A man who has spent a small fortune on a costume to turn into a human-sized rough collie dog has said going out for a walk on a leash is "fulfilling his dream".
The Japanese man, who has not been named, goes by Toco when he is dressed as the dog, but says the reasons behind the usual pastime are deeper than just dressing up as a dog for fun.
He claims it has been a dream of his since childhood, and now that he is an adult with enough disposable income he is finally able to make it a reality.
The elaborate costume cost a huge $16,000 and is incredibly realistic - but his commitment to the part doesn't stop there as Toco sleeps in a giant dog crate and finally got the chance to be taken for a walk outdoors.
Toco took to his YouTube channel to reveal that he had finally got to fulfill his dream, telling his fans: "I became a collie, fulfilling a dream I had since I was a little child to be an animal."
He can be seen walking around inside his house and heading over to his food and water bowls before his red leash is unclipped from a hook on the wall.
"Today I am going to go outside and take a walk," he continued. "I’m thrilled."
Of course, as Toco is really a human inside the intricate suit, walking on four legs tends to take a little while longer than it would for an actual canine.
Nonetheless, he enjoyed a gentle stroll around the neighborhood before heading back home to rest up after the day's adventures.
Toco first made headlines last year after images of him in the high-end costume emerged online, and he has become something of a YouTube star since, racking up almost 30,000 subscribers.
The custom-made costume is by Zeppet, a Japanese company that makes life-like models and sculptures for films.
They said at the time: "The point is that the skeleton of a dog can be reproduced on the skeleton of a human.
"Since the structure of the skeleton is very different, we spent a lot of time studying how to make it look like a dog. 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."
While Toco has gained quite the online following, the man inside the suit has chosen to keep his identity a secret so that his friends have no idea it's really him.
He told the Mirror: "I rarely tell my friends because I am afraid they will think I am weird. My friends and family seemed very surprised to learn I became an animal."
Well, it's definitely not something you see every day, but whatever makes him happy!
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