Josh, an "all-American" poodle, took home first place in Intergroom's Creative Challenge, an extreme-hair styling competition where dogs are colored with dyes and sculpted into pieces of art. Dog stylist and owner Angela Kumpe decorated Josh with an American flag and two American eagles.

In the Creative Challenge, judges look for color, originality in the trim, and of course, creativity.

The practice of coloring dogs has raised some eyebrows. These groomers say they rely on nontoxic dyes, blow pens and colored hairspray to bring their artistic visions to life safely.

Meet Duchess, one of many dogs included in the annual Pet Stylist Super Show in Knoxville, Tenn. The highlight of the event is the Creative Grooming competition, where owners use nontoxic dyes to "design" their pets. Duchess will be transformed into a member of the Queens Court from "Alice in Wonderland."

Creative grooming can extend to painting a dog's nails …

But painted nails are only part of the effect, as demonstrated here by another contestant in the Creative Grooming Competition in Knoxville, Tenn.

Sami Stanley works on her standard poodle, which has a dragon sculptured on one side and a jumping gold fish on the other. She calls it a Zen poodle.

Stylists draw inspiration from just about everywhere. This standard poodle was inspired by Dolly Parton's "Coat of Many Colors."

At the Pet Stylist Super Show in Knoxville, Tenn., the creative groomers had three hours to create and sculpt their poodles.

This poodle's theme is Indiana Bones, in search of the Temple of Chew Toys.

This is Pickles, a 1-year old standard poodle groomed into a zebra.

Angela Kumpe is a world-renowned Creative Groomer. "Grieving Angel," her submission to the Pet Stylist Super Show, was in honor of her mother, who died last February.

Last year Angela Kumpe participated in every Creative Groomer competition she knew of, entering a total of 12 shows.

At the competition's end, all the Creative Groomers, along with their pooches, put together brief presentations or skits that played off their chosen themes.

This cat's groomer turned the feline into Carol, the monster from "Where the Wild Things Are."

These two standard poodles were transformed into Clydesdales – and pulled a wagon for their skit.