Chips, Chicken, Bunny, Puffy, Rocky and Pippy.
She said: “I am obsessed with Pomeranians. When I was younger I watched The Osbournes and thought those dogs were adorable.
“I said I wanted to own one one day. I just thought they were so cute.”
Tasha’s dream became a reality in May 2017 when she adopted Dexter, driving nearly three hours to Birmingham to fetch her new best pal. Dexter was already one when she adopted him from a breeder who needed to rehome the dog.
Shy and timid at first, he was even “afraid of a packet of crisps,” according to Tasha, until she took him to a dog show in a nearby village to try and boost his confidence. Incredibly, Dexter was a natural performer and quickly became more comfortable around people and other dogs.
Tasha added: “When we first got him, I was quite concerned as he would cower when we went on walks. He was scared of a packet of crisps blowing in the wind.
“There was a show in my village and I wondered if he was around other dogs if it would help. We gave it a go and it was really quite amazing. He was completely natural.”
Also a reserved character, Tasha’s own confidence grew in tandem with her pup’s, as they joined the dog show circuit. And her creativity grew, as she started handmaking tiny bow ties for him.
She said: “When I saw the pageants it was a chance for me to show off my outfits, and I loved the creative side of things. The more shows we were doing, he became so sociable. He would approach other dogs and he looked like he was making friends.
“I made Dexter loads of bow ties at first, and then I made him a gold suit, and he was so cute. It all escalated from there.”
Six months after getting Dexter, Tasha decided to get him a partner in crime and adopted Bailey. And while the dogs look like they live a lavish lifestyle from the way they dress for competitions, she insists they are “responsibly pampered”.
She said: “Dexter has been to around 100 shows and he’s always wowing judges. There was a time where we went to two shows a month.
“We have gone to Newcastle for a show, we’ve gone to Reading, Kent, and all around Yorkshire. We have been across all of the UK together.
“They are both very pampered pooches, but not too much. They’re responsibly pampered. They are normal dogs who have a bit of glitz and glam to them.”
Tasha will spends hours carefully crafting anything from suits to bowties to hats for her dogs and said she has committed much of her time and money to creating the perfect outfits. While Robert is very supportive of her hobby, he does not really get involved.
She said: “On everything, from clothes to the fees, I think I’ve spent thousands since 2017 when I started. The time, the money, it’s all been worthwhile. It’s brought out confidence in Dexter, but also in me.
“And so much money goes to charity. Even when you don’t win, you know the money has gone to sick animals or to a charity which is lovely. Luckily, my partner just goes along with it!”
But Dexter and Bailey mean much more to Tasha than just pageantry. Dexter even saved her life when she passed out from a diabetic coma in 2019.
She said: “I love my dogs so much. Dexter is more than a dog for me, he has awakened me from a diabetic coma before.
“He knows when my blood sugar goes low. He taps on my head to make sure I’m okay. We’re both shy, but we’re so close and he’s got my back and I’ve got his.”
While Tasha says she is living her dream, she says if she ever won the lottery she would have a thousand Pomeranians running amok in her home.
She said: “Having Pomeranians, fulfilling that dream, it’s been amazing. I want to keep getting more. They have the most brilliant personality. I thought they were adorable on the telly as a kid, but they’re so much more.
“If I had my way I would just keep getting more and more. My partner doesn’t know though. If I won the lottery I’d have a thousand Pomeranians.”
If you want to see more of the dogs in action, you can follow them on Instagram on @dexbaybay.
