Why do commercials use dogs?

Does the commercial get the message across?  Actually, it doesn’t say anything about the car’s safety.  However, Dr. Karen B. London, a Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist and Certified Professional Dog Trainer, wrote an interesting article in The Bark.  She shares that about one third of TV commercials in recent years have dogs in them.  Especially in the Super Bowl, there’s always a prominent commercial featuring a dog.

For example, the Budweiser puppy commercial.  Actually, even around 30 years ago, Bud Light featured Spuds Mackenzie, a Bull Terrier, in their commercial.  Not only the beer industry understand the power of using a dog in their commercial.  Taco Bell’s Chihuahua is probably the most famous dog in recent advertising history.

It seems consumers warm up to commercials that have dogs in them.  It’s understandable.  When dog lovers see a dog coming toward them on the street or in the park, their face break into a smile.  Their hearts open wider.   Something like this probably take place on some level when we watch commercials.  Otherwise we wouldn’t have 1/3 of television commercials using dogs in them.   Next time you see a commercial with a dog in it, pay attention to how you feel.  And see if you feel more friendly toward the product as a result of seeing a dog associated with it.

Enjoy watching this humorous Subaru commercial of several dog friends at the campground.

If you enjoy this video, here is another Subaru dog video of a puppy falling asleep in the car.

Image source:  via Autoblog

Article source:  Dr. Karen B. London in The Bark

The post [VIDEO] Funny Subaru Commercial of Dogs On Camping Trip appeared first on Doggie Outpost.

To begin, sit on the floor with your legs in a V shape so your dog can fit in front of you.  Put a cushion in front of you to support your dog as he falls back.  Ask your dog to sit with his back toward you.   Put one of your hands under your dog’s chest as support.  With your other hand, hold a favorite treat close to his nose.  Hold your dog and move backward so he is leaning against you.  Reward him with a treat and shower him with praise.

How to teach your dog to do the Trust Fall

At first, he is going to feel not very secure about this movement of leaning back.  Afterall, it’s not a natural movement for dogs!  Nor for humans!  With encouragement, he will get more comfortable.  As your dog gets more accustomed to following the treat as you lean backward (while you are holding it to his nose) he is getting used to the sensation of “falling back”.  When he gets good at this, you can remove the cushion in front of you.  Remember, lots of praise, lots of yummy treats.  And let him associate the “falling back” with a word that you want to use as a command.  For example, “Trust fall.”  Enjoy playing with this with your dog.   You can learn more about teaching your dog this trick from Chloe here.

Enjoy watching this Golden Retriever do the trust fall with his dad.  Watson is really good at this!  Apparently, his dad has done a great job teaching him.  And of course, it’s got to take a great deal of trust for a large dog to give his weight over.

Article source: Chloe of  EverythingDogs

Image source:  via Petcha

The post [VIDEO] Golden Retriever Watson Does Trust Fall appeared first on Doggie Outpost.