Dog-fanatic spends £10,000 transforming himself into super-realistic Border Collie

A Japanese man splashed out more than £10,000 to fulfil his extraordinary ambition of becoming a dog. The man, known as Toko, spent a whopping two million Yen commissioning a hyper-realistic costume of his favourite breed, a Border Collie, from Zeppet.

The firm specialises in creating detailed sculptures and models for films. And although Toko's personal request was different from the company's normal orders, the dedicated Zeppet team spent 40 days completing the suit - with the canine fanatic requesting numerous tweaks throughout the process, reports the Mirror.

Speaking to Japanese news outlet Mynavi, Toko revealed the transformation was the culmination of a lifelong dream. He added: "I made it a Collie because it looks real when I put it on.

"My favourite is quadrupedal animals, especially cute ones. Among them, I thought that a big animal close to me would be good, considering that it would be a realistic model, so I decided to make it a dog.

"I met such a condition and made a collie, my favourite breed of dog."

When queried about his mobility in the costume, Toko admitted he could move, albeit with some resistance, adding that excessive movement would compromise the dog-like appearance.

An employee from Zeppet shared insights into the intricate process of replicating the skeletal structure of a dog, which involved extensive research and craftsmanship.

They said: "In addition, we collect photographs taken from various angles so that the beautiful coat of the collie can be reproduced and devised so that the coat will flow naturally."

Toko, who hosts his own YouTube channel, posted a now viral video titled: 'I tried to become a collie', where he can be seen rolling over for belly rubs, mimicking sitting down, and lifting up his paws.

Zeppet also shared an array of photos of the distinctive costume on X, formerly known as Twitter, racking up thousands of likes and reposts.

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