Dogs And Their Love Of Cars
The bond between car-owners and their canine passengers is as old as the history of motorised transport itself and still exists to this day. It remains a popular theme for car commercials and enjoys a high level of favourable viewer attention for many automotive brands.
Dogs generally love car outings and according to the knowledgeable ‘Wag’ website, here are some of the reasons:
Dogs are pack animals. They need an alpha, they need to run in a group and they need to go with you. Their ‘home’ is where their pack is, which is why they will usually defend the car they are in when someone walks by.
Being in a moving car is an adventure that triggers an innate sense of hunting. They also love smells, and an open window allows them access to a plethora of exciting smells.
Scientists have determined that dogs have about 3,000,000 olfactory senses in their noses and the many different scents they get in just one car ride, is pure smell heaven to them.
1. Subaru Crosstrek, Welcome To The Pack
Advertising Agency: Carmichael Lynch, Minneapolis
Lance Accord directed this charming story, with emotive realism and intimacy, about a girl and her protective dog that is keeping a weary eye on her boyfriend.
2. Citroen C3 HDi, Dog Stretching
Advertising Agency: Les Gaulois, Paris
This scenic, highly entertaining commercial was directed by Joachim Back featuring a great soundtrack by The Platters and their song, ‘Sixteen Tons’.
3. Volkswagen, Woofwagen
Advertising Agency: adam&eveDDB, London
‘There’s a Volkswagen that’s right for everyone’, was the theme for a multi-media corporate campaign that included three screen audiences. Television, Cinema and Online.
The commercial, directed by Ivan Zacharias, cleverly stars 36 dogs matched to individual VW car models. The commercial also underscores the human truth that it would be hard to find a more reliably loving and appreciative car companion than one’s own pet dog.
4. Hyundai Genesis, Driver Versus Dog
Advertising Agency: Jung von Matt/Neckar, Stuttgart
In this commercial a little dog, amusingly, is not a welcome nor lovable passenger. Wayne McClammy directed this entertaining tussle between a driver and a very spoiled, wannabe alpha pooch.
5. Suzuki Kizashi, Sled
Advertising Agency: Siltanen & Partners, Los Angeles
Filmed in Canada on Alberta’s frozen Spray Lake and superbly directed by Jim Zoolalian, this commercial uses panoramic arctic landscapes as a backdrop to a heartwarming story with a an amusing twist and a great soundtrack by 50 Cent.
6. Subaru Forester, Do
Advertising Agency: Disciple, Sydney, Australia
Excellently directed by Tim Bullock, this amusing commercial about three dogs, features a soundtrack inspired by Lou Reed’s iconic ‘Walk On The Wild Side’.