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Tucker had always dreamed of being a lion.  He imagined languid days on the Serengeti, punctuated with thrilling hunts, watching the lionesses chase down wild antelope, and then moving in for his share.  When he thought about it enough, he could even feel the hot, dry wind blowing through his luxurious mane.

While Tucker may never be a lion (and we don't need to let him know lions are cats, after all), at least part of his dream could be fulfilled. He could dominate his pack of friends with the most glorious mane of them all.

And this is how Tucker got his mane.  
 
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Step 1: Get measurements

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Since Tucker (a 3-yr-old Golden Retriever)  lives in NYC and I live in SF, we had to rely on email and texting for all communication.  Fortunately, Tucker's people are very savvy and were able to send me great photos of him getting his measurements taken.  You can tell how much he'd been dreaming of that mane by how very patient and well behaved he was during his measurements. 

From these, I was able to construct a mock Tucker head out of paper and tape. 

martinroca says: Jun 8, 2013. 10:35 AM
Fantastic!
maybolicious says: Apr 18, 2013. 12:09 PM
This is hilarious. I mean that in a good way ;) The first picture is too funny.
TheNailDutchess says: Apr 6, 2013. 7:48 PM
This is just to AWESOME!!! Wonder if I can make one for my cat (((wink wink)))
stefanya89 says: Apr 4, 2013. 6:07 PM
I have a 3.5 year golden retriever too, THE best dogs! This is so cute & hes about the same size, do you make these & would you ship to Australia?? :)))
gdispain-webb says: Mar 30, 2013. 6:39 PM
where can i order one of these from i want one for my dog!
jennieqdeng says: Jan 23, 2013. 11:04 PM
hi!! I was wondering where you got the faux fur! I'm looking EVERYWHERE and I cant seem to find it. please let me know!
AndrewryanSears says: Nov 15, 2012. 8:19 PM
Ur doggie is soooo cute????
scoochmaroo (author) in reply to AndrewryanSearsNov 16, 2012. 10:47 AM
If that's a question, the answer is yes!
breal4ever says: Nov 15, 2012. 3:54 PM
This is soooo cool :) I have a boxer and would to see him wear this..U my dear have Skillz!
meismeems says: Nov 14, 2012. 10:52 AM
That is ADORABLE!!
Honus says: Nov 13, 2012. 9:39 PM
That is so unbelievably perfect! I need to make a black one for my dog Roxy to turn her into a werewolf. :)
izzikienzle says: Nov 9, 2012. 2:50 PM
Soo want to make this for my dog. What breed/breeds is Tucker? Look a lot like my dog.
combatboots7 in reply to izzikienzleNov 11, 2012. 8:33 PM
He's not my dog, so I could be wrong, but Tucker looks like a golden retriever. The breed varies in color from a light blond (like Tucker's color) to the dark reddish brown color of Shadow in Homeward Bound, and sometimes darker.
GrndNPnd in reply to combatboots7Nov 12, 2012. 2:29 AM
That is a LAB plain and simple!
angusxmacgyver in reply to GrndNPndNov 13, 2012. 10:22 AM
Tucker is actuallymy dog, and 100% golden retriever. He turned 3 in July, and he's a great sport when it comes to this sort of thing.
ckoellein in reply to GrndNPndNov 12, 2012. 7:19 AM
Ummmm.... No.

That is a GOLDEN RETRIEVER. Plain and simple.

Sorry.
sparkydave in reply to ckoelleinNov 13, 2012. 3:21 AM
Yep, Lab's have short hair, Retrievers have the long hair. I am thinking of making one of these for my golden lab... dont think she will sit that calm for the measurements though!
thistleandleaves says: Nov 13, 2012. 9:10 AM
This is adorable!
Irwin Nenneo says: Nov 12, 2012. 1:08 PM
This is so cool!!! Not sure if Tucker really likes it, but I certainly do! And it would perfectly suit Sofia, my mum's golden retriever.... Thanks for sharing :)
ashbegash says: Nov 12, 2012. 11:13 AM
Adorable! <3
FriendOfHumanity says: Nov 12, 2012. 10:29 AM
Thanks!
I just spat porridge across the room laughing at the Lion dog picture . . . It is wonderful.
Enjoying Electronics says: Nov 12, 2012. 10:23 AM
Haha that is so cool!
Thinkenstein says: Nov 12, 2012. 7:06 AM
Very cool idea. Excellent job.
TilTherWasU says: Nov 12, 2012. 6:54 AM
Hliarious! Tucker is the name of my dog too! He is an Akita! I wonder how he would look with this on? So cute!
Analogue-Chick says: Nov 12, 2012. 1:37 AM
Adorable!!! <3
GrndNPnd in reply to Analogue-ChickNov 12, 2012. 2:31 AM
Absolutely thrilling and adorable. When those big Yellows howl they are the Kng of their kingdom. Well done!
mitch and sean says: Nov 11, 2012. 5:35 PM
I so wanna do this, but I dunno how to make a mould as the head shape, and then with the ears and all the fur and stuff
tqwerty says: Nov 11, 2012. 5:23 PM
I love the main picture!
This is too adorable.
kennan says: Nov 11, 2012. 11:58 AM
I bet you'd make a great pom for his tail. It might even last long enough for a photo.
scoochmaroo (author) in reply to kennanNov 11, 2012. 1:20 PM
I totally thought about that!
ClareBS says: Nov 11, 2012. 12:37 PM
Tucker is gorgeous in his mane, he looks noble! It would almost be worth getting a golden lab or retriever to make this great instrucable. I'd love to see photos of other dogs in their manes.
Mama Reni says: Nov 11, 2012. 10:22 AM
So very cute. Tucker is a good sport.
BtheBike says: Nov 11, 2012. 9:53 AM
i know he prolly wants to pull that thing off So Bad =) But its So Cute
chibimaddy says: Nov 11, 2012. 9:15 AM
This is ADORABLE!!! I love Tucker, and I love his mane. I'm sure he has a lot of "pride" when he wears his wonderful manly mane. :o) Great job!!
davidandora says: Nov 11, 2012. 8:29 AM
SO clever! What a fantastic detailed job you did with this idea. Really nice instructable, too!
WoundedEgo says: Nov 11, 2012. 7:20 AM
So perfect!
sitearm says: Nov 11, 2012. 6:34 AM
@Scoochmaroo; Hi! Outstanding! Tweeted and sent to my family : ) Site
masynmachien says: Nov 11, 2012. 3:28 AM
Cooooool! Tika and I love it!
Jayefuu says: Nov 10, 2012. 1:38 AM
I think this might be one of my favourite Instructables ever :D Such a cool dog and costume.
Givver112 says: Nov 9, 2012. 4:56 PM
Woof.
vroom...vroom... says: Nov 9, 2012. 3:05 PM
That's a good lookin' dog right there...
rimar2000 says: Nov 8, 2012. 6:54 PM
Beautiful lion!

When I saw he the first time, I thought it was really a lion.
JMM1967 says: Nov 8, 2012. 6:02 PM
Fantastic!
BubbleandSweet says: Nov 8, 2012. 4:39 PM
haha this is totally awesome. We used to have a mini dachshund and this would have looked so cool on her. Tucker was a super well behaved model.
wilgubeast says: Nov 8, 2012. 10:01 AM
This could have been just a mane, and it would have been awesome. But you went the extra mile and added ears. Very well done.
RollerScrapper says: Nov 8, 2012. 7:06 AM
Tucker is so adorable as a lion! What a patient doggie.
Pavlovafowl says: Nov 8, 2012. 1:19 AM
Love this! I once made my sister's Jack Russell a 'transformation' coat of fake fur spot pattern - she apparently looked like a cute Dalmatian for the five seconds she wore it before she and her puppy conspired to worry it to death. My niece didn't even have time to take a photograph to send to me. It took hours for me to create so seeing your costume makes up for it! Thanks!
camping crazy says: Nov 7, 2012. 5:48 PM
omg this is adorable i voted
poofrabbit says: Nov 7, 2012. 3:12 PM
OMG! How cool is this!!! I bet you got a few double takes as you walked around!
PitStoP says: Nov 7, 2012. 2:02 PM
Woahh! I always wanted to have my own lion. =)
flyingpuppy says: Nov 7, 2012. 1:59 PM
I wannit!
nemalim says: Nov 7, 2012. 1:35 PM
this is great! sending it to my friend who has a similar-looking dog
ceanes says: Nov 7, 2012. 1:27 PM
Clever and cute , good job
gosphero says: Nov 7, 2012. 1:27 PM
Tucker is the cutest lion-dog ever! His mane really suits him. If he ever needs a ball to play with, #Sphero might be a great holiday present for this creative pup!
Penolopy Bulnick says: Nov 7, 2012. 12:59 PM
He is so adorable! I love the photo with the wind blowing through his mane :)
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