New dog-grooming show 'Pooch Perfect' gets blasted on Twitter with claims of animal abuse

Pooch Perfect premiered Tuesday night, and while many enjoyed the dog-grooming competition show, there was a large backlash from viewers on Twitter who thought it was abusive. The new series is produced and hosted by Rebel Wilson, who comes from a long line of dog aficionados.

"I am actually a fourth-generation dog shower," Wilson told the contestants. "I was a champion junior handler, so, yeah, believe me when I say I know my Shih Tzus.”

Wilson isn't the only dog lover involved with the show, which also features Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Lisa Vanderpump, veterinarian Callie Harris and celebrity groomer Jorge Bendersky as the judges.

The premiere showed amazing grooming transformations, but many viewers on social media questioned how safe it was for the dogs. The majority of the dogs are heavily groomed and often dyed to match their design theme.

While the grooming may seem excessive to some viewers, the groomers insisted it is all dog-friendly. “All this stuff is dog-safe," contestant Jayne Gallagher said. "We respect the dog above all else.” And that sentiment was echoed by some viewers on Twitter, as well.

Pooch Perfect airs Tuesday nights at 8 p.m. on ABC.

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