It’s time for the Big Game! You know, the one that’s played to showcase lots of commercials?
Now I don’t have anything against advertising, per se, because that is what spurs our economy in the US.
But I do have a gripe with some of the hype around the Budweiser commercial they’re calling “Puppy Love.”
Don’t get me wrong, I think it’s a well-crafted commercial that does what it’s designed to do- tug on your heart-strings.
But do not for one minute tell me that commercial promotes pet adoption, because I don’t see it.
What I see is a bunch of puppies of one breed kept together in a pen, and one keeps running off. Sure, there’s a sign that says “puppy adoptions,” but how many people do you know that drive out into the countryside to adopt from a rescue group? And what reputable rescue forks over a pup if you hand over a wad of money? Nah, the commercial looks and smells like a breeder.
And I’m not the only one that thinks so. Reviews in the International Business Times and the Examiner identify the young woman as a breeder.
On a different note, what do you think those puppies have been through to be able to do all that “acting” so young in life, and what happened to all the puppies that didn’t measure up? Can’t ask the Humane Association, can you? They give everyone a passing mark.
By contrast, the commercial for Audi is ALL ABOUT animal welfare. From shady pet store selling pets and promoting cross-breeding, to calling out the dangers of such an undertaking, to the end where the couple are back in their Audi after having adopted a perfectly adorable “mutt” from an animal rescue. Even Sarah McLaughlin is there! And who is more animal welfare than her?
So enjoy the show. Be entertained, as you most certainly will.
But don’t tell me that Budweiser is promoting anything but the sale of beer.
Dogpaddling Through Life 
Some years ago when I went back to college….I had to learn how to analyze print ads in an “humanities” class….and the process taught me the difference between “what I feel” (how I respond to an ad) versus “truth in advertising” (what they are really selling)….and sadly discovered I am for the most part (if I don’t THINK about what I SEE) a lemming running to the sea.
Hey, that’s true for most of us, otherwise they wouldn’t spend a fortune on such ads to “sell” us.
For many of us, beer evokes memories of alcoholism and all its misery. So companies like Budweiser have to use something to replace those memories. Bud chooses to use warm fuzzies. It’s nice, but in my case, what I associate with Bud is puke, piss and poverty.
I have watched both of them and I cannot watch the audi commercial again. The dog in that totally disturbs me on so many levels. I understand the commercial from reading above, but when I watched this, the message was completely lost on me because of the dog. Cannot even look at a picture, just gives me the creeps. Just giving you my reaction to the second one.
On the Bud one, I saw this and yes it is cute, but I am seeing this in a different way. For me they are promoting acceptance of differences and letting things be. Embrace your differences and just enjoy each other. Of course I could be reading more into this than others, but this is the message I am getting from this.
Yeah, cuz nothing promotes harmony like a bunch of drunks!
I was in tears watching this video .. I laughed so hard. Depending on where you live which I live in the middle of no where not to far from somewhere. There are to places near me who are no kill rescue. The Humane Society the girl who runs it works hard to find foster care so it can be a no kill. Also Paws and Claws.
What I like about the Humane society when I adopted Fred I asked if I could have her one week before I decide since I have an older dog and did not know if she would get along. The rule is once you say yes it is $150.00 adoption fee which pays for spay and neuter which you have to agree to and have it done within a month of adoption.
The other one is called Paws and Claws I am not sure what their rules of adoption are but yes there are rules and fees to consider before adoption.
Fredrieka, after watching that commercial closely (with your head, not your heart), can you honestly tell me you think that’s a rescue? You can’t convince me.
Personally, I think folks see what they want to see, and because this makes folks feel good, they want to see rescue.
did I say I thought it was a rescue. I get your heart is in this but your anger is off putting
Sorry you feel that way. I stand by my claim.
Another type of bowl, will promote rescue puppy awareness in Sunday’s Puppy Bowl. Pong, a pup from St. Cloud, Florida,Orlando, will be among those who “will make her national television debut Sunday as one of 66 rescue puppies in the Puppy Bowl, Animal Planet’s spin on the Super Bowl,” according to today’s Orlando Sentinel.
And it’s the Puppy Bowl that spawned all these animal rescue commercials during the Super Bowl. So they’ve done well for animals in more ways than one!
Ironic isn’t it? Anheuser Busch, although of German descent, is and has always been an American company. Audi’s history is far less laudable. The word despicable comes to mind. And yet Audi hits it when advertising to animal welfare, and AB misses out. I however, regardless of political bent, simply adore the Budweiser commercial. Sorry, but there it is.
I didn’t say it wasn’t a good commercial. I just said it’s not a commercial that promotes the welfare of animals.
Agreed. I’m also sure that the Budweiser Clydesdale horses are not as well treated as the commercial would want you to believe – and I’m certain that was the case, 100 years ago, when they actually hauled beer. You have to forgive me, because both Audi and Bayer hold a special place in my heart – and it ain’t a good place. I just tend to seethe at the mention of either one’s name. Sorry. I didn’t mean to hijack your thread. 🙂
Well, no, that’s what commercials are all about- soothing over negative feelings. Budweiser wants you to not think of drunks by promoting feel-good commercials. Audi wants you to see them as responsible, which isn’t really the case, is it?
Yes. On another note – awesome job on yesterday’s podcast. I enjoyed it thoroughly and signed up for their newsletter. ❤
Kudos on the title. 😉
I have had three dogs in my adult life–all adopted from shelters. My little Maltese is all of four pounds–small for her breed. She was found as a stray in rural KY in an area known for puppy mills. She was about a year old when we adopted her, and our suspicion is that she was “thrown away” by a breeder because of her small size. It breaks my heart to think of this little dog trying to survive on her own. She was so scared when she came to us, but she is a lovable part of our family today.
I’m guessing the Budweiser commercial isn’t bringing up warm fuzzy feelings for you then. I’m glad that little Maltese is now with you in a loving home.
The Budweiser commercial is cute and does a good job of showing the love a dog can give, but I’d like it even more if the puppy kept visiting from the local humane society shelter…however, I’m thinking the shelter would be doing a better job of keeping an eye in the pup than the breeder in the commercial! Hopefully both commercials will inspire people to give a dog a good home.
OMD!!! I am at a loss for words!!! That was……was………OMD!
((husky hugz frum da pack))
“love is being owned by a husky”
The only thing I could think of or see while watching the Audi commercial; was the blatant use of the false stereotype that anything with Doberman in it is automatically vicious… I know far to many good/sweet Dobermans to be offended for them!
I was thinking of how how so many chihuahuas I’ve known were aggressive.
If my person got one of those doberhuahuas I bet she wouldn’t think my mischief was so bad. And she could always lock it up in my dog jail.
I was very disappointed in last year’s S B halftime. There was not a single reference to our troops all over the world. There was one commercial by a company that did and that was it.
The Budweiser commercial took 9, 9-week old puppies 16 days to train them. The puppies are obviously pure bred so they are delusional if they think it has anything to do with adoption. Rumpy we agree with you.
I worked at a Madison Avenue ad agency and Account Executives lived and breathed product. What ever else was going on it was the product that took center stage. I left because I couldn’t care less about whether Hersey’s had five almonds or 6. I know it moves the economy, but I couldn’t deal with it.
I haven’t seen Budweiser commercial, so I’m not sure what to say about it but there are many ads showing animals for their products promotion here, too…..Mostly they care about their own products, and not about innocent animals….humans are very egoistic, aren’t they?
Humans like to feel good, and animals make humans feel good. Humans don’t care how the animals are used, only that the animals make them feel good. I don’t understand it, but I accept it to be true.
I laughed so hard my wife come to see what I was laughing at and then she giggled. Great commercial.
I think a lot of us dog bloggers recognized the beer commercial as a puppy breeder and not an adoption. I wouldn’t be surprised if they added that adoption sign as an afterthought. Still, the commercial really does pull at the heartstrings. Don’t worry, it’s not going to make me buy their beer. The other commercial weirded me out a bit, but the Dobehuahua name cracked me up. Designer dog breeding at its worst, for sure.
And yet there has been a fuss on Facebook with some people claiming it DOES support animal welfare!
I just now saw the Audi ad and the message of pet adoption hit me forcefully. Good for Audi, I’m gonna buy an A3! Now the puppy ad… yes, it was confusing as heck.
Yow me n Mum lubbed da horsey n puppy ad finkin da puppy waz showin hiz true self n where he wanted to bee…boy are we nie-eve er what???
We not see da Audi as n it lookz like it got pulled frum da Youtube…
Figurez as diz Stupurr Bowl waz so MEH!!!
Lub Nylablue xxx